Automated drain valve with internal reset
AssigneeTherm-Omega-Tech, Inc.
InventorAlexander Lee Negovan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated thermally responsive valve with an internal reset function is disclosed. The cartridge latching mechanism can be retracted at a target temperature and manually reset at the target temperature to engage an ejector cap. The reset mechanism of the cartridge automatically returns to a latching configuration upon warming. The cartridge thermal actuator can be configured to retract the latching mechanism at a target temperature near freezing to provide a freeze protection drain valve that is ejected from a sealing element in the ejector cap and allows a fluid system to drain.
Claims17
An automated cartridge comprising:
- a body having a distal end and a proximal end;
- a reset ball;
- a retention ball;
- an actuator cam disposed within said body and biased towards said proximal end by an actuator spring;
- a reset cam disposed within said body and biased away from said actuator cam by a reset spring;
- a thermal assembly configured to move a piston disposed in said reset cam;
- wherein movement of said actuator cam controls movement of said retention ball into a retention opening disposed in said body;
- wherein said reset cam controls radial movement of said reset ball relative an override groove disposed in said body.
An automated cartridge comprising:
- a valve body comprising a first retention opening, a second retention opening, and a third retention opening;
- an actuator cam comprising a first reset opening, a second reset opening, and third reset opening;
- a reset cam disposed within said actuator cam and providing an inner border;
- an override groove disposed on an interior of said valve body and providing an outer border;
- a plurality of reset balls comprising a first reset ball disposed in said first reset opening, a second reset ball disposed in said second reset opening, a third reset ball disposed in said third reset opening;
- a plurality of retention balls comprising a first retention ball disposed in said first retention opening, a second retention ball disposed in said second retention opening, and a third retention ball disposed in said third retention opening;
- said actuator cam comprises a latching section configured to force said plurality of retention balls exterior to said body to form a latching feature;
- a thermal assembly configured to position said latching section adjacent said plurality of retention balls when said thermal assembly is above a target temperature.
An automated drain valve comprising:
- an ejector cap comprising at least one J-groove;
- a cartridge configured to fluid seal said ejector cap and comprising a latching feature and a thermally responsive reset cam;
- wherein said latching feature is configured for rotational insertion into said ejector cap and retention in said at least one J-groove;
- a thermal actuator upon cooling to a target temperature configured to position an actuator cam to retract said latching feature and cause ejection of said cartridge from said at least one J-groove of said ejector cap and remove said fluid seal;
- said reset cam is configured to block a reset ball and position said actuator cam to extend said latching feature;
- and
- said thermal actuator upon warming above said target temperature moves said reset cam to unblock said reset ball and position said reset cam against said actuator cam to maintain extension of said latching feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.