Fluid handling – Systems – Multi-way valve unit
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-01
2001-02-13
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
Multi-way valve unit
C251S163000, C251S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186174
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a valve and more particularly to a multi-position valve assembly especially, although not exclusively, adapted for use in connection with swimming pools and associated water pumps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,429 to Johnson describes an exemplary multi-port valve for use in the care and treatment of swimming pools. The two- and three-way valves of the Johnson patent include a unitary housing and a lever arm splined onto the stub of a shaft. Rotating the lever arm causes a “valve closure sealing surface” of a “closure plug” to move within the structure between various of the hubs or ports. According to the Johnson patent, the sealing surface carries both a “seal member” and an “arcuate retainer plate,” the latter of which is attached to the closure plug using screws. Because the housing is unitary and the fluid passageways extend radially from it, the closure plug need never be lifted from any seated position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,640,310 to Erlich, incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, discloses another multi-port valve in which one or more inlet ports direct pressurized fluid through an “open central portion” to other inlet and outlet ports. Included in the valve is a rotor, which in operation interconnects various of the inlets and outlets. Attached to the rotor via a post is an elongated aluminum handle, whose manual movement is designed to change the position of the rotor. As described at column 9, lines 60-62 of the Erlich patent:
A fulcrum point is provided for the handle, so that when the handle is depressed, the post will axially lift the rotor from its seated position.
(Numerals deleted.) The valve of the Erlich patent additionally incorporates both a Teflon bearing and a metallic bearing plate, which purportedly facilitate rotation of the handle while preventing wear of the bearing. In actual use, however, consumers frequently fail to depress the handle before attempting to rotate it, often breaking (or at least prematurely wearing) the handle or the pin by which it is attached to the post.
Yet another multi-port valve marketed by Praher under the name “Eco-Valve” includes a plastic handle connected to a rotor. Rotating the handle causes a pair of rollers to travel along a plate, the upper surface of which includes four recesses of semi-circular cross-section for receiving the rollers at various intervals. Additionally incorporated into the upper surface are two opposed indentations in which the rollers may rest. Receiving the rollers in the recesses or indentations apparently helps position the rotor correctly relative to the ports of the valve. As with the device of the Erlich patent, some possibility of breaking the plastic handle exists should the force exerted by the user not translate to the rollers in a manner sufficient to permit them to be unseated from their respective recesses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The valve assembly of the present invention provides an alternative structure to these existing multi-port valves. Unlike the Eco-Valve and that of the Erlich patent, the present valve assembly includes no elongated handle possibly subject to premature breakage. Instead, the structure utilizes a knob—which the user need not lift—coupled to a post in which an elongated slot is formed.
Through the slot of the post is passed a cylindrical or other appropriately-shaped shaft terminating in a pair of opposed followers, sometimes denominated “rollers,” with generally-circular cross-section. The rollers interact with a stationary “cam” having one or more (preferably but not necessarily six) recesses and (preferably but not necessarily two) indentations into which the rollers may be received or rest. Unlike the plate of Praher's Eco-Valve, the cam of the present invention incorporates non-semicircular, asymmetrically-shaped recesses, both to help restrict movement of the knob to one direction (typically counterclockwise) and to facilitate unseating of the rollers when their movement is desired. The elongated slot, whose mouths are longer than the diameter of the shaft, additionally permits the rotor to lift before it turns, momentarily destressing an internal sealing mechanism to reduce or avoid its premature wear.
Embodiments of the valve assembly may include a two-piece housing, with the upper portion generally spherically shaped (albeit truncated) and the lower portion shaped generally as a truncated toroid. In such cases the housing may be divided along or adjacent the plane in which the sealing mechanism resides, with the upper portion having a port for connecting to a pump and the lower portion having multiple inlets and outlets. This design for the housing assists in minimizing the surface area required for the assembly for particular fluid flow rates and volumes, while also matching generally the shape of the surfaces of pressure tanks to which it typically mounts.
Additionally incorporated into certain valve assemblies of the present invention is an “accelerator” gear whose teeth substantially complement those formed in the bottom of the post. The angled edges of the teeth facilitate, and thus effectively “accelerate,” proper seating of the post and thereby of the rotor as well. Including vertical sides in the teeth, by contrast, avoids interference with proper lifting of the rotor when the knob is turned.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly adapted for use especially, although not necessarily exclusively, in connection with swimming pools.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-port valve assembly lacking an elongated handle, thereby avoiding breakage problems sometimes associated with such handles.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly having a post to which a knob attaches, the post defining an elongated slot through which a shaft may pass.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly which utilizes a cam having asymmetrical recesses for receiving followers connected to the shaft.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly in which a rotor connected to the post lifts before it turns, momentarily destressing an internal sealing mechanism to reduce or avoid premature seal wear.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly including a gear whose teeth not only substantially complement those formed in the bottom of the post, but also are shaped to facilitate proper seating of the post and rotor as well.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the remainder of the text and drawings of this application.
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Brownlie Alan W.
Marconi, Jr. Fred A.
Yurchision Peter P.
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Muskin Leisure Products, Inc.
Rivell John
Russell Dean W.
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