OUTLET PRESSURE LIMITING VALVE

VANNE DE LIMITATION DE PRESSION DE SORTIE

English Abstract

A main water supply safety valve to provide a maximum pressure to a water
conditioning apparatus while preventing any shock load of water hammer from
passing into the apparatus while still providing a single or dual check valve.
When pressure acting on outlet side (306) of stepped piston (311) exceeds the
force of spring (337) and pressure acting on the inlet side (304) of piston
(311), the piston moves to shut off flow. The valve also has check valves (338
and 334) and a stepped ring (325) which moves to expose ring (330) to indicate
that seals (312 and 313) have leaked or failed. In a different embodiment, the
piston (311) has an internal seat (207) at the outlet end of piston bore (317)
and a stepped shaft (203) in piston bore (317) biased towards the valve inlet
(304). The step shoulder of shaft (203) seals against internal seat (207) when
the piston (311) moves towards inlet (304) and a protruding portion of shaft
(203) abuts against a stop.

French Abstract

Vanne de sécurité servant à limiter l'alimentation en eau du réseau afin de produire une pression maximum pour un dispositif de traitement d'eau, tout en empêchant toute charge par à-coups de choc de l'eau de pénétrer dans le dispositif, et en constituant encore une vanne de retenue simple ou double. Quand la pression s'exerçant sur le côté sortie (306) du piston variable (311) dépasse la force du ressort (337) et que la pression s'exerce sur le côté entrée (304) du piston (311), le piston se déplace afin d'arrêter l'écoulement. Cette vanne comporte également des vannes de retenue (338) et (334) et une bague échelonnée (325) qui se déplace afin de découvrir la bague (330), ce qui sert à indiquer que les joints (312) et (313) présentent une fuite ou sont défectueux. Dans un mode de réalisation différent, le piston (311) possède un siège intérieur (207) au niveau de l'extrémité de sortie de son alésage (317), et une tige échelonnée (203) dans l'alésage (317) sollicitée vers l'entrée (304) de la vanne. L'épaulement échelonné de la tige (203) vient en butée étanche contre le siège intérieur (207) quand le piston (311) se déplace vers l'entrée (304) et qu'une partie en saillie de la tige (203) vient s'appuyer contre une butée.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve comprising,
a body section which has an inlet end which contains an inlet orifice and an outlet end
which contains an outlet orifice, which are separated by an interconnecting passageway;
the interconnecting passageway comprises an arrangement of at least two boreholes
which are in a stepped relationship with each other wherein the outlet side borehole is of a
larger or major diameter compared to the smaller or minor diameter inlet side and the central
axes of both of the different diameter boreholes are axially aligned;
an inlet passageway connects the inlet orifice at the inlet end to the smaller diameter
of the interconnecting passageway;
within the arrangement of stepped boreholes is located a stepped piston which makes
a sliding and sealing contact with both internal surfaces of the major and minor diameters of
the stepped boreholes;
between the inlet side of the larger diameter of the stepped piston and the outlet side
of the end of the smaller diameter of the stepped borehole is formed a controlling chamber
whose volume varies according to the position of the stepped piston within the stepped
boreholes;
located near the outlet end of the major diameter borehole is a retaining means which
limits the amount of travel of the stepped piston in a direction away from the inlet end.
2. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to claim 1 wherein, located
within the length of the stepped piston is a flow control passageway.
3. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the flow control passageway is axially aligned with the central axis of the stepped
piston.
4. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, located in the stepped piston in cooperation with the flow control passageway is a
valve seat component.
5. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the flow controlling chamber and the stepped boreholes are cylindrical in shape.
6. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the inlet end contains a screwed attachment for connecting to other fluid transport
mechanisms.
7. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the outside of the body section is basically cylindrical in shape.
8. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, between the sliding and sealing contacts of the major and minor diameters of the
stepped piston is a bleed hole in the body section which leads from the controlling chamber to
the outside of the said body section.






9. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, located in conjunction with the bleed hole is a sealing device which can totally block
the movement of fluids from the pressure chamber flowing through the exit orifice to the
outside of the body section.
10. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, located on either side of the exit orifice of the bleed hole on the surface of the body
section are two sealing grooves which are axially aligned with the central axis of the body
section.
11. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to claim 10 wherein, located
within each of the sealing grooves is an sealing O-ring.
12. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to either of the claims 10 or 11
wherein, a safety ring is positioned such that it makes a sliding and sealing contact with the
O-rings in the two sealing grooves.
13. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 10 to 12
wherein, there is a stepped projection on the external part of the body section wherein when
the safety ring comes to rest in a home position it is prevented from any further longitudinal
movement and it effectively prevents fluid in the bleed hole from communicating freely with
the atmosphere.
14. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, located within the inlet passageway is a controlling ingress orifice.
15. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to claim 14 wherein, of all of
the various internal fluid passageways within this device, the controlling ingress orifice is the
smallest in diameter and effectively limits the dynamic flow of fluid through the device by
restricting the flow of fluid flowing into the device.
16. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 1 to 15
wherein, the flow control passageway is stepped and has within its length at least two different
size diameters.
17. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, contained within the inlet passageway is an inlet valve seat.
18. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, contained within the inlet passageway and located on the outlet side of the inlet
valve seat is an inlet non-return valve.
19. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, a fluid termination pin is located near the inlet passageway and projects into the
smaller diameter of the stepped borehole.
20. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, a fluid termination shaft is located at the smaller diameter end of the stepped piston
and projects into the smaller diameter of the stepped borehole.

11

21. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the fluid termination shaft and the stepped piston are of unitary construction.
22. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to claim 19 wherein, the fluid
termination pin has an internal passageway which allows fluid to flow from the inlet
passageway to the minor diameter of the stepped borehole.
23. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to claim 20 wherein, the fluid
termination shaft has an internal passageway which allows fluid to flow from the inlet
passageway to the minor diameter of the stepped borehole.
24. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the fluid termination pin is axially aligned with the central axis of the biasing means.
25. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the fluid termination shaft is axially aligned with the central axis of the biasing
means.
26. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the fluid termination shaft can make a sealing contact with the inlet valve seat.
27. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the fluid termination shaft can make interfering contact with the inlet non-return
valve which causes it to have a sealing contact with the inlet valve seat.
28. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the fluid termination pin is positioned so that it my come into contact with the valve
seat component on the stepped piston.
29. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the valve seat component is made up of a cylindrical recess which surrounds the inlet
side of the flow control passageway at the inlet side of the smaller diameter of the stepped
piston into which is positioned a valve seat O-ring.
30. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the stepped piston is biased towards the outlet end of the body.
31. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the biasing means is a spring.
32. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the spring is a conical compression spring whereby the rate of compression of the
spring varies as the spring moves through its range of compression.
33. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, an increase of fluid pressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston above the
combined pressure of the fluid and the pressure of the biasing means on the inlet side of the
stepped piston, causes the stepped piston to move towards the inlet side of the body section.
34. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, as the stepped piston moves fully to the inlet side of the body section the fluid
termination pin comes into engaging contact with the valve seat component.
12

35. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, as the stepped piston moves fully to the inlet side of the body section the fluid
termination shaft makes interfering contact with the inlet non-return valve which causes it to
have a sealing contact with the inlet valve seat.
36. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 1 to 15
wherein, within the flow control passageway is a valve shaft which can protrude proud from
either end of the flow control passageway.
37. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to claim 36 wherein, the valve
shaft contains a valve seat O-ring which can make a sealing contact with the valve seat
component.
38. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 36 to 37
wherein, the valve shaft is biased away from the valve seat component.
39. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to claim 38 wherein, the
biasing means is a spring.
40. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 36 to 39
wherein, an increase of fluid pressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston above the
pressure of fluid combined with the pressure of the biasing means on the inlet side of the
stepped piston causes the stepped piston to move towards the inlet side of the body section.
41. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 36 to 40
wherein, when the stepped piston moves towards the inlet side of its limit of travel, the valve
shaft comes into an interfering contact with an inlet stop component.
42. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 36 to 41
wherein, when the valve shaft comes into an interfering contact with the inlet stop component
and the stepped piston continues to move towards the inlet side of the body section, the valve
shaft's valve seat O-ring makes a sealing contact with the valve seat component.43. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 36 to 42
wherein, on the outlet side of the stepped piston's flow control passageway is a restriction
orifice through which projects the outlet end of the valve shaft.
44. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 36 to 43
wherein, when the fluid pressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston is less than the
pressure of the fluid combined with the pressure of the biasing means on the inlet side of the
stepped piston causes the stepped piston to move towards the outlet side of the body section.
45. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 36 to 44
wherein, as the stepped piston moves towards the outlet end of the body section the outlet end
of the valve shaft comes into interfering contact with an outlet stop component.46. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the claims 36 to 45
wherein, as the stepped piston arrives at its limit of travel at the outlet end of the of the body
section, the outlet end of the valve shaft's interfering contact with the outlet stop component
ensures that the seal between the valve seat O-ring and the valve seat component is broken.
13


47. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, this device can be installed between a town water supply and a water conditioning
apparatus in order to limit the maximum static water pressure experienced by such an
apparatus.
48. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, should any fluid discharge occur from the bleed hole when any substantial external
manual movement of the safety ring happens which is sufficient enough to expose one of the
two sealing O-rings, the valve mechanism can be determined to have failed.
49. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the body section has an external step whereby the outer diameters of the two sealing
grooves are of different sizes.
50. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the internal section of the safety ring has two stepped diameters which allow the
safety ring to make a sealing contact with each of the sealing O-rings.
51. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, when the safety ring is in its sealing position the stepped sections provide a stop
position for the safety ring.
52. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, there is an indicator present on the body section whereby when the safety ring is in
its stop position, the indicator is concealed.
53. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, any substantial build up of fluid pressure in the bleed tube causes the safety ring to
move away from the stop position.
54. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, when the safety ring moves away from the stop position the indicator on the body
section is revealed.
55. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, there is a safety ring stop attached to the external surface of the body section to limit
the amount of travel of the safety ring when the indicator is exposed.
56. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, when the safety ring moves away from the stop position and the indicator on the
body section is revealed, a sever restriction to the fluid flow occurs.
57. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the inlet end non-return valve contains a communicating passageway which allows
fluid to flow through it to the flow control passageway located within the termination shaft.
58. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, at the inlet end of the inlet non-return valve is located an O-ring which can make a
sealing contact with the inlet valve seat.

14

59. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the prevlous claims
wherein, located on the outlet side of the inlet orifice is a secondary shut-off valve.
60. A Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve according to any of the previous claims
wherein, the secondary shut-off valve is a ball valve.

