Modular valve for a building standpipe

A valve for a dry piping system, said valve comprising:

• a valve body including an inlet for being in fluid communication with a fluid source and an outlet for being in fluid communication with an outlet conduit;
• a passage within said valve body interconnecting said inlet and said outlet for allowing fluid to flow through said valve body between said inlet and said outlet;
• a valve seat positioned within said valve body in alignment with said passage for allowing fluid to flow therethrough;
• a clapper positioned within said passage;
• hinge means interconnected between said valve body and said clapper for allowing said clapper to pivot between a first position wherein said clapper is sealingly engaged with said valve seat to prevent fluid from flowing between said inlet and said outlet and a second position wherein said clapper is spaced from said valve seat to allow fluid to flow from said inlet toward said outlet;
• a latch positioned proximate said clapper, said latch being movable between a locked position wherein said latch engages said clapper when said clapper is in said first position and an unlocked position wherein said latch is spaced from said clapper when said clapper is in said second position;
• an actuator member mounted on said valve body and extending into said passage such that said actuator member engages said latch, said actuator member being movable between a set position wherein said latch is maintained in said locked position and an activated position wherein said actuator member is moved to said unlocked position;
• force applicator means for applying a first force to said actuator member to move said actuator member from said activated position to said set position and to maintain said actuator member in said set position wherein said clapper and latch are in said first and locked positions, respectively, and for applying a second force to said actuator member to move said actuator member from said set position to said activated position and to maintain said actuator member in said activated position wherein said clapper and latch are in said second and unlocked positions, respectively;
• and
• operator means for controlling the position of said clapper with respect to said valve seat, said operator means either securely retaining said clapper in said first position or allowing said clapper to freely move between said first and second positions, whereby said clapper moves to said first position when fluid flows from said outlet toward said inlet, and said clapper moves toward said second position when fluid flows from said inlet to said outlet, said operator means comprising linkage within said passage, said linkage being interconnected between said clapper and said valve body, said operator means further comprising actuator means slideably engaged with said linkage for moving said linkage with respect to said clapper and valve body to thereby move said clapper with respect to said valve seat.

A valve field convertible between a wet configuration wherein liquid is constantly located within said valve and a dry configuration wherein a gas is located within said valve, said valve comprising;

• a valve body including an inlet for being in fluid communication with a fluid source and an outlet for being in fluid communication with an outlet conduit;
• a passage within said valve body interconnecting said inlet and said outlet for allowing fluid to flow through said valve body between said inlet and said outlet;
• a valve seat positioned within said valve body in alignment with said passage for allowing fluid communication therethrough;
• a clapper positioned within said passage;
• hinge means interconnected between said valve body and said clapper for allowing said clapper to pivot between a first position wherein said clapper is sealingly engaged with said valve seat to prevent fluid from flowing between said inlet and outlet and a second position wherein said clapper is spaced from said valve seat to allow fluid to flow from said inlet to said outlet;
• operator means for controlling the position of said clapper with respect to said valve seat, said operator means securely retaining said clapper in said first position in a first mode of operation and allowing said clapper to freely move between said first and second positions in a second mode of operation, whereby when operating in said second mode said clapper moves to said first position when fluid flows through said passage from said outlet toward said inlet, and said clapper moves to said second position when fluid flows through said passage from said inlet toward said outlet, said operator means comprising linkage within said passage, said linkage being interconnected between said clapper and said valve body, said operator means further comprising actuator means slideably engaged with said linkage for moving and said linkage with respect to said clapper and valve body to thereby move said clapper with respect to said valve seat;
• and
• control means for governing the position of said clapper with respect to said valve seat when said operator means is in said second mode of operation, said control means having a set position wherein said clapper is maintained in said first position and an activated position wherein said clapper is free to move between said first and second positions whereby the valve is field convertible between said wet and dry configurations.

A valve field convertible between a wet configuration wherein liquid is constantly located within said valve and a dry configuration wherein a gas is located within said valve, said valve comprising;

• a valve body including an inlet for being in fluid communication with a fluid source and an outlet for being in fluid communication with an outlet conduit;
• a passage within said valve body interconnecting said inlet and said outlet for allowing fluid to flow through said valve body between said inlet and said outlet;
• a valve seat positioned within said valve body in alignment with said passage for allowing fluid communication therethrough;
• a clapper positioned within said passage;
• hinge means interconnected between said valve body and said clapper for allowing said clapper to pivot between a first position wherein said clapper is sealingly engaged with said valve seat to prevent fluid from flowing between said inlet and outlet and a second position wherein said clapper is spaced from said valve seat to allow fluid to flow from said inlet to said outlet;
• operator means for controlling the position of said clapper with respect to said valve seat, said operator means securely retaining said clapper in said first position in a first mode of operation and allowing said clapper to freely move between said first and second positions in a second mode of operation, whereby when operating in said second mode said clapper moves to said first position when fluid flows through said passage from said outlet toward said inlet, and said clapper moves to said second position when fluid flows through said passage from said inlet toward said outlet;
• and
• control means for governing the position of said clapper with respect to said valve seat when said operator means is in said second mode of operation, said control means having a set position wherein said clapper is maintained in said first position and an activated position wherein said clapper is free to move between said first and second positions whereby the valve is field convertible between said wet and dry configurations, said control means comprising:
• a latch releasably positioned proximate said clapper, said latch being movable between a locked position wherein said latch engages said clapper when said clapper is in said first position and an unlocked position wherein said latch is spaced from said clapper when said clapper is in said second position;
• an actuator member mounted on said valve body and extending into said passage such that said actuator member engages said latch, said actuator member being movable between a set position wherein said latch is maintained in said locked position and an activated position wherein said actuator member is movable to said unlocked position, said actuator member being a double acting piston mechanism having a piston secured to a piston rod, said piston and piston rod being reciprocally mounted within a cylinder, said piston rod being in engagement with said latch, said cylinder having a first inlet for allowing fluid to flow into said cylinder on a head side of said piston and a second inlet for allowing fluid to flow into said cylinder on a rod side of said piston;
• and
• force applicator means for applying a first force to said actuator member to move said actuator member from said activated position to said set position and to maintain said actuator member in said set position wherein said clapper and latch are in said first and locked positions, respectively, and for applying a second force to said actuator member to move said actuator member from said set position to said activated position and to maintain said actuator member in said activated position wherein said clapper and latch are in said second and unlocked positions, respectively.