ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STOP-COCK FOR MAINS WATER SUPPLY

VANNE D'ARRET A COMMANDE ELECTRIQUE POUR CANALISATION D'EAU MAITRESSE

English Abstract

There is described an electrically operated mains water stop-cock(22). There is also described a building (18) having an internal
water distribution system in communication with an external mains water supply (10) and an electrically operated stop-cock (22) connected
to the mains water supply (10) the stop-cock (22) being capable of isolating the internal water distribution system from the external mains
water supply (10). There is also described the use of an electrically operated valve means (22) as a stop-cock to isolate a private water
distribution system from a mains water supply (10). There is also described a method of isolating the internal water distribution system of
a building (18) from an external mains water supply (10) with which the internal water distribution system is in communication comprising
the steps of providing an electrically operated stop-cock (22) at the junction between the internal water distribution system and the external
mains water supply (10) and actuating the stop-cock (22) to isolate the internal water distribution system.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un robinet de retenue (22) raccordé à un réseau de distribution d'eau, actionné électriquement. L'invention concerne également un bâtiment (18) comportant un système de distribution d'eau interne communiquant avec un réseau de distribution d'eau externe (10) et un robinet de retenue (22) actionné électriquement et raccordé audit réseau de distribution d'eau (10). Le robinet de retenue (22) a la capacité d'isoler le système de distribution d'eau interne du réseau de distribution d'eau externe (10). L'invention concerne également l'utilisation d'une vanne (22) actionnée électriquement fonctionnant comme un robinet de retenue afin d'isoler un système de distribution d'eau privé d'un réseau de distribution d'eau (10). L'invention concerne aussi un procédé d'isolation du système de distribution d'eau interne d'un bâtiment (18) d'un réseau de distribution d'eau externe (10) avec lequel communique le système de distribution d'eau interne, procédé qui consiste à monter un robinet de retenue (22) actionné électriquement au niveau du raccordement du système de distribution d'eau interne et du réseau de distribution d'eau externe (10), et à actionner le robinet de retenue (22) afin d'isoler le système de distribution d'eau interne.

Claims

-6-
CLAIMS
1. An electrically operated mains water stop-cock.
2. A stop-cock in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
stop-cock is actuated by means of a switch located remotely
therefrom.
3. A stop-cock in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein the stop-cock is connected to an intruder alarm
system and is actuated on actuation of said alarm system.
4. A stop-cock in accordance with any preceding claim,
wherein the stop-cock comprises a solenoid valve.
5. A building having an internal water distribution
system in communication with an external mains water supply
and an electrically operated stop-cock connected to the
mains water supply, the stop-cock being capable of
isolating the internal water distribution system from the
external mains water supply.
6. A building in accordance with claim 5, wherein the
stop-cock is actuated by means of a switch located remotely
therefrom.
7. A building in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6,
wherein the building is provided with an intruder alarm
system to which the stop-cock is connected, the stop-cock
being actuated on actuation of said alarm system.
8. A building in accordance with any of claims 5 to 7,
wherein the stop-cock comprises a solenoid valve.
9. A building in accordance with any of claims 5 to 8,
wherein the stop-cock is connected in series with a
manually operated stop-cock.

-7-
10. Use of an electrically operated valve means as a
stop-cock to isolate a private water distribution system
from a mains water supply.
11. A method of isolating the internal water distribution
system of a building from an external mains water supply
with which the internal water distribution system is in
communication comprising the steps of providing an
electrically operated stop-cock at the junction between the
internal water distribution system and the external mains
water supply and actuating the stop-cock to isolate the
internal water distribution system.
12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the
stop-cock is actuated by means of a switch located remotely
therefrom.
13. A method in accordance with claim 11 or claim 12,
wherein the building is provided with an intruder alarm
system to which the stop-cock is connected and the
stop-cock is actuated on actuation of said alarm system.

Description

W09S~1~ PCT/GB94/01413
216~93~
~r ~cTRI~Ar-r-Y oP~AT~n STOP-COCR FOR ~AINS WAT~ ~uPpry
The present invention relates to an electrically
operated mains water stop-cock, a building having an
electrically operated stop-cock capable of isolating an
internal water distribution system from an external mains
water supply, the use of an electrically operated valve
means as a stop-cock, and a method of isolating the
internal water distribution system of a building from an
external mains water supply.
In the past domestic and industrial buildings have
been provided with a manual stop-cock designed to isolate
an internal water distribution system from an external
mains water supply. The internal water distribution system
in a domestic building typically provides hot and cold
running water and may also form part of the building~s heat
distribution system. In an industrial building the
services provided by the internal water distribution system
may be far more diverse.
In order to isolate the internal system from the
external mains, a stop-cock is usually located at the point
at which the mains water supply enters the building. A
typical arrangement is shown schematically in figure l.
The conduit lO carrying the mains water supply is laid a
minimum of two feet six inches (0.762 m) below ground level
12 in order that it might be protected from frost damage
and crosses the property boundary 14 after first passing to
a manual stop-cock 16 which is controlled by the water
company. It is at this point, as far as the United ~ingdom
is concerned, that the responsibility for the water supply
passes from the water company to the owner or occupier of
the building. The water supply then passes either under or
through a wall of the building 18 and rises to just above
floor level 20 at which point there is provided a private
stop-cock 22 operable by the owner or occupier of the
building to control the quantity of water supplied thereto.

