Freeze protection valve with metal to plastic fitting design

A freeze protection valve comprising:

• a one-piece plastic valve housing having a peripheral wall defining:
• an elongated recess with an open end and a drain outlet disposed opposite the open end in fluid communication with the elongated recess, the valve housing defining a first seating region surrounding the elongated recess open end, a fluid transfer passage in fluid communication with the elongated recess, and a second seating region surrounding the fluid transfer passage;
• a first detachable fitting assembly disposed adjacent the housing first seating region in fluid sealing engagement therewith;
• a second detachable fitting assembly disposed adjacent the second seating region in fluid engagement therewith;
• a freeze drain outlet valving means for selectively opening and closing the freeze drain outlet, the valving means including biasing means for biasing the valving means towards its open, draining position;
• and,
• a thermal sensing assembly which extends with increasing temperature and contracts with lowering temperature, the thermal sensing assembly being inserted through the open end and being disposed in the elongated recess retained therein adjacent the drain outlet by the first fitting assembly, the thermal sensing assembly being disposed in the elongated recess, the thermal sensing assembly including a thermal element cup operatively connected with the freeze drain outlet valving means, a thermal sensing element disposed in the thermal element cup which expands with increasing temperature and contracts with decreasing temperature, a piston means operatively connected at one end with the thermal element and operatively connected adjacent its other end with the valve housing such that:
• (a) as the thermal element expands, the thermal sensing assembly urges the valving means against the biasing of biasing means toward the closed position and (b) as the thermal element contracts, the biasing means biases the valving means towards the open position and biases the thermal sensing cup away from the drain outlet.

A freeze protection valve comprising:

• a one-piece plastic valve housing having a peripheral wall defining an elongated recess with an open end and a drain outlet disposed opposite the open end in fluid communication with the elongated recess, the housing having a seating region surrounding the elongated recess open end;
• a detachable fitting assembly disposed adjacent the housing seating region in fluid sealing engagement therewith;
• a freeze drain outlet valving means for selectively opening and closing the freeze drain outlet, the valving means including biasing means for biasing the valving means towards its open, draining position;
• and,
• a thermal sensing assembly which extends with increasing temperature and contracts with lowering temperature, the thermal sensing assembly being insertable through the open end and being disposed in the elongated recess and retained therein adjacent the drain outlet by the first fitting assembly, the thermal sensing assembly including a thermal element cup disposed closely adjacent the drain outlet, a thermal sensing element disposed in the thermal element cup which expands with increasing temperature and contracts with decreasing temperature, a piston means operatively connected at one end with the thermal element and operatively connected adjacent its other end with the valve housing, the thermal element cup being operatively connected with the freeze drain outlet valving means to urge the valving means toward the closed position as the thermal element expands, and as the thermal element contracts the biasing means biases the valving means towards the open position.

A freeze protection valve comprising:

• a one-piece plastic valve housing having a peripheral wall which defines an elongated recess with an open end, a first seating region defined on the peripheral wall surrounding the elongated recess open end, a drain outlet disposed opposite the open end in fluid communication with the elongated recess, a fluid transfer passage extending through the peripheral wall into fluid communication with the elongated recess, and a second seating region defined on the peripheral wall surrounding the fluid transfer passage;
• a first detachable fitting assembly disposed in a fluid sealing engagement with the first seating region;
• a second detachable fitting assembly disposed in a fluid sealing engagement with the second seating region;
• a freeze drain outlet valving means for selectively opening and closing the freeze drain outlet;
• a thermal sensing assembly operatively connected with the freeze drain outlet valving means and with the valve housing for selectively causing the freeze drain outlet valving means to open and close the freeze drain outlet in response to the temperature of the fluid within the valve housing and, the freeze drain outlet valving means and the thermal sensing assembly being insertable through the open end and being disposed in the elongated recess and retained therein adjacent the drain outlet by the first fitting assembly.