CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the United States national phase of International Application No. PCT/AU2017/051076 filed Oct. 3, 2017, and claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2016904029 filed Oct. 5, 2016, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a valve assembly. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for use in pipework in buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the construction of new buildings and building renovations, pipework is tested to ensure that it holds water or air and there are no leaks.

To test the pipework, a plumber usually positions a plug in a discharge pipe above or in an inspection outlet. Water then fills the pipework and the pipework can be inspected and certified.

After the inspection, the plumber removes the plug. The accumulated water is under pressure and can force the plug towards the plumber as it is being removed. This poses a potential injury risk for the plumber and is a safety concern.

Furthermore, as the plug is removed from the inspection outlet, some of the accumulated water can discharge via the inspection outlet.

The current method of testing pipework is not safe for the plumber or person testing for leaks.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly that provides a safe method of testing pipework in buildings that overcomes at least in part one or more of the abovementioned problems and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a valve assembly including:

a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet and an opening; and

an insert removably insertable in the opening, the insert having a first side facing upwards and a second side facing downwards when positioned in the opening, the first side and the second side have a conduit positioned therebetween; and

a control valve located at least partially within the conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the control valve in the closed position stops fluid from passing through the conduit,

wherein when the insert is inserted in the opening and the control valve is in the closed position, the insert substantially seals the inlet and stops fluid flowing to the outlet.

Preferably the insert when located in the opening is securable in the opening. In one form, the insert is securable in the opening by providing a friction fit between the opening and the insert. In another form the insert is securable in the opening by a cap which at least partially covers the opening.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a valve assembly including:

a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet and an opening; and

an insert removably insertable in the opening, the insert having a first side facing upwards and a second side facing downwards when positioned in the opening, the first side and the second side have a conduit positioned therebetween;

a control valve located at least partially within the conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the control valve in the closed position stops fluid from passing through the conduit; and

a cap to secure the insert in the opening,

wherein when the insert is inserted in the opening and the control valve is in the closed position, the insert substantially seals the inlet and stops fluid flowing to the outlet.

Preferably the control valve further comprises a handle to move the valve between the open position and the closed position. Preferably the control valve is a rotary valve. Alternatively, the control valve may be a globe valve, butterfly valve, gate valve, ball valve, or the like.

Preferably the valve housing includes a rebate portion located within the opening. Preferably, when the insert is inserted in the opening, the first side of the insert is parallel to the rebate portion. Preferably, when the insert is inserted in the opening, the first side of the insert is adjacent to the rebate portion. Preferably the surface of the rebate portion is transverse to a direction of flow between the inlet and the outlet of the valve housing. Preferably the rebate portion is angled between 30° and 60° relative to the direction of flow between the inlet and outlet. More preferably the rebate portion is angled about 45° relative to the direction of flow between the inlet and the outlet.

Preferably a seal is located between the rebate portion and the first side of the insert when the insert is inserted in the opening. Preferably the seal is attached to the first side of the insert. Alternatively, the seal may be attached to the rebate portion. Preferably the seal is a face seal.

Preferably the cap at least partially covers the opening. Preferably the cap includes an aperture. Preferably the aperture provides access to the control valve when the insert is inserted in the opening and the cap secures the insert in the opening. More preferably the aperture provides access to the handle of the control valve. Preferably the cap includes a threaded portion adapted to secure the cap to a corresponding threaded portion on or in the opening of the valve housing.

Preferably the insert includes a fitting which provides access between the first side of the insert and a third side of the insert. Preferably the third side of the insert is accessible through the aperture of the cap when the insert is inserted in the opening and the cap secures the insert in the opening. Preferably the fitting can be used to introduce water into the valve housing. In a preferred form the fitting enables a hose to be attached thereto to supply water or air into the valve housing. In a preferred embodiment, the fitting requires drilling and/or taping before it can be initially used. Preferably a plug can be secured in the fitting to prevent flow between the first side and the third side of the insert. In the preferred embodiment, after the fitting has been drilled and/or taped a plug can be secured in the fitting to prevent flow between the first side and the third side of the insert.

Preferably the insert includes at least one handle to assist in removing the insert from the opening. Preferably the at least one handle are two handles.

Preferable the valve assembly further includes an adapter to attach the inlet of the valve housing to pipework. Preferably the adapter is insertable into the inlet of the valve housing. Preferably a seal is located between the adapter and the inlet of the valve housing.

In one embodiment, the opening of the valve housing is sealed with a cap when the insert is not located in the opening.

In another embodiment a flow-through sleeve may be inserted in the opening of the valve housing when the insert is not located in the opening. Preferably the flow-through sleeve has an opening between a first side of the flow-through sleeve and a second side of the flow-through sleeve. Preferably the opening of the flow-through sleeve has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the inlet and/or of the outlet. Preferably the flow-through sleeve inhibits water from flowing from the inlet out through the opening. Preferably the flow-through sleeve is secured in the opening by a cap.

