Plumbing fitting
AssigneeAalberts Integrated Piping Systems Limited
InventorsRichard Timothy Nortcliffe, Alasdair Worsley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure independent control valve (PICV) is disclosed. The PICV has a body having a flow path extending therethrough and a cavity within the flow path to releasably receive a mechanism via an aperture. The PICV also has a cap comprising the mechanism. The cap is configured to move between a locked position where the cap is retained on the body and an unlocked position where the cap is releasable from the body. The cap is retained in the locked position by one or more bayonet fixings.
Claims18
A kit comprising:
- a plumbing fitting comprising a pressure independent control valve (PICV) comprising a mechanism, the mechanism comprising a series of valves through which a flow rate of a fluid can be set independent of pressure, wherein the plumbing fitting comprises:
- a body having a flow path extending therethrough and a cavity within the flow path to releasably receive the mechanism via an aperture;
- an operational cap comprising the mechanism, the operational cap configured to move between a locked position where the operational cap is retained on the body and an unlocked position where the operational cap is releasable from the body;
- wherein the operational cap is retained in the locked position by one or more bayonet fixings;
- a protective cap, the protective cap configured to move between a locked position where the protective cap is retained on the body and an unlocked position where the protective cap is releasable from the body;
- wherein the protective cap is retained in the locked position by one or more bayonet fixings;
- and
- wherein the aperture is configured to be sealed by either of the protective cap or operational cap when the respective cap is in the locked position.
A method of flushing a plumbing fitting comprising a pressure independent control valve (PICV), the PICV comprising a mechanism, the mechanism comprising a series of valves through which a flow rate can be set independent of pressure, wherein the plumbing fitting comprises:
- a body having a flow path extending therethrough and a cavity within the flow path to releasably receive the mechanism via an aperture;
- an operational cap comprising the mechanism, the operational cap configured to move between a locked position where the operational cap is retained on the body and in an unlocked position where the operational cap is releasable from the body;
- wherein the operational cap is retained in the locked position by one or more bayonet fixings;
- a protective cap, the protective cap configured to move between a locked position where the protective cap is retained on the body and an unlocked position where the protective cap is releasable from the body;
- wherein the protective cap is retained in the locked position by one or more bayonet fixings;
- wherein the method comprises:
- moving the operational cap into the unlocked position;
- removing the operational cap thereby removing the mechanism from the cavity;
- fitting the protective cap over the aperture;
- moving the protective cap into the locked position;
- supplying fluid through the flow path for a period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.