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US 2015/0337982 A1Published application
Water valve with supported opening function
AssigneePrettl Electric Corporation
InventorPhilip Schreier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Water valves and methods of regulating fluid flow for low ambient pressure water sources that reduce the amount of filtration needed for valve mechanisms operating in the water source.
Claims17
A water valve comprising:
- a chamber defining an inlet and an outlet;
- an anchor disposed in the chamber;
- a pull element engaged with the anchor;
- a sealing cylinder engaging the pull element;
- a membrane with a proximal surface facing toward the inlet and a distal surface facing away from the inlet, wherein the membrane defines a central cavity, that engages the sealing cylinder, and a continuous substantially radial surface surrounding and extending from the central cavity;
- in an anchor first position the pull element closes a small valve seat defined in the sealing cylinder and water flows through a bypass channel to engage the distal surface of the membrane;
- in an anchor second position, displacement of the anchor moves the pull element to open the small valve seat and water flows through the small valve seat through an interior of the sealing cylinder and out via the outlet;
- and
- in an anchor third position, the sealing cylinder is displaced by the pull element and opens a main valve seat such that water flows substantially from the inlet through the outlet.
6 more elements
A method of regulating fluid flow comprising:
- forming a housing with an inlet and an outlet for a fluid stream;
- placing a membrane in the housing with a proximal face directed toward the inlet and a distal face directed away from the inlet;
- forming a control flow pathway in the housing that exerts pressure on the distal surface of the membrane while preventing fluid from exiting via the outlet;
- positioning a movable member in the housing that influences the control pathway, wherein repositioning the movable member opens a first valve seat that allows the fluid stream to exit the control flow pathway;
- and
- further positioning the movable member to open a second valve seat, wherein opening the second valve seat allows fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet and bypass the control pathway.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.