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AssigneesViking Group, Inc., Minimax Viking Patent Management GmbH
InventorsMartin H Workman, Shawn J. Feenstra
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Fluid control valve assemblies for use in fire protection sprinkler systems to control the flow of firefighting fluid to the system sprinklers. The assemblies include a pressure-operated fluid control valve having an internal fluid chamber in which fluid contained therein acts on an internal diaphragm to control the flow of fluid from an inlet to an outlet of the valve. An environment-responsive control device in fluid communication with the internal fluid chamber along a first fluid communication line controls the flow of fluid out of the fluid chamber to initiate actuation of the valve. A fluid-flow latch in fluid communication with the outlet of the valve along a second fluid communication line subsequently controls the simultaneous flow of fluid out of the fluid chamber and the actuation of the valve.
A method of operating a pressure-operated fluid control valve, the pressure-operated fluid control valve having a valve body including a surface defining a passageway with an inlet and outlet disposed along a longitudinal axis and a seat transverse to the longitudinal axis, an elastomeric diaphragm adjacent the valve body, the elastomeric diaphragm including a seal surface and a support surface, the elastomeric diaphragm defining a closed position in which the seal surface contacts the seat to prohibit fluid flow between the inlet and outlet of the passageway and an open position in which the seal surface displaces from the seat to permit fluid flow between the inlet and outlet of the passageway, and a cover disposed on the valve body, the cover including an inner surface confronting the support surface of the elastomeric diaphragm to define a fluid chamber, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.