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US 10,704,244 B2Granted
Vacuum operated valve
AssigneeFluidmaster, Inc.
InventorTuan Le
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fill valve with pressure chamber having an open bottom end and a diaphragm at a top end such that falling water level in the toilet tank causes the diaphragm to flex in a first direction, thereby moving a sealing member to an open position, with a venturi in the fill valve keeping the sealing member in the open position until water refilling the tank causes the diaphragm to flex in a second direction, thereby moving the sealing member back to the closed position.
Claims26
A valve system, comprising:
- (a) a water supply member;
- (b) a valve assembly in communication with the water supply member, the valve assembly comprising:
- (i) a sealing member moveable between an open position during which water flows through the valve assembly and a closed position during which water is prevented from flowing through the valve assembly,
- (ii) a pressure chamber;
- (iii) a first diaphragm in the pressure chamber, wherein the sealing member is mounted to the first diaphragm such that movement of the first diaphragm causes movement of the sealing member;
- (iv) a second diaphragm in communication with the sealing member;
- (v) a vacuum chamber between the first and second diaphragms;
- and
- (vi) a venturi downstream of the moveable sealing member, wherein the sealing member has an air passageway therethrough from the venturi to the vacuum chamber.
6 more elements
A method of opening and closing a valve, comprising:
- (a) decreasing air pressure in a pressure chamber, thereby deflecting a first diaphragm valve, wherein the first diaphragm valve is in communication with the pressure chamber;
- (b) moving a sealing member in a valve assembly to an open position by deflecting the first diaphragm valve, wherein the sealing member is supported by the first diaphragm valve, thereby permitting water to flow through the valve;
- (c) directing the water flow through a venturi in the valve, thereby drawing air into a vacuum chamber between the first diaphragm valve and a second diaphragm valve, thereby holding the sealing member in the open position;
- and then
- (d) blocking an air vent into the vacuum chamber, thereby decreasing pressure in the vacuum chamber, thereby deflecting the first diaphragm valve, thereby moving the sealing member to a closed position, thereby preventing water from flowing through the valve.
2 more elements
A valve system, comprising:
- (a) a water supply member;
- (b) a valve assembly in communication with the water supply member, the valve assembly comprising:
- (i) a sealing member moveable between an open position during which water flows through the valve assembly and a closed position during which water is prevented from flowing through the valve assembly,
- (ii) a first diaphragm, wherein the sealing member is mounted to the first diaphragm such that movement of the first diaphragm causes movement of the sealing member;
- (iv) a second diaphragm in communication with the sealing member;
- (v) a vacuum chamber between the first and second diaphragms;
- and
- (vi) a venturi around an end of the sealing member, wherein the sealing member has an air passageway therethrough from the venturi to the vacuum chamber.
5 more elements
A method of using venturi energy to power operation of a valve, comprising:
- (a) deflecting a diaphragm valve to move a sealing member in a valve assembly to an open position, wherein the sealing member is supported by the diaphragm valve and is coupled to a second diaphragm valve, thereby permitting water to flow through the valve;
- (b) directing the water flow through a venturi in the valve, thereby drawing air through a vacuum chamber positioned between the diaphragm valve and the second diaphragm valve, thereby holding the sealing member in the open position;
- and then
- (c) blocking an air vent into the vacuum chamber and decreasing air pressure in the vacuum chamber by drawing air through an internal bore in the sealing member, thereby
- causing the diaphragm valve and the second diaphragm valve to deflect towards one another, decreasing pressure in the vacuum chamber, and moving the sealing member to a closed position, thereby preventing water from flowing through the valve.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.