Adjustable Opening Limit For Main Valve Patents (Class 251/42)
  • Patent number: 11578811
    Abstract: A valve unit has a fluid housing through which a fluid duct extends from a first opening across a valve seat to a second opening, a valve drive connected to the fluid housing and configured to drive a valve closing body cooperating with the valve seat, the valve closing body coming into contact with the fluid in operation on the face side facing the valve seat and on a side facing away from the valve seat, and a connecting plate having a connecting surface to which the fluid housing can be mounted and in which a fluid supply duct and a fluid outlet duct are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Theresa Ruck, Simone Holzinger
  • Patent number: 9027584
    Abstract: A flush valve assembly having a handle assembly positioning bushing for spacing a handle assembly within an opening of the flush valve assembly. The handle assembly positioning bushing having an eccentric opening for receiving the handle such that rotation of the handle assembly positioning bushing with regard to the flush valve assembly body alters the height of the handle assembly and, thus, the volume of water passing through the flush valve assembly during a flush cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventor: John R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8585008
    Abstract: A flush valve assembly having a handle assembly positioning bushing for spacing a handle assembly within an opening of the flush valve assembly. The handle assembly positioning bushing having an eccentric opening for receiving the handle such that rotation of the handle assembly positioning bushing with regard to the flush valve assembly body alters the height of the handle assembly and, thus, the volume of water passing through the flush valve assembly during a flush cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventor: John R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8376316
    Abstract: A vandal resistant adjustable metered handle assembly for a faucet is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a body having a base adapted for attachment to a sink and a sidewall extending in an upward direction with respect to the base. The base is attached to a push button handle via a stem. A spring is associated with the body and the push button handle for metering an amount of water emitting from the faucet and a sleeve is positioned between the body and the push button handle. The sleeve cooperates with the sidewall of the body to adjust the shut-off time of the metered handle assembly. The sleeve may be color-coded to indicate water temperature. The handle assembly can be made vandal resistant by adhesively securing various components together and providing an unconventional attachment member for securing the handle assembly to a sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Gustafson, Geoffrey D. Thorp, Michael F. Migliore
  • Patent number: 7124997
    Abstract: A toilet room flush valve includes a body with an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therebetween. A valve assembly in the body is positioned to close upon the seat to control flow from the inlet to the outlet. A cover is mounted upon the body and defines a pressure chamber with the valve assembly. A bypass connects the inlet and the pressure chamber whereby pressure in the chamber maintains the valve assembly upon the seat. The pressure chamber may be vented to permit movement of the valve assembly toward the cover. The stroke of the valve assembly is limited by a volume regulator which is fixed to the cover and an adjustable microcontroller which is movable with the valve assembly and positioned to contact the volume regulator upon venting of the pressure chamber and consequent movement of the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventors: John R. Wilson, Steven R. Oliver
  • Publication number: 20040056223
    Abstract: A toilet room flush valve includes a body with an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therebetween. A valve assembly in the body is positioned to close upon the seat to control flow from the inlet to the outlet. A cover is mounted upon the body and defines a pressure chamber with the valve assembly. A bypass connects the inlet and the pressure chamber whereby pressure in the chamber maintains the valve assembly upon the seat. The pressure chamber may be vented to permit movement of the valve assembly toward the cover. The stroke of the valve assembly is limited by a volume regulator which is fixed to the cover and an adjustable microcontroller which is movable with the valve assembly and positioned to contact the volume regulator upon venting of the pressure chamber and consequent movement of the valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: John R. Wilson, Steven R. Oliver
  • Patent number: 6460825
