Spray valve with constant actuating force

• US 5,100,055 A
• Filed: 09/15/1989
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Modern Faucet Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Modern Faucet Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Stansbury, Benjamin H. Jr., Rokitenetz, deceased, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAINOR, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US07/407,571
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 239/436, 239/437, 239/443, 239/444, 239/445-449, 239/457, 239/460, 239/463, 239/468, 239/569, 239/583, 239/525, 239/526, 239/11, 137/219, 251/340, 251/354, 251/172
• US Class Current: 239/11
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1654 about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/304 the controlling element being a lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3066 the valve element being at least partially hollow and liquid passing through it when the valve is opened

Abstract

A spray valve is disclosed for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid. The spray valve includes an integral trigger/waterway, that is movable between an open and a closed position, and a non-movable fluid seal that plugs the end of the waterway to prevent the flow of fluid. A spring normally biases the trigger to the closed position. The force needed to activate the trigger is substantially independent of the water pressure flow and is defined almost exclusively by the force needed to compress the spring. The spray valve assembly is held together by an integral snap-fit construction, eliminating the need for fasteners such as screws, pins, or the like. The spray valve includes a spray cap that provides a variety of spray patterns. At least one of the bores in the spray cap which is used to produce a coarse spray is also used to produce a mist, so that a conventional bore having a relatively small diameter for producing a mist is not required and the likelihood of clogging is reduced.

Claims

1. A spray valve for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid, comprising:

a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

sealing means for controlling the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening and including a plurality of orifices through which the fluid may pass, a fluid seal having an outer sidewall and an inner cup-shaped surface, and a trigger having a hollow waterway with a rim and having walls of reduced thickness, the waterway being movable between a closed position and an open position such that the walls of reduced thickness present minimal surface area perpendicular to the fluid flowing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening so that force required to move the waterway between the two positions remains generally of the same magnitude regardless of water pressure in the body member and waterway, and when in the closed position, the outer sidewall engages the rim of the waterway such that pressure of the fluid in the waterway pushes against the inner cup-shaped surface forcing the outer sidewall to effectively seal one end of the waterway so that the waterway is obstructed and the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening through the outlet opening is prevented, and in the open position the waterway is moved away from the fluid seal to enable the flow of the fluid;

biasing means for normally biasing the trigger in the closed position; and

a spray valve cap having a plurality of orifices communicating between the outside surface of the cap and the inside surface of the cap and being attached to the body member over the outlet opening such that at least one of the orifices in the inside surface of the cap may be aligned with at least one of the orifices in the fluid sealing means, thereby allowing fluid to pass through the outlet opening and selecting a spray pattern for the fluid.

2. A spray valve for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid, comprising:

a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

sealing means for controlling the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening and including a fluid seal having an outer sidewall and an inner cup-shaped surface, and a trigger having a hollow waterway with a rim and having walls of reduced thickness, the waterway being movable between a closed position and an open position such that the walls of reduced thickness present minimal surface area perpendicular to the fluid flowing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening so that force required to move the waterway between the two positions remains generally of the same magnitude regardless of water pressure in the body member and waterway, and when in the closed position, the outer sidewall engages the rim of the waterway such that pressure of the fluid in the waterway pushes against the inner cup-shaped surface forcing the outer sidewall to effectively seal one end of the waterway so that the waterway is obstructed and the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening through the outlet opening is prevented, and in the open position the waterway is moved away from the fluid seal to enable the flow of the fluid; and

biasing means for normally biasing the trigger in the closed position;

wherein the closed position, the pressure of the fluid in the waterway pushes against the fluid seal thereby forcing the sidewall of the fluid seal into tighter engagement with the rim of the waterway to that an increase in fluid pressure creates a tighter seal at the outlet opening;

wherein the spray valve is assembled entirely with threadless fastening means comprising an integral snap-fit construction for holding the spray valve body member, sealing means, and biasing means in the relative positions required for proper operation.

3. A spray valve for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid, comprising:

a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

sealing means for controlling the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening and including a plurality of orifices through which the fluid may pass, a fluid seal having an outer sidewall and an inner cup.shaped surface, and a trigger having a hollow waterway with a rim and having walls of reduced thickness, the waterway being movable between a closed position and an open position such that the walls of reduced thickness present minimal surface area perpendicular to the fluid flowing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening so that force required to move the waterway between the two positions remains generally of the same magnitude regardless of water pressure in the body member and waterway, and when, in the closed position, the fluid seal outer sidewall engages the rim of the waterway such so that pressure of the fluid in the waterway pushes against the inner cup-shaped surface forcing the outer sidewall to effectively seal one end of the waterway so that the waterway is obstructed and the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening through the outlet opening is prevented, and in the open position the waterway is moved away from the fluid seal to enable the flow of the fluid;

