Claims:We claim:

1) A filtration valve assembly characterized in that the said valve comprises:
a valve body (12) with six compartments separated by ribs;
a water inlet-A;
a water outlet-B;
a drain outlet-C;
a gasket (11) on top of the said valve body (12);
a spindle (10) loaded using a soft spring ensuring opening of one compartment at a time in the valve body ports;
a cover (5) threaded to the top of the said valve body (12) and sealed with O ring (6);
a handle (1) movable and positionable at desired position by a handle positioner (4) to control flow of water by rotation of said handle (1);
a top strainer (16);
a bottom strainer (17); and
a riser pipe (19).

2) The filtration valve assembly as substantially shown in the drawings.

3) A process for filtration of water by rotating the filtration valve handle (1) to the desired position comprising the steps of:

removing unwanted suspended impurities in the water by rotating the valve handle (1) to the first position wherein water flows through an inlet A, comes out through a top strainer (16), flows through a filter media (18) to remove impurities, filtered water enters through a bottom strainer (17), goes up through a riser pipe (19) and moves through the outlet B to service line;

backwashing the trapped impurities in the filter media (18) by rotating the valve handle (1) to the second position wherein water flows through the inlet A, moves through the riser pipe (19), comes out through the bottom strainer (17), flows up through the filtration media (18), enters top strainer (16) and comes out through the drain C outlet.

rinsing the filtration bed by rotating the valve handle to the third position wherein water flows through the inlet A , comes out through the top strainer (16), flows through the filter media (18), gets collected through the bottom strainer (17), goes up through the riser pipe and flows out from the drain port C outlet.

4) The process for filtration of water as substantially shown in the drawings.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a filtration valve assembly and process for filtration of water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are several drawbacks of conventional valves, which are mentioned below:

[0003] Molding Process – Molding of valve body requires 480 tone injection molding m/c where electricity power is more and it is very expensive.

[0004] Inventory Control – Existing valves are assembled with 23 components (26% more components required compared to the proposed invention) making the inventory maintenance very complex. Requires lot of space to keep the stock. Ordering the components is also complex. During issuing, since the number of components is very high, it consumes lot of time.

[0005] Fig. 1 shows a conventional valve assembly with the components listed below:

[0006] Manufacturing Process – Requires more space & more man power for assembly of the valves as there are more components. Assembly time or cycle time for making one complete valve takes approximately 6hrs. In pasting process itself it consumes 4hrs. Additionally 11 bolts & nuts with two washers are required for one single valve. To tighten the nuts & bolts, power tool which consumes electric power is required. Extreme care has to be taken during tightening of nut & bolts. If tightened with extra torque, then the valve body/ valve cover can get damaged. In house testing rejection percentage is approx 6% to 7%. Due to all above causes productivity gets reduced and it affects the delivery period and consequently leads to less sales.

[0007] Storage, Packing & Transportation – Bigger size packing materials required. Storage area need to be very large compared to the new valve. For existing valves Storage volume is more by approximately 48% when compared to the new valve. Transportation cost is also getting extra because volume is more.

[0008] Service on site– Since number of components is very high; the failure probability is also quite high. Hence frequent on site servicing becomes essential. This leads to more expenses on the service manpower. Dismantling of the valve is also very difficult as all the 11 nuts and bolts needs to be removed.

[0009] There is a recognized need in the art for a filtration valve that does not suffer from the drawbacks of conventional valves. The present invention overcomes the above disadvantages and fulfills this long standing need in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00010] An object of the present invention is to provide a filtration valve assembly which consumes lesser power for manufacturing.

[00011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a filtration valve assembly which makes inventory maintenance simple by reducing the number of components required for assembling.

[00012] Another object of the present invention is to reduce storage space and man power for assembling. Ordering the components is not so complex. Issuing of material consumes less time.

[00013] Another object of the present invention is to ease the manufacturing process by requiring less manpower. Maximum production time for 1 valve will not be more than 60 minutes. Very less electrical power required. No special care for assembly as no nuts and bolts tightening process is involved. Rejection percentage can be easily controlled to less than 1%. Due to increased productivity with reduced cost, sales can be increased considerably.