    Abstract: A flush valve includes a body having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat at the outlet. There is a piston assembly movable in the body toward and away from the valve seat to control flow from the inlet through the outlet. A pressure chamber is formed in the body above the piston assembly, at least in part by a cover attached to the body. Pressure in the pressure chamber normally maintains the piston assembly closed upon the valve seat. There is a relief valve in the piston assembly for venting the pressure chamber to the outlet, permitting the piston assembly to move away from the valve seat to open flow through the outlet. There is an adjustment assembly located in the flush valve cover which permits adjustment of piston assembly stroke. The adjustment assembly includes a housing mounted in the cover, a sleeve axially movable in the housing, and an adjustment element for causing movement of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Nortier, Steven R. Oliver
  • Patent number: 6047944
    Abstract: A poppet adapted for movement in a passage extending between an inlet port and a control chamber of a poppet valve for controlling a fluid flow rate into the control chamber from the inlet port responsive to changes in a fluid flow rate from the control chamber, the poppet including at least one metering port positioned for communicating with the control chamber, a conduit connecting the metering port with an opening positioned for communicating with the inlet port for the flow of the fluid from the inlet port to the metering port, and at least one flow increasing element communicating with the conduit positioned to be covered by an inner sidewall when the poppet is within a predetermined range of displacement from a closed position toward the control chamber, the flow increasing element being increasingly exposed to the control chamber when the poppet is displaced toward the control chamber beyond the range, and the flow increasing element cooperating with the metering port when the poppet is at a predetermi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Hajek, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5842679
    Abstract: A lower cost valve results from the use of a single machined part for a valve housing. The housing is made of a non-magnetic material which can be less expensive and eliminates the requirement for screens or filters in automotive applications. Providing a one-piece plunger and pilot valve with a high guiding length minimizes tilting of the pilot. Further, the one-piece housing allows for one common bore for guiding the plunger with the pilot and a poppet. The two ideal concentric surfaces make the poppet outer diameter concentric to the pilot hole. Finally, the use of an adjustable stroke valve eliminates the need for a separate needle valve, providing further cost savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Sterling Hydraulics, Inc.
    Inventor: Abel E. Kolchinsky
  • Patent number: 5427351
    Abstract: An autoclosing flow-control valve assembly has a housing forming an inlet chamber normally filled with a fluid under pressure, an outlet chamber, and a main valve seat between the chambers. A piston defining in the housing a control chamber carries a valve element sealingly engageable with the seat. A piston spring braced between the piston and the housing urges the piston and element into the closed position. The piston is formed with a small bleed passage extending between the control chamber and the outlet chamber. A control passage extending between the inlet chamber and the control chamber has a pilot valve that when open pressurizes the control chamber and pushes the piston and element into the open position and when closed blocks flow through the control passage. An actuating member is actuatable to open the pilot valve and an actuating spring braced between the member and the housing urges the member out of contact with the pilot valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Freidrich Grohe Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Korfgen, Ali Karakullukcu
  • Patent number: 5244179
    Abstract: A sensor-activated, battery-powered toilet room flush valve has a body with an inlet and an outlet. There is a valve seat in the body and a diaphragm which closes upon the seat to control flow between the inlet and the outlet. A cover mounted on the body defines a pressure chamber with the diaphragm and there are a sensor, solenoid and battery mounted on the cover and connected for operation of the flush valve. There is a passage in the cover connecting the pressure chamber and the outlet. Operation of the solenoid opens the passage to relieve pressure in the chamber to the outlet whereby the diaphragm moves off its seat to open communication between the inlet and outlet. A stop is positioned within the chamber and attached to the diaphragm to limit its movement toward the cover, which in turn controls the volume of water passing through the flush valve prior to closure of the diaphragm upon its valve seat. The stop is adjustable from the outlet side of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
    Inventor: John R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4893645
