An inlet valve arrangement for a toilet cistern

Abstract

The invention relates to an inlet valve arrangement ( 10 ) for a toilet cistern which is configured to regulate and control the flow of water. The arrangement includes a connector ( 12 ) which is connectable to an inlet water supply, a valve body ( 14 ) which is connected to the connector ( 12 ) and defines a valve inlet ( 16 ); and a sealing mechanism which includes a sealing member ( 18 ) which is displaceable relative to the valve body ( 14 ) between an open position in which water is permitted to pass through the valve inlet ( 16 ) and a closed position in which the sealing member ( 18 ) seals off the valve inlet ( 16 ) in order to prevent water from passing through the valve inlet ( 16 ). An over-centre linkage ( 20 ) is connected to the sealing member ( 18 ), movable in over-centre fashion between a first position in which the sealing member ( 18 ) is in its open position and a second position in which the sealing member ( 18 ) is in its closed position.

1 . An inlet valve arrangement for a toilet cistern, the inlet valve arrangement comprising:
 a connector which is connectable to an inlet water supply;   a valve body connected to the connector and defining a valve inlet; and   a sealing mechanism comprising:
 a sealing member which is displaceable relative to the valve body between an open position in which water is permitted to pass through the valve inlet and a closed position in which the sealing member seals off the valve inlet in order to prevent the water from passing through the valve inlet; and 
 an over-center linkage which is connected to the sealing member, wherein the over-center linkage is movable, in over-center fashion, between a first position in which the sealing member is in its the open position and a second position in which the sealing member is in its the closed position where the sealing member seals off the valve inlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the over-center linkage includes a stop which is configured to engage the valve body when the over-center linkage is in the second position to hold the sealing member in the closed position such that the sealing member can withstand a back force applied to it by the inlet water supply. 
     
     
         3 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a release member which is configured to move the over-center linkage from the second position to the first position in order to open the valve inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the release member is coupled to a flush mechanism of the toilet cistern such that when the flush mechanism is activated, the release member is activated and moves the over-center linkage to the first position in order to ensure that the valve inlet is open. 
     
     
         5 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 4 , further comprising a float which is configured to engage the over-center linkage and to urge the over-center linkage from the first position to the second position in response to a rising water level within the toilet cistern. 
     
     
         6 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the sealing member is slidably displaceable within the valve body between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the over-center linkage includes two members, wherein a first member of the two members is pivotally connected to the sealing member and a second member of the two members is pivotally connected to the valve body, wherein an adjacent end of the first member of the two members and an adjacent end of the second member of the two members are pivotally interconnected at an intersection. 
     
     
         8 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the release member is connected to the over-center linkage at the intersection, the release member operatively depending through an aperture in the valve body. 
     
     
         9 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 8 , further comprising an elongate actuation lever, one end of the elongate actuation lever is pivotally connected to the valve body and a distal end of the elongate actuation lever is configured to engage the flush mechanism, the elongate actuation lever being arranged in abutment with the release member. 
     
     
         10 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the float is pivotally connected to the valve body by way of a float mounting which includes a protruding tab which is configured to engage a free end of the second member of the over-center linkage in order to move the over-center linkage from the first position to the second position as a water level rises in the toilet cistern. 
     
     
         11 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 1 , further including a reservoir which is operatively arranged below the valve body and is configured to collect and temporarily hold the water entering the toilet cistern via the valve inlet, the reservoir having an operatively lower discharge orifice for discharging the water into the toilet cistern. 
     
     
         12 . The inlet valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet valve arrangement is in a form of a toilet cistern ball valve arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . A toilet cistern comprising the inlet valve arrangement according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A valve control apparatus, for controlling an inlet valve of a toilet cistern including a float, the valve control apparatus comprising:
 a float engaging member;   a retaining mechanism for retaining the float in a retained position; and   a release mechanism for releasing the float from the retained position,   wherein the valve control apparatus is attachable to an inlet valve arrangement of ft the toilet cistern such that the float engaging member engages the float of the inlet valve, the retaining mechanism retains the float in the retained position, and the release mechanism engages a flushing mechanism of the toilet cistern and releases the float from the retained position when the flushing mechanism is used.   
     
     
         15 . The valve control apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the float engaging member engages a float arm associated with the float. 
     
     
         16 . The valve control apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising attachment means for attaching the valve control apparatus proximate to the inlet valve of the toilet cistern. 
     
     
         17 . The valve control apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the retaining mechanism and the release mechanism are an over-center mechanism associated with the float engaging member and retain the float in the retained position when the float moves the over-center mechanism beyond a center position, and releases the float when the flushing mechanism is used. 
     
     
         18 . The valve control apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the retaining mechanism includes a ratchet with a linear rack and a pawl, wherein the linear rack engages the float engaging member and prevents movement of the float in a first direction, retaining the float in the retained position, and the pawl is disengaged when the flushing mechanism is used to permit movement of the float in the first direction.