[00014] Another object of the present invention is to ease Storage, Packing & Transportation. All the packing boxes will be of smaller size, hence 40% lesser storage area will be required. With reduced box size and reduced weight of the valve, the transportation cost gets cheaper and hence the sales volumes can be increased considerably.

[00015] Another object of the present invention is to ease the dismantling of the valve with less manpower. Since the number of components is very less, the probability of failure also gets reduced considerably. Hence more customer satisfaction which leads to more sales.

[00016] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the manufacturing cycle time and improve the performance on site. It will also improve the organization growth and increase our market share.

[00017] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the space required to assemble as the number of components is 26% less than the existing valve.

[00018] Another object of the present invention is to enhance the work environment for the employees as more space will be available.

[00019] Another object of the present invention is to ease control of inventory. Since Components are less, effective control on quality of incoming components becomes simple with the new valve.

[00020] Another object of the present invention is to ease dismantling of the valve, hence less manpower time is required. Since the number of components is very less, the probability of failure also gets reduced considerably. Hence more customer satisfaction which leads to more sales.

[00021] Another object of the present invention is to reduce manpower by 30%. Maximum production time for 1 valve will not be more than 60 minutes. Very less electrical power required. No special care for assembly as no nuts and bolts tightening process is involved. Rejection percentage can be easily controlled to less than 1%. Due to increased productivity with reduced cost, sales can be increased considerably. If cycle time is reducing by 85% then our productivity will get improved and organization sales turn over will get improved.

[00022] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the weight of the valve. Newly developed valve over all weight is 49% less than the conventional valves. Storage and handling will be easy and safe. Chances of rejection due to the handling damage will be very less. On site operation is very safe and easy as handle spring is Very soft. Changing the handle position will take less amount of force compared to the existing valve.

[00023] Accordingly, to meet the objects of the invention, disclosed herein is a filtration valve assembly wherein the said valve comprises a valve body with six compartments separated by ribs; a water inlet-A; a water outlet-B; a drain outlet-C; a gasket on top of the said valve body; a spindle loaded using a soft spring ensuring opening of one compartment at a time in the valve body ports; a cover threaded to the top of the said valve body and sealed with O ring; a handle movable and positionable at desired position by a handle positioner to control flow of water by rotation of said handle; a top strainer; a bottom strainer; and a riser pipe.

[00024] Accordingly to a further aspect of the invention, disclosed herein is a process for filtration of water by positioning the filtration valve handle in desired position comprising the steps of removing unwanted suspended impurities in the water by rotating the valve handle to the first position wherein water flows through an inlet A, comes out through a top strainer, flows through a filter media to remove impurities, filtered water enters through a bottom strainer, goes up through a riser pipe and moves through the outlet B to service line; backwashing the trapped impurities in the filter media by rotating the valve handle to the second position wherein water flows through the inlet A, moves through the riser pipe, comes out through the bottom strainer, flows up through the filtration media, enters top strainer and comes out through the drain C outlet; rinsing the filtration bed by rotating the valve handle to the third position wherein water flows through the inlet A , comes out through the top strainer, flows through the filter media, gets collected through the bottom strainer, goes up through the riser pipe and flows out from the drain port C outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00025] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the inventions only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.
[00026] Figure 1 shows a convention valve assembly
[00027] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the filtration valve assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
[00028] Figure 3 depicts the filtration process when the filtration valve is in first position (filtration position) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
[00029] Figure 4 depicts the filtration process when the filtration valve is in second position (backwash position) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
[00030] Figure 5 depicts the filtration process when the filtration valve is in the third position (rinse position) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
[00031] Figure 6 shows a flowchart in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00032] Definitions unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

[00033] The present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention relates to a filtration valve.

