Flow operated valve

• US 4,235,254 A
• Filed: 08/30/1978
• Issued: 11/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William D. Kirby
• Original Assignee: William D. Kirby
• Inventors: Kirby, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cline, William R.
• Application Number:
  US05/938,084
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 137/119, 137/624.18, 137/627, 251/230
• US Class Current: 137/119.03
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/162 Sequential operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/268 Responsive to pressure or flow interruption
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86445 Plural, sequential, valve actuations

Abstract

A flow operated valve having a single inlet and multiple outlets. Flow of liquid is directed through an enclosed body from the inlet to a single one of said outlets in a repetitive sequence, the selected outlet being rendered operative in response to initiation and cessation of liquid flow at the inlet. The flow of liquid through such outlet is controlled by a hinged valve, which in turn is operated by angularly spaced projections located along a pivot shaft. A slide within the body is reciprocated perpendicular to the shaft during initiation or cessation of flow at the inlet. This reciprocating movement is converted to incremental pivotal movement of the shaft, which in turn opens and closes the outlet valves in a repetitive sequence.

Claims

1. A flow-operated valve, comprising:

an enclosed hollow body;

a shaft rotatably mounted within said body about a longitudinal axis;

a liquid inlet in open communication with the interior of said body;

a plurality of liquid outlets each in open communication with the interior of said body, said outlets having inner ends within said body arranged along a line that is parallel to said longitudinal axis;

a plurality of valves equal in number to the number of said outlets, each of the valves being located within said body and being individually hinged to the interior of said body about a common pivot axis parallel to said longitudinal axis for movement between first positions wherein an individual valve overlaps and seals the inner end of one of said outlets and second positions wherein it is clear thereof;

means within said body operably connected between said liquid inlet and said shaft for incrementally pivoting said shaft relative to said body about said longitudinal axis in a progressive sequence in response to initiation and cessation of flow at said liquid inlet;

and individual valve operator means on said shaft within said body and operably engageable with corresponding individual valves for sequentially moving the valves between their first and second positions in response to incremental pivotal movement of said shaft about said longitudinal axis.

2. The apparatus as set out in claim 1, wherein said valve operator means comprises:

a series of radial projections fixed to said shaft and longitudinally spaced along said longitudinal axis, said projections being angularly spaced from one another by common angular increments about said longitudinal axis;

said valves each comprising;

a rigid flap adapted to overlap the inner end of one outlet;

and a rigid arm fixed to the flap and extending angularly therefrom inwardly within said body, said arm overlying the shaft at the longitudinal location of one of said radial projections;

whereby the valve is selectively moved from its first position to its second position by engagement of its arm by the radial projection which it overlies.

3. A flow operated valve, comprising:

an enclosed hollow body;

a shaft rotatably mounted within said body about a longitudinal axis;

a liquid inlet in open communication with the interior of said body;

a plurality of liquid outlets in open communication with the interior of said body, said outlets having inner ends within said body arranged along a line that is parallel to said longitudinal axis;

a plurality of valves equal in number to the number of said outlets, each of the valves being located within said body and being individually hinged to the interior of said body about a common pivot axis parallel to said longitudinal axis for movement between first positions wherein an individual valve overlaps and seals the inner end of one of said outlets and second positions wherein it is clear thereof;

a plurality of radial valve operators fixed to said shaft and longitudinally spaced along the length of said shaft within the body in operative engagement with the respective valves, said valve operators being angularly spaced from one another by common angular increments about said longitudinal axis for individually moving the valves between their first and second positions in response to pivotal movement of said shaft about said longitudinal axis;

and sequencing means within said body operably connected between said inlet and said shaft, said sequencing means being responsive to initiation and cessation of liquid flow at said inlet for pivoting said shaft relative to said body about said longitudinal axis by one of said common angular increments.

4. An apparatus as set out in claim 3 wherein each of said valves comprises:

a rigid flap adapted to overlap the inner end of one outlet;

and a rigid arm fixed to the flap and extending therefrom inwardly within said body, said arm overlying the shaft at the longitudinal location of one of said radial valve operators;

whereby the valve is selectively moved from its first position to its second position by engagement of its arm by the radial valve operator which it overlies.

5. An apparatus as set out in claim 3 wherein said sequencing means comprises:

a plate fixed to said shaft and having one side thereof perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

a plurality of longitudinal pins equal in number to the number of said outlets, said pins projecting from said one side of said plate at angular locations equally spaced about said longitudinal axis;

slide means mounted within said body for receiprocating motion parallel to said one side of the plate in response to initiation or cessation of liquid flow at said inlet;

and pawl means on said slide means selectively engageable with said pins for converting the reciprocating motion of the slide member to unidirectional incremental pivotal motion of said shaft about said longitudinal axis.