Preferably the valve assembly is made predominantly of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Alternatively, the valve assembly may be made predominantly of High-density polyethylene (HDPE).

In a further aspect the present invention broadly resides in a valve assembly including:

a valve housing having an inlet for receiving fluid, an outlet for discharging fluid and an opening; and

an insert removably insertable in the opening, the insert having a first side facing upwards and a second side facing downwards when the insert is positioned in the opening, the first side and the second side having a conduit positioned therebetween,

a control valve located at least partially within the conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position,

wherein in use the insert is inserted in the opening and the control valve is in the closed position and fluid is prevented from passing through to the outlet.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a valve assembly including:

a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet and an opening; and

an insert removably insertable in the opening, the insert having a first side facing upwards and a second side facing downwards when positioned in the opening, the first side and the second side have a conduit positioned therebetween;

a control valve located at least partially within the conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the control valve in the closed position stops fluid from passing through the conduit; and

a cap to secure the insert in the opening,

wherein the insert with the control valve in the closed position is inserted in the opening and secured by the cap to stop fluid flowing to the outlet, then after predetermined parameters are met, the cap is removed and the insert is removed from the opening, after the insert is removed from the opening the opening is sealed.

Preferably the predetermined parameters include steps required to test for leaks in pipework above the valve assembly. Preferably the steps required to test for leaks include introducing water into the pipework above the valve assembly, inspecting the pipework for leaks and opening the control valve to discharge the accumulated water from the pipework.

Preferably the cap has an aperture so that the control valve is accessible when the cap secures the insert in the opening.

In one embodiment the opening is sealed using a completely covered cap. In this embodiment, there is preferably positioned a flow-through sleeve in the opening. Where the valve housing includes a rebate portion located within the opening, the flow-through sleeve is preferably located in the opening, where the flow-through sleeve at least partially abuts the rebate portion.

In another embodiment the opening is sealed by inserting a flow-through sleeve in the opening and securing the flow-through sleeve with a cap which can be a partially covered cap or a fully covered cap. In one form, the cap which secures the flow-through sleeve in the opening is the same cap that secures the insert in the opening.

The first side facing upwards and the second side facing downwards when positioned in the opening can also be referred to as the first side facing upstream and a second side facing downstream when positioned in the opening.

In a further aspect the present invention broadly resides in a valve assembly including:

a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet and an opening; and

an insert removably insertable in the opening, the insert having a first side and a second side facing away from the first side, the first side and the second side have a conduit positioned therebetween; and

a control valve located at least partially within the conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the control valve in the closed position stops fluid from passing through the conduit,

wherein when the insert is inserted in the opening and the control valve is in the closed position, the insert substantially stops fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet.

In a further aspect the present invention broadly resides in a method of testing pipework using a valve assembly as described in any one of the above mentioned aspects, the method including the steps of:

locating the valve assembly in a suitable position in the pipework;

inserting the insert in the opening of the valve housing;

ensuring that the control valve is in the closed position;

filling water into the pipework above the inlet of the valve assembly;

moving the control valve to the open position after one or more predetermined parameters are satisfied, to discharge water through the control valve;

removing the insert from the opening of the valve housing after the water has been substantially discharged; and

sealingly closing the opening after the insert has been removed.

Preferably the step of sealingly closing the opening after the insert has been removed includes securing a cap over the opening of the valve housing. Preferably the step of sealingly closing the opening after the insert has been removed includes inserting a flow-through sleeve into the opening of the valve housing. Preferably the flow-through sleeve is inserted into the opening of the valve housing prior to securing the cap over the opening of the valve housing.

Preferably the step of inserting the insert in the opening of the valve housing includes securing the insert in the opening. Preferably the step of securing the insert in the opening includes securing a cap over the opening. Preferably the cap has an aperture so that the control valve can be accessed through the cap.

The one or more predetermined parameters could include prerequisite checks for leaks in the pipework above the valve assembly according to building regulations. Preferably the one or more predetermined parameters include checks for leaks in the upstream portion of the pipework. Preferably the upstream portion of the pipework is the pipework above the valve assembly.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a method of testing pipework using a valve assembly, the method including the steps of:

locating the valve assembly in a suitable position in the pipework, the valve assembly having a valve housing with an inlet, an outlet and an opening, the inlet connected to an upstream portion of the pipework and the outlet connected to a downstream portion of the pipework;

inserting an insert in the opening of the valve housing, the insert having a first side facing upwards and a second side facing downwards when positioned in the opening, the first side and the second side have a conduit positioned therebetween; and a control valve located at least partially within the conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position;

ensuring that the control valve is in the closed position;

filling water into the pipework above the inlet of the valve assembly;

moving the control valve to the open position after one or more predetermined parameters are satisfied, to discharge water through the control valve;

removing the insert from the opening of the valve housing after the water has been substantially discharged; and

sealingly closing the opening after the insert has been removed.

The features described with respect to one aspect also apply where applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Furthermore, different combinations of described features are herein described and claimed even when not expressly stated.

