GB2200723A

GB2200723A - Valve manifold

Info

Publication number: GB2200723A
Application number: GB08702113A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Geoffrey Russell
Original assignee: Talbot & Co Ltd F W
Current assignee: Talbot & Co Ltd F W
Priority date: 1987-01-30
Filing date: 1987-01-30
Publication date: 1988-08-10
Also published as: GB8702113D0

Abstract

A manifold body 1 preferably for a water supply system comprises an internal main channel 3, a main orifice 5, a plurality of stopvalve bases 9 and a corresponding plurality of outlet channels 8 leading to outlet orifices 11. In a preferred manifold stopvalve system including the body 1 each base 9 either contains a stopvalve head or is blocked-off by means of a plug, and the main channel 3 acts as part of a main water supply pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

MANIFOLD VALVE SYSTEM This invention relates to a manifold valve system for use in connection with water supplies to high density housing.

It is accepted practice, and extremely beneficial, that the supply of water should be regulatable in respect of each individual dwelling.

It is necessary, especially in the instance when there is a leak of water inside a dwelling, to be able to isolate that dwelling only from the main supply. That is to say, it is beneficial to be able to cut off the supply to the dwelling without the need to interrupt the supply to any other dwelling.

To achieve this.result, it is therefore necessary to have a stopvalve situated between each individual dwelling and the main supply pipe, and there must be access to the stopvalve.

In the case of high density housing, such as tower blocks of flats, many stopvalves are required, and these are generally situated underneath the pavement (side walk) outside the tower block. Up until now, each pipe serving a single dwelling has been connected directly to the main supply pipe. This requires many connections, both with the main pipe and with the necessary stopvalves. This is obviously expensive, in terms of both the parts themselves and in particular the man hours required to complete the installation.

According to the present invention there is provided a manifold body for a manifold stopvalve system, the body having a main orifice, for connection to a main service supply, an internal main channel connected to said main orifice, a plurality of outlet channels, each outlet channel connecting said main channel to an outlet orifice, and a stopvalve base, for receiving a stopvalve head, in each outlet channel; each outlet orifice being adapted for connection to a supply pipe.

Preferably the manifold body has more than one main orifice.

Other preferred features are that the manifold body has a stopvalve head in each stopvalve base, or alternatively that each stopvalve base has either a stopvalve head or a stopvalve base plug therein.

It is also preferable that one or more manifold bodies may be attached to a first manifold body.

The present invention further provides a manifold stopvalve system for supply of water services to dwellings comprising a manifold body substantially as herein described wherein a main service supply pipe is attached to a main orifice, a stopvalve head is fitted onto each of one or more stopvalve bases and a service supply pipe is attached to each corresponding outlet orifice, and each remaining stopvalve base is plugged with a stopvalve base plug or a closed stopvalve.

In a preferred embodiment of the manifold stopvalve system the manifold body is let in to the main supply pipe such that the main channel acts as a part of the main supply pipe.

One embodiment of a manifold body of the present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of the manifold body, and Figure 2 shows an end view of the manifold body.

Referring to the drawings, the manifold body 1 comprises an internal main channel 3, two end main orifices 5 and a side main orifice 7, a plurality of stopvalve bases 9 and a corresponding plurality of outlet channels 8 leading to outlet orifices 11. A manifold stopvalve system including the body shown in the Figures includes stopvalve heads, stopvalve base plugs and main orifice plugs (not shown).

When in use, one end of a side pipe (not shown) is attached to a main water or gas supply pipe and the other end is attached to one of the main orifices (5, 7) of the manifold body 1.

For each dwelling that requires a water or gas supply via the manifold stopvalve system a stopvalve head is seated in a stopvalve base 9 and a service supply pipe leading to the dwelling is attached to the corresponding outlet orifice 11. This enables the supply to the dwelling to be turned off or left on as required.

Obviously, each of the stopvalve bases 9/outlet orifices 11 which are not required must be plugged, for instance by stopvalve base plugs (not shown).

Alternatively, a stopvalve head may be inserted in each stopvalve base 9 and those conduits not required for supply may be plugged by operation of the stopvalve.

Major advantages of the manifold stopvalve system over the prior art separate stopvalve arrangement are that less connections with the main service supply pipe and individual stopvalves are required, and that the physical volume taken up by the complete system is reduced since the stopvalves may be packed closer together using the present invention.

If required, more than one manifold body 1 may be used. In this construction the manifold bodies may be joined either directly or by means of a short piece of pipe so that the end main orifices are aligned and the two main channels effectively become one main channel.

Generally the whole manifold stopvalve system is situated underground so-that there are no pipes near to ground level which may be punctured by actions which occur above ground. Therefore, in order to facilitate access to the stopvalves, a guard structure must extend from the manifold stopvalve system to ground level. The top of the guard structure is sealed by means of a surface box. Guard structures and surface boxes are well known in the art.

It will of course be understood that the use of the word "dwelling" is intended to encompass any building which requires a supply of water, and that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A manifold body for a manifold stopvalve system) the body having a main orifice, for connection to a main service supply, an internal main channel connected to said main orifice, a plurality of outlet channels, each outlet channel connecting said main channel to an outlet orifice, and a stopvalve base for receiving a stopvalve head, in each outlet channel, each outlet orifice being adapted for connection to a supply pipe.

2. The manifold body of claim 1, which has more than one main orifice.

3. The manifold body of claim 1 or claim 2, which has a stopvalve head in each stopvalve base.

4. The manifold body of claim 1 or claim 2 in which each stopvalve base has either a stopvalve head or a stopvalve base plug therein.

5. The manifold body of any one of claims 1 to 4 having one or-more further manifold bodies attached thereto.

6. A manifold body for a manifold stopvalve system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A manifold stopvalve system for supply of water services to dwellings comprising a manifold body of any one of claims 1 to 6 having a main service supply pipe attached to a main orifice, a stopvalve head fitted onto each of one or more stopvalve bases, and a service supply pipe attached to each corresponding outlet orifice, and wherein each remaining stopvalve base is plugged with a stopvalve base plug or a closed stopvalve.

8. The manifold stopvalve system of claim 7, where-in the manifold body is let into the main supply pipe such that the main channel acts as a part of the main supply pipe.

9. A manifold stopvalve system of substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.