Expanding systems for break check water dampening
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsSean Michael Allen, Sean Gant, David Latimore Hughes, JR., Walter Pierce Wojick, Christopher Joseph Duckett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve member for a break check valve coupled to a pipe system fitting includes a valve member positioned in fluid communication with a piping system and configured to move from an open position to a closed position in response to a break between the pipe system fitting and the break check valve.
Claims29
An expansion device for a break check valve that is coupled to a pipeline and to a pipe system fitting, the expansion device comprising:
- a valve member hingedly connected to the break check valve and configured to rotate from an open position to a closed position only when the pipe system fitting is separated from the break check valve;
- a bladder coupled to the valve member, the bladder defining
- a bladder body, the bladder body defining an interior, the interior being an adjustable volume in response to fluid pressure;
- and
- an inlet configured to provide fluid communication between the pipeline located outside the bladder body and the interior of the bladder body.
The expansion device of claim 4, wherein a portion of the valve arm is received by a notch in the break check valve. The expansion device of claim 5, wherein the valve arm is mechanically constrained in the notch by the pipe system fitting thereby retaining the valve member in the open position.
A telescopic valve member for a break check valve coupled to a pipe system fitting, the telescopic valve member comprising:
- an outer telescopic valve member;
- an inner telescopic valve member;
- and
- a telescopic valve member positioned between the outer telescopic valve member and inner telescopic valve member, the telescopic valve member slidably coupled to each of the outer telescopic valve member and the inner telescopic valve member.
A method of using a break check valve that is coupled to a pipe system fitting, the method comprising:
- keeping the break check valve open when the pipe system fitting remains coupled to the break check valve;
- initiating closure of the break check valve upon decoupling of the pipe system fitting from the break check valve by movement of a valve member;
- and
- expanding the shape of the break check valve after closure movement of the valve member of the break check valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.