Fluid handling – With indicator – register – recorder – alarm or inspection means – Position or extent of motion indicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-04-10
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
Position or extent of motion indicator
C137S625240, C251S310000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213149
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates broadly to diversion valves, and more particularly to an in-line, three or more way diversion valve which is of a compact, generally tee-shaped design and which has a flow-through capability especially adapted for point of use residential or commercial water purification systems in allowing a constant flow through the valve run for connection to the water supply line and an interruptible flow to one or more branches for connection to the purification unit.
Potable water purification systems are becoming increasingly popular as point of use (POU) installations. As may be seen with reference to
FIG. 1
, wherein a representative one such POU installation is illustrated in cut-away perspective at
10
, the purification unit,
12
, which may be, for example, of a reverse osmosis or multi-bank filtration variety, typically is located within the interior of a cabinet,
14
, which supports a sink bowel,
16
, and an associated faucet,
18
. Faucet
18
includes a pair of downwardly-depending stands, one of which is referenced at
20
, configured for a threaded, typically ⅜-inch connection with an end of one of a pair of supply tubes,
22
a-b
, which may be copper or plastic tubing, or vinyl or braided steel hose. The other end of each of supply tubes
22
is connected to either a hot or a cold shut-off valve,
24
a-b
, respectively, which admits water flow from an associated hot or cold supply line,
26
a-b
, respectively. Water is supplied to purification unit
12
via a separate branch tube,
28
.
Conventionally, and as is described further in U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,903, the connection, referenced in phantom at
30
, of branch tube
28
, to the cold supply tube
22
b
is effected by breaking the tube with a tee fitting, the branch of which fitting is connected to a shut-off valve which may be separate or integral with the fitting. Such a connection
30
allows for water flow to be maintained to the faucet
18
through the in-line “run” of the tee with the flow to the purification unit
12
through the orthogonal tee branch being separately controllable. In this regard, with the water supply to the purification unit
12
being closed, the sink thereby remains available for use in cleaning the filters, cartridges, or the like of the unit. In alternative arrangements, tube
22
b
may be tapped with a piercing or non-piercing saddle valve, or the connection
30
may be made directly to the faucet stand
20
. Representative valves and fittings of the type herein involved are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,552,434; 3,630,231; 3,628,568; 3,896,842; 3,941,145; 3,974,848; 4,177,832; 4,703,956; 4,809,949; 4,832,083; 4,887,644; 5,234,193; 5,269,344; 5,293,903; 5,435,337; and 5,690,135, European Pat. Nos. EP 218,481 and 750,155, and International Pat. Application (PCT) Nos. WO 97/34096 and 98/49474, and are manufactured commercially by Dae Myung Chemical Co., Ltd. (Inchon, Korea); QMP, Inc. (Sun Valley, Calif.), G. A. Murdock, Inc. (Madison, S. Dak.), Mazzer Industries, Inc. (Rochester, N.Y.), SMC Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), and the Parflex Division of Parker-Hannifin Corporation (Ravenna, Ohio).
It will be appreciated, however, that the available clearance within the interior of the cabinet
14
is limited by the cabinet back wall,
32
, and, in retrofit installations, by the sink bowel
16
. Thus, the installation and removal of tee and valve assemblies having a relatively large envelope and, for threaded connections, angular displacement, is often timing consuming for the installer who typically is not a skilled plumber. Indeed, the installation of fitting and valves having threaded connections is further complicated by the need to maintain a specific orientation of the tee branch and valve relative to the purification unit.
In view of the foregoing, it is believed that improvements in the design of valves and connections for POU water purification systems would be well-received by manufactures and consumers alike. Especially desired would be a diversion valve construction which is both inexpensive and install, and which provides reliable operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed broadly to a diversion valve, and more particularly to an in-line, three or more way diversion valve which is of a reliable and compact, generally tee-shaped design. In having a flow-through capability, the diversion valve of the present invention is especially adapted for residential or commercial POU water purification systems in allowing for a constant flow through the in-line “run” of the valve for connection between the water supply line and the faucet, and an interruptible flow through one or more branches for connection between the water supply line and one or more purification units. Advantageously, the handle or knob of the valve is integrated into the in-line run of the valve to maintain a reduced envelope size as compared to conventional assemblies.
In basic construction, the valve of the present invention includes a body and a generally cylindrical plug which is assembled with the body. The body is provided as having a generally-annular run portion and at least one generally-annular transverse or branch portion. The body run portion extends axially along a first axis from a first end opening configured to define a first fluid port of the valve to a second end opening. The body branch portion extends radially from the run portion intermediate the first and the second end opening along a second axis disposed generally perpendicular to the first axis to a third end opening configured to define a second fluid port of the valve. The plug, in turn, is provided as extending coaxially with the run portion of the body along the first axis thereof from a first end received internally within the body intermediate the first and the third end opening thereof to a second end which extends externally beyond the body second end opening and is configured to define a third fluid port of the valve which is aligned coaxially with the first fluid port.
The plug is rotatable within the body about the first axis thereof and is formed as having a first fluid passageway extending coaxially with the first axis through the internal and the external end, and at least one second fluid passageway extending therein along a third axis disposed generally perpendicular to the first axis. The first fluid passageway defines with the first and the third fluid port a first fluid flow path through the valve, with the second fluid passageway communicating with the first fluid passageway in defining with the first fluid flow path and the second fluid port a second fluid flow path through the valve. For directing the flow of water or other fluid through the valve body, the second end of the plug is hand-accessible for the rotation of the plug between a first angular position wherein the third axis of the second fluid passageway is aligned coaxially with the second axis of the body transverse portion to open the second fluid flow path, and a second angular position wherein the third axis is angularly displaced relative to the second axis to close the second fluid flow path.
In a preferred embodiment, at least the second fluid port of the valve plug is adapted for a releasable, push-in connection with a distal tube end which may be presented from a length of copper, plastic, or other tubing, or, alternatively, from a fitting adapter having a proximal end which is connected to a length of braided hose or the like. In this regard, the plug is configured as having an internal gland defined within the second end thereof the plug coaxially with the first fluid passageway. The gland, in turn, is configured is to receive an annular collet which extends coaxially with the first axis from an internal end journaled within the gland to an external end. The collet is slidably movable within the gland intermediate a rearward position accommodating a radial outward expansion of the collet member for the insertion and removal of the tube end therethrough and
Lee Kevin
Molnar, Jr. John A.
Parker-Hannifin Corp.
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