biasing means for normally biasing the trigger in the closed position; and

a spray valve cap having a plurality of orifices communicating between the outside surface of the cap and the inside surface of the cap and being attached to the body member over the outlet opening such that at least one of the orifices in the inside surface of the cap may be aligned with at least one of the orifices in the fluid sealing means, thereby allowing fluid to pass through the outlet opening and selecting a spray pattern for the fluid;

wherein the spray valve cap is attached to the body member by an integral snap-fit arrangement comprising a raised lip on the valve cap circumference and a shoulder at the body member outlet opening over which snaps the lip of the spray valve cap.

4. A spray valve for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid, comprising:

a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

sealing means for controlling the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening is the outlet opening and including a plurality of orifices through which the fluid may pass, a fluid seal having an outer sidewall and an inner cup-shaped surface, and a trigger having a hollow waterway with a rim and having walls of reduced thickness, the waterway being movable between a closed position and an open position such that the walls of reduced thickness present minimal surface area perpendicular to the fluid flowing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening so that force required to move the waterway between the two positions remains generally of the same magnitude regardless of water pressure in the body member and waterway, and when in the closed position, the outer sidewall engages the rim of the waterway such that pressure of the fluid in the waterway pushes against the inner cup-shaped surface forcing the outer sidewall to effectively seal one end of the waterway so that the waterway is obstructed and the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening through the outlet opening is prevented, and in the open position the waterway is moved away from the fluid seal to enable the flow of the fluid;

biasing means for normally biasing the trigger in the closed position;

a spray valve cap having a plurality of orifices, communicating between the outside surface of the cap and the inside surface of the cap and being attached to the body member over the outlet openings such that at least one of the orifices in the inside surface of the cap may be aligned with at least one of the orifices in the fluid sealing means, thereby allowing fluid to pass through the outlet opening and selecting a spray pattern for the fluid;

wherein the spray valve cap includes at least one chamber communicating with one of the orifices in the outside surface of the cap.

5. A spray valve for controlling and directing flow of a fluid, comprising:

a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

flow means for directing the flow of fluid in the body member from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, having an opened position which allows the fluid to flow and a closed position which prevents the flow of the fluid;

select means for designating a spray type, the select means having at least one fluid hole therethrough; and

a spray cap adjacent the select means, having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having at least one indentation formed therein, and at least one course/mist spray hole therethrough, each said at least one coarse/mist spray hole having a diameter sufficiently large for producing a coarse spray, and wherein a spiral path connects said at least one indentation and said at least one coarse/mist spray hole;

wherein when the flow means is in an opened position and said at least one a fluid hole in the select means is aligned with said at least one indentation in the spray cap, the fluid flows through the fluid hole to the indentation, through the spiral path, and out said at least one coarse/mist spray hole in the spray cap at high velocity so that substantially a mist is produced, and when the flow means is in an opened position and said at least one fluid hole is aligned with said at least one coarse/mist spray hole, the fluid flows through the fluid hole and out said at least one coarse/mist spray hole so that substantially a coarse spray is produced.

6. A spray cap for use with a spray valve to produce a mist, comprising:

a body member having at least one coarse/mist spray hole therethrough and at least one indentation on an inner surface thereof, said at least one coarse/mist spray hole having a diameter sufficiently large for producing a coarse spray, wherein at least one of the coarse/mist spray holes and one of the indentations are connected by a spiral path, the spiral path having a larger cross sectional area where it meets the indentation and a smaller cross-sectional area where it meets said at least one coarse/mist spray hole, and further including means for selectively selecting whether fluid entering the spray cap flows to the indentation, through the spiral path, and out said at least one coarse/mist spray hole so as to substantially produce the mist, or whether the fluid entering the spray cap flows to said at least one coarse/mist spray hole without flowing to the indentation so as to substantially produce a coarse spray.

7. A spray valve for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid, the spray valve producing a coarse spray from at least one hole in a spray cap, the same hole also being used to produce a mist comprising:

a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

flow means for directing the flow of fluid in the body member from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, having an opened position which allows the flow of fluid and a closed position which prevents the flow of fluid;

select means for designating a spray type, the select means being in flow communication with the flow means and having a fluid hole and a protuberance; and

a spray cap adjacent the select means, having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface having an indentation formed therein, and a coarse/mist spray hole therethrough having a diameter sufficiently large for producing a coarse spray, wherein a spiral path connects the indentation and the coarse/mist spray hole;

wherein when the flow means is in an opened position and the protuberance in the select means is aligned with the indentation in the spray cap and the fluid hole in the select means is aligned with the coarse/mist spray hole in the spray cap, fluid flows through the fluid hole in the select means and exits the coarse/mist spray hole in the spray cap so as to substantially produce a coarse spray; and

wherein when the flow means is in an opened position and the fluid hole in the select means is aligned with the indentation in the spray cap, fluid flows through the fluid hole in the select means to the indentation in the spray cap, through the spiral path, and out the coarse/mist spray hole in the spray cap at high velocity so that substantially a mist is produced.

