Fluid level control valve
First Claim
1. A valve comprising a housing having a generally annular valving surface surrounding a generally annular valve seat, an inlet passage communicating with the radially inner side of said valve seat, said surface lying in a plane generally transverse to the axis of said inlet passage, said surface including a plurality of rib portions extending generally radially outward from said valve seat, and defining between adjacent ribs a plurality of valve outlet passages extending from said valving surface in a direction generally parallel with the axis of said inlet passage, said passages terminating at said valving surface in outlet ports coplanar with said valving surface, said ports having increasing widths in the radially outward direction, and a flexible annular valve member having an inner periphery overlying said valve seat, an outer periphery fixed against said valving surface, and an intermediate portion engageable with said valving surface and overlying said outlet ports.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve for controlling the level of water in a toilet flush tank includes a body and cover having interfacing surfaces defining a valve chamber and a diaphragm chamber. A valve seat in the valve chamber communicates with a water inlet by way of a projection integral with the body adapted to extend through the flush tank water inlet opening to mount the housing in a normally submerged position. A diaphragm is held in the diaphragm chamber between the cover and body, and a flexible valve member is held in the valve chamber between the cover and body. An air passage defined in part by the projection vents the diaphragm chamber to atmosphere through the flush tank floor, and liquid pressure is communicated through the cover to the opposite side of the diaphragm. The water inlet passage extends to the center of the valve seat, which is surrounded by a valving surface having a number of segment shaped outlet ports communicating with water outlet passages in the valve body. Movement of the diaphragm in response to changes in water level results in opening and closing of the valve member to maintain the desired water level.
76 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A valve comprising a housing having a generally annular valving surface surrounding a generally annular valve seat, an inlet passage communicating with the radially inner side of said valve seat, said surface lying in a plane generally transverse to the axis of said inlet passage, said surface including a plurality of rib portions extending generally radially outward from said valve seat, and defining between adjacent ribs a plurality of valve outlet passages extending from said valving surface in a direction generally parallel with the axis of said inlet passage, said passages terminating at said valving surface in outlet ports coplanar with said valving surface, said ports having increasing widths in the radially outward direction, and a flexible annular valve member having an inner periphery overlying said valve seat, an outer periphery fixed against said valving surface, and an intermediate portion engageable with said valving surface and overlying said outlet ports.
Specification