Sprinkler valve

• US 5,301,919 A
• Filed: 09/17/1992
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gordon H. May
• Original Assignee: Gordon H. May
• Inventors: May, Gordon H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Kevin L.
• Application Number:
  US07/947,047
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 251/30.01, 251/30.02, 251/30.05, 251/129.03, 251/33, 251/34
• US Class Current: 251/30.02
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

A sprinkler valve suitable for flows from about one (1) to two (2) gallons per hour to thirty (30) to forty (40) gallons per minute. A double diaphragm utilizes a principle of differential areas to create force for any non-zero pressure through the valve. This feature, in conjunction with momentary fluid flow in the solenoid circuit, is responsible for complete regulation of the flow characteristics of the valve. The requirement for large shut-off springs and flow control adjustment screws has been eliminated. The flow may be determined by the size of the valve. The need for solenoid springs has been eliminated. In one embodiment two (2) separate diaphragms utilize a principle of differential areas to create force for any non-zero pressure through the valve. This feature, in conjunction with momentary fluid flow in the solenoid circuit, is responsible for complete control of the flow characteristics of the valve. The requirement for large shut-off assist springs and solenoid return springs has been eliminated.

Claims

1. A diaphragm assembly for use in a sprinkler valve with an inlet port, an outlet port, a flapper valve, a fluid flow blocking means in a fluid flow blocking means chamber, a solenoid connected to a solenoid plunger which solenoid plunger may contact the fluid flow blocking means, a gasket, a passageway connecting the outlet port to the fluid flow blocking means chamber, a passageway connecting the inlet port to the fluid flow blocking means chamber, and a passageway connecting a top surface of an upper diaphragm of the diaphragm assembly to the fluid flow blocking means chamber which diaphragm assembly comprises a support ring in which are concentrically mounted a spool, a stop on top of the spool, the upper diaphragm beneath the stop and around the spool, and a lower diaphragm beneath the upper diaphragm and around the spool, and in which the surface area of the upper diaphragm is greater than the surface area of the lower diaphragm and in which sprinkler valve the upper diaphragm is part of the gasket and in which sprinkler valve the flapper valve is located in such a manner that fluid flow from the outlet port of the sprinkler valve in the direction of the fluid flow blocking means chamber closes the flapper valve and stops fluid from flowing from the outlet port to the passageway from the outlet port to the fluid flow blocking means chamber and which flapper valve is located in such a manner that fluid pressure at the outlet port is not applied to the top of the upper diaphragm and which sprinkler valve is controlled by application of fluid pressure at the inlet port of the valve to the diaphragms.

2. A diaphragm assembly for use in a sprinkler valve with an inlet port, an outlet port, a flapper valve, a fluid flow blocking means in a fluid flow blocking means chamber, a solenoid connected to a solenoid plunger which solenoid plunger may contact the fluid flow blocking means in the fluid flow blocking means chamber, a passageway connecting the outlet port to the fluid flow blocking means chamber, a passageway connecting the inlet port to the fluid flow blocking means chamber, and a passageway connecting a top surface of an upper diaphragm of the diaphragm assembly to the fluid flow blocking means chamber which diaphragm assembly comprises a support ring in which are concentrically mounted a spool, a stop on top of the spool, an upper diaphragm beneath the stop and around the spool, and a lower diaphragm beneath the upper diaphragm and around the spool, and in which the surface area of the upper diaphragm is greater than the surface area of the lower diaphragm and in which sprinkler valve the flapper valve is attached in such a manner that fluid flow from the outlet port of the sprinkler valve in the direction of the fluid flow blocking means chamber closes the flapper valve and stops fluid from flowing from the outlet port to the passageway from the outlet port to the fluid flow blocking means chamber and which flapper valve is attached in such a manner that fluid pressure at the outlet port is not applied to the top of the upper diaphragm and which sprinkler valve is controlled by application of fluid pressure at the inlet port of the valve to the diaphragms.

