Liquid purification or separation – Plural distinct separators – Filters
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-29
2001-03-06
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Plural distinct separators
Filters
C210S421000, C137S454600, C137S625150, C137S630170, C251S315100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06197195
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fluid handling apparatus (e.g., liquid strainers) and flow control assemblies therefor and, more particularly, to flow control assemblies adapted for facilitating assembly and disassembly of fluid handling apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, various ball valves have been developed for use in fluid handling apparatus (e.g., duplex strainers and filters). For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,722 discloses a duplex strainer having an upper ball valve and a lower ball valve housed within a housing of the strainer, while U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,401 discloses a filter having a pair of filter elements and a pair of ball valves mounted within a housing of the filter. These ball valves are typically mounted directly within the housings, and, as a result, they are installed directly in the housings during assembly of the fluid handling apparatus. Because of the large number of components associated with the ball valves (e.g., valve seats, valve stems, valve seals), installation and removal of the ball valves to and from the housings are made difficult and time-consuming.
Some plug-type or similar valves have been housed in liners or sleeves (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,977,969, 3,066,909 and 4,467,832). However, because these liners or sleeves are not specifically designed for ball valves, they are not adapted for use in installing ball valves in associated fluid handling apparatus. In the foregoing circumstances, there is a need for a device for facilitating installation and removal of ball valves to and from fluid handling apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art discussed above by providing a new and improved flow control assembly adapted for use in fluid handling apparatus, such as duplex strainers and diverter valves. More particularly, the flow control assembly is provided with a cartridge which includes a body sized and shaped so as to be received in a housing of the fluid handling apparatus. The body has a first chamber and a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber. The first chamber includes a first fluid inlet and first and second fluid outlets, while the second chamber includes second and third fluid inlets and a third fluid outlet. A first valve is movably positioned in the first chamber. The first valve is movable between a first position, in which fluid passes from the first fluid inlet to the first fluid outlet, and a second position, in which fluid passes from the first fluid inlet to the second fluid outlet. A second valve is also movably positioned in the second chamber. The second valve is movable between a third position, in which fluid passes from the second fluid inlet to the third fluid outlet, and a fourth position, in which fluid passes from the third fluid inlet to the third fluid outlet. A moving mechanism is provided for conjointly moving the first and second valves such that the first valve is in the first position when the second valve is in the third position and such that the first valve is in the second position when the second valve is in the fourth position.
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Booth Walter A.
Falcone Leonard
Montano Florito C.
H-Tech, Inc.
Lawrence Frank M.
Selitto & Associates
Simmons David A.
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