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US 10,871,240 B2Granted
Mechanical stop for actuator and orifice
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorJeremy McCraven
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve includes a valve cover, the valve cover including a solenoid attachment portion defining a threaded solenoid attachment sink and a valve cover mechanical stop; and a solenoid, the solenoid including a solenoid body, a valve cover attachment portion defining a threaded attachment portion engageable with the threaded solenoid attachment sink, the solenoid body including a solenoid mechanical stop, the solenoid mechanical stop engageable with the valve cover mechanical stop; wherein the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop are configured to create a sound upon engagement with each other.
Claims22
A valve comprising:
- a valve cover, the valve cover comprising a solenoid attachment portion defining a threaded solenoid attachment sink and a valve cover mechanical stop;
- and
- a solenoid, the solenoid comprising a solenoid body, a valve cover attachment portion defining a threaded attachment portion engageable with the threaded solenoid attachment sink, the solenoid body comprising a solenoid mechanical stop, the solenoid mechanical stop engageable with the valve cover mechanical stop;
- wherein the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop are configured to create a sound upon engagement with each other, the sound being one of a snap and a click, a one of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop defining a snap lever.
1 more element
An assembly comprising:
- a housing, the housing defining at least one inlet opening, at least one outlet opening, and a channel connecting the at least one inlet opening and the at least one outlet opening;
- and
- a valve in communication with the channel and configured to control the flow of water through the assembly, the valve comprising:
- a valve cover, the valve cover comprising a solenoid attachment portion defining a threaded solenoid attachment sink and a valve cover mechanical stop;
- and
- a solenoid, the solenoid comprising a solenoid body, a valve cover attachment portion defining a threaded attachment portion engageable with the threaded solenoid attachment sink, the solenoid body comprising a solenoid mechanical stop, the solenoid mechanical stop engageable with the valve cover mechanical stop;
- wherein a one of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop is configured to snap into engagement with another of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop.
4 more elements
A method of installing an actuator, the method comprising:
- preparing a valve assembly containing a valve and device housing, the valve comprising a valve cover and an actuator, the valve cover comprising an attachment portion and a valve cover mechanical stop, the actuator comprising a body and a mechanical stop;
- installing the actuator in the valve cover until the mechanical stop of the actuator engages with the valve cover mechanical stop;
- confirming engagement of the mechanical stop of the actuator with the valve cover mechanical stop via a sound created by contacting the mechanical stop of the actuator with the valve cover mechanical stop.
A valve comprising:
- a valve cover, the valve cover comprising a solenoid attachment portion defining a threaded solenoid attachment sink and a valve cover mechanical stop;
- and
- a solenoid, the solenoid comprising a solenoid body, a valve cover attachment portion defining a threaded attachment portion engageable with the threaded solenoid attachment sink, the solenoid body comprising a solenoid mechanical stop, the solenoid mechanical stop engageable with the valve cover mechanical stop;
- wherein the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop are configured to create a sound upon engagement with each other, a one of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop defining a snap lever.
1 more element
A valve comprising:
- a valve cover, the valve cover comprising a solenoid attachment portion defining a threaded solenoid attachment sink and a valve cover mechanical stop;
- and
- a solenoid, the solenoid comprising a solenoid body, a valve cover attachment portion defining a threaded attachment portion engageable with the threaded solenoid attachment sink, the solenoid body comprising a solenoid mechanical stop, the solenoid mechanical stop engageable with the valve cover mechanical stop;
- wherein the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop are configured to create a sound upon engagement with each other, a one of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop defining a detent to further fix the position of the solenoid.
1 more element
A valve comprising:
- a valve cover, the valve cover comprising a solenoid attachment portion defining a threaded solenoid attachment sink and a valve cover mechanical stop;
- and
- a solenoid, the solenoid comprising a solenoid body, a valve cover attachment portion defining a threaded attachment portion engageable with the threaded solenoid attachment sink, the solenoid body comprising a solenoid mechanical stop, the solenoid mechanical stop engageable with the valve cover mechanical stop and extending axially past a bottom end of the solenoid body;
- wherein the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop are configured to create a sound upon engagement with each other.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.