3. A sprinkler valve for controlling fluid flow comprising:

a shell,

a plurality of chambers in the shell,

an inlet port,

an outlet port,

an upper diaphragm and a lower diaphragm,

a passageway connecting the inlet port to the bottom of the lower diaphragm,

a plurality of passageways connecting the inlet port to the top of the upper diaphragm and the top of the upper diaphragm to the outlet port,

a passageway connecting the bottom of the lower diaphragm to the outlet port,

a solenoid operably connected to a fluid flow blocking means which fluid flow blocking means in a first position blocks fluid flow from the top of the upper diaphragm to the outlet port and which fluid flow blocking means in a second position blocks fluid flow from the inlet port to the top of the upper diaphragm and which fluid flow blocking means is returned from the second position to the first position solely by the fluid pressure at the inlet port,

a means for activating the sprinkler valve without connecting electrical current to the solenoid,

a means for preventing fluid from flowing from the outlet port into the first of the plurality of passageways connecting the outlet port to the top of the upper diaphragm and for preventing fluid pressure at the outlet port from being applied to the top of the upper diaphragm, and

a means for allowing only momentary fluid flow from on top of the upper diaphragm toward the outlet port.

4. A sprinkler valve as in claim 3 in which the plurality of chambers includes

a fluid flow blocking means chamber and

a diaphragm chamber.

5. A sprinkler valve as in claim 3 wherein the upper diaphragm and the lower diaphragm are of different sizes.

6. A sprinkler valve as in claim 3 where the solenoid plunger is only exposed to atmospheric pressure.

7. A sprinkler valve as in claim 3 in which the means for preventing fluid from flowing from the outlet port into the first of the plurality of passageways connecting the outlet port to the top of the upper diaphragm and for preventing fluid pressure at the outlet port from being applied to the top of the upper diaphragm includes a flapper valve.

8. A sprinkler valve as in claim 7 in which the flapper valve includes a flap on a pivot which flap is in a first position in which the flap seals an anti-siphon port when fluid is flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port and which flap is in a second position in which the flap stops fluid flow from an outlet port into the first of the passageways connecting the outlet port to the top of the upper diaphragm when fluid is not flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port.

9. A sprinkler valve as in claim 3 in which a rigid valve body member supports both diaphragms.

10. A sprinkler valve for controlling fluid flow comprising:

a shell,

a plurality of chambers in the shell,

an inlet port,

an outlet port,

a stepped piston with an upper surface and a lower surface,

a passageway connecting the inlet port to the bottom of the lower surface of the stepped piston,

a plurality of passageways connecting the inlet port to the top of the upper surface of the stepped piston and the top of the upper surface of the stepped piston to the outlet port,

a passageway connecting the bottom of the lower surface of the stepped piston to the outlet port,

a solenoid operably connected to a fluid flow blocking means which fluid flow blocking means in a first position blocks fluid flow from the top of the upper surface of the stepped piston to the outlet port and which fluid flow blocking means in a second position blocks fluid flow from the inlet port to the top of the upper surface of the stepped piston and which fluid flow blocking means is returned from the second position to the first position solely by the fluid pressure at the inlet port,

a means for activating the sprinkler valve without connecting electrical current to the solenoid,

a means for preventing fluid from flowing from the outlet port into the first of the plurality of passageways connecting the outlet port to the top of the upper surface of the stepped piston and for preventing fluid pressure at the outlet port from being applied to the top of the upper surface of the stepped piston, and

a means for allowing only momentary fluid flow from on top of the upper surface of the stepped piston toward the outlet port.

11. A sprinkler valve for controlling fluid flow comprising:

a shell,

a plurality of chambers in the shell,

an inlet port,

an outlet port,

an upper diaphragm and a lower diaphragm,

a passageway connecting the inlet port to the bottom of the lower diaphragm,

a plurality of passageways connecting the inlet port to the top of the upper diaphragm and the top of the upper diaphragm to the atmosphere,

a passageway connecting the bottom of the lower diaphragm to the outlet port, and

a solenoid operably connected to a fluid flow blocking means which fluid flow blocking means in a first position blocks fluid flow from the top of the upper diaphragm to the atmosphere and which fluid flow blocking means in a second position blocks fluid flow from the inlet port to the top of the upper diaphragm and which fluid flow blocking means is returned from the second position to the first position solely by the fluid pressure at the inlet port.