Description

?101520303540CA 02264067 l999-02- 19mt:--‘r,,..!.:,.,..f‘. ;" ."' -- -.iOUTLET PRESSURE LIMITING VALVESIn a variety of different situations, ?uid is often required to be delivered at a particular?ow rate at a maximum set pressure regardless of the dynamic or static supply pressure of the?uid. In the majority of such cases, pressure regulators are normally required to be installed inorder to provide the particular ?uid ?ow requirements for these specific applications.However there are occasions when normal ?uid regulators are too expensive diaphragm typeregulators, the units are bulky and do not provide any method of indicating the presents of asystem failure. Current plunger type regulators are also too bulky and rely heavily on asubstantial adjustable spring to provide the level of required protection. This invention relatesparticularly to providing an inexpensive method for the control of ?uids for certain domesticand commercial uses, whereby the amount of ?uid that ?ows through the device and thepressure of that ?uid is required to be kept within certain defined limits regardless of thesupply systems pressure.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOne particular application for this invention relates to the flow of water from a townwater supply or similar, into water conditioning apparatus such as water filtration devices andreverse osmosis units as well as commercial or domestic hot water heaters. It has been foundthat for the cartridge type filters which are the plumbed in, under sink variety; for the plumbedin reverse osmosis units and for the hot water cylinder type capacity heaters, the uncontrolledor unmonitored connection to a town water supply can introduce a variety of unwantedcomplications to the end user of the devices which can range from the annoying to the downright dangerous. A variety of water authorities around the world require that once ?uid haspassed into the various filtration chambers of water conditioning apparatus that an effectivemethod be provided in order to prevent any back feeding of the residual sludge into thedrinking water supply line. To accomplish this single or dual check valves are normallyinstalled between the town supply and the filtration cartridges. However, it has been foundthat providing a set-up of this nature leads to annoying failures whereby mains pressure wateris allowed to be vented in an uncontrolled manner thus causing ?ood type damage to theproperties internal areas. This is caused by the fact that when water hammer occurs thehousings which encapsulate the various filtration members momentarily become pressurisedby the shock wave which caused the water hammer to occur. As the pressure in these housingsrises the non-retum valves prevent the pressure from being discharged back down the line.Therefore, sustained water hammer in the system can produce pressures to build up within thehouses which exceed their designed capabilities. Once these housings or their seals fail, wateris vented to the atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner. This normally results in muchinconvenience to the householder as well as various insurance claims in order to rectify theresultant damage. The current invention seeks to overcome these problems by providing a7'.‘ '3'"--"‘T"\ ‘:5 "'3'1.‘.“""AMhi 1 LJ ....5,.." -.n‘°u..|.|IFEA/AUPCT/M797/00526.<“?101520253035CA 02264067 l999-02- 19l?El‘.:"§lU’:§'~"‘.vsimple method of monitoring the line pressure and conditioning the quantity of water which isallowed toipass through these units as well as limiting the maximum pressure which theseunits will experience.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONIt will be noted from the following descriptions that the current unit is able to providea maximum pressure to these various water conditioning apparatus types while preventing anyshock load of water hammer from passing into the units. This is achieved while still providinga single or dual non-retum valve check function within the unit.The above ?ow performance requirements are achieved by providing a Fluid Flow andPressure Controlling Valve comprising, a body section which has an inlet end which containsan inlet ori?ce and an outlet end which contains an outlet ori?ce, which are separated by aninterconnecting passageway; the interconnecting passageway comprises an arrangement of atleast two boreholes which are in a stepped relationship with each other wherein the outlet sideborehole is of a larger or major diameter compared to the smaller or minor diameter inlet sideand the central axes of both of the different diameter boreholes are axially aligned; an inletpassageway connects the inlet ori?ce at the inlet end at the smaller diameter of theinterconnecting passageway; within the arrangement of stepped boreholes is located a steppedpiston which makes a sliding and sealing contact with both internal surfaces of the major andminor diameters of the stepped boreholes; between the inlet side of the larger diameter of thestepped piston and the outlet side of the end of the smaller diameter of the stepped borehole isformed a controlling chamber whose volume varies according to the position of the steppedpiston within the stepped boreholes; located near the outlet end of the major diameterborehole is a retaining means which limits the amount of travel of the stepped piston in adirection away from the inlet end. Preferably located within the length of the stepped piston isa flow control passageway. Preferably the ?ow control passageway is located along thecentral axis of the stepped piston. Preferably located in the stepped piston in cooperation withthe ?ow control passageway is a valve seat component. Preferably the ?ow controllingchamber and the stepped boreholes are cylindrical in shape. Preferably the inlet end containsa screwed attachment for connecting to other fluid transport mechanisms. Preferably theoutside of the body section is basically cylindrical in shape. Preferably between the slidingand sealing contacts of the major and minor diameters of the stepped piston is a bleed hole inthe body section which leads from the controlling chamber to the outside of the said bodysection. Preferably located in conjunction with the bleed hole is a sealing device which cantotally block the movement of ?uids from the pressure chamber ?owing through the exitori?ce to the outside of the body section. Preferably located on either side of the exit ori?ceof the bleed hole on the surface of the body section are two sealing grooves which are axially2‘)4~’5.:'l.n;..,._.