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Float valve
 
 
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A float valve is a mechanical feedback
Feedback

Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence the same event/phenomenon in the present or future....
 mechanism that regulates fluid level by using a float to drive an inlet valve so that a higher fluid level will force the valve closed while a lower fluid level will force the valve open. This is an example of negative feedback
Negative feedback

Negative feedback feeds part of a system's output, inverted, into the system's input; generally with the result that fluctuations are attenuated....
 and of proportional control
Proportional control

A proportional control system is a type of linear feedback control system. Two classic mechanical examples are the toilet bowl float proportioning valve and the Centrifugal governor....
.

The most common use of a float valve is to control the filling of water
Water

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or States of matter, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam....
 in the water tank (cistern) of a commode
Commode

A commode, commode with legs, or commode on legs is any of several pieces of furniture. The word commode comes from the French language word for "convenient" or "suitable"....
 (toilet
Toilet

A toilet is a plumbing fixture and disposal system primarily intended for the disposal of the excretory system: urine and feces. Additionally, vomit and menstrual waste is sometimes disposed in toilets in western societies....
). Other common uses include refrigeratord as well as aquarium auto top-off systems.

This is done by utilizing a balloon type float valve.






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Encyclopedia


A float valve is a mechanical feedback
Feedback

Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence the same event/phenomenon in the present or future....
 mechanism that regulates fluid level by using a float to drive an inlet valve so that a higher fluid level will force the valve closed while a lower fluid level will force the valve open. This is an example of negative feedback
Negative feedback

Negative feedback feeds part of a system's output, inverted, into the system's input; generally with the result that fluctuations are attenuated....
 and of proportional control
Proportional control

A proportional control system is a type of linear feedback control system. Two classic mechanical examples are the toilet bowl float proportioning valve and the Centrifugal governor....
.

The most common use of a float valve is to control the filling of water
Water

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or States of matter, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam....
 in the water tank (cistern) of a commode
Commode

A commode, commode with legs, or commode on legs is any of several pieces of furniture. The word commode comes from the French language word for "convenient" or "suitable"....
 (toilet
Toilet

A toilet is a plumbing fixture and disposal system primarily intended for the disposal of the excretory system: urine and feces. Additionally, vomit and menstrual waste is sometimes disposed in toilets in western societies....
). Other common uses include refrigeratord as well as aquarium auto top-off systems.

This is done by utilizing a balloon type float valve. Its working is thus:

A ball shaped hollow sphere , made of hardened rubber or copper alloy sheet is sealed so that water cannot enter it. This is attached to an arm that in turn is attached to the valve or flap.

The valve or flap controls the opening of the pipe through which water flows into the tank/cistern

Under empty condition, valve is fully open and balloon is suspended freely.

As water ingresses into the container, the balloon, on account of trapped air and buoyancy, begins to rise / float on the water surface.

Soon the balloon floats high enough so that the arm attached to the balloon closes the valve and stops water from flowing in.

Thus when water is filled to a certain level, its inflow is stopped by this arrangement.

See also

  • ballcock
    Ballcock

    A ballcock is a mechanism for filling water tanks, such as those found in flush toilets, while avoiding overflow. It was invented by Thomas Crapper....