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US 7,007,916 B2Granted
Low flow valve improvement
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorHyok Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention illustrates an irrigation valve that operates at low flows by providing a guide washer of the valve assembly that prevents diaphragm extrusion. Specifically, the circular channel area of a guide washer of the valve includes spoke-like fins. These fins keep the diaphragm from extruding into the open channel over time, while allowing for easy guide washer manufacturing.
Claims10
An irrigation valve comprising:
- a valve housing having an interior valve seat;
- a valve sized to mate with said valve seat;
- a guide washer positioned above said valve and having an inner circular channel containing fins;
- a diaphragm separating said valve into an upper diaphragm chamber and a lower main water flow chamber;
- said diaphragm positioned adjacent to said guide washer over said fins;
- and
- a solenoid disposed on said valve housing and configured to create and relieve water pressure within said diaphragm chamber and thereby control water flow through said main water flow chamber.
4 more elements
An irrigation valve comprising:
- a housing separated into an upper chamber and a lower chamber;
- a diaphragm interposed between said upper and lower chamber;
- a sealing member disposed in said lower chamber to control fluid flow within said lower chamber;
- said sealing member having an upper surface positioned to contact said diaphragm;
- said upper surface comprising a slotted annular space so as to provide support to said diaphragm during substantially all pressure conditions in said upper chamber.
2 more elements
A method of operating an irrigation valve comprising:
- providing a valve by which flow through said valve is controlled by pressurization and depressurization of a diaphragm chamber;
- preventing undue tension on a diaphragm of said diaphragm chamber by providing substantially uniform support of said diaphragm during all occurrences of pressurization of said diaphragm chamber, including supporting said diaphragm with a non-continuous surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.