# US 5,699,995 A · Pivoting valve assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,699,995 A - Document ID: US5699995A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/615,078 - Filed: 1996-03-13 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1995-06-01 - Assignees: Emerson Electric Co. - Inventors: Walter D. Robertson, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699995A ## CPC - F16K 31/10: with additional mechanism between armature and closure member - F16K 1/16: with pivoted closure-members - F16K 31/0682: {with an articulated or pivot armature} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract An pivot valve assembly (1310) for use in a fluid flow system (S). A valve body (1312) has a fluid flow path therethrough and includes an inlet (1314), an outlet (1316), and a valve orifice (1318) formed intermediate the inlet and outlet. A valve member (1332) is mounted for movement relative to the orifice to open and close the fluid path. A solenoid assembly (1362) is supplied an input from a sensor/control unit (S) to effect movement of the valve member. The solenoid acts on a lever arm (1352) which is pivotally mounted so what would otherwise be a linear movement of the lever arm becomes a rotary movement. A ball (1342) seated on a valve stem (1336) of the valve member is contacted by the lever arm and moved thereby as the lever arm moves. This produces a pivotal movement of the valve member into a position opening the orifice and allowing fluid flow through the valve assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly for use in a fluid flow system comprising: a valve body having a fluid flow passage formed therein including an inlet, an outlet, and an orifice interposed between said inlet and outlet; a freely movable valve member tiltable relative to said orifice between a valve closing position in which said valve member rests upon an edge extending about said orifice and a valve opening position; lever means supporting and tilting said valve member; a solenoid pivotally moving said lever means about a pivot for movement of said lever means to tilt said valve member to open a fluid flow path between said inlet and said outlet through said orifice; and, means contacting said lever means and said valve member and movable by said lever means when said lever means pivotally moves to tilt said valve member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said solenoid includes a flexible arm attached to said lever means to move said lever means about said pivot when said solenoid is energized. ### Claim 3 (depends on 3) The valve assembly of claim 3 further including means presetting a force which said lever means must overcome in order to tilt said valve member to the valve open position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valve assembly of claim 3 wherein said lever means comprises a lever arm pivoted at one end with said solenoid acting on said lever arm at a point intermediate the ends thereof, and said force presetting means acting on said lever arm at the end opposite the pivoted end of said lever arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said lever means comprises a lever arm, and said valve assembly further includes a frame to which said lever arm is pivotally mounted, and wherein said frame and said valve body are attached to each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The valve assembly of claim 5 wherein said frame and said valve body form a fluid flow chamber into which said orifice opens, said valve member being positioned within said chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The valve assembly of claim 6 further including a cap piece fitted between said frame and said valve body, said cap piece and a sidewall of said valve body defining said chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The valve assembly of claim 5 wherein said valve member includes a valve seat positioned on said orifice and movable relative thereto to open and close the orifice. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said valve member further includes a valve stem extending through an opening in said chamber, and said means contacting said lever means includes a ball mounted on an end of said stem, said ball contacting said lever arm for tilting said valve member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The valve assembly of claim 9, wherein said lever means further includes a plate carded by said lever arm and contacting said ball to tilt said valve member. ### Claim 11 A pivot valve assembly for use in ultra-clean manufacturing operations comprising: a valve body having a fluid flow passage formed therein including an inlet, an outlet, and an orifice interposed between said inlet and outlet; a valve member tiltable with respect to said orifice for opening and closing a fluid flow path between said inlet and outlet; ball means pivotally contacting one end of said valve member for movement of said ball means to effect lilting of said valve member; a lever arm contacting said ball means to pivotally move said ball means, said ball means being unsecured to said lever arm; and, a solenoid pivotally moving said lever arm about a pivot for movement of said lever arm to tilt said valve member to open a fluid flow path between said inlet and said outlet through said orifice. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pivot valve assembly of claim 11 wherein said solenoid includes a flexible arm attached to said lever arm to move said lever arm about said pivot when said solenoid is energized. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pivot valve assembly of claim 12 further including means for presetting a force which said lever arm must overcome in order to tilt said valve member to the valve open position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The pivot valve assembly of claim 12 further including a frame to which said lever arm is pivotally mounted, said frame and said valve body being attached to each other and forming a fluid flow chamber into which said orifice opens, said valve member being positioned within said chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pivot valve assembly of claim 14 wherein said valve member includes a valve seat positioned on said orifice and movable relative thereto to open and close the orifice. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The pivot valve assembly of claim 15 said valve member further includes a valve stem extending through an opening in said chamber and contacting said ball means. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The pivot valve assembly of claim 16 wherein said ball means includes a ball mounted on an end of said stem, said ball contacting said lever arm for tilting said valve member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The pivot valve assembly of claim 17 further including a plate carried by said lever arm and contacting said ball to tilt said valve member. ### Claim 19 A valve assembly for use in a fluid flow system comprising: a valve body having a fluid flow passage formed therein including an inlet, an outlet, and an orifice interposed between said inlet and outlet; a valve member movable relative to said orifice between a valve closing position in which said valve member rests upon an edge extending about said orifice and a valve opening position; lever means supporting and moving said valve member; a solenoid including a flexible arm attached to said lever means for pivotally moving said lever means about a pivot for movement of said lever means to move said valve member to open a fluid flow path between said inlet and said outlet through said orifice; and, means contacting said lever means and said valve member and movable by said lever means when said lever means pivotally moves to move said valve member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The valve assembly of claim 19 further including means presetting a force which said lever means must overcome in order to move said valve member to the valve open position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The valve assembly of claim 20 wherein said lever means comprises a lever arm pivoted at one end with said solenoid acting on said lever arm at a point intermediate the ends thereof, and said force presetting means acting on said lever arm at the end opposite the pivoted end of said lever arm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The valve assembly of claim 19 wherein said lever means comprises a lever arm, and said valve assembly further includes a frame to which said lever arm is pivotally mounted, said frame and said valve body attached to each other, said frame and said valve body form a fluid flow chamber into which said orifice opens, said valve member being positioned within said chamber, and a cap piece fitted between said frame and said valve body, said cap piece and a sidewall of said valve body defining said chamber. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The valve assembly of claim 19 wherein said lever means comprises a lever arm, and said valve assembly further includes a frame to which said lever arm is pivotally mounted, said flame and said valve body attached to each other, said valve member including a valve seat positioned on said orifice and movable relative thereto to open and close the orifice and a valve stem extending through an opening in said chamber, and said means contacting said lever means including a ball mounted on an end of said stem, said ball contacting said lever arm for moving said valve member. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The valve assembly of claim 23 wherein said lever means further includes a plate carried by said lever arm and contacting said ball to move said valve member.