# US 10,871,240 B2 · Mechanical stop for actuator and orifice > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,240 B2 - Document ID: US10871240B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/877,812 - Filed: 2018-01-23 - Published: 2018-05-31 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-09 - Assignees: Mueller International, LLC - Applicants: Mueller International, LLC - Inventors: Jeremy McCraven - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871240B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/06: using a magnet {, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid} - F16K 27/029: {Electromagnetically actuated valves} - F16K 31/0675: {Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor} - F16K 51/00: Other details not peculiar to particular types of valves or cut-off apparatus - G05D 7/0688: {by combined action on throttling means and flow sources (G05D7/0694 takes precedence)} - Y10T 137/0491: Valve or valve element assembling, disassembling, or replacing - 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)} - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the solenoid mechanical stop is integrally formed with the solenoid body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the solenoid mechanical stop protrudes from an outer surface of the solenoid body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valve of claim 3, wherein the valve cover mechanical stop protrudes from an outer surface of the solenoid attachment portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the snap lever comprises an engagement portion and a bend portion, the engagement portion configured to engage the valve cover mechanical stop and the bend portion configured to bend during engagement of the engagement portion with the valve cover mechanical stop. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the snap lever comprises an engagement portion and a bend portion, the engagement portion configured to engage the solenoid mechanical stop and the bend portion configured to bend during engagement of the engagement portion with the solenoid mechanical stop. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein the one of the solenoid mechanical stop and the valve cover mechanical stop defines a snap lever. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The assembly of claim 7, wherein another of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop defines a detent to further fix the position of the solenoid. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the actuator is a solenoid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the sound is a one of a snap and a click. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein a one of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop comprises a snap lever and another of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop defines a detent sized to receive the snap lever. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein installing the actuator in the valve cover comprises snapping a one of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop into engagement with another of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the valve cover mechanical stop protrudes from an outer surface of the attachment portion of the actuator and the mechanical stop of the actuator protrudes from an outer surface of the actuator body. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The valve of claim 16, wherein a one of the valve cover mechanical stop and the solenoid mechanical stop defines a detent to further fix the position of the solenoid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The valve of claim 16, wherein the solenoid mechanical stop extends axially past a bottom end of the solenoid body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The valve of claim 16, wherein the solenoid mechanical stop defines a snap lever, the snap lever comprising an engagement portion and a bend portion, the engagement portion configured to engage the valve cover mechanical stop and the bend portion configured to bend during engagement of the engagement portion with the valve cover mechanical stop. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The valve of claim 16, wherein the valve cover mechanical stop defines a snap lever, the snap lever comprising an engagement portion and a bend portion, the engagement portion configured to engage the solenoid mechanical stop and the bend portion configured to bend during engagement of the engagement portion with the solenoid mechanical stop. ### Claim 21 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. ### Claim 22 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.