Self stopping water fill nozzle?

[zmoz]

I frequently find myself filling 55 gallon drums with water from the hose inside my barn, which is very low flow and takes about 20 minutes to fill. I inevitably wander off only to come back to the drum overflowing all over the floor making a muddy mess. I'd really like to be able to turn the water on and just leave sometimes.

What I need is basically a nozzle like they have at the gas station that stops when the tank is full. Does anybody sell something like that meant to be used with a water hose?

 

[Redgoatea]

Not exactly what you're looking for but you could just put a quick disconnect on your hose and one on a float from a watering trough then hang the float on the barrel. Assuming it's an open top barrel that is. 7

 

[CurlyDave]

Most cell phones have a timer feature.

Set it for 15 minutes and wander off ... get back just in time.

Another option is a sprinkler timer, I have seen spring wound ones in lawn & garden departments.

 

[mjncad]

Another option is a sprinkler timer, I have seen spring wound ones in lawn & garden departments.

I like this idea the best in case he wanders off too far (e.g. sitting on the throne with a good book :laughing to get back in time.

 

[SpringHollow]

There are lots of different float type valves out there. Check out the ones used for cattle like mentioned above. There are small ones used in RO systems also. There are also electronic ones but you really do not need one of those. A valve would be much nicer than a timer because you could be busy with something for hours and not have to worry about it.

Ken

 

[zmoz]

Unfortunately these are closed top drums so I would need some sort of float valve that fits through the bung opening. A timer would be better than nothing, but, I would really like it to end up exactly full, no more, no less, and the amount of time that takes can vary with my water pressure. Actually it would be nice if I could turn it on when I'm leaving and come back to a full drum the next day.

A normal fuel nozzle like this would be perfect:
Northern Industrial Automatic Shutoff Fuel Nozzle | Fuel Nozzles | Northern Tool + Equipment
...but $50 + shipping is a bit much for what I want, and it doesn't need to be fuel rated...

How do those nozzles work? Maybe I can rig something similar up...

 

[ETpilot]

Go look at the float valves for livestock. They just have the water inlet, a metal tube for the water inlet and a float with a rubber seal to stop the flow.
When the metal case on my float valve wore out, I just made a fiberglas unit using some of the parts. I then made another unit using my own parts.

For your task, I would use a water inlet with the tube inlet. This tube end is sharpened to make a good seal. Place this in a PVC pipe. Make a float that rides up in the PVC pipe with a rubber piece on top to make the seal.

Now you turn on the water. The float rides up the PVC pipe. When the rubber seal contacts the sharpened tube it seals and cuts off the water. You just set the PVC pipe to what ever water level you want.

This is kind of hard to explain but if you look at a float valve and see how it works, you will see what I mean. I am thinking outside the box but I think I can make one of these float valve. This may work. The cost to make would be very low.

Just thinking.

 

[ETpilot]

I looked for the old valve that I made but could not find it. I did find an old float. This will illustrate how this valve works. The tube is a copper tube that I beveled at the end to a fine point. The rubber disc on the float is 1.25" D so a small valve can be made. For this particular valve the most critical part is that the pivot point is placed so the rubber disc and the tube meet at a right angle. This will provide the best seal.

As the water rises the float will move up and the seal will contact the tube. This will start sealing the water flow. As more water rises more pressure is placed on the float. Eventually the rubber seal cuts off all water flow. It does not take a lot of pressure to stop the flow.

IIRC, when I made my valve I used a metal cap that fit the end of the hose. I drilled a hole in the cap to pass the tube. I made this a tight fit and then sealed the hole edge so no water passes. Then I just made the housing that holds it all together.

Rethinking this valve idea for your needs, I would make a small pivoting float. Like thin PVC pipe. Seal both ends a grind as much material away from the end caps to make it as light weight as possible. Then you could work this valve in at an angle and then secure the water hose vertical. I think it is possible that this may work. Any way hope this helps and good luck with your project.

 

[Car Doc]

You might try Hudson Valve Company, Inc.

I have them on my stock tanks because I am not capable of standing in one place or keep my mind on one thing for more than 2 minutes w/o starting on something else that needs done!

I always run my tanks over every single time I HAD to get one of these! :laughing:

 

[SpringHollow]

Spectrapure carries small float valves that you could adapt to a quick connect garden hose connection. You could tap the bung hole cover or adapt from the bung hole opening. They are small enough to fit through. I use one in the cap of a 10 gallon carboy.

FLOATS FOR REVERSE OSMOSIS

Ken

 

[JohninCT]

That Hudson Float Valve looks to be just the thing you're looking for. Looks to be a pretty simple and effective design. Thanks for the link Car Doc According to their web site, TSC and Ace hardware sell them. $26 for the 1 inch size at TSC.

