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US 7,243,669 B2Granted
Float-responsive valve with premature closure prevention
AssigneeClack Corporation
InventorDon Douglas Vaughan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A float-responsive valve includes a valve actuator that is selectively responsive to operation of a float to move from a first position to a second position in which the valve actuator holds the valve element in its open position. When the valve actuator is in the second position thereof, fluid pressure that would otherwise tend to force the valve element toward its seat is essentially incapable of closing the valve element. Preferably, a force vector applied through a flapper-type valve actuator forms an essentially nonnegative, more preferably generally collinear, angle with a bisector line passing through a pivot axis of the valve actuator and a primary contact point between the valve actuator and the flapper.
Claims29
A float-responsive valve comprising:
- (A) a valve body that has a flow passage formed therein, said flow passage having first and second portions;
- (B) a valve seat that is disposed in the flow passage between said first and second portions;
- (C) a valve element that is disposed in said flow passage and that is movable between a closed position in which said valve element seats on said valve seat to prevent fluid flow through said flow passage and an open position in which said valve element unseats from said valve seat and permit fluid flow through said flow passage;
- and
- (D) a float-responsive valve actuator that is selectively responsive to operation of a float to move from a first position to a second position in which said valve actuator holds said valve element in said open position thereof, wherein said valve actuator is dimensioned and configured relative to said valve element such that, when said valve actuator is in said second position thereof, fluid pressure in said second portion of said flow passage is incapable of closing said valve element.
2 more elements
A water softener brine valve comprising:
- (A) a valve body that has a first port configured to communicate with an interior of a water softener brine tank, a second port configured to communicate with an exterior of the brine tank, and a flow passage connecting said first and second ports to one another;
- (B) a valve scat that is disposed in said flow passage;
- (C) a flapper that is pivotably mounted in said valve body and that is pivotable from a closed position thereof in which said flapper seats on said valve seat and an open position to permit fluid flow through said flow passage past said valve seat;
- and
- (D) a float-responsive actuating lever that is selectively responsive to operation of a float to pivot about a pivot axis from a first position to a second position in which said actuating lever holds said flapper in said open position, wherein said actuating lever is dimensioned and configured relative to said flapper such that fluid flowing through said flow passage from said second port is incapable of closing said flapper when said actuating lever is in said second position thereof.
2 more elements
A water softener comprising:
- (A)a resin tank;
- (B)a brine tank;
- (C) a control valve assembly that is connected to said resin tank, said brine tank, a source of untreated water, a drain, and a treated water discharge and that is configured to control fluid flow between the source of untreated water, said resin tank, said brine tank, the treated water discharge, and the drain;
- and
- (D) a water softener brine valve comprising
- (1) a valve body that has a first port in fluid communication with the interior of a water softener brine tank, a second port communicating with the control valve assembly via an inlet/outlet opening in said brine tank, and a flow passage connecting said first and second ports to one another,
- (2) a valve seat that is disposed in said flow passage,
- (3) a flapper that is pivotably mounted in said valve body and that is pivotable from a closed position thereof in which said flapper seats on said valve seat and an open position thereof to permit fluid flow through said flow passage past said valve seat, and
- (4) a float that is disposed in said brine tank and that is configured to move between a raised position thereof and lowered position thereof as a liquid level in said brine tank rises and falls, and
- (5) a float-responsive actuating lever that is coupled to said float and that is responsive to downward motion of said float from said raised position to pivot about a pivot axis from a first position in which said actuating lever is incapable of opening said flapper to a second position in which said actuating lever holds said flapper in said open position thereof wherein said actuating lever and said flapper are configured such that, when said actuating lever is in said second position and said flapper is pressed against said actuating lever by closing forces imposes on said flapper by fluid flowing through said flow passage from said second port, a force vector passes through a primary contact point between said actuating lever and said flapper, said force vector being at least generally collinear with a bisecting line passing through said pivot axis and said primary contact point.
7 more elements
A method of operating a valve, comprising:
- (A) moving a valve element into an open position thereof;
- (B) in response to downward movement of a float from a raised position thereof to a lowered position thereof, moving a valve actuator from a first position thereof to a second position thereof in which said valve actuator holds said valve element in said open position thereof;
- (C) imposing closing forces on an open valve element generated by fluid flowing past said valve element;
- and
- (D) so long as said float remains in said lowered position and said closing forces are imposed on said valve element, transmitting said closing forces through said valve actuator in a manner that prevents said closing forces from driving said valve actuator from said second position thereof to said first position thereof, thereby holding said valve element in said open position despite the imposition of closing forces thereon.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.