Normally closed valve having a closure delay system and a method thereof

A method for delaying closure of a normally-closed valve having a closure delay system, comprising:

• providing a housing;
• defining in the housing a liquid inlet chamber including an inlet opening in an outside wall of the housing, a liquid outlet chamber having an outlet opening in the outside wall of the housing, a passage between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber and a cavity comprising a bottom wall having a top suction surface and a cavity top wall, wherein the cavity is in flow communication with the inlet chamber, the outlet chamber and the passage when the valve is in an open orientation;
• providing a closure delay mechanism comprising an actuator shaft having a lower portion and an upper portion, and a suction cup;
• fixedly coupling the actuator shaft lower portion to the suction cup wherein the suction cup is adapted and configured to open and close the passage;
• disposing the actuator shaft and the suction cup in the cavity wherein the cavity is adapted and configured for longitudinal downward reciprocating movement of the actuator shaft and the suction cup therein;
• sealingly engaging the cavity top wall by the suction cup when the valve is in a normally-closed orientation;
• moving the actuator shaft longitudinally downward by applying pressure to the actuator shaft when switching the valve from the normally-closed orientation to the open orientation, wherein the suction cup disengages the cavity top wall, engages the top suction surface and adheres thereto thus opening the passage;
• automatically disengaging the suction cup from the top suction surface a preset time period after pressure is ceased to be applied to the actuator shaft, wherein the suction cup sealingly reengages the cavity top wall thereby closing the passage thus switching the valve from the open orientation to the normally-closed orientation.

A normally-closed valve having a closure delay system, comprising:

• a housing including:
• a liquid inlet chamber, a liquid outlet chamber and a passage therebetween;
• and
• a cavity in flow communication with the inlet chamber, the outlet chamber and the passage when the valve is in an open orientation, the cavity comprising a suction surface and a cavity top wall;
• a closure delay mechanism comprising an actuator shaft and a suction cup, the actuator shaft fixedly coupled to the suction cup and the suction cup comprises a flexible, resilient lower portion having a bell-like shape curved wall ending in a soft sealable bottom rim, and an upper portion neck having a top rim being adapted and configured to open and close the passage;
• wherein the actuator shaft and the suction cup are disposed in the cavity which is adapted and configured for allowing reciprocating longitudinal movement of the actuator shaft and the suction cup in the cavity;
• wherein the suction cup is further adapted and configured for sealing engagement with the cavity top wall when the valve is in the a normally-closed orientation thereby closing the passage;
• for disengagement from the cavity top wall and engagement of the suction surface and adherence thereto when pressure is applied to the actuator shaft for switching the valve from the normally-closed orientation to the open orientation thereby opening the passage;
• and for automatic disengagement from the suction surface and detachment therefrom and sealing reengagement with the cavity top wall thereby closing the passage;
• and
• wherein, the closure delay system is configured so as to maintain the normally-closed valve at the open orientation for a preset time during which liquid flows through the valve from the time the valve is actuated until the valve automatically shuts off following the lapse of the preset time period.