[00034] Referring to Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the filtration valve comprises the following components:

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filtration valve is constructed using injection molding process by using engineering thermoplastic granules comprising:
1. A valve body (12) with six compartments internally. The six compartments are separated by ribs which has a gasket on the top
2. A Spindle (10) made of engineering thermoplastic material, which is loaded using a soft spring ensuring opening of one compartment at a time in the valve body ports.
3. A cover (5) is threaded to the top of the valve body (12) . It is sealed with O ring (6) as shown in product drawing.
4. Handle positions ; The handle positions are designed in a such way that each of the 3 positions as listed below can be achieved by positioning the nose of the handle in the respective slot.
[00035] WORKING DETAILS:
[00036] Valve has to be fixed on the threaded vessels (20). The valve has to be placed on top of the vessel (20) and screwed carefully on to the vessel till it gets tightened fully. In position 1 as described below, the valve helps in directing flow through a filter media (18) thereby removing the unwanted suspended impurities in the water. As the filter media (18) gets choked, the water will not be able to pass through the filter media (18). At this point of time the filter media needs to cleaned/backwashed to wash away all the trapped impurities. For this purpose the direction of flow has to be reversed and also the water has to go to the drain outlet C instead of the service tank. Our multiport valve in its position 2 as described below helps in reversing the direction of flow inside the filter media, thereby cleaning the filter media and directing the impure water through the drain outlet C of the multiport valve. Now since the filter bed/ media (18) is fully loosened/ disturbed due to the backflow of the water, before putting the valve in the service cycle, the filter media (18) needs to be streamlined. For this purpose the valve handle is placed in Position no.3 as described below. During this rinsing operation the water flows from the top to bottom as during the service cycle, but the output goes through the drain. For this functionality the multiport valve is placed in the position no.3. The valve directs the flow from top to bottom in the filter media and directs the wash water to the drain outlet C.

[00037] THE VALVE OPERATES IN 3 POSITIONS,

[00038] POSITION 1: FILTRATION – Figure 3 depicts the filtration process when the filtration valve is in first position (filtration position) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. During this cycle water flows through the inlet – A and comes out through the top strainer (16) and then flows through the filter media (18). The filter media (18) could be of sand and pebbles or any other media to remove impurities like dissolved iron in the water.
[00039] Finally in the bottom the filtered water enters through the bottom strainer (17), goes up through the riser pipe (19) and moves through the outlet - B to the service.
[00040] POSITION 2: BACKWASH - Figure 4 depicts the filtration process when the filtration valve is in second position (backwash position) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention During this cycle water flows through the inlet - A, moves through the riser pipe (19) and comes out through the bottom strainer (17) flows up through the filter media (18) enters top strainer (16) and comes out through the drain - C.
[00041] POSITION 3: RINSE – Figure 5 depicts the filtration process when the filtration valve is in the third position (rinse position) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. During this cycle water flows through the inlet – A of the valve and comes out from the top strainer (16) and then flows through the filter media (18) and gets collected through the bottom strainer (17) moves up through the riser pipe (19) and flows out from the drain port – C out let.

[00042] Therefore, the present invention discloses a filtration valve assembly and process for filtration of water using a reduced number of components which has several advantages as listed below:

[00043] 1. Requires less space to assemble as the number of components is 26% less than the existing valve. Enhances the work environment for the employees as more space will be available.

[00044] 2. Storage area for components is comparatively less than existing valve components. Inventory control can be very easy. Since Components are less, effective control on quality of incoming components becomes simple with the new valve.

[00045] 3. Easy to dismantle the valve, hence less manpower time is required. Since the number of components is very less, the probability of failure also gets reduced considerably. Hence more customer satisfaction which leads to more sales.

[00046] 4. – Requires comparatively 30% less manpower. Maximum production time for 1 valve will not be more than 60 minutes. Very less electrical power required. No special care for assembly as no nuts and bolts tightening process is involved. Rejection percentage can be easily controlled to less than 1%. Due to increased productivity with reduced cost, sales can be increased considerably.

[00047] 5. If cycle time is reducing by 85% then our productivity will get improved and organization sales turn over will get improved.

[00048] 6. Newly developed valve over all weight is 49% less than the existing valve. Storage and handling will be easy and safe. Chances of rejection due to the handling damage will be very less.

[00049] 7. On site operation is very safe and easy as handle spring is Very soft. Changing the handle position will take less amount of force compare to the existing valve.

[00050] The foregoing description is for preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated that these embodiments are described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

[00051] Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.