Valve apparatus

• US 4,909,274 A
• Filed: 06/23/1989
• Issued: 03/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Osmani A. Rodriguez
• Original Assignee: Osmani A. Rodriguez
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Osmani A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US07/370,831
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 122/13 R, 122/504, 126/359, 137/312, 137/429, 137/430, 137/446, 137/565, 200/61.04, 200/84 R, 222/108, 417/36, 417/40, 340/604, 340/605, 340/616
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 3/00 Flushing devices operated by pressure of the water supply system flushing valves not connected to the water-supply main, also if air is blown in the water seal for a quick flushing
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/17 Means for retaining water leaked from heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2007 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/02 without auxiliary power
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7423 Rectilinearly traveling float
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7478 With interposed cam, gear or threaded connection

Abstract

Disclosed is a valve apparatus having water inlet and outlet pipes, means for maintaining water which may have ruptured from a water storage tank in a water containment area, a float within the water containment area, a float-rod attached to the float which has a triangular gear attached to the other end of the float-rod. The triangular gear interacts with a circular gear when the float-rod is raised causing the circular gear to rotate away from the valve housing pulling a rod which causes a metal strip to be pulled over the water outlet pipe preventing water from being delivered from the valve housing to the ruptured water storage tank. The on/off switch of a water pump may also be connected to the float-rod such that the water pump is turned on when the float-rod is turned on pumping water out of the water containment area.

Claims

1. A valve apparatus comprised of:

(a) a water inlet pipe attached to a water source;

(b) a valve housing, said water inlet pipe entering and delivering water into the valve housing;

(c) a water outlet pipe, said water outlet pipe being connected to the valve housing so to be able to deliver water from the valve housing to a water storage tank, said water outlet pipe having an outlet opening, said outlet opening receiving water from the valve housing;

(d) an outlet hole cover attached to a rod within and extending through the valve housing, said rod being movable such that when the rod is pulled the outlet hole cover is pulled over the outlet pipe opening such that water cannot flow from the valve housing into the outlet pipe;

(e) means for maintaining water which may leak from the water storage tank in a water confinement space, said water storage tank being received and supported within said water confinement space;

(f) a float contained within the water confinement space;

(g) a float rod one end of which is attached to and extending vertically up from the float;

(h) a triangular gear attached to the end of the float-rod distal from the end attached to the float rod, said triangular gear having one side having a side containing teeth;

(i) a gear guide attached to the valve housing, said gear guide having an elongated slot;

(j) a circular gear having teeth about its circumference, circular gear being mounted on the gear guide such that the gear rotates within the elongated slot of the gear guide, the valve rod extending out of the valve housing and attaching to the circular gear, and the triangular gear being positioned within the elongated slot of the gear guide between the valve housing and the circular gear such that the teeth along the toothed side of the triangle interlock with the teeth of the circular gear such that as the float is being raised due to water entering the water confinement space from a ruptured water storage tank the float-rod is raised causing the triangular gear to be raised and moved up through the elongated slot resulting in the circular gear rotating along and within the elongated slot away from the valve housing pulling the valve rod out of the valve housing such that the valve rod pulls the outlet hole cover over the outlet hole of the outlet pipe preventing water from being delivered from the valve into the outlet pipe and into the water storage tank, such that when said water in the water confinement space is lowered the float and float rod are lowered causing the triangular gear to be lowered through the elongated slot thus rotating the circular gear along and within the elongated slot toward the valve housing for moving the outlet hole cover away from the outlet hole permitting water into the inlet pipe and into the storage tank.

2. A valve apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a water pump, said water pump having on on/off switch, said on/off switch being attached to the float-rod such that as the float-rod is raised the water pump is switched on pumping water from the water containment area.