~.‘..2 ,. .":IS F E:i‘a/.i\UPC!‘/AU97/90525?U:1020253035CA 02264067 l999-02- 19R E C E l V E D 53 7aligned with the central axis ofthe body section. Preferably located within each of the sealinggrooves is an sealing O~ring. Preferably a safety ring is positioned such that it makes a slidingand sealing contact with the O—rings in the two sealing grooves. Preferably there is a steppedprojection on the external part of the body section wherein when the safety ring comes to restin a home position it is prevented from any further longitudinal movement and it effectivelyprevents ?uid in the bleed hole from communicating freely with the atmosphere. Preferablylocated within the inlet passageway is a controlling ingress ori?ce. Preferably of all of thevarious internal ?uid passageways within this device, the controlling ingress ori?ce is thesmallest in diameter and effectively limits the dynamic ?ow of ?uid through the device bycontrolling the flow of ?uid ?owing into the device. Preferably the ?ow control passagewayis stepped and has within its length at least two different size diameters. Preferably containedwithin the inlet passageway is located an inlet valve seat. Preferably contained within the inletpassageway and located on the outlet side of the inlet valve seat is an inlet non-retum valvePreferably a ?uid termination pin is located within the inlet passageway and projects into the‘ smaller diameter of the stepped borehole. Preferably a ?uid termination shaft is located at thesmaller diameter end of the stepped piston and projects into the smaller diameter of thestepped borehole. Preferably the ?uid termination shaft and the stepped piston are of unitaryconstruction. Preferably the ?uid termination pin has an internal passageway which allows?uid to ?ow from the inlet passageway to the minor diameter of the stepped borehole.Preferably the ?uid termination shaft has an internal passageway which allows ?uid to flowfrom the inlet passageway to the minor diameter of the stepped borehole. Preferably the ?uidtermination pin is axially aligned with the central axis of the biasing means. Preferably the?uid termination shaft is axially aligned with the central axis of the biasing means. Preferablythe ?uid termination shaft can make a sealing contact with the inlet valve seat. Preferable the?uid termination shaft can make interfering contact with the inlet non-retum valve whichcauses it to have a sealing contact with the inlet valve seat. Preferably the ?uid terminationpin is positioned so that it my come into contact with the valve seat component on the steppedpiston. Preferably the valve seat component is made up of a cylindrical recess whichsurrounds the inlet side of the ?ow control passageway at the inlet side of the smallerdiameter of the stepped piston into which is positioned a valve seat O-ring. Preferably thestepped piston is biased towards the inlet end of the body. Preferably the biasing means is aspring. Preferably the spring is a conical compression spring whereby the rate of compressionof the spring varies as the spring moves through its range of compression. Preferably anincrease of ?uid pressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston above the combined pressureof the ?uid and the pressure of the biasing means on the inlet side of the stepped piston,causes the stepped piston to move towards the inlet side of the body section. Preferably as thestepped piston moves fully to the inlet side of the body section the ?uid termination pincomes into engaging contact with the valve seat component. Preferably as the stepped pistonmoves fully to the inlet side of the body section the ?uid termination shaft comes into3 -~, .17‘ a...»—uv-- .L’ '1,’-'-J ails... .1’‘ .5i2’1..{3J!.3il.JPCT/AU97/00525gnaaL‘:30?10toU:30CA 02264067 l999-02- 19engaging Contact with the valve seat component. Preferably within the flow controlpassageway is a valve shaft which can protrude proud from either end of the flow controlpassageway. Preferably the valve shaft contains a valve seat O-ring which can make a sealingcontact with the valve seat component. Preferably the valve shaft is biased away from thevalve seat component. Preferably the biasing means is a spring. Preferably an increase of fluidpressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston above the pressure of fluid combined with thepressure of the biasing means on the inlet side of the stepped piston causes the stepped pistonto move towards the inlet side of the body section. Preferably when the stepped piston movestowards the inlet side of its limit of travel, the valve shaft comes into an interfering contactwith an inlet stop component. Preferably when the valve shaft comes into an interferingcontact with the inlet stop component and the stepped piston continues to move towards theinlet side of the body section, the valve shaft's valve seat O-ring makes a sealing Contact withthe valve seat component. Preferably on the outlet side of the stepped piston's flow controlpassageway is a restriction orifice through which projects the outlet end of the valve shaft.Preferably, when the fluid pressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston is less than thepressure of the ?uid combined with the pressure of the biasing means on the inlet side of thestepped piston causes the stepped piston to move towards the outlet side of the body section.Preferably as the stepped piston moves towards the outlet end of the body section the outletend of the valve shaft comes into