US 2009/0289207 A1 · Airflow regulating valve assembly

Abstract

The valve assembly disposed within a water supply line upstream of a water meter. The valve assembly is structured to reduce or significantly eliminate the passage of air, separate from water flow, through the meter and includes a housing having an interior channel and a valve body movably disposed within the channel. The valve body includes a sealing structure which is biased, under a predetermined force, into sealing relation with an inlet of the interior channel. The predetermined force is sufficient to prevent displacement of the sealing structure out of the sealing relation with the inlet, but insufficient to prevent displacement of the sealing structure when force from a normal water flow is exerted thereon from within the water supply line. As a result any air flow within the water supply line will be compressed or otherwise disbursed and prevented from passing, independently, through the meter, thereby preventing unnecessary charges being made to the metered facility.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A valve assembly structured to reduce airflow to a water meter assembly in a water supply line, said valve assembly comprising:

a) a housing disposed along and at least partially defining a path fluid flow in the water supply line upstream of the meter assembly,
b) said housing comprising an interior channel including an inlet and an outlet disposed in fluid communication therewith,
c) a valve body movably disposed within said channel and including a sealing structure disposed in flow regulating relation to said inlet,
d) a biasing assembly disposed and structured to bias said sealing structure into fluid sealing relation with said inlet and exert a predetermined force thereon, and
e) said predetermined force being sufficient to maintain said fluid sealing relation against air pressure exerted on said sealing structure from within the water supply line.

2 more elements

A valve assembly structured to reduce airflow to a water meter assembly in a water supply line, said valve assembly comprising:

a) a housing disposed along and at least partially defining a path fluid flow in the water supply line upstream of the meter assembly,
b) a channel formed within said housing, said channel including an inlet and an outlet communicating therewith,
c) a valve body movably mounted within said channel and including a sealing structure disposable and into and out of fluid sealing relation to said inlet,
d) a biasing assembly disposed within said channel in biasing relation to said valve body,
e) said biasing assembly further disposed and structured to exert a predetermined biasing force on said sealing structure,
f) said predetermined biasing force sufficient to dispose and maintain said sealing structure into said fluid sealing relation with said inlet while air pressure from an air pocket within the water supply line is externally exerted on said sealing structure at a location adjacent said inlet, and
g) said biasing force further defined as being insufficient to prevent displacement of said sealing structure out of said fluid sealing relation with said inlet while water pressure from water flow within said water supply line is exerted on said sealing structure at a location adjacent said inlet.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Airflow regulating valve assembly

Life of this patent

Airflow regulating valve assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22