Diaphragm valve with filter screen and movable wiper element

A diaphragm valve, comprising:

• a valve housing having an inlet passage, an outlet passage, a primary valve seat between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, a lower inlet chamber below the primary valve seat, and an upper pressure control chamber above the primary valve seat;
• a pilot valve coupled to the upper pressure control chamber for selectively venting pressurized water therefrom;
• a diaphragm assembly mounted inside the valve housing and having an outer seal normally engaged with the primary valve seat to seal the inlet passage from the outlet passage, the diaphragm assembly being moveable in a first direction to disengage the seal from the primary valve seat and open the valve upon release of a sufficient amount of pressurized water from the upper pressure control chamber through actuation of the pilot valve, the diaphragm assembly being moveable in a second direction opposite the first direction to close the valve upon further actuation of the pilot valve to cause the build-up of sufficient pressure inside the upper pressure control chamber, the diaphragm assembly including means for metering water from the lower inlet chamber through the diaphragm assembly into the upper pressure control chamber;
• and
• a longitudinally extending filter assembly located inside the lower inlet chamber and coupled to the water metering means for removing debris from pressurized water before it passes from the lower inlet chamber into the upper pressure control chamber through the water metering means, including a filter screen, a wiper element surrounding the filter screen and mounted for longitudinal reciprocation over an exterior surface of the filter screen to remove debris, a carrier surrounding and supporting the wiper element, and a spring compressed between the carrier element and the diaphragm assembly, the carrier and wiper element being free floating and moved in the first direction by water flowing from the inlet passage to the outlet passage when the valve is open, and the wiper element and carrier being moved in the second direction when the valve closes.

A valve, comprising:

• a valve member;
• a valve housing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, the valve member being reciprocable back and forth within the valve housing to thereby connect and disconnect the inlet passage and the outlet passage, the valve housing having a lower inlet chamber below the valve member, and an upper pressure control chamber above the valve member;
• a pilot valve operatively associated with the upper pressure control chamber for selectively venting pressurized water therefrom:
• the valve member normally sealing the inlet passage from the outlet passage and being moveable in a first direction to connect the inlet passage with the outlet passage upon release of a sufficient amount of pressurized water from the upper pressure control chamber;
• the valve member including means for metering water from the lower inlet chamber through the valve member into the upper pressure control chamber;
• and
• a longitudinally extending filter assembly located inside the lower inlet chamber and coupled to the water metering means for removing debris from pressurized water before it passes from the inlet passage into the upper pressure control chamber through the water metering means, including a filter screen and a wiper element surrounding the filter screen and mounted for longitudinal reciprocation over an exterior surface of the filter screen to remove debris, the wiper element being free floating and moved in the first direction by water flowing from the inlet passage to the outlet passage.