    Abstract: A control valve in which the bonnet is removably fixedly attached to the valve body by a retained bolt and slot arrangement in such a way as to fix the marginal edge of the diaphragm main valve therebetween. The diaphragm defines with the bonnet a control chamber having an inlet control passage leading thereto from the valve body inlet and an outlet control passage leading therefrom to the valve body outlet. A control valve seat in the outlet valve seat is controlled by a solenoid plunger valve element in such a way as to afford either manual or electrical solenoid operation by virtue of a manually movable member mounting the solenoid assembly on the bonnet. An adjusting knob member is mounted by a snap fit on the bonnet in laterally offset relation with respect to both the main valve and the solenoid assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: L. R. Nelson Corporation
    Inventors: Andrius R. Augustinas, Raymond F. Lippitt
  • Patent number: 4708316
    Abstract: A variable flow rate valve (10) comprising; a housing (12) defining a vacuum chamber (35) and a flexible diaphragm (50) secured to said housing (12). The diaphragm defines one extreme of the pressure chamber (35) and is movable in one direction in response to decreases in the pressure within the pressure chamber and movable in an opposite direction in response to increases in the pressure within the pressure chamber. The valve (10) further includes means (40, 100, 110, 112) for providing a mechanical position limit or stop for the diaphragm in the one direction and means (126, 84, 86, 92, 94) for selectively varying the pressure within the pressure chamber for causing the diaphragm to move in response to the pressure differential thereacross.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Canadian Fram Limited
    Inventor: John E. Cook
  • Patent number: 4671485
    Abstract: A solenoid-operated pilot valve of the diaphragm type which includes an assembly for controlling the flow of liquid through the valve. The valve has particular although not exclusive utility for irrigation purposes. The valve includes a diaphragm chamber into which fluid is introduced to establish a fluid pressure which normally forces a diaphragm against an annular seat in the valve to assist a spring in maintaining the valve in a closed condition. A stationary bleed tube is provided which extends through the diaphragm into the diaphragm chamber. A solenoid is mounted on the cap of the valve, and the plunger of the solenoid normally closes off the upper end of the bleed tube. However, when the solenoid is energized, the plunger is withdrawn and the bleed tube opens and drains the diaphragm chamber sufficiently to reduce the pressure therein to a point at which the diaphragm is forced off its seat by upstream fluid pressure, and the valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Richdel Div. of Garden America Corp.
    Inventor: Myrl J. Saarem
  • Patent number: 4567912
    Abstract: A spray assembly is disclosed which comprises a plurality of control valves disposed within a common housing each of which is independently actuatable whereby the flow of a plurality of fluids may be individually controlled for intermixing and delivery via a common outlet. The control valves utilized in the spray assembly of the present invention incorporate piston actuated plunger assemblies which are designed for extremely rapid operation whereby substantially maximum liquid fluid flow may be obtained almost instantaneously and rapid shut off may also be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Acheson Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter E. Levine
  • Patent number: 4493473
    Abstract: "A poppet valve assembly includes a valving element in the form of a freely slidable poppet, a freely slidable pilot piston having an elongated integral pin extending axially toward the poppet, but unconnected thereto, and an integral elongated spear, with a frusto-conical portion, extending axially in the opposite direction. In a spool valve, the spool is the valving element and has the above elements at each opposite end of the spool, namely a pilot piston with an integral pin unconnected to the spool at the inner end of the pilot piston and an integral spear, with a frustro-conical portion at the outer end of the pilot piston".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Inventor: Felix Rexer
  • Patent number: 4366943
    Abstract: A valve assembly including a first housing member having a flange and a second housing member having a flange. The first housing member is connected to the vacuum milking system. A flexible diaphragm is mounted between the flanges of said first and second housing members. The diaphragm is movable between an unflexed position and a flexed position in response to forces exerted on opposite sides thereof. A control valve is operable to selectively place the second housing member in communication with the atmosphere wherein the diaphragm is forced to assume its unflexed position and to periodically place the second housing member in communication with the vacuum in the vacuum line to thereby force the diaphragm to assume its flexed position. A valve member is mounted on the diaphragm and is operable to place the first housing in communication with the atmosphere when the diaphragm is in its flexed position to thereby admit air into the vacuum line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: DEC International, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank J. Licary
