Fluid control valve

• US 4,821,364 A
• Filed: 04/28/1988
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reckitt & Colman Subsidiary Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Home Products Corporation (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Bonnar, William R., McAllister, John S., McAllister, Tom A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US07/187,371
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 15/321, 15/322, 251/339, 251/347, 251/348, 251/354
• US Class Current: 15/322
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A fluid control valve includes a deformable conduit for fluid with a valve control port at a point of fluid entry to the conduit. The valve control port includes a spring-biased device for keeping the port closed to fluid in an unactuated valve state. A support element is disposed within the conduit downstream of the valve control port. The support element also permits fluid flow therethrough. A trigger mechanism is disposed within the conduit between the valve control port and the support element; the mechanism includes an elongated bar having a deformable irregularity. The bar extends from the support element to the port closing device, with the end of the bar contacting the port closing device with a low level of force in an unactuated state of the valve. The irregularity is subject to being deformed by external pressure applied through the conduit for actuating the valve by causing the bar to straighten so as to apply sufficient force to the port closing device to overcome the applied bias in order to open the port to fluid.

Claims

1. A fluid control valve comprising:

a deformable conduit for fluid;

a valve control port connected to said conduit at a fluid entry point of said conduit, said port including means biased to keep said port closed to fluid in an unactuated valve state;

a support element disposed within said conduit downstream of said valve control port, said support element also permitting fluid flow therethrough;

a trigger mechanism disposed within said conduit between said valve control port and said support element, said mechanism including an elongated bar having a deformable irregularity, said bar extending from said support element to said port closing means, the end of said bar contacting said port closing means with a low level of force in an unactuated state of said valve; and

said irregularity subject to being deformed by external pressure applied through said conduit for actuating said valve by causing said bar to straighten so as to apply sufficient force to said port closing means to overcome the applied bias in order to open said port to fluid.

2. The fluid control valve of claim 1, wherein said port closing means is a ball and the bias in said port closing means is applied to said ball by a spring.

3. The fluid control valve of claim 2, wherein said port closing means include an inlet pipe, a spring being inserted in said pipe, an internal portion of said pipe forming a seat for said spring, said ball having a protrusion for insertion in an end of said spring.

4. The fluid control valve of claim 3, including a valve seat, said valve seat having a valve opening therein, said valve opening having an inlet side and an outlet side, said ball being disposed said opening on the inlet side and being biased by said spring to keep said valve opening closed in an unactuated state of said valve, said outlet side of said valve opening connected to said conduit by a pipe.

5. The fluid control valve of claim 1, wherein said bar is a flexible plastic bar, said bar capable of returning to an original shape after being deformed.

8. The fluid control valve of claim 1 wherein said bar is composed of flexible material, said bar capable of returning to an original shape after being deformed.

6. A cleaning device for a vacuum, spray-type cleaning apparatus comprising:

a hose for providing a vacuum;

means for supply a source of liquid;

a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said liquid supply means, said valve including;

a deformable conduit for liquid;

a valve control port connected to said conduit at a liquid entry point of said conduit, said port including means biased to keep said port closed to liquid in an unactuated valve state;

a support element disposed within said conduit downstream of said valve control port, said support element also permitting liquid flow therethrough;

a trigger mechanism disposed within said conduit between said valve control port and said support element, said mechanism including an elongated bar having a deformable irregularity, said bar extending from said support element to said port closing means, the end of said bar contacting said port closing means with a low level of force in an unactuated state of said valve;

said irregularity subject to being deformed by external pressure applied through said conduit for actuating said valve by causing the length of said bar to increase so as to apply sufficient force to said port closing means to overcome the applied bias in order to open said port to liquid; and

a nozzle connected to said hose and valve for supplying a liquid and a vacuum to an item to be cleaned.

7. A fluid control valve comprising:

a deformable conduit for fluid;

a valve control port connected to said conduit at a fluid entry point of said conduit, said port including means biased to keep said port closed to fluid in an unactuated valve state;

a support element disposed within said conduit downstream of said valve control port, said support element also permitting fluid flow therethrough;

a trigger mechanism disposed within said conduit between said valve control port and said support element, said mechanism having a part with a first length as measured along a straight line from one end of said part to the other in an unactuated state of said valve and having a second length as measured in a straight line from one end of said part to the other in an actuated state of said valve wherein said second length is greater than said first length; and

means disposed within said conduit and being subject to pressure applied through said conduit for causing said part to change from said first length to said second length, wherein when said trigger mechanism part has its second length, the part applies sufficient force to said port closing means to overcome the applied bias in order to open said port to fluid, said part applying insufficient force to said port closing means to overcome the applied bias when said part has its first length.