US 2020/0063880 A1Published application

Tamper resistant in line adjustable valve for preventing air from being directed to a water meter

AssigneeWater Pilot LLC

InventorClarence L. Pyritz, JR.

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A valve for a water line for preventing or reducing air from being read by a water meter or other device as water. The preferred form of the valve is in line adjustable, i.e., without removing the valve from the water line and/or without shutting-off the flow of water through the water line to vary the force necessary to open the valve to allow a fluid to flow therethrough. Preferably, the valve includes a simple user manipulated tool to vary the force necessary to open the valve from a maximum force to a minimum force without detaching the user manipulated tool from the valve. The force adjusting features disposed in the valve housing are designed to maximize fluid flow through the valve housing while still allowing inline adjustment of the valve. Preferably, the valve includes an anti-tampering member that prevents an unauthorized user from altering the force necessary to open the valve.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for reducing airflow to one or more members in a water line, said apparatus comprising:

a) a valve configured to be installed in the water line, said valve being configured to prevent or reduce air flow to one or more members in the water line, said valve including a valve housing having first and second opposing ends, said first opposing end having a fluid inlet and said second opposing end having a fluid outlet, said valve further including a valve member, a valve seat and a spring, said spring being configured to exert a biasing force on said valve member to cause said valve member to engage said valve seat to prevent fluid from flowing through said valve housing;
and,
b) a spring force adjustment member operably connected to said valve, said spring force adjustment member being configured to permit a user to adjust the force of said spring without removing the valve from the water line, said spring force adjustment member having a user manipulated member connected to said valve, said user manipulated member when connected to said valve being configured to allow a user to adjust the force of the spring without detaching said user manipulated member from said valve in at least one of the following manners:
(i) from a minimum spring force to a maximum spring force;
and, (ii) from a maximum spring force to a minimum spring force.

2 more elements

An apparatus for reducing airflow to one or more members in a water line, said apparatus comprising:

a) a valve configured to be installed in the water line, said valve being configured to prevent or reduce air flow to one or more members in the water line, said valve including a valve housing having first and second opposing ends, said first opposing end having a fluid inlet and said second opposing end having a fluid outlet, said valve further including a valve member, a valve seat and a biasing member being configured to exert a biasing force on said valve member to cause said valve member to engage said valve seat to prevent fluid from flowing through said valve housing;
and,
b) a biasing force adjustment member operably connected to said valve, said biasing force adjustment member being configured to permit a user to adjust the force of said biasing member without removing the valve from the water line, said biasing force adjustment member including an activation shaft and a first cam, said activation shaft being operably connected to said first cam, said activation shaft having a longitudinal axis, said activation shaft being configured to move in two opposing directions along the longitudinal axis of said activation shaft to cause corresponding movement of the first cam wherein the two opposing directions include a first direction which is away from the first cam and a second direction which is towards the first cam.

An apparatus for reducing airflow to one or more members in a water line, said apparatus comprising:

a) a valve configured to be installed in the water line, said valve being configured to prevent or reduce air flow to one or more members in the water line, said valve including a valve housing having first and second opposing ends, said first opposing end having a fluid inlet and said second opposing end having a fluid outlet, said valve further including a valve member, a valve seat and a spring being configured to exert a biasing force on said valve member to cause said valve member to engage said valve seat to prevent fluid from flowing through said valve housing;
and,
b) a spring force adjustment member operably connected to said valve, said spring force adjustment member being configured to permit a user to adjust the force of said spring without removing the valve from the water line;
and,
c) an anti-tampering member operably associated with said spring force adjustment member for preventing an unauthorized individual from accessing said spring force adjustment member to adjust the spring force of said spring.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.