8. A spray valve for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid, comprising:

a valve body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

a trigger slidably received in the valve body and having a cylindrical body defining a hollow waterway having a rim and being open at both ends for passage of the fluid such that the fluid may flow from the inlet opening through the trigger waterway and to the outlet opening;

a trigger seal having an outer sidewall, an inner cup shaped surface and being within the valve body so that the trigger may slide to engage the outer sidewall with the rim so as to allow pressure of the fluid in the waterway to push against the inner cup shaped surface forcing the sidewall to effectively seal and close off one end of the waterway, thereby preventing the flow of the fluid, or said trigger may be moved away from the trigger seal, thereby enabling the flow of the fluid; and

a seal mount attached to the valve body at the outlet opening, having an inside surface facing into the outlet opening and having an outside surface, and having a plurality of orifices passing from the inside surface to the outside surface.

9. A spray valve for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid, comprising:

a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

sealing means for controlling the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening including a fluid seal having an outer sidewall and an inner cup-shaped surface;

flow means for directing the flow of the fluid in the body member from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, said flow means including a cylindrical body having a rim at one end and defining a waterway and reciprocating within the body member;

flow control means for moving the cylindrical body between a first position that allows the fluid to flow and a second position in which the outer sidewall engages the rim so that pressure of the fluid in the waterway pushes against the inner cup-shaped surface forcing the outer sidewall to effectively seal one end of the waterway so as to that prevent the flow of the fluid; and

spray selector means for defining a plurality of fluid spray patterns issuing from the fluid flow at the outlet opening.

10. A spray valve for controlling and directing the flow of a fluid, comprising:

a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;

sealing means for controlling the flow of the fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening including a fluid seal having an outer sidewall and an inner cup.shaped surface;

flow means for directing the flow of the fluid in the body member from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, said flow means including a cylindrical body having a rim at one end and defining a waterway and reciprocating with the body member;

flow control means for moving the cylindrical body between a first position that allows the fluid to flow and a second position in which the outer sidewall engages the rim so that pressure of the fluid in the waterway pushes against the inner cup-shaped surface forcing the outer sidewall to effectively seal one end of the waterway so as to that prevent the flow of the fluid; and

spray selector means for defining a plurality of fluid spray patterns issuing from the fluid flow at the outlet opening;

wherein said spray selector means alternately selects between each of the fluid spray patterns.

11. A method for producing a mist with a spray valve comprising a body member having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, flow means for directing the flow of fluid in the body member from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, the flow means having an opened position which allows the flow of fluid and a closed position which prevents the flow of fluid, select means for designating a spray type, the select means being in flow communication with the flow means and having a fluid hole therethrough and a protuberance on an outer surface thereof, and a spray cap having an inner surface having an indentation, a hole therethrough, and a spiral path connecting the hole with the indentation, the hole being sized so as to produce a jet of said fluid or a coarse spray when the hole in the select means is aligned with the hole in the spray cap and the protuberance in the select means is aligned with the indentation in the spray cap, comprising the steps of:

aligning the hole in the select means with the indentation in the spray cap so that fluid flows from the hole to the indentation; and

increasing the velocity of the fluid as it flows from the indentation through the spiral path to the hole in the spray cap so that when the fluid exits the hole in the spray cap, a mist is produced.

12. A method for producing a mist as in claim 11 wherein the velocity of the fluid is increased by directing the fluid through a spiral pathway as it leaves the hole in the select means, the spiral pathway having a larger cross-sectional area at the end at which the fluid enters and a smaller cross-sectional area at the end at which the fluid exits the spiral pathway and enters the hole in the spray cap.

13. A method for producing a mist from a relatively slow stream of fluid in a spray valve, comprising the steps of:

directing the stream of fluid into a dome wherein the fluid spins at high centrifugal velocity;

directing the fluid through a spiral pathway, the spiral pathway having a larger diameter at an end at which the fluid enters the spiral pathway and a smaller diameter at an end at which the fluid exists the spiral pathway; and

directing the high velocity stream of fluid from the spiral pathway through a hole having sharp edges so that a mist is produced, said hole having a diameter sufficiently large for producing a coarse spray when fluid flows directly through the hole without entering the spiral pathway.