  • Patent number: 4227674
    Abstract: A liquid metering flush valve to be installed in connection with plumbing fixtures such as water closets, urinals, service sinks, and other equipment and to supply said fixtures with a predetermined amount of water; which may be potable water, contaminated water, sea water, corrosive and/or unfiltered water, and water and/or oil combinations; at controlled pressures, flow rates and volumes. The basic valve design is on the hydraulic principal of proportional flow through orifices, regardless of pressure fluctuation but employs the use of four chambers, two of which are sealed and contain not only an orifice therebetween but a filtered, non-corrosive captive liquid to assure the orifice of protection from corrosive action and dirt which may damage the orifice or clog it and prevent it from working properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1980
    Inventor: Walter H. Grant, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4180236
    Abstract: A normally-open pilot-operated valve assembly is provided which closes when a solenoid-operated pilot valve is energized. The pilot valve is open when the solenoid is de-energized to remove fluid pressure from a chamber in the valve housing causing the main valve to open. When the solenoid is energized, the pilot valve closes causing hydraulic pressure to build up in the valve chamber so that the main valve is closed. The solenoid-operated valve includes a plunger which extends into a discharge port, the plunger having a spherical member attached to its distal end which is drawn inwardly against a seat in the pilot discharge port to close the port when the pilot solenoid is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Richdel, Inc.
    Inventors: Myrl J. Saarem, Dale F. Soukup
  • Patent number: 4135696
    Abstract: A pilot type diaphragm valve assembly is provided which includes a solenoid-operated pilot valve which may be opened to remove fluid pressure from a chamber in the valve housing causing the main valve to open, and which may be closed to cause a buildup of hydraulic pressure in the valve housing causing the main valve to close. The solenoid-operated pilot valve includes an outlet which may be coupled to a reservoir at atmospheric pressure, or to any other suitable receptacle, to make the pressure differential across the diaphragm within the valve independent of pressure differentials in the fluid flow through the valve so as to obviate instability at low flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Richdel, Inc.
    Inventors: Myrl J. Saarem, Dale F. Soukup
  • Patent number: 4128227
    Abstract: A servo-controlled valve is described, in which a circular flexible diaphragm is inserted in a cylindrical chamber wherein the pressure can be varied in order to move the center part of the diaphragm towards and away from a valve seat. The diaphragm is loosely inserted in the chamber and has a peripheral flange fitting to the cylindrical wall of the chamber. The chamber is closed by a closure member which, when removed, allows the introduction of the diaphragm into the pressure chamber. The closure member is by means of threads screwed onto a sleeve-like projection upon the valve housing wider than the diaphragm. A central inward projection upon the closure member forms a stop delimiting the opening motion of the diaphragm. Said stop is displaceable by manually turning the closure member. A valve and a push button both situated centrally in the closure member control the pressure of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1978
    Assignee: Sunnex Equipment AB
    Inventor: Inge. S. Blomqvist
  • Patent number: 4076210
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve has a valve member whose travel is limited at one end by an abutment. The abutment is part of a hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangement, and when the piston-cylinder arrangement is pressurized and the valve member is moved to the end of its travel, the abutment is held in a first position where the valve is only open to a small extent. If the piston-cylinder arrangement is then pressure-relieved, the force moving the valve member against the abutment displaces the abutment so that the valve can open further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Harry Spielvogel
  • Patent number: 3987998
    Abstract: A hydraulic servo valve assembly and a control system therefor employing a pneumatic sensor-actuator are disclosed. The servo valve assembly comprises a servo-operated power valve assembly including a differential piston, a solenoid operated override and hysteresis adjustment. The valve assembly is a "snap-action" device wherein the power valve differential piston is selectively positioned through use of the pneumatic sensor controlled servo valve to vent the pressure applied to the larger area reaction surface of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1972
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1976
    Assignee: Chandler Evans Inc.
    Inventor: Roger C. Popp