Toggle linkage check valve

• US 5,072,753 A
• Filed: 01/22/1991
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Watts Regulator Company (Watts Water Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Watts Regulator Company (Watts Water Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ackroyd, Rand H.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US07/644,434
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 137/527, 137/527.2, 137/527.4, 137/527.6, 251/298, 251/303, 251/337
• US Class Current: 137/527
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/104 using a single check valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/033 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0227 with the valve members swinging around an axis located at the edge of or outside the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0232 the valve member retained by a removable closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7898 Pivoted valves

Abstract

A toggle linkage check valve including a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a sealing plug disposed within the housing and adapted for movement between a first, closed position for preventing flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet, and a second, open position for substantially permitting flow of liquid between the inlet and the outlet. The check valve includes a spring assembly removably disposed within the housing. The sealing plug is mounted upon the spring assembly. The spring assembly includes a rod member and a means for biasing the rod member toward the sealing plug. In the first position of the sealing plug, the rod member lies substantially perpendicular to a plane of the sealing member across the inlet, and in the second position of the sealing plug, the rod member lies at an acute angle to the plane of the sealing member. The means for biasing acts upon the rod member to apply, to the sealing plug, a biasing force of a second degree less than the first degree, whereby the spring assembly acts upon the sealing plug to provide a maximum resistance against liquid flow from the inlet toward the outlet when the sealing plug is in the first, closed position and a lesser resistance against liquid flow when the sealing plug is in the second, open position.

Claims

1. A toggle linkage check valve comprising:

a housing having an inlet and an outlet;

a sealing plug disposed within said housing and adapted for movement between a first, closed position for preventing flow of liquid between said inlet and said outlet, and a second, open position for substantially permitting flow of liquid between said inlet and said outlet; and

a spring assembly removably disposed within said housing, said sealing plug mounted upon said spring assembly, said spring assembly comprising a rod member and a means for biasing said rod member toward said sealing plug,

in said first position of said sealing plug, said rod member lying substantially perpendicular to a plane of said sealing member across said inlet, and

in said second position of said sealing plug, said rod member lying at an acute angle to said plane of said sealing member, with said means for biasing acting upon said rod member to apply, to said sealing plug, a biasing force of a second degree less than said first degree, whereby said spring assembly acts upon said sealing plug to provides a maximum resistance against liquid flow from said inlet toward said outlet when said sealing plug is in said first, closed position and a lesser resistance against liquid flow when said sealing plug is in said second, open position.

2. The toggle linkage check valve of claim 1 wherein said spring assembly further comprises a bracket positioned within said housing, said bracket having an inlet facing portion and an outlet facing portion, said sealing plug being rotatably attached to said inlet facing portion of said bracket and said spring assembly being located between said outlet facing portion of said bracket and said sealing plug.

3. The toggle linkage check valve of claim 2 wherein said spring assembly is detachable from said sealing plug.

4. The toggle linkage check valve of claim 3 wherein said spring assembly is rotatably attached to said bracket.

5. The toggle linkage check valve of claim 2 wherein said spring assembly is detachable from said bracket.

6. The toggle linkage check valve of claim 5 wherein said spring assembly is rotatably attached to said sealing plug.

7. The toggle linkage check valve of claim 2 wherein said spring assembly is detachable from said sealing plug and is detachable from said bracket.

8. The toggle linkage check valve of claim 1 wherein said spring assembly comprises:

a forward toggle member and a rear toggle member each having one set of two toggle extensions;

a rod, upon which one of said toggle members is slidably attached and the other of said toggle members is fixedly attached; and

a compression spring, coaxial with said rod and located between said forward and rear toggle assemblies.

9. A toggle linkage check valve comprising:

a housing with an inlet and an outlet;

a bracket, having an inlet facing portion and an outlet facing portion, said bracket located within and fixedly attached to said housing, said bracket including a curved spring assembly retaining member on said outlet facing portion;

a sealing plug, located inside said housing, having a closed position, wherein said sealing plug prevents flow between said inlet and said outlet, and an open position, wherein said sealing plug substantially permits flow between said inlet and said outlet;

an arm, having a first end fixedly attached to said sealing plug and a second end rotatably attached to said bracket, said arm including toggle retaining notches on a side of said arm opposite said sealing plug and between said first end and said second end;

a spring assembly comprising;

a forward toggle member and a rear toggle member each having one set of two toggle extensions, said sets of toggle extensions defining a plane;

a nipple attached to the front of said forward toggle member;

a rod, to which said forward toggle member is fixedly attached and upon which said rear toggle member is slidably mounted, said rod oriented perpendicular to the plane of said toggle extensions;

a pin mounted to the outlet facing end of said rod, to prevent said rear toggle member from sliding from said rod; and

a spring, located between said forward and rear toggle assemblies and coaxial to said rod, said spring biasing said rear toggle member toward said pin;

said forward toggle member adapted for engagement with said toggle retaining notches such that said nipple presses against the center of an outlet facing surface of said sealing plug, said rear toggle member adapted for engagement of said curved spring assembly retaining member on said outlet facing portion of said bracket;

whereby when the pressure of a liquid at said inlet exceeds a predetermined pressure, said sealing plug moves from said closed position thereby permitting flow between said inlet and said outlet.