Electrically operated valve for delivering water

• US 20110309274A1
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Original Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Inventors: Parsons, Natan E., Guler, Fatih, Herbert, Kay
• Application Number:
  US13/068,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309274A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/129.01
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/02 Self-closing flushing valves self-closing valves in general F16K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

An electrically operated valve for delivering water includes a valve body, a valve closure element and an electromagnetic actuator. The valve body has a water inlet and a water outlet. The valve closure element is located within the valve body and is constructed to move between an open state enabling water flow from the inlet to the outlet and a closed state preventing the water flow from the inlet to the outlet. The electromagnetic actuator is attached to move with the valve element including a sealing member. A pilot mechanism is constructed to control the movement of the valve element between the open state and the closed state based on a position of the sealing member.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An electrically operated valve for a water delivery system, comprising:

a valve body;

a valve closure element for moving between an open state enabling flow from an inlet to an outlet and a closed state preventing said flow from said inlet to said outlet; and

an actuator attached to move with said valve element operating between said open state and said closed state.

39. The electrically operated valve of claim 26 further comprising

a controller coupled to a power driver constructed to provide a drive signal to said actuator for opening and closing said valve.

40. The electrically operated valve of claim 39 further including a sensor constructed to provide signals to said controller.

41. The electrically operated valve of claim 40 wherein said controller includes a microcontroller being connected to provide signal to and receive signals from said controller, said microcontroller being programmed to operate said valve based on signals from said sensor.

27. An electrically operated valve for delivering water, comprising:

a valve body having a water inlet and a water outlet;

a valve closure element located within said valve body and constructed to move between an open state enabling water flow from said inlet to said outlet and a closed state preventing said water flow from said inlet to said outlet;

an electromagnetic actuator constructed to move a sealing member, and being cooperatively arranged with a pilot mechanism constructed to control said movement of said valve closure element between said open state and said closed state based on a position of said sealing member;

an inflow adjuster cooperatively arranged with a flow control mechanism both being located within said valve body and constructed to control input flow of water;

an electromagnetic actuator cooperatively arranged with a pilot mechanism constructed to control said movement of said fram member; and

a controller coupled to a power driver constructed to provide a drive signal to said actuator based on signals from a sensor.

28. The electrically operated valve of claim 27 wherein said valve closure element is a valve diaphragm.

29. The electrically operated valve of claim 27 wherein said valve closure element is a valve piston.

32. The electrically operated valve of claim 27, wherein said valve closure element includes a fram member and a sliding seal acting on a surface of a valve cavity inside said valve body for providing two pressure zones and being slidably movable within said valve cavity, said fram member assembly being constructed to move to an open position enabling water flow from said inlet to said outlet.

33. The electrically operated valve of claim 32, wherein said two pressure zones include two chambers separated by said fram member and wherein a first pressure zone includes a pilot chamber.

34. The electrically operated valve of claim 32, wherein said sliding seal includes a one-sided seal.

35. The electrically operated valve of claim 32, wherein said sliding seal includes a two-sided seal.

36. The electrically operated valve of claim 33, wherein said actuator is constructed and arranged to release pressure in said pilot chamber and thereby initiate movement of said fram member to said open position.

37. The electrically operated valve of claim 27, wherein said actuator includes a latching actuator.

38. The electrically operated valve of claim 27, wherein said actuator includes a non-latching actuator.

30-31. -31. (canceled)

42. An electrically operated valve for delivering water, comprising:

a valve body having a water inlet and a water outlet;

a valve closure element including a sealing member located within said valve body and constructed to move between an open state enabling water flow from said inlet to said outlet and a closed state preventing said water flow from said inlet to said outlet;

an electromagnetic actuator including an armature constructed to displace linearly a sealing member, and being cooperatively arranged with a pilot mechanism constructed to control said movement of said valve closure element between said open state and said closed state based on a position of said sealing member;

a controller coupled to a power driver and a battery and constructed to provide a drive signal to said actuator for opening and closing said valve based on signals from an external sensor;

a power consumption controller in communication with said controller designed for efficient power operation and

an actuator sensor constructed and arranged to sense a position of said armature and provide a signal to said controller.

43. The electrically operated valve of claim 42 further including a sensor constructed to provide signals to said controller.

44. The electrically operated valve of claim 43 wherein said controller includes a microcontroller being connected to provide signal to and receive signals from said controller, said microcontroller being programmed to operate said valve based on signals from said sensor.

45. The electrically operated valve of claim 42 wherein said valve closure element is a valve diaphragm.