A handle operated flow control valve, comprising:
- a) valve body means for defining:
- i) a generally L-shaped valve body having an elongate inlet leg and an elongate outlet leg that each have proximal and distal end regions, that are joined near their proximal end regions, and that define an inlet opening near the distal end region of the inlet leg and an outlet opening near the distal end region of the outlet leg;
- ii) primary inlet passage means for defining a primary inlet passage that extends through the inlet leg from the proximal end region to the distal end region of the inlet leg, and for communicating with the inlet opening at the distal end region of the inlet leg to receive a supply of a first pressurized fluid that is introduced into the valve body through the inlet opening;
- iii) outlet passage outlet passage that extends through the outlet leg from the proximal end region to the distal end region of the outlet leg, and for communicating with the outlet opening at the distal end region of the outlet leg to discharge from the valve body such fluid as is introduced into the valve body;
- iv) first valve opening means for defining a first valve opening for communicating the primary inlet passage with the outlet passage at a location near where the proximal end regions of the inlet leg and the outlet leg are joined;
- v) first assembly opening means for defining a first assembly opening located near the proximal end region of the primary inlet leg for providing access through the primary inlet passage to the first valve opening for permitting portions of a first valve means to be installed within the valve body at a first location that extends between the first valve opening and the first assembly opening;
- b) first valve means having at least portions thereof that are configured to permit their being installed in the valve body by being inserted through the first assembly opening for being positioned at said first location for being movable relative to the valve body between a closed position wherein the first valve means seals the first valve opening to prevent fluid flow from the primary inlet passage to the outlet passage, and open positions wherein the first valve means cooperates with the first valve opening to selectively control fluid flow through the first valve opening from the primary inlet passage to the outlet passage;
- c) handle means including a handle that is connected to the valve body and to the first valve means for movement within a permitted range of movement relatively toward and away from the inlet leg of the valve body between a non-operated position wherein the handle means permits the first valve means to move to its closed position to seal the first valve opening to thereby prevent fluid flow therethrough, and operated positions wherein the handle means positions the first valve means in open positions to selectively control fluid flow through the first valve opening from the primary inlet passage to the outlet passage;
- d) auxiliary input means connected to the valve body for admitting a controlled flow of a second pressurized fluid through the assembly opening into the primary inlet passage for combining with said first pressurized fluid for being ducted together with the first pressurized fluid through the first valve opening into the outlet passage for discharge through the outlet opening, including:
- i) elongate sleeve means A) having first end region means configured to be rigidly connected to the body at the location of the assembly opening for defining a feed passage that communicates through the assembly opening with the primary inlet passage for ducting a flow of a second pressurized fluid into the primary inlet passage, B) having second end region means for defining a second assembly opening and a secondary inlet passage that communicates with the second assembly opening for receiving a supply of a second pressurized fluid, and C) defining a second valve opening for communicating the secondary inlet passage with the feed passage means, D) with the second assembly opening being configured to provide access through the secondary inlet passage to the second valve opening for permitting portions of a second valve means to be installed within the sleeve means at a second location that extends between the second valve opening and the second assembly opening;
- ii) second valve means having at least portions thereof that are configured to permit their being installed in the sleeve means by being inserted through the second assembly opening for being positioned at said second location for being movable relative to the sleeve means between a closed position wherein the second valve means seals the second valve opening to prevent fluid flow therethrough, and open positions wherein the second valve means cooperates with the second valve opening to selectively control fluid flow through the second valve opening from the secondary inlet passage to the feed passage;
- e) first biasing means connected to the first valve means and to a selected one of the sleeve means and the valve body for biasing the first valve means away from its open positions toward its closed position;
- f) second biasing means connected to the second valve means and to a selected one of the sleeve means and the valve body for biasing the second valve means away from its open positions toward its closed position;
- and,
- g) lost motion connection means for selectively drivingly connecting the first valve means to the second valve means such that:
- i) when the handle is moved away from its non-operated position within an initial part of its permitted range of movement, the first valve means will be caused to move away from its closed position in opposition to the biasing action of the first biasing means to open the first valve opening to permit a controlled flow of first fluid therethrough from the primary inlet passage to the outlet passage, with such movement of the first valve means not causing corresponding movement of the second valve means and not being opposed by the biasing action of the second biasing means;
- and,
- ii) when the handle is moved away from its non-operated position beyond said initial part of its permitted range of movement to the remaining part of its permitted range of movement, both the first valve means and the second valve means will be caused to move, in unison, away from their respective closed positions, with such movement of the first valve means being opposed by the biasing action of the first biasing means, and with such movement of the second valve means being opposed by the biasing of the second biasing means.