For anyone who wants to know about how a gas nozzle auto shutoff works this link has a good description and a diagram. I never thought about how it works... pretty interesting.

Sleeping birds don’t fall, gas-pumps shut-off cleverly, hospitals cold shoulder germs

 

[heitjer]

a quick thought - wouldn't a toilette shut off valve (flush valve) do the trick?

The water connection at the bottom allows you to connect you water hose, just need to build a little rig to hang this off inside the tank. You get these for $6 dollar.

 

[zmoz]

Thanks for the info everyone! I'll try and get to Ace hardware and look around, the only thing close to me is Home Depot and their selection is crap. One thing that worries me is that my hose, although very low flow, will build up to almost 100 PSI when it shuts off. Cheap hoses don't last long before they burst. I think this might be too much pressure for a simple float to plug and stop the flow.

I was going through some boxes of junk and I found an electric sprinkler valve and 24v transformer for it - I might attach that to my hose, and make some kind of simple magnet floating on something in the barrel, with a magnetic reed switch on the outside at the right height. I need to go to the local junk store and see if they have anything usefull...

 

[lilranch2001]

Spectrapure carries small float valves that you could adapt to a quick connect garden hose connection. You could tap the bung hole cover or adapt from the bung hole opening. They are small enough to fit through. I use one in the cap of a 10 gallon carboy.

FLOATS FOR REVERSE OSMOSIS

Ken

1/4" inlet would take forever to fill a 55 gal drum

 

[Car Doc]

will build up to almost 100 PSI when it shuts off. Cheap hoses don't last long before they burst. I think this might be too much pressure for a simple float to plug and stop the flow.

Wow thats some high pressure but a regulator may stop the overflow long enough for you to get back and turn the hose off!

I don't know the pressure range they run at maximum but on my camper I have a brass regulator that we use for the city water connection. It is supposed to keep the output @ 50psi if I remember right and its just a plain old hose connection check your local camper store or maybe even walmart they have camper stuff, the regulator goes on @ the spigot so it should save your hoses. hth

edit: I just did some checking they run $11-17 w/o gage and the inlet pressure isn't a concern the output varies by brand so you can basically pick the output within 10-15 psi you want looks like.

 

[czechsonofagun]

You could have the switch off activated by the overflow water too. Better than timer.

 

[JohninCT]

my hose, although very low flow, will build up to almost 100 PSI when it shuts off. Cheap hoses don't last long before they burst. I think this might be too much pressure for a simple float to plug and stop the flow.

I was going through some boxes of junk and I found an electric sprinkler valve and 24v transformer for it - I might attach that to my hose

Magnets, power supplies, solenoid valves, etc all to devise a way to fill a 55 gal drum with water? IMHO you need to keep it simple and reasonable cost. I'm thinking that CurlyDave's suggestion of a mechanical sprinkler timer at the faucet inlet to the hose is worth considering. No offense intended, just wondering if it's really worth all the time and effort to you?

Amazon.com: mechanical water timer

 

[lilranch2001]

Magnets, power supplies, solenoid valves, etc all to devise a way to fill a 55 gal drum with water? IMHO you need to keep it simple and reasonable cost. I'm thinking that CurlyDave's suggestion of a mechanical sprinkler timer at the faucet inlet to the hose is worth considering. No offense intended, just wondering if it's really worth all the time and effort to you?

Amazon.com: mechanical water timer

I dont know..... sometimes I like to do things like this just to do it and watch it work, but then I am easily entertained

 

[zmoz]

Magnets, power supplies, solenoid valves, etc all to devise a way to fill a 55 gal drum with water? IMHO you need to keep it simple and reasonable cost. I'm thinking that CurlyDave's suggestion of a mechanical sprinkler timer at the faucet inlet to the hose is worth considering. No offense intended, just wondering if it's really worth all the time and effort to you?

Amazon.com: mechanical water timer

You're absolutely right, but that's how most of my projects turn out. I wouldn't bother if I didn't already have a bunch of the major parts, like the valve. I've installed plenty of sprinkler systems before, so I know how it all works. I cut a float switch off a dead sump pump that I think I might be able to use to trigger the valve. Haven't had much time to tinker with it yet. I love repurposing junk I already have.

But...since I've posted this, I've filled up at least 10 drums of water, and spilled probably 50 gallons on the floor. Apparently I have the attention span of a goldfish...

 

[czechsonofagun]

Thats what I would use children for - sit them next to barrel with a book, they get wet - they shut the water.