Pilot valve for diaphragm valve systems and methods
AssigneeTyco Fire Products LP
InventorsJoshua Motha, Normand James Roy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pilot valve can include an inlet chamber, a diaphragm chamber coupled with the inlet chamber, a drain chamber coupled with the diaphragm chamber, a diaphragm, a pilot channel coupled with the inlet chamber, and an actuator in the pilot channel. The diaphragm can be movable between a closed position to prevent fluid flow between the inlet chamber and the drain chamber and an open position to allow fluid flow between the inlet chamber and the drain chamber. The actuator can selectively allow fluid flow out of the pilot channel through a port coupled with the pilot channel to movement of the diaphragm.
Claims20
A fire protection system, comprising:
- a flow control valve comprising an inlet, an outlet, a first diaphragm chamber between the inlet and the outlet, and a first diaphragm movable between a closed state to prevent fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet and an open state to allow fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet;
- one or more fluid distribution devices coupled with the outlet;
- and
- a pilot valve, comprising:
- an inlet chamber coupled with a diaphragm port of the first diaphragm chamber;
- a drain port;
- a second diaphragm in a second diaphragm chamber between the inlet chamber and the drain port;
- and
- an actuator in a pilot channel between the inlet chamber and an air port and between the inlet chamber and the drain port, the actuator to prevent fluid flow between the inlet chamber and the drain port through the pilot channel responsive to pressurization of one or more pipes between the outlet and the one or more fluid distribution devices, the air port coupled with the one or more pipes, the actuator to allow fluid flow between the inlet chamber and the drain port and between the second diaphragm chamber and the drain port responsive to pressure in the one or more pipes being less than a threshold to allow operation of the flow control valve.
A pilot valve, comprising:
- an inlet chamber;
- a diaphragm chamber coupled with the inlet chamber;
- a drain chamber coupled with the diaphragm chamber;
- a diaphragm movable between a closed position to prevent fluid flow between the inlet chamber and the drain chamber and an open position to allow fluid flow between the inlet chamber and the drain chamber;
- a pilot channel coupled with the inlet chamber;
- and
- an actuator in the pilot channel, the actuator to selectively allow fluid flow out of the pilot channel through a port coupled with the pilot channel responsive to movement of the diaphragm.
A valve assembly, comprising:
- a first portion having an inlet chamber, a diaphragm chamber, and a drain chamber to form a first fluid path from the inlet chamber to the drain chamber;
- a second portion having at least one channel forming a second fluid path and an actuator in the at least one channel;
- and
- a diaphragm between the first portion and the second portion, the actuator movable to control the position of the diaphragm to selectively allow fluid flow through the first fluid path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.