Fluid handling – With casing – support – protector or static constructional... – Static constructional installations
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-10-09
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With casing, support, protector or static constructional...
Static constructional installations
C137S801000, C251S041000, C251S045000, C251S090000, C251S294000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298872
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a novel valve apparatus and to a method for reducing water use, and more particularly, to hands free apparatus for controlling water discharge operations and to thereby reduce water usage at taps such as kitchen and bathroom sinks, whether residential or industrial.
BACKGROUND
As a result of either water costs or shortages, it is often desirable to reduce the amount of water consumed at a point of use, such as at a tap supplying water to a household kitchen sink. Typically, the actual amount of water required to accomplish the task at hand is relatively small compared to the amount of water that is inadvertently wasted while the user's attention is directed elsewhere. For example, it is often inconvenient to shut off the water flow between rinsing separate utensils, or while cutting a freshly rinsed vegetable. Or, handling faucets when cutting raw meat may inadvertently contaminate the controls with bacteria, such as virulent stains of ecoli, and is best avoided by leaving rinse water running during meat cutting operations, to avoid health code violations in institutional or commercial kitchen settings. While the economic cost of such wasteful practices has only begun to reach the pocketbooks of individual consumers, collectively, society has begun to encounter the cost of such practices in many ways. For example, it has become common in certain areas to hear of the denial of water availability certifications which are required before beginning construction of new homes. Also, consumptive water uses have reduced in-stream flows, have contributed to the decline of fish populations, and also have adversely impacted the recreational use of certain lakes and rivers that are used for water supply.
I am aware of various attempts in which an effort has been made to provide an apparatus for reducing water flow at a tap. Such attempts are largely characterized by designs which include some sort of repositionable valve that is controlled by a foot or hand actuated mechanism. For example, one such design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,095, 941 issued Mar. 17, 1992 to J. Betz for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING A FAUCET. In one embodiment, his invention provides a pressure switch which is mounted at or near the floor and is activated by the user's foot, and which allows flow for a predetermined amount of time after the foot valve is actuated. More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,600 was issued Feb. 7, 1995 to Gilbert, Sr. for LATCHING FOOT PEDAL ACTUATED TAP WATER FLOW CONTROLLER. That patent discloses a latch and release mechanism for regulating water flow through a tap with a foot actuated valve.
For the most part, the documents identified in the preceding paragraph or which are otherwise known to me disclose devices which require the supply of an extended mechanical or electrical linkage portion, and in some cases, additional various adjustable parts. Also, in so far as I am aware, although diaphragm type valves have long been known, the special design necessary to adapt such devices to regulate tap water flow has not been exploited heretofore by others.
Thus, the advantages offered by my simple, hydraulically actuated, unique diaphragm valve design, and its avoidance of electrical or mechanical linkages as a prerequisite to actuate a water flow valve, are important and self- evident.
OBJECTS, ADVANTAGES, AND NOVEL FEATURES
I have now invented, and disclose herein, a novel design for a pilot controlled water flow control valve and accompanying actuator bar which does not have the above-discussed drawbacks common to those somewhat similar products heretofore designed or used of which I am aware. Unlike the earlier designs that attempted to provide a mechanical or electrical linkage for use in opening and closing a valve, my design provides a simple means for opening and closing the valve, without resorting to either electrical or mechanical components. Further, it is simple to use, easy to install, and otherwise superior to those designs heretofore used or proposed. In addition, it provides significant reduction in water consumption in systems that utilize the device.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent to the reader that one important and primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel pilot valve actuated water valve apparatus for reducing the consumption of water in regulated water taps, and which improves the reliability, simplicity and safety of such types of devices by reducing or eliminating reliance on electrical wiring or extensive mechanically linked parts.
Other important but more specific objects of the invention reside in (1) the provision of an apparatus for reducing the consumption of water at discharge taps, and (2) the provision of a method for reducing the flow of water at discharge taps, using the apparatus described herein which:
can easily and quickly installed by an unsophisticated user in existing, conventional, manually operated household kitchen and bathroom sinks;
which in a relatively inexpensive manner can reduce water consumption at such kitchen and bathroom sinks;
which can easily and quickly be installed in institutional or commercial kitchens to enable employees to engage in hands-off water faucet operation, thereby reducing cross-contamination between raw foods and finished products, and thus insuring that health codes can be easily complied with during normal operations.
Other important objects, features, and additional advantages of my invention will become apparent to the reader from the foregoing and from the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have now invented and disclose herein a novel pilot operated valve apparatus for controlling the discharge of fluids, and in particular for controlling the discharge of water from a pressurized water supply system. The valve apparatus is particularly useful for minimizing the amount of water used at industrial, commercial, and household kitchen sinks.
My novel valve apparatus is advantageously utilized for control flow of fluid discharge from a pressurized fluid distribution system, such as those systems configured with the valve apparatus being supplied with fluid via an incoming conduit that supplies the fluid under pressure. The valve apparatus includes a primary valve, a pilot valve, and an actuator that is linked to the pilot valve. The primary valve has an inlet adapted to receive fluid under pressure from an incoming conduit, an outlet adapted to discharge the fluid to an outlet conduit, a diaphragm chamber having a pilot portion and a working portion, and a fluid pressure controlled primary diaphragm. The primary diaphragm is located in the primary diaphragm chamber between the pilot portion and the working portion of the primary diaphragm chamber. The primary diaphragm has a pilot side and a working side. The working side of the primary diaphragm is configured to engage at least a portion of the inlet, as well as the outlet. The primary diaphragm is adapted to be responsive to fluid pressure to move between (a) an open position wherein fluid pressure from the inlet disengages the primary diaphragm from the outlet so that fluid is allowed from the inlet to the outlet and thence to the outlet conduit, and (b) a closed position, wherein fluid pressure on the pilot side of the primary diaphragm forces the primary diaphragm to sealingly engage the outlet so that fluid is not allowed from the inlet to the outlet. To release fluid pressure so as to operate the valve, a bleed inlet line from the primary valve is provided operatively connected to a pilot valve. The bleed inlet line has a first end and a second end, with the first end hydraulically connected to the pilot portion of the primary diaphragm chamber. The pilot valve has a bleed inlet which is hydraulically connected to the second end of the bleed inlet line from the pilot portion of the diaphragm chamber. Also, the pilot valve has a bleed outlet
Chambers A. Michael
Goodloe, Jr. R. Reams
LandOfFree
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