Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-11
2001-08-14
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
C251S208000, C137S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273132
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a valve for controlling the flow of fluid; and, more particularly, the invention is directed to an in-line valve having a simplified valve stack construction.
2. Related Art
Contemporary in-line valves comprise a fitting with a valve seat seal, which is mounted in a fluid or water supply line. Typically, a portion of the supply line is removed and the fitting replaces the removed portion. The fitting is usually threaded on or welded to the supply line.
The valve seat includes a rotatable shaft extending from the interior to the exterior of the fitting. The exterior end of the shaft mounts a handle or similar structure for grasping and rotating the shaft. The interior end of the shaft is mounted to a disk or washer. As the handle is rotated, the valve seat is moved into or out of compressive contact with a seal to close or open the valve depending on the direction of handle rotation.
One disadvantage of the valve seat seal is that it requires multiple turns of the shaft to fully open or fully close the valve seat. It can also take a substantial amount of force to rotate the shaft and to compress the valve seat a sufficient amount to obtain an adequate seal. As the valve seat wears, especially from over-tightening, greater compressive force is usually needed to obtain a complete seal. The multiple rotations of the handle and the excessive force needed to rotate the handle and seal the valve is considered an inconvenience by many users.
An alternative to the valve seat seal is a disk stack, which generally takes the form of a fixed disk and a rotating disk, each having corresponding openings that are aligned in one rotational position to permit water flow and un-aligned in another rotational position o prevent water flow. Examples of such in-line valves are show in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,426,797, issued Oct. 20, 1965 and 5,088,689, issued Feb. 18, 1992.
The disk stacks are advantageous in that the control of water flow running through the disks is dependent on the rotational position of the disks, instead of the axial compressive force of the seat seal valve. The ceraminc disks are are disadvantageous in that they are difficult to manufacture and are subject to breakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an in-line valve alone or in the environment of a hydrant for controlling fluid flow through a supply line. The in-line valve comprises an outer casing that defines a casing passageway having a longitudinal axis. An attachment device is mounted to the outer casing for connecting the outer casing to a supply line. The attachment device defines an attachment passageway, and has a dividing wall spanning the attachment passageway with a fluid port extending through the dividing wall. The valve further includes a valve stem defining a valve stem passageway and has a dividing wall spanning the valve stem passageway with a fluid port extending therethrough. The valve stem passageway is in fluid communication with the casing passageway. The attachment device dividing wall cooperates with the valve stem wall to control fluid flow from the supply line through said valve by the movement of the valve stem wall relative to the dividing wall between an open position and a closed position where the at least one fluid port of the valve stem wall and the at least one port of the dividing wall are fluidly connected and fluidly disconnected, respectively.
Preferably, the valve stem wall comprises a plate mounted to the valve stem, with the valve stem fluid port extending through the plate. A seal can surround one of the dividing wall fluid ports and the valve stem fluid port to seal the dividing wall relative to the plate.
The valve can further include a handle connected to the valve stem with a portion of the handle extends externally of the casing for use in rotating the valve stem relative to the attachment device. The externally extending handle portion extends from the casing in a direction that is radial to the casing longitudinal axis. The externally extending handle portion can extend from the casing in a direction that is axial to the casing longitudinal axis. A control knob can be mounted to the handle.
Preferably, the attachment device comprises an attachment portion and a removable casing portion, with the dividing wall spanning the removable casing portion.
The valve stem comprises a body that is received within the removable casing portion, and the plate is mounted to the body. The body can include a handle coupler, which connects to one end of the handle, which can mount a control knob
In another aspect of the invention, the in-line valve comprises an outer casing defining a casing passageway engageable with the supply line and an operating handle opening formed in and extending through a sidewall of said outer casing. An attachment device is receivable within and engageable with said outer casing for connecting said outer casing to the supply line. The attachment device includes an attachment passageway therethrough for fluid to flow through said valve. The attachment device further includes a dividing wall spanning said attachment passageway and having at least one fluid flow port formed therein. The in-line valve also includes a valve stem defining a valve stem passage, and which is mounted for selective rotation about a central axis. A plate spans an opening of said valve stem passage and has at least one fluid port formed therein. The plate being mounted onto said valve stem so as to be axially aligned along said central axis and abutting said dividing wall, wherein the selective rotation of the valve stem between an open position and a closed position about said central axis controls fluid flow through said valve by aligning and mis-aligining the fluid ports of said dividing wall and said plate. A handle extends from the valve stem through the handle opening to enable a user to rotate the valve stem.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5025832 (1991-06-01), Taylor
patent: 5025833 (1991-06-01), Hendrick
patent: 5392805 (1995-02-01), Chrysler
Chrysler Jim D.
Creswell Robert S.
Amerikam, Inc.
Lee Kevin
Rader, Fishman, Grauer & McGarr
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