interfering contact with an outlet stop component.Preferably as the stepped piston arrives at its limit of travel at the outlet end of the of the bodysection, the outlet end of the valve shaft's interfering contact with the outlet stop componentensures that the seal between the valve seat O-ring and the valve seat component is broken.Preferably this device can be installed between a town water supply and a water conditioningapparatus in order to limit the maximum static water pressure experienced by such anapparatus. Preferably should any fluid discharge occur from the bleed hole when anysubstantial external manual movement of the safety ring happens which is sufficient enough toexpose one ofthe two sealing O-rings, the valve mechanism can be detennined to have failed.Preferably the body section has an external step whereby the outer diameters of the twosealing grooves are of different sizes. Preferably the internal section of the safety ring has twostepped diameters which allows the safety ring to make a sealing contact with each of thesealing O-rings. Preferably and when the safety ring is in its sealing position the steppedsections provide a stop position for the safety ring. Preferably there is an indicator present onthe body section whereby when the safety ring is in its stop position, the indicator isconcealed. Preferably any substantial build up of fluid pressure in the bleed tube causes thesafety ring to move away from the stop position. Preferably when the safety ring moves awayfrom the stop position the indicator on the body section is revealed. Preferably there is a safetyring stop attached to the external surface of the body section to limit the amount of travel ofthe safety ring when the indicator is exposed. Preferably when the safety ring moves awayfrom the stop position and the indicator on the body section is revealed, a sever restriction to?10253035CA 02204007 1999-02-19 PCT/AU Q 7 / Q 0 I; the ?uid ?ow occurs. Preferably the inlet end non-retum valve contains a communicatingpassageway which allows ?uid to ?ow through it to the ?ow control passageway locatedwithin the termination shaft. Preferably at the inlet end of the inlet non-retum valve is locatedan O-ring which can make a sealing contact with the inlet valve seat. Preferably located on theoutlet side of the inlet orifice is a secondary shut-off valve. Preferably the secondary shut-offvalve is a ball valve.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA fuller explanation can be given by way of reference to the following drawings whereFigure I and 3 show two preferred embodiments suitable for controlling the supply of waterto water filters and other similar water conditioning devices. Figure 2 shows one preferredembodiment suitable for controlling the supply of water to hot water systems and the like. Itshould be noted that these are only two general topics and that the devices do have widerapplications however, for simplicity they will be described hereinafter as being applicable forthose applications.In Figure 1, a Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve (101) comprises a bodysection (102) which has an inlet end (103) which contains an inlet ori?ce (104) and an outletend (105) which contains an outlet orifice (106) which are separated by an interconnectingpassageway (107). The interconnecting passageway comprises an arrangement of at least twoboreholes which are in a stepped relationship with each other wherein the outlet side borehole(108) is of a larger or major diameter when compared to the smaller or minor diameter inletside (109) and the central axes of both of the different diameter boreholes are axially aligned.An inlet passageway (110) connects the inlet ori?ce at the inlet end of the smaller diameter ofthe interconnecting passageway. Within the arrangement of stepped boreholes is located astepped piston (111) which makes a sliding and sealing contact with both internal surfaces ofthe major and minor diameters of the stepped boreholes at (112) and (113). Between the inletside of the larger diameter of the stepped piston and the outlet side of the end of the smallerdiameter of the stepped borehole is formed a controlling chamber (114) whose volume variesaccording to the position of the stepped piston within the stepped boreholes. It should benoted that an intermediate borehole (115) can be included for ease of manufacture. Locatednear the outlet end of the major diameter borehole is a retaining means (116) which limits theamount of travel of the stepped piston in a direction away from the inlet end. Located withinthe length of the stepped piston is a ?ow control passageway (117) and is aligned with itscentral axis. Located on the stepped piston in cooperation with the ?ow control passageway isa valve seat component which in this case is an O-ring (118) which is positioned within arecess (1 19) on the inlet end of the stepped piston. The inlet end of the body section containsa screwed attachment (120) for connecting to other ?uid transport mechanisms. Between the?CA 02264067 1999-02-19 cc-T,AU 7 / 0 0 R 9 ., — -2'ZEi‘:'£i'} ff .3 c U}101,520253035sliding and sealing contacts of the major and minor diameters of the stepped piston is a bleedhole (121) in the body section which leads from the controlling chamber to the outside of thesaid body section. Located in conjunction with the bleed hole is a sealing device which cantotally block the movement of fluids from the pressure chamber ?owing through the exitori?ce to the outside of the body section. Located on either side of the exit orifice (122) of thebleed hole on the surface of the body section are two sealing grooves which are axiallyaligned with the central axis of the body section and within each is contained an O-ring (123)and (124). A safety ring (125) is positioned such that it makes a sliding and sealing contactwith the O-rings in the two sealing grooves. In one preferred embodiment shown here, thebody section has an external step (126) whereby the outer diameters of the two sealinggrooves