Stop valve

• US 20040021120A1
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brass Craft Manufacturing Co (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Brass Craft Manufacturing Co (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Turnau, William F. III, Tokarz, Steven J., Allstead, Bradley E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,036,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/309
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0414 Plug channel at 90 degrees to the inlet

Abstract

A stop valve includes a valve body, a multi shot resilient control sleeve, O-ring and handle. The control sleeve is molded to the valve stem to create an integral but separately molded fluid control member. Inlet line pressure resiliently biases the side walls of the control sleeve and a circumferential sealing flap formed thereon into sealing engagement with the valve bore to prevent leakage. The control sleeve consists of a hard plastic cylinder and a flexible barrel member molded as one consistent piece by a multishot molding process. The O-ring also serves as a backup seal to prevent leakage to atmosphere. A valve handle is secured to the valve by either a screw or a snap protrusion.

Claims

1. A valve member adapted to be rotatably received within a valve body to control the flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet of the valve body, said valve member comprising:

a valve stem extending from the valve body to facilitate manipulation of said valve member within the valve body, said valve stem having a substantially rigid material property; and

a valve sleeve attached to said valve stem such that manipulation of said valve stem is transmitted to said valve sleeve, said valve sleeve including an inner chamber and an outlet port wherein said valve sleeve is selectively movable between an open position directing fluid flow from the valve body inlet through said outlet port to the valve body outlet and a closed position, preventing fluid flow through said valve body, said valve sleeve being less rigid than said valve stem for improved sealing within the valve body.

2. The valve member as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve sleeve is molded to said valve stem to bond said valve sleeve to said valve stem.

3. The valve member as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve stem includes an upper portion with at least one spline, said upper portion adapted to receive a handle to facilitate manipulation of said valve member.

4. The valve member as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve stem includes an expanded base portion, said valve sleeve molded to said base portion.

5. The valve member as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve sleeve has a substantially cylindrical configuration with an outer surface conforming to an interior surface of the valve body, said valve sleeve having elastic properties such that fluid pressure within said sleeve chamber moves said outer surface into sealing contact with the interior surface of the valve body.

6. The valve member as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve sleeve includes at least one annular sealing lip engaging the interior surface of the valve body.

7. The valve member as defined in claim 5 and further comprising a pressure opening formed in said outer surface of said valve sleeve and in fluid communication with said sleeve chamber in order to selectively pressurize an interior of said valve sleeve.

8. The valve member as defined in claim 7 wherein said pressure opening is an aperture formed on said wall of said valve sleeve.

10. The valve member as defined in claim 3 and further comprising a retainer ring coaxially mounted to said valve stem and valve sleeve, said retainer ring selectively engageable with the valve body to lockingly retain said valve member within the valve body.

11. A valve for controlling fluid flow between a fluid inlet and a plumbing fixture, said valve comprising:

a valve body having a housing chamber with an inlet port in communication with the fluid inlet and an outlet port in communication with the plumbing fixture, said valve body including an aperture;

a valve member rotatably received within said valve body, said valve member including;

a valve stem extending through said aperture of said valve body to facilitate manipulation of said valve member within said valve body, said valve stem having a substantially rigid material property; and

a valve sleeve attached to said valve stem such that manipulation of said valve stem is transmitted to said valve sleeve, said valve sleeve including an inner chamber and an outlet port, said valve sleeve having elastomeric properties less rigid than said valve stem for improved sealing within said housing chamber of said valve body; and

a handle connected to said valve stem for selective manipulation of said valve member within said valve body.

9. The valve member as defined in claim 17 wherein said pressure opening is a groove formed in said outer surface of said valve sleeve and in communication with the interior of said valve sleeve.

12. The valve member as defined in claim 11 wherein said valve sleeve is molded to said valve stem to bond said valve sleeve to said valve stem.

13. The valve member as defined in claim 11 wherein said valve stem includes a substantially cylindrical portion with at least one spline, said cylindrical portion adapted to receive a handle to facilitate manipulation of said valve member.

14. The valve member as defined in claim 13 wherein said valve stem includes an expanded base portion, said valve sleeve molded to said base portion.

15. The valve member as defined in claim 11 wherein said valve sleeve has a substantially cylindrical configuration with an outer surface conforming to an interior surface of the valve body, said valve sleeve having elastic properties such that fluid pressure within said sleeve chamber moves said outer surface into sealing contact with the interior surface of the valve body.

16. The valve member as defined in claim 15 wherein said valve sleeve includes at least one annular sealing lip engaging the interior surface of the valve body.

17. The valve member as defined in claim 15 and further comprising a pressure opening formed in said outer surface of said valve sleeve and in fluid communication with said sleeve chamber.

18. The valve member as defined in claim 17 wherein said pressure opening is an aperture formed in said wall of said valve sleeve.

19. The valve member as defined in claim 17 wherein said pressure opening is a groove formed in said outer surface of said valve sleeve and in communication with the interior of said valve sleeve.

20. The valve member as defined in claim 13 and further comprising a retainer ring coaxially mounted to said valve stem and valve sleeve, said retainer ring selectively engageable with the valve body to lockingly retain said valve member within the valve body.