Valve construction for controlling a liquid supply to one or more discharge points

• US 4,029,121 A
• Filed: 09/02/1975
• Issued: 06/14/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fahans Grohe KG
• Original Assignee: Fahans Grohe KG
• Inventors: Buzzi, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): Nilson, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US05/609,484
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 210/234, 210/235, 137/545, 137/606, 137/614.2
• US Class Current: 137/545
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/048 with valve seats positioned between movable valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/004 actuated by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7976 Plural separating elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88054 Direct response normally closed valve limits direction of flow

Abstract

A valve system for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line comprises a housing having an inlet passage, with at least one discharge passage spaced from the inlet passage and with both passages connecting into a flow control chamber. A closure member is movable in the flow control chamber and it has respective opposite closing surfaces adjacent the respective ends thereof and it is guided in the housing control chamber by a guide ring. The guide ring has an annular seat surface at each end which are cooperable with the respective closing surfaces. A tubular screen is arranged coaxially with and surrounds a portion of the control member, and when the closure surfaces are moved off the valve seats, the flow from the inlet around a closure member and through the screen to an electromagnetic valve flow passage may be carried out. Flow through the electromagnetic valve flow passage is controlled by an electrically operated valve. The flow control chamber opens upwardly in the housing and it is closed by a threaded screw cap which in turn has a central threaded bore which receives a set screw. Both the screw cap and the set screw are coaxially arranged with respect to the tubular screen and the closure member and the set screw may be adjusted axially to bear against the closure member in an end position.

Claims

1. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, comprising housing means having an inlet passage, at least one discharge passage spaced from said inlet passage and having a flow control chamber between and in communication with said inlet and discharge passages, a closure member movable in said control chamber having relatively fixed respective opposite spaced apart closing surfaces adjacent respective ends thereof, guide ring means in said control chamber for said closure member defining oppositely directed axially spaced seat surfaces, a tubular screen coaxial with and surrounding a portion of said closure member, an electromagnetic valve flow passage connected between said control chamber and said discharge passage, said closure member defining with the interior said flow control chamber, when the closing surfaces are not engaged on said seat surfaces;

a flow passage from said inlet passage around one of said closing surfaces through said screen to said electromagnetic flow passage, a screw cap coaxial with said screen and said closure member and engaged with said housing and closing one end of said flow control chamber and holding said screen in said flow control chamber, and a set screw coaxially threaded to said screw cap and being adjustably engageable with said closure member.

3. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, according to claim 1, wherein said housing means includes a block member, a tubular piece connected to said block member and having an inlet blind bore extending inwardly from one side and an outlet blind bore extending inwardly from the opposite side of said tubular piece, said blind bores defining said inlet passage and said discharge passage, respectively, said inlet passage blind bore being connected to said flow control chamber and said discharge passage blind bore being connected to said electromagnetic valve flow passage.

4. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, according to claim 1, wherein said housing means includes two flow control chambers each having a closure member and a tubular valve screen therein and disposed in parallel relationship side-by-side in a control valve passage connected to each of said two flow control chambers having a control valve therein with an actuating member disposed adjacent the screw caps of each respective flow control chamber.

5. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, according to claim 1, including an electromagnetic diaphragm valve in said electromagnetic valve flow passage including a diaphragm disposed in said housing in a plane parallel to the axis of said flow control chamber and said tubular screen and including a connecting passage extending between said electromagnetic valve flow passage and said discharge passage which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said valve screen and a further connecting passage which extends substantially parallel to the axis of said valve screen.

6. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic valve flow passage includes an outlet passage extending laterally from said flow control chamber at the level of said screen, said screw cap having a bottom face adjacent said screen with an inwardly extending cylindrical recess into which said screen extends, the inner end of said cap screw being in substantial alignment with the top of said outlet passages.

7. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, according to claim 1, wherein said closure member includes an intermediate portion with a plurality of radially extending guide ribs and a closure plate at each end having inwardly and oppositely directed surfaces forming said sealing surfaces which extend radially outwardly beyond the valve seats defined by said guide means, said guide means comprising a ring member located in said housing flow control chamber.

8. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a guide ring member having an axially extending portion bearing against said closure member for guiding said closure member for movement and having an upper end terminating in a recess into which said screen extends.

9. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a ring having two axially outwardly and oppositely projecting collars, said ring being provided with a threaded exterior which is threaded into the housing in the flow control chamber thereof.

2. A valve arrangement for controlling the water supply to at least one discharge line, according to claim 10, wherein said discharge passage is connected to said housing at the side thereof which is opposite to said screw cap.