are of different sizes. The internal section of the safety ring has two matching steppeddiameters (127) and (128) which allow the safety ring to make a sealing contact with each ofthe sealing O-rings. When the safety ring is in its sealing position the stepped sections providea stop position (129) for the safety ring. There is an indicator (130) present on the bodysection whereby when the safety ring is in its stop position, the indicator is concealed. Anysubstantial build up of fluid pressure in the bleed tube causes the safety ring to move awayfrom the stop position due to the different diameters of the sealing O-rings and the indicator isrevealed. There is a safety ring stop (131) attached to the external surface of the body sectionto limit the amount of travel of the safety ring when the indicator is exposed. in anotherpreferred embodiment wherein the two sealing O-rings are the same size, should any ?uiddischarge occur from the bleed hole when any substantial external manual movement of thesafety ring happens which is sufficient enough to expose one of the two sealing O-rings, thevalve mechanism can be determined to have failed. In this case, there is a stepped projection(132) on the external part of the body section wherein when the safety ring comes to rest in ahome position it is prevented from any further longitudinal movement and it effectivelyprevents fluid in the bleed hole from communicating freely with the atmosphere. Locatedwithin the inlet passageway is a controlling ingress ori?ce (133) which limits the amount of?uid ?owing through the device. It should be noted in one preferred embodiment, of all of thevarious internal ?uid passageways within this device, the controlling ingress ori?ce is thesmallest in diameter and effectively limits the dynamic ?ow of ?uid through the device bycontrolling the ?ow of ?uid ?owing into the device. Contained within the inlet passageway islocated a non-return valve (134). A ?uid termination pin (135) is located within the inletpassageway and projects into the smaller diameter of the stepped borehole. The ?uidtermination pin has an internal passageway (136) which allows ?uid to ?ow from the inletpassageway to the minor diameter of the stepped borehole and the ?uid tennination pin isaxially aligned with the central axis of the biasing means. The ?uid termination pin ispositioned so that it may come into contact with the valve seat component on the steppedpiston. The stepped piston is biased towards the outlet end of the body by means is a spring(137). When an increase of ?uid pressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston occurs above?U]10152530CA 02264067 l999-02- 19the combined pressure of the ?uid and the pressure of the biasing means on the inlet side ofthe stepped piston, the stepped piston moves towards the inlet side of the body section. As thestepped piston moves fully to the inlet side of the body section the ?uid termination pincomes into engaging contact with the valve seat component as is shown below the centre linein the figure. Contained within the ?ow control passageway is a non return valve (138). Thesection of stepped piston above the centre line shows the open position with the non-retumvalve in an open position as would be the case if ?uid were ?owing through the device. Theoutlet has a screwed attachment (139) for attaching to further ?uid transport mechanisms.In Figure 2, the ?ow control passageway is stepped and has within its length at leasttwo different size diameters (201) and (202). The ?ow control passageway valve shaft (203)which can protrude proud from either end of the ?ow control passageway. The valve shaftcontains a valve seat O-ring (204) which can make a sealing contact with the valve seatcomponent. The valve shaft is biased away from the valve seat component by a spring (205).An increase of ?uid pressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston above the pressure of?uid combined with the pressure of the biasing means on the inlet side of the stepped pistoncauses the stepped piston to move towards the inlet side of the body section. When thestepped piston moves towards the inlet side of its limit of travel, the valve shaft comes into aninterfering contact with an inlet stop component (206). When the valve shaft comes into aninterfering contact with the inlet stop component and the stepped piston continues to movetowards the inlet side of the body section, the valve shaft's valve seat O-ring makes a sealingcontact with the valve seat component (207). On the outlet side of the stepped piston's ?owcontrol passageway is a restriction ori?ce (208) through which projects the outlet end of thevalve shaft. When the ?uid pressure on the outlet side of the stepped piston is less than thepressure of the ?uid combined with the pressure of the biasing means on the inlet side of thestepped piston causes the stepped piston to move towards the outlet side of the body section.As the stepped piston moves towards the outlet end of the body section the outlet end of thevalve shaft comes into interfering contact with an outlet stop component (209). As the steppedpiston arrives at its limit of travel at the outlet end of the of the body section, the outlet end ofthe valve shaft's interfering contact with the outlet stop component ensures that the sealbetween the valve seat O-ring and the valve seat component is broken as is shown above thecentre line. This device can be installed between a town water supply and a waterconditioning apparatus in order to limit the maximum static water pressure experienced bysuch an apparatus.In Figure 3, a Fluid Flow and Pressure Controlling Valve (301) comprises a bodysection (302) which has an inlet end (303) which contains an inlet orifice (304) and an outletend (305) which contains an outlet ori?ce (306) which are separated by an interconnectingpassageway (307). The interconnecting passageway comprises an arrangement of at least two?10203035CA 02264067 l999-02- 19PCT/AU 9 7RE'iCEl‘!EU 9‘boreholes which are in a stepped