US 12,704,199 B2Granted

Valve device

AssigneeKohler Mira Limited

InventorBarry Hobbs

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Abstract

A valve device includes an inlet, an outlet connected to the inlet, a valve member having an open position in which fluid can pass from the inlet to the outlet, and a closed position in which fluid cannot pass from the inlet and the outlet, and an actuator. The actuator selectively actuates the valve member, and has an open actuator position and a closed actuator position. The valve has a first operating mode in which, over a whole of the range of operating values of the inlet pressure, the actuator is fixed in the open actuator position and the valve member is in the open valve position. In a second operating mode, the actuator switches from the closed actuator position to the open actuator position, switching the valve member from the closed valve position to the open valve position, when the inlet pressure exceeds a second threshold inlet pressure.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A valve device comprising:

an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid supply, the fluid having an inlet pressure;
an outlet selectively fluidically connected to the inlet;
a valve member having an open valve position wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet, and a closed valve position wherein the inlet is not in fluid communication with the outlet;
and
an actuator selectively actuating the valve member, the actuator having an open actuator position and a closed actuator position, wherein the valve device is operable over a range of operating values of the inlet pressure including a first threshold inlet pressure and a second threshold inlet pressure, wherein the valve device has:
a first operating mode in which, over a whole of the range of operating values of the inlet pressure, the actuator is in the open actuator position and the valve member is in the open valve position, wherein there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and each of a first flow path and a second flow path;
and
a second operating mode in which:
when the inlet pressure is less than or equal to the first threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in the closed actuator position and the valve member is in the closed valve position, and there is no fluidic connection between the inlet and either of the first flow path or the second flow path;
when the inlet pressure exceeds the first threshold inlet pressure and is less than or equal to the second threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in a partially open actuator position and the valve member is in the closed valve position, and there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and the second flow path but no fluidic connection between the inlet and the first flow path;
and
when the inlet pressure exceeds the second threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in the open actuator position and the valve member is in the open valve position, and there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and each of the first flow path and the second flow path.

9 more elements

A fluid delivery device comprising:

at least one valve device including:
an inlet;
an outlet selectively fluidically connected to the inlet;
a valve member having an open valve position wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet, and a closed valve position wherein the inlet is not in fluid communication with the outlet;
and
an actuator selectively actuating the valve member, the actuator having an open actuator position and a closed actuator position, wherein the valve device is operable over a range of operating values of an inlet pressure including a first threshold inlet pressure and a second threshold inlet pressure,
wherein the valve device has:
a first operating mode in which, over a whole of the range of operating values of the inlet pressure, the actuator is in the open actuator position and the valve member is in the open valve position, wherein there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and each of a first flow path and a second flow path;
and
a second operating mode in which:
when the inlet pressure is less than or equal to the first threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in the closed actuator position and the valve member is in the closed valve position, and there is no fluidic connection between the inlet and either of the first flow path or the second flow path;
when the inlet pressure exceeds the first threshold inlet pressure and is less than or equal to the second threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in a partially open actuator position and the valve member is in the closed valve position, and there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and the second flow path but no fluidic connection between the inlet and the first flow path;
and
when the inlet pressure exceeds the second threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in the open actuator position and the valve member is in the open valve position, and there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and each of the first flow path and the second flow path;
a fluid delivery device inlet fluidically connected to a fluid supply pipe;
and
at least one set of fluid delivery device outlets receiving fluid from the fluid supply pipe via the outlet of one of the at least one valve devices.

14 more elements

An ablutionary system comprising:

a fluid delivery device comprising:
at least one valve device including:
an inlet;
an outlet selectively fluidically connected to the inlet;
a valve member having an open valve position wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet, and a closed valve position wherein the inlet is not in fluid communication with the outlet;
and
an actuator selectively actuating the valve member, the actuator having an open actuator position and a closed actuator position, wherein the valve device is operable over a range of operating values of an inlet pressure including a first threshold inlet pressure and a second threshold inlet pressure,
wherein the valve device has:
a first operating mode in which, over a whole of the range of operating values of the inlet pressure, the actuator is in the open actuator position and the valve member is in the open valve position, wherein there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and each of a first flow path and a second flow path;
and
a second operating mode in which:
when the inlet pressure is less than or equal to the first threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in the closed actuator position and the valve member is in the closed valve position, and there is no fluidic connection between the inlet and either of the first flow path or the second flow path;
when the inlet pressure exceeds the first threshold inlet pressure and is less than or equal to the second threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in a partially open actuator position and the valve member is in the closed valve position, and there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and the second flow path but no fluidic connection between the inlet and the first flow path;
and
when the inlet pressure exceeds the second threshold inlet pressure, the actuator is in the open actuator position and the valve member is in the open valve position, and there is a fluidic connection between the inlet and each of the first flow path and the second flow path;
a fluid delivery device inlet fluidically connected to a fluid supply pipe;
and
at least one set of fluid delivery device outlets receiving fluid from the fluid supply pipe via the outlet of one of the at least one valve devices;
and
a user interface for controlling one or more characteristics of flow from the fluid supply pipe to the fluid delivery device,
wherein the user interface is operably connected to a controller.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/776,725Filed 18 Jul 2024
Priority: GB 231125921 Jul 2023
Published: US 2025/0027580 A123 Jan 2025
Granted: 11 Aug 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F16K 31/402
With electrically-actuated member in the discharge of the motor: acting on a diaphragm
F16K 39/026
For lift valves: using an external auxiliary valve
B05B 1/1609
Having selectively- effective outlets: with a selecting mechanism comprising a lift valve
B05B 1/169
Having selectively- effective outlets: having three or more selectively effective outlets