Abstract: An embodiment of a valve, such as a water valve, includes a body, a sleeve, and a rod. The body includes a body cavity, and the sleeve is removably disposable within the body cavity and includes a sleeve cavity. And the rod is movably disposable within the sleeve cavity and is configured to form a fluid-tight seal between the body cavity and the sleeve cavity while the rod is in a closed position and is configured to allow a fluid to flow from the body cavity to the sleeve cavity while the rod is in an open position. Furthermore, one or more components of the valve each can be made partially or fully from one or more polymers.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fire-suppression water-intake valve includes a receptacle and a valve assembly. The receptacle is configured to receive a sprinkler head. And the valve assembly is configured to close in response to removing a sprinkler head from the receptacle, and is configured to open in response to installing a sprinkler head in the receptacle. Such a fire-suppression water-intake valve can allow quick and easy removal and installation of a fire-suppression sprinkler head without shutting a water supply to the valve.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fluid valve includes a substantially flat face plate, a receptacle, a cavity, and a valve assembly. The receptacle is disposed in the face plate and has at least one protrusion each configured to engage a respective at least one groove of a valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device. The cavity has a front end in fluid communication with the receptacle, and has a rear end. And the valve assembly is disposed in the cavity, includes a first sealing ring, is configured to form a seal by urging the sealing ring against the rear end of the cavity in response to the valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device being absent from the receptacle, and is configured to allow fluid to flow into the rear end of the cavity in response to the valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device being disposed in the receptacle.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fluid valve includes a substantially flat face plate, a receptacle, a cavity, and a drain assembly. The receptacle is disposed in the face plate and has at least one protrusion each configured to engage a respective one of at least one groove of a valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device. The cavity has a top end in fluid communication with the receptacle, and has a bottom end. And the drain assembly has a top end in fluid communication with the bottom end of the cavity, has a bottom end, and is configured to allow fluid to drain from the cavity in response to the valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device being absent from the receptacle.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fire-suppression water-intake valve includes a receptacle and a valve assembly. The receptacle is configured to receive a sprinkler head. And the valve assembly is configured to close in response to removing a sprinkler head from the receptacle, and is configured to open in response to installing a sprinkler head in the receptacle. Such a fire-suppression water-intake valve can allow quick and easy removal and installation of a fire-suppression sprinkler head without shutting a water supply to the valve.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fluid valve includes a substantially flat face plate, a receptacle, a cavity, and a drain assembly. The receptacle is disposed in the face plate and has at least one protrusion each configured to engage a respective one of at least one groove of a valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device. The cavity has a top end in fluid communication with the receptacle, and has a bottom end. And the drain assembly has a top end in fluid communication with the bottom end of the cavity, has a bottom end, and is configured to allow fluid to drain from the cavity in response to the valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device being absent from the receptacle.