Self closing valve assembly

• US 5,103,857 A
• Filed: 10/18/1989
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Kuhn, Weldon R., Nick, Kirk T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US07/423,171
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 137/454.5, 137/454.6, 137/315, 251/251, 251/252, 251/253, 251/254, 251/255, 251/256, 251/284, 251/288, 251/263, 74/55, 74/56, 74/57, 74/567
• US Class Current: 137/315.13
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/04 Self-closing valves, i.e. closing automatically after operation pneumatic tools B25B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/52408 comprising a lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6017 Including removable valve head and seat unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6103 Cam type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7613 Threaded into valve casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18312 Grooved

Abstract

A self closing valve assembly is disclosed. A retainer member provides support for a spring for biasing the valve actuating cam members as well as providing a valve seat. The component parts are housed in a cartridge for easy placement in a faucet as well as for conversion of other faucets to the self closing type. Opening of the valve is accomplished by only a rotary motion of the valve stem without an axial handle motion.

Claims

1. A self closing replacement cartridge type valve for use in a housing or the like, the housing having an inlet in its bottom and an outlet, the valve comprising:

a cartridge valve body having an axial bore with an open lower end for fluid communication with the inlet in the housing;

a rotatable cam member and an axially movable cam member, both being positioned in the valve body and both having cam surfaces for engagement with each other;

a rotatable spindle operatively connected to said rotatable cam member and extending out an upper part of said valve body;

a shaft operatively connected at its upper end to said axially movable cam and having a valve sealing member at its lower end;

a retainer member secured to said open lower end of said valve body, said retainer member defining a valve seat for closure for said valve sealing member;

a biasing member disposed on said retainer and said axially movable cam member to bias said axially movable cam member against said rotatable cam member, said valve body, said cam members, said rotatable spindle, said shaft, said retainer member, and said biasing member being removed from said housing as a single unit, and when said biasing member is to be replaced only said retainer member needs to be removed from said open lower end of said valve body while leaving said cam members, said rotatable spindle and said shaft within said valve body,

the valve being constructed and arranged so that rotation of said spindle rotates said rotatable cam member, which in turn moves said axially movable cam member axially and said valve sealing member away from said valve seat without requiring axial movement of the spindle.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein said retainer member is in the form of a cup with a central through bore and peripheral threads and the retainer is securable by a threaded engagement to said valve body.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein said biasing means is a spring which surrounds a portion of the shaft.

4. The valve of claim 1, further including internal guide means operatively associated with said cam members.

5. The valve of claim 1, wherein said valve sealing member is defined by a neck on the shaft for retention of an O-ring sealing member

6. The valve of claim 1, further including a driver member for contact with said rotatable cam member and stops inside said valve body for rotative contact with said driver member.

7. The valve of claim 1, further including vertically extending cam guides inside said valve body to prevent rotation of said axially movable cam member yet provide axial movement.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein said self closing valve is contained in a cartridge unit.

9. The valve of claim 1, wherein said valve body and said rotatable cam member having stop members to prevent upward movement of said rotatable cam member said stop members also limiting rotation of said rotatable spindle.