US 5,487,528 AGranted

Quiet appliance water valve

AssigneeEmerson Electric Co.

InventorJames W. Richmond

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Abstract

A solenoid controlled, pilot actuated inlet water valve apparatus has an inlet connected to a residential water source pipe and an outlet connected to an appliance such as a dishwasher or clothes washing machine. The inlet water valve contains a flow control, a noise suppressor, a pilot valve controlled by an electrically operated armature, and a main valve composed of a diaphragm, diaphragm insert, valving surface and bleed passage. The noise suppressor is located downstream of the flow control and reduces water velocity by first radially dispersing incoming water to the periphery of the noise suppressor in a dispersion chamber. Next, water passes through passage holes located around the periphery of the noise suppressor into a recombining chamber with it is directed toward a central exit port. When water moves in the recombining chamber toward the central exit port, the water converges from different directions further reducing water velocity and noise caused by cavitation.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An appliance water valve, comprising:

(a) a valve body defining an inlet,, an outlet, and a valving cavity disposed between and communicating with the inlet and the outlet, and a valving surface between the inlet and the outlet;
(b) a main valve moveable to a position away from the valving surface for permitting flow from the inlet through the valving cavity to the outlet, and moveable to a position contacting the valving surface for preventing flow from the inlet through the valving cavity;
(c) a flow control located between the inlet and the valving cavity for providing a substantially constant rate of water flow;
and,
(d) means for reducing water flow noise, comprises:
(1) a dispersion chamber having passage holes placed downstream of the flow control which indirectly communicates with a central exit port for radially dispersing and accelerating water to the periphery of the dispersion chamber and into the passage holes decelerating water to decrease inlet water velocity,
(2) a recombining chamber downstream of the dispersion chamber communicating with the dispersion chamber and the valving cavity receiving water from the passage holes in the dispersion chamber to redirect and accelerate all water flow radially from the periphery of the recombining chamber inward toward the central exit port thus causing water flow from opposing directions to converge at the central exit port and decelerate thereby reducing water velocity.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.