Metering valve

• US 4,991,819 A
• Filed: 02/09/1990
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company (Geberit Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company (Geberit Holding AG)
• Inventors: Laube, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US07/477,727
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 137/242, 251/35, 251/39, 251/900
• US Class Current: 251/35
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/10 with hydraulic brake cylinder acting on the closure member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/12 with hydraulically-operated opening means; with arrangements for pressure relief before opening
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/16 closing after a predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered F16K21/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4273 Mechanical cleaning

Abstract

A metering valve is provided having a piston assembly mounted for movement between open and close modes. The piston assembly is biased to assume a close mode. The piston assembly assumes an open mode only when a predetermined external force is applied to a valve actuating element forming a component of the metering valve. When the external force is removed, the piston assembly automatically returns to the close mode. The rate of movement of the piston assembly during a first segment of travel from the open mode to the close mode is substantially slower than the rate of movement during a second segment of the travel.

Claims

1. A metering valve for controlling flow through a housing, the latter having an inlet, an outlet, and an internal partitioning means having an opening formed therein, the partitioning means being interposed the inlet and outlet;

said metering valve comprising an elongate cartridge mountable within the housing between the partitioning means and the outlet; and

valve actuating means mountable on the housing adjacent a first end portion of said cartridge and securing the latter within the housing whereby a second end portion of said cartridge is aligned with the partitioning means opening and is in abutting engagement with a portion of the partitioning means circumjacent the opening;

said cartridge including a stationary tubular unit adapted to be secured within the housing between the partitioning means and said valve actuating means, said tubular unit being provided with port means for communicating with the outlet, and a piston assembly slidably mounted within said tubular unit, said assembly having an elongate piston member mounted within said tubular unit and in axial alignment therewith for controlled adjustment between open and close modes;

said piston member having a first head portion adapted to be aligned with the partitioning means opening and extending therethrough when said piston member is adjusted to the open mode allowing a primary flow from the inlet through the partitioning means opening and port means to the outlet, said first head portion being biased to normally assume the close mode interrupting the flow through the partitioning means opening, a second head portion spaced longitudinally from said first head portion and disposed adjacent said valve actuating means, and an elongate third portion interconnecting said head portions, said first, second and third portions being provided with a common longitudinally extending internal passage, said second head portion cooperating with said valve actuating means to form therebetween an accumulating chamber in communication with said passage, and second valve means mounted within said passage and adapted to normally assume a close position, said second valve being adjusted to an open position by said valve actuating means allowing a secondary flow of fluid into the accumulating chamber through the passage;

said second head portion being provided with a metering means communicating with said chamber and port means and regulating flow therebetween upon said piston assembly moving from the open mode to the close mode;

said second head portion further having first and second segments of travel when said piston member moves from the open mode to the close mode with the periphery of said second head portion being in sliding sealing engagement with an interior surface of a first portion of said tubular unit only when said piston assembly is moving through said first segment of travel and the periphery of said second head portion being in a non-sealing relation with an interior surface of a second portion of said tubular unit when said piston assembly is moving through said second segment of travel;

the movement of said piston assembly from the open mode to the close mode through said first travel segment being at a slower rate than through the second travel segment.

2. A metering valve for controlling fluid flow, comprising a piston assembly mounted within a tubular unit for movement between open and close modes and being biased to assume a close mode, said piston assembly assuming an open mode only when a predetermined external force is applied to a valve actuating means forming a component of said metering valve;

upon the external force being removed, said piston assembly automatically returning to the close mode upon successively moving through first and second segments of travel;

said piston assembly being in sliding sealing engagement with an interior surface of said tubular unit when moving through said first segment of travel whereby movement of said piston assembly is retarded allowing a predetermined volume of fluid to flow through the metering valve, said piston assembly being in a non-sealing relation with the tubular unit interior surface when said piston assembly moves through the second segment of travel whereby said piston assembly moves substantially instantaneously to the close mode halting further fluid flow.

3. The metering valve of claim 2 wherein the interior surface of the tubular unit in non-sealing relation with the piston assembly, when the latter is moving through the second segment of travel, is provided with a plurality of annularly-spaced proturbances engaged by said piston assembly.

4. The metering valve of claim 3 wherein the interior surface protuberances of the tubular unit include a plurality of symmetrically arranged splines extending in a substantially longitudinal direction.

5. The metering valve of claim 2 wherein the interior surface of the tubular unit includes a first portion adapted to be sealingly engaged by the piston assembly and a second portion adapted to be in non-sealing relation with the piston assembly, said first and second portions being in endwise alignment and said first portion having a longer longitudinal dimension than said second portion.