Drain valve for freight container

• US 20060180205A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Waggonbau Elze GmbH & Co. Besitz KG.
• Original Assignee: Waggonbau Elze GmbH & Co. Besitz KG.
• Inventors: Gosch, Wolf-Dietrich
• Application Number:
  US11/337,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20060180205A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/433
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/747 dehumidifying, dewatering or draining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7436 Float rigid with valve

Abstract

A drain valve for installation in a floor has a generally tubular housing having an open upper end and an open lower end and laterally closed side walls therebetween. A bottom plate closing the lower housing end is formed with a throughgoing lower hole and is formed around the lower hole with an upwardly directed lower valve seat. A top plate closing the upper housing end is formed with a throughgoing upper hole and is formed around the respective hole with a downwardly directed upper valve seat. A floatable valve body in the housing between the plates is movable between an upper position fitted in and blocking the upper seat and clear of the lower seat and a lower position fitted in the lower seat and clear of the upper seat. Thus, flow only is possible through the housing in an intermediate position of the ball clear of both of the seats.

Claims

1. A drain valve for installation in a floor, the valve comprising:

a generally tubular housing having an open upper end and an open lower end and laterally closed side walls therebetween;

a bottom plate closing lower housing end, formed with a throughgoing lower hole, and formed around the lower hole, with an upwardly directed lower valve seat;

a top plate closing the upper housing end, formed with a throughgoing upper hole, and formed around the respective hole with a downwardly directed upper valve seat; and

a floatable valve body in the hosing between the plates and movable between an upper position fitted in and blocking the upper seat and clear of the lower seat and a lower position fitted in the lower seat and clear of the upper seat, flow only being possible through the housing in an intermediate position of the ball clear of both of the seats.

11. The drain valve defined in claim 1 wherein the valve body is a ball.

12. The drain valve defined in claim 1, further comprising

a strainer fitted over the lower end of the housing.

2. The drain valve defined in cain 1 wherein the housing includes:

an outer tube adapted to be fitted through a floor;

an inner tube engaged coaxially inside the outer tube, carrying the plates, and holding the body; and

means including a seal between the inner tube and outer tube for blocking flow through the valve therebetween.

3. The drain valve defined in claim 2 wherein the inner tube is releasably mounted in the outer tube.

4. The drain valve defined in claim 3 wherein the top plate has a radially projecting rim bearing on an inner surface of the outer tube and forming part of the seal.

5. The drain valve defined in claim 3 wherein the inner tube has a lower end formed with a groove, the valve further comprising

a seal ring set in the groove and bearing outward on an inner surface of the outer tube.

6. The drain valve defined in claim 2 wherein the top wall is a disk snap-fitted to an upper end of the inner tube.

7. The drain valve defined in claim 2 wherein both tubes are laterally closed along their full lengths.

8. The drain valve defined in claim 2 wherein the top plate is formed above the upper hole with a plurality of small-diameter perforations each of substantially smaller flow cross section than the upper hole.

9. The drain valve defined in claim 8 wherein the upper hole has a smaller flow cross section than the lower hole.

10. The drain valve defined in claim 8 wherein the perforations of the upper plate have a smaller aggregate flow cross section than the lower hole.

13. A drain valve for installation in a floor, the valve comprising:

an outer tube adapted to be fitted through a floor;

an inner tube engaged coaxially inside the outer tube and having an upwardly open upper end and a downwardly open lower end and laterally closed side walls therebetween;

means including a seal between the inner tube and outer tuber for blocking flow through the valve therebetween;

a bottom plate closing the lower end, formed with a throughgoing lower hole, and formed around the lower hole with an upwardly directed lower valve seat;

a top plate closing the upper end, formed with a throughgoing upper hole, and formed around the lower hole with an upwardly directed lower valve seat;

a top plate closing the upper end, formed with a throughgoing upper hole, and formed around the respective hole with a downwardly directed upper valve seat; and

a floatable valve body in the housing between the plates and movable between an upper position fitted in and blocking the upper seat and clear of the lower seat and a lower position fitted in the lower seat and clear of the upper seat, flow only being possible through the housing in an intermediate position of the ball clear of both of the seats.