# US 10,309,540 B2 · Valves for controlling fluid passage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,540 B2 - Document ID: US10309540B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/284,237 - Filed: 2016-10-03 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-03 - Applicants: John M. Eise - Inventors: John M. Eise - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309540B2 ## CPC - F16K 3/26: with fluid passages in the valve member - F16K 5/0414: {Plug channel at 90 degrees to the inlet} - F16L 29/00: Joints with fluid cut-off means (quick-acting joints with cut-off means F16L37/28) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A valve includes a housing, a pipe and a fastener configured to couple to the housing and the pipe. The housing defines an aperture, and includes an inlet configured to receive fluid from a fluid source. The pipe defines a channel and an aperture in fluid communication with the pipe channel, and includes an outlet configured to couple to an output for receiving fluid from the fluid source. The pipe is rotatable within the housing between a first position in which the housing aperture is blocked by the pipe to restrict fluid from entering the pipe channel, and a second position in which the pipe aperture is substantially aligned with the housing aperture to create a fluid path between the fluid source and the output via the pipe channel. Other example valves and methods of controlling the passage of fluid are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly for controlling the passage of fluid between a fluid source and an output, the valve assembly comprising: a housing defining a channel and an aperture, the housing including an inlet configured to receive fluid from a fluid source via the aperture and an inner surface defining at least two slots; a pipe insertable in the housing, the pipe defining a channel and an aperture in fluid communication with the channel of the pipe, the pipe including an outer surface, at least two protuberances extending from the outer surface, and an outlet separated from and in fluid communication with the pipe's aperture via the pipe's channel, the outlet configured to couple to an output for receiving fluid from the fluid source via the pipe's channel, the pipe rotatable within the housing between a first position in which the housing's aperture is blocked by the pipe to restrict fluid from entering the pipe's channel from the fluid source through the housing's aperture, and a second position in which the pipe's aperture is substantially aligned with the housing's aperture to create a fluid path between the fluid source and the output via the pipe's channel, the inner surface of the housing adjacent the outer surface of the pipe when the pipe is inserted in the housing, and the at least two slots configured to receive the at least two protuberances to retain the pipe in one of the first position and the second position; and a fastener configured to couple to the housing and the pipe and allow rotation of the pipe between the first position and the second position, the fastener including a spring configured to bias the pipe in a longitudinal direction inside the housing in one of the first position and the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a gasket positioned between the pipe and the housing, the gasket defining an aperture aligned with the aperture of the pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve assembly of claim 2 wherein the fastener includes a detachable fastener. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valve assembly of claim 3 wherein the two protuberances are spaced about 180 degrees apart. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A system including the valve assembly of claim 4 and at least one pipe coupling the valve assembly to a fluid source, the valve assembly coupled on an interior side of a finished wall in a building with the pipe of the valve assembly accessible from an exterior side of the finished wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The valve assembly of claim 3 wherein the pipe is moveable in the longitudinal direction to release the at least two protuberances from the at least two slots. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A system including the valve assembly of claim 6 and at least one pipe coupling the valve assembly to a fluid source, the valve assembly coupled on an interior side of a finished wall in a building with the pipe of the valve assembly accessible from an exterior side of the finished wall. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener includes a detachable fastener. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The valve assembly of claim 8 wherein the fastener includes threads, wherein the pipe includes threads corresponding to the threads of the fastener, and wherein the fastener is configured to threadedly couple to the pipe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the two protuberances are spaced about 180 degrees apart. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the two slots represents the first position and wherein another one of the two slots represents the second position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the pipe is moveable in the longitudinal direction to release the at least two protuberances from the at least two slots and rotatable to align the at least two protuberances and the at least two slots. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A system including the valve assembly of claim 1 and at least one pipe coupling the valve assembly to a fluid source, the valve assembly coupled on an interior side of a finished wall in a building with the pipe of the valve assembly accessible from an exterior side of the finished wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the pipe is moveable in the longitudinal direction to release the at least two protuberances from the at least two slots and rotatable to align the at least two protuberances and the at least two slots. ### Claim 15 A method of controlling the passage of fluid between a fluid source and an output with a valve including a housing, a pipe insertable in the housing, and a fastener configured to couple to the housing and the pipe and allow rotation of the pipe between a first position and a second position, the fastener including a spring configured to bias the pipe in a longitudinal direction inside the housing in one of the first position and the second position and to restrict removal of the pipe from the housing, the housing defining a channel and an aperture the housing including an inner surface defining at least two slots, and the pipe including an outer surface and at least two protuberances extending from the outer surface, the pipe defining a channel and an aperture, the method comprising: moving at least a portion of the pipe out of the housing against the bias of the spring; and rotating the pipe within the housing between the first position in which the housing's aperture is blocked by the pipe to restrict fluid from entering the pipe's channel from the fluid source through the housing's aperture, and the second position in which the pipe's aperture is substantially aligned with the housing's aperture to create a fluid path between the fluid source and the output via the pipe's channel, the inner surface of the housing adjacent the outer surface of the pipe when the pipe is inserted in the housing, and the at least two slots configured to receive the at least two protuberances to retain the pipe in one of the first position and the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein moving the at least a portion of the pipe out of the housing includes pulling the at least a portion of the pipe out of the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein rotating the pipe includes rotating the pipe about 180 degrees between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein rotating the pipe includes rotating the pipe by hand. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein rotating the pipe includes rotating the pipe when the housing is coupled to the fluid source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein rotating the pipe includes rotating the pipe when fluid is present in at least a portion of the housing.