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US 12,209,757 B2Granted
Expansion tank service valve assembly
AssigneeNIBCO Inc.
InventorsAndrew J. Terry, Andrew J. Coates, Christopher W. Mason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plumbing system pressure protection valve assembly that utilizes a unitary body to connect a hot water tank to a cold water supply, a vacuum breaker, and an expansion tank. The assembly includes two ball valves coupled to the unitary body to isolate the hot water tank from the cold water feed and to isolate and permit draining of the expansion tank. The assembly also includes a rod and foot coupled to a tab on the unitary body to provide support for the expansion tank service valve assembly.
Claims20
An expansion tank service valve assembly, comprising:
- a unitary body having a passageway with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion located between said first end portion and said second end portion, including:
- a tee including a generally vertical section with a first port and a second port and a generally horizontal section extending into said medial portion;
- a generally vertical third port and a generally horizontal fourth port located within said second end portion;
- a fifth port;
- and
- a tab extending from an exterior surface of said unitary body;
- a first valve member received in said tee, said first valve member opening said passageway to said second port when said first valve member is in a first position, and said first valve member closing said passageway to said second port when said first valve member is in a second position;
- and
- a second valve member received in the passageway in said second end portion, said second valve member opening the passageway to said third port while blocking the fourth port when said second valve member is in a first position, and said second valve member closing said passageway to said third port when said second valve member is in a second position.
6 more elements
An expansion tank service assembly, comprising:
- a unitary body having a passageway with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion located between said first end portion of said second end portion, including:
- a generally vertical portion with a first port;
- a generally vertical portion with a third port;
- a fifth port located within said medial portion;
- and
- a tab with a threaded opening extending from an exterior surface of said medial portion;
- a second valve member positioned in the passageway in said second end portion, said second valve member opening said passageway between said medial portion and said third port when said second valve member is in a first position, and said second valve member closing said passageway between said medial portion and said third port when said second valve member is in a second position;
- a vacuum breaker coupled to said fifth port;
- and
- a threaded stand coupled to said tab.
7 more elements
An expansion tank service assembly, comprising:
- a unitary body having a passageway with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion located between said first end portion and said second end portion, including:
- a generally vertical first port located in said first end portion;
- a generally vertical third port located in said second end portion;
- a generally vertical fifth port located on said medial portion;
- and
- a tab with an opening extending from an exterior surface of said unitary body;
- a second valve member positioned in the passageway in said second end portion, said second valve member opening said passageway between said medial portion and said third port when said second valve member is in a first position, and said second valve member closing said passageway between said medial portion and said third port when said second valve member is in a second position;
- a vacuum breaker coupled to said fifth port;
- a vertical member coupled to said tab;
- and
- a horizontal member coupled to the bottom of said vertical member.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.