WO9S/014~ 21 6 ~ 9 3 8 pcTlGs94lol4l3
Turning now to a typical domestic situation, wh$1st
people often consider turning off their heating sy~tems or
even their electricity supply while they are away from home
either on holiday or on business, few people think to turn
off their water supply. The consequences of not turning
off the water supply however are, if anything, potentially
more catastrophic. If the private stop-cock is left open
the internal water distribution system of the building is
connected directly to the mains supply and, via the mains
suppiy, to a network of reserviors. If there is a leak in
the internal water distribution system this can lead, at
typical rates of flow, to 240 gallons of water being
deposited within the building every hour that the leak is
not dealt with. If left, this same leak would result in
5,760 gallons of water being deposited within the building
in a single period of twenty-four hours or 40,320 gallons
in a week. Clearly such quantities of water can have a
devastating effect both on the contents and structure of
the building. Not only would it cause irreparable damage
to the electricity distribution system but the shear weight
of water could cause floors and ceilings to give way.
After all, 240 gallons of water has a weight of
approximately one ton, while S,760 gallons and 40,320
gallons have weights of approximately 26 and 183 tonnes
respectively.
Furthermore, if the water supplied to the building is
metered and charged for by the water company in terms of
the quantities used such a leak would result in a greatly
increased water bill.
Faced with this danger why it is then that people
invariably fail to turn off their water supply? It is
thought that this situation arises for at two reasons.
Firstly, it is thought that many people do not know
where their stop-cock is located while, if they do, gaining
access to it means getting down on their hands and knees
and fiddling around at the back of the cupboard under the
sink.

WO9S/01~ PCT/GB94/01413
_3_ 21 6S938
Secondly, since the stop-cock is typically as old ag
the building itself, they have often seized or Are so stlff
as to make turning them impo~sible without the aid of the
appropriate tools. Even with the right tools there is the
danger that the application of an excessive torque might
cause part of the stop-cock to shear off.
It is an aim of the present invention to address the
problems associated with the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the present invention
there is provided an electrically operated mains water
stop-cock.
Advantageously the stop-cock may be actuated by mesns
of a switch located remotely therefrom.
Advantageously the stop-cock may be connected to an
intruder alarm and actuated on actuation of the alarm
aystem .
Advantageously the stop-cock may comprise a solenoid
valve.
According to a second aspect of the present invention
there is provided a building having an internal water
distribution system in communication with an external mains
water supply and an electrically operated stop-cock
connected to the mains water supply, the stop-cock being
capable of isolating the internal water distribution system
from the external mains water supply.
Advantageously the stop-cock may be actuated by means
of a switch located remotely therefrom.
Advantageously the building may be provided with an
intruder alarm system to which the stop-cock is connected,
the stop-cock being actuated on actuation of the alarm
system.
Advantageously the stop-cock may comprise a solenoid
valve.
According to a third aspect of the present invention
there is provided the use of an electrically operated valve
means as a stop-cock to isolate a private water
distribution system from a mains water supply.

WO9S/01~ PCT/GB941014
~4~ 2~ 6 59 38
Accordlng to a fourth aspect of the present inventlon
there is provided a method of isolating the internal water
distribution system of a building from an e~ternal mains
water supply with which the internal water distribution
system is in communication comprising the steps of
providing an electrically operated stop-cock at the
~unction between the internal water distribution sy~tem and
the external mains water supply and actuating the stop-cock
to isolate the internal water distribution system.
Advantageously the stop-cock may be actuated by means
of a switch located remotely therefrom.
Advantageously the building may be provided with an
intruder alarm system to which the stop-cock is connected
and the stop-cock actuated on actuation of the alarm system.
Electrically operated valves, such as solenoid
valves, are known and have in the past been used to control
the passage of liquids such as water. Their use however
as a mains water stop-cock has not previously been
contemplated and enables the problems associated with the
prior art to overcome. Instead of requiring specialist
tools in order to rotate a stiff tap, all that is required
to actuate a solenoid valve is the flick of a switch.
Likewise, since the switch may be located at a position
remote from the valve, the owner or occupier of the
building need no longer crawl around in search of the
stop-cock. Instead, the switch may be located close to the
front door at the same height as the light switch so as to
be easily actuated on departure.
In one preferred embodiment the stop-cock may be
connected to an intruder alarm system and actuated on
actuation of the alarm system. In this way when the owner
or occupier leaves the building and as a matter of routine
actuates the alarm system he simultaneously actuates the
stop-cock and isolates the internal water distribution
system from the mains water supply.

WO9S/Ol~ PCT/GB94/01413
~5~ 216~938
A range of electrically operated valves are
manufactured by many companies such AS, for ex~mple, in
United Ringdom by Danfo~s Limited of Peri~ale Industrial
Park, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 7QE.
One advantage of using a solenoid valve as the
electrically operated stop-cock is that in the event of an
electrical power failure, the valve will automatically
close isolating the builiding's internal water distribution
sy~tem from the external mains supply. If re~uired, the
valve can be reopened manually by the use of a suitable
mAgnet before the electricity supply is re~tored.
Another advantage of a solenoid valve is that its
electrical components are completely enclosed in a
water-tight casing so that in the event of a leak elsewhere
in the internal water distribution system the solenoid
valve may still be actuated to isolate the system without
endangering the user.
In existing buildings where a manual stop-cock is
already provided, the electrically operated stop-cock of
the present invention may be placed in series ad~acent the
existing stop-cock. The existing stop-cock may then simply
be left in the open position and the electrically operated
stop-cock actuated in the manner previously described in
order to control the supply of mains water to the building.

Representative Drawing