Fusion outlet isolation valve with thermoplastic overmolding
AssigneeNIBCO Inc.
InventorsAndrew J. Terry, Christopher W. Mason
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An isolation valve unit with a fusion outlet including a valve body comprised of a metal, such as brass, and having at least two ports, at least one of the ports including an overmolded thermoplastic end surrounding and enclosing the port from which the fusion outlet extends. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic end is composed of a PP-RCT material and is securely formed over the port by way of an over molding technique. The valve unit further includes a ball valve accommodated within the valve body and a handle for actuating the ball valve. The isolation valve unit is configured to couple to a larger polymeric pipe and to control the flow of fluids in a plumbing system via actuation of the ball valve.
Claims20
A fluid isolation valve with a fusion coupling, comprising:
- a metal valve body having a first port and a second port and defining a fluid passageway between said first port and said second port;
- an overmolded thermoplastic polymer end surrounding and enclosing a distal portion of one of said first and second ports;
- a flow diversion device disposed in the valve body between said first and second ports and configured to control and alter the fluid passageway;
- wherein said distal portion of one of said first and second ports comprises ribs formed on an outer surface thereof;
- wherein at least one of said ribs is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of said first or second port and is configured to prevent said overmolded thermoplastic polymer end from rotating about the distal portion of said first or second port to which it is coupled;
- and
- wherein said overmolded thermoplastic polymer extends beyond said ribs to a multi-tiered fusion coupling, with a wider tier having a concave surface.
A fluid isolation valve, comprising:
- a metal valve body having a first port, a second port, and a fluid passageway between said first port and said second port;
- an overmolded thermoplastic polymer end surrounding a distal portion of one of said first and second ports;
- a flow diversion device disposed in the valve body, between said first port and said second port, configured to control and alter the fluid passageway;
- wherein the distal portion of said one of said first and second ports comprises at least one protrusion extending therefrom in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said one of the first and second ports, the at least one protrusion is configured to prevent the overmolded end from rotating about the distal portion of said one of the first and second ports;
- and
- wherein said overmolded thermoplastic polymer extends beyond said said at least one protrusion to a multi-tiered coupling, with at least one tier having a concave surface.
A coupling of a fluid isolation valve to a polymeric pipe, comprising:
- a polymeric pipe with a generally cylindrical outer wall, having an opening in the generally cylindrical outer wall;
- a metal valve body having a first port, a second port, and a fluid passageway between said first port and said second port;
- an overmolded thermoplastic polymer end surrounding a distal portion of said first port;
- a flow diversion device disposed in the valve body, between said first port and said second port, configured to control and alter the fluid passageway;
- wherein the distal portion of said first port comprises at least one protrusion extending therefrom in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said first port;
- wherein said overmolded thermoplastic polymer extends beyond said at least one protrusion to a multi-tiered coupling with at least one tier having a concave surface;
- and
- wherein said concave surface generally conforms to the generally cylindrical outer wall of said polymeric pipe when the fluid passageway of said metal valve body is aligned with said opening in said generally cylindrical outer wall of said polymeric pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.