Acoustics – Sound-modifying means – Muffler – fluid conducting type
Patent
1985-07-12
1987-01-13
Fuller, Benjamin R.
Acoustics
Sound-modifying means
Muffler, fluid conducting type
43003, 4661, 138 31, 138 41, 138 46, E03D 914
Patent
active
046357513
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to plumbing and more specifically provides a silencing device adapted to reduce noise caused for example, by fluid passing at relatively high pressures through restricted orifices.
One example of such noise is with cisterns for domestic toilets which after flushing are normally refilled through a float valve from a source of mains pressure of about 35 to 70 p.s.i. Such float valves typically comprises an arm assembly which has a float at one end and is pivoted to operate a slideable piston that progressively cuts off the incoming flow through an entry orifice as the level of water in the cistern rises. In order for the valve to close against high pressures however, the orifice has to be of relatively small cross-section and this naturally increases the refilling time and also has been found to generate the excessive noise observed in such systems.
It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned problems and accordingly this invention in one broad aspect discloses a silencing device for incorporation into a pressurised fluid circuit comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet in communication through a chamber defined therein, and a fluid flow restriction or damping means disposed within said housing.
The presently preferred embodiments of this invention are shown in the attached drawings in which:
FIGS. 1 and 1A shown one form of silencer adapted for fitting to the inlet side of a toilet cistern float valve;
FIG. 2 shows the silencer of FIG. 1 fitted to the float valve;
FIG. 3 shows a second form of silencer according to this invention which is adapted for attachment to the outlet side of a toilet cistern float valve;
FIG. 4 shows an exploded schematic view of a further form of the invention comprising a combination silencer and toilet cistern float valve;
FIG. 5 shows a prospective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention which comprises a combination silencer and float valve for a toilet cistern; and
FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the silencer and float valve of FIG. 5.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 1A the device comprises a two piece housing which is adapted for assembly by means of mating threaded flanges 2 to define therein a chamber 4 through which communicate an inlet 4A and outlet 5. The inlet and outlet ports may also be threaded to facilitate connection with the existing piping of a toilet cistern float valve.
The fluid flow restriction or damping means may in this case comprise a felt or other water permeable pad 6 sandwiched between perforated plastic discs 7. The pad and discs are dimensioned to fit within the circular walls of the chamber 4 sufficiently closely to require the water flow to pass substantially through the porous material rather than around it. At the same time however enough clearance adjacent the peripheral edge of the upper disc 7 should be provided to enable it to deform or deflect clear on the inlet under an applied water pressure to allow fluid flow. Upon cessation of flow the natural resilience of the pad would bias the disc upwardly across the inlet to operate in the manner of a check valve against reverse flow through the device.
This particular example of the invention is adapted to fit on the inlet side of a cistern float valve 7A as shown schematically in FIG. 2. When so installed it has been found to provide a substantial reduction in the level of noise emanating from the valve during filling without causing any significant reduction in the flow rate.
Although the dimensions of the housing may vary according to application and/or design preference, by way of non-limiting example, the values shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A may be found suitable for typical installations with water pressures of the order of 50 p.s.i.
A further embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 3. In this case the housing again comprises two components 8 adapted to threadably engage to define a chamber 9 therein. The flow restriction or damping means with this example however consists of a stem 10 which is biased upwardly to se
REFERENCES:
patent: 2214287 (1940-09-01), Sloan et al.
patent: 2231959 (1941-02-01), Sloan
patent: 2258469 (1941-10-01), Podolsky
patent: 3285277 (1966-11-01), Goldtrap
patent: 3995664 (1976-12-01), Nelson
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