Fluid control valve system and methods

The fluid control valve comprising:

• a valve body having a first inner surface defining a chamber having a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the chamber including an inlet and an outlet in communication with the chamber and substantially aligned along the first axis, the inner surface including an elongated seat member substantially aligned along the second axes, the seat member defining a groove, a portion of the body defining a port in communication with the groove;
• and
• a diaphragm member disposed within the chamber for controlling communication between the inlet and the outlet, the diaphragm member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface including at least a pair of spaced apart elongated members defining a channel therebetween, the diaphragm member having a first position permitting communication between the inlet and the outlet and a second position wherein the elongated members engage the seat member such that the channel is in communication with the groove to define an intermediate chamber in communication with the port;
• wherein the valve body defines a central axis substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes, the port being substantially aligned with the central axis;
• and
• wherein the port has a first portion having a first width opening and a second portion axially aligned with the first portion, the second portion having a second width opening having a width smaller than the first width opening.

A fluid control valve for providing fluid control between a first fluid and a second fluid comprising:

• a body having an inlet, an outlet, and inner surface defining a passageway between the inlet and the outlet, the body further including a port in communication with the passageway and located between the inlet and the outlet;
• and
• a flexible member engaged with the inner surface to dissect the passageway to define an inlet chamber in communication with the inlet for housing the first fluid, an outlet chamber in communication with the outlet for housing the second fluid and an intermediate chamber disposed between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber and in communication with the port;
• wherein the port includes a first portion defining a first width and a second portion axially aligned with the first portion and defining a second width, wherein further the first width is greater than the second width.

A method of pressurizing a chamber in a fluid control valve having a diaphragm member, the method comprising:

• seating the diaphragm to form a gas chamber axially spaced from a liquid supply chamber;
• forming a gas seat between the gas and liquid chamber;
• wherein seating the diaphragm comprises:
• applying a fluid pressure on a portion of an upper surface of the diaphragm;
• applying a liquid pressure on a first lower surface portion of the diaphragm within the liquid chamber;
• applying a gas pressure on a second lower surface portion of the diaphragm within the gas chamber;
• the ratio of the fluid pressure to the liquid pressure being about 1 psi. of fluid pressure to about 1.2 psi. of liquid pressure.

The system for fire protection comprising:

• a primary fluid;
• a secondary fluid;
• a normally closed piping network of sprinklers;
• and
• a fluid control valve including
• a valve body having a first inner surface defining a chamber having a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the chamber including an inlet and an outlet in communication with the chamber and substantially aligned along the first axis, the inner surface including an elongated seat member substantially aligned along the second axis, the seat member defining a groove, a portion of the body further defining a port in communication with the groove;
• and
• a flexible member engaged with the inner surface to dissect the passageway to define an inlet chamber in communication with the inlet for housing the primary fluid at a first pressure, an outlet chamber in communication with the network of pipes so as to form a normally closed system to house the second fluid at a second pressure, the second pressure being substantially constant between the outlet chamber and the network of pipes and greater than atmospheric pressure, wherein the flexible member engages the seat member to define an intermediate chamber in communication with the port;
• wherein the valve body includes an input opening and a fluid drain opening disposed about the seat member, the input opening being in communication with the outlet and the fluid drain opening being in communication with the inlet.