relationship with each other wherein the outlet side borehole(308) is of a larger or major diameter when compared to the smaller or minor diameter inletside (309) and the central axes of both of the different diameter boreholes are axially aligned.An inlet passageway (310) connects the inlet ori?ce at the inlet end of the smaller diameter ofthe interconnecting passageway. Within the arrangement of stepped boreholes is located astepped piston (31 1) which makes a sliding and sealing contact with both internal surfaces ofthe major and minor diameters of the stepped boreholes at (312) and (313). Between the inletside of the larger diameter of the stepped piston and the outlet side of the end of the smallerdiameter of the stepped borehole is formed a controlling chamber (314) whose volume variesaccording to the position of the stepped piston within the stepped boreholes. It should benoted that an intermediate borehole (315) can be included for ease of manufacture. Locatednear the outlet end of the major diameter borehole is a retaining means (316) which limits theamount of travel of the stepped piston in a direction away from the inlet end. A ?ow control_ passageway (317) is axially aligned with its central axis of the stepped piston and may belocated within its length. Located on the inlet side of the stepped piston is a communicatingpassageway (318) which is positioned between passageways (310) and (317). Alternatively,the communicating passageway may be located within the non-retum valve. The inlet end ofthe body section contains a screwed attachment (320) for connecting to other ?uid transportmechanisms. Between the sliding and sealing contacts of the major and minor diameters ofthe stepped piston is a bleed hole (321) in the body section which leads from the controllingchamber to the outside of the said body section. Located in conjunction with the bleed hole isa sealing device which can totally block the movement of ?uids from the pressure chamber?owing through the exit ori?ce to the outside of the body section. Located on either side ofthe exit ori?ce (322) of the bleed hole on the surface of the body section are two sealinggrooves which are axially aligned with the central axis of the body section and within each iscontained an O-ring (323) and (324). A safety ring (325) is positioned such that it makes asliding and sealing contact with the O-rings in the two sealing grooves. In one preferredembodiment shown here, the body section has an external step (326) whereby the outerdiameters of the two sealing grooves are of different sizes. The internal section of the safetyring has two matching stepped diameters (327) and (328) which allow the safety ring to makea sealing contact with each of the sealing O-rings. When the safety ring is in its sealingposition the stepped sections provide a stop position (329) for the safety ring. There is anindicator (330) present on the body section whereby when the safety ring is in its stopposition, the indicator is concealed. Any substantial build up of ?uid pressure in the bleedtube causes the safety ring to move away from the stop position due to the different diametersof the sealing O-rings and the indicator is revealed. There is a safety ring stop (331) attachedto the external surface of the body section to limit the amount of travel of the safety ring whenthe indicator is exposed. In another preferred embodiment wherein the two sealing O-ringsare the same size, should any ?uid discharge occur from the bleed hole when any substantial8:-(--s----.- er‘ .. ._ a,,_,.!!?U1101520l\)UI30-1CA 02204007 1999-02-19 ;~c:;;_.-.~;; C; 7 — c *,_. ' V J _L33external manual movement of the safety ring happens which is sufficient enough to exposeone of the two sealing O-rings, the valve mechanism can be determined to have failed. In thiscase, there is a stepped projection (332) on the external part ofthe body section wherein whenthe safety ring comes to rest in a home position it is prevented from any further longitudinalmovement and it effectively prevents fluid in the bleed hole from communicating freely withthe atmosphere. Located within the inlet passageway is a controlling ingress ori?ce (333)which limits the amount of ?uid ?owing through the device. It should be noted in onepreferred embodiment, of all of the various internal ?uid passageways within this device, thecontrolling ingress orifice is the smallest in diameter and effectively limits the dynamic ?owof fluid through the device by controlling the ?ow of ?uid ?owing into the device. Containedwithin the inlet passageway is located a non-retum valve (334). A fluid termination shaft(335) is located within the inlet passageway and projects towards the inlet passageway non-retum valve. The ?uid termination shaft has an internal passageway (336). The ?uidtermination shaft is positioned so that it may come into contact with the inlet passagewaynon-retum valve. The stepped piston is biased towards the outlet end of the body by means isa spring (337). When an increase of ?uid pressure on the outlet side of the larger diameterstepped piston occurs above the combined pressure of the ?uid and the pressure of the biasingmeans on the inlet side of the smaller diameter of the stepped piston and the ?uid pressure onthe inlet side of the inlet passageway non-retum valve, the stepped piston moves towards theinlet side of the body section. As the stepped piston moves fully to the inlet side of the bodysection the ?uid termination shaft comes into engaging contact with the inlet passagewaynon-retum valve and forces it to its closed position as is shown below the centre line in the?gure. Contained within the flow control passageway of the movable piston is a second non-retum valve (338). The section of stepped piston above the centre line shows the openposition with the non-retum valve in an open position as would be the case if ?uid were?owing through the device. The outlet has a screwed attachment (339) for attaching to further?uid transport mechanisms.0“;

Representative Drawing