Drain valve

• US 5,433,410 A
• Filed: 05/27/1994
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy J. Foltz
• Original Assignee: Timothy J. Foltz
• Inventors: Foltz, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ESQUIVEL, DENISE LYNNE
• Application Number:
  US08/250,771
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 251/100, 251/322, 251/323, 251/351, 251/353, 251/354
• US Class Current: 251/100
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0408 Sump drainage devices, e.g. valves, plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0425 with a device facilitating the change of oil
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/26 with fluid passages in the valve member

Abstract

A drain valve for replacement of drain plugs or drain valves to facilitate the quick drainage of fluid from an equipment. The drain valve has a tubular housing assembly having a threaded section to be threaded into a threaded drain hole and a hexagonal nut section for assisting in mounting or removing the tubular housing assembly to threaded into or from the drain hole. A valve stem assembly has a valve stem which extends through the tubular housing assembly and has an actuator which an operator can push to open the drain valve. A compression spring disposed between the valve stem assembly and the tubular housing assembly provides a force on the actuator to force the drain valve into a closed position. Inlets in the valve stem permit fluid to flow through a drainage bore in the valve stem when the drain valve is in the open position.

Claims

1. A drain valve comprising, in combination:

a tubular housing assembly comprising;

a threaded section for threading said tubular housing assembly into a drain hole,

a cylindrical section and a polygonal nut section located between the threaded section and the cylindrical section,

a first bore of a first diameter and a second bore, axially aligned with said first bore, of a second diameter larger than said first diameter, a junction of said first bore and said second bore forming a shoulder;

a valve stem assembly comprising;

a valve stem having an outer diameter slidably engaging the first bore of said tubular housing assembly, said valve stem comprising;

a closed end having a first annular groove for reception of a C-clip and second annular groove for reception of a first O-ring, said first and second annular grooves being formed in the outer circumference of the closed end of said valve stem, an open end,

a drainage bore extending from said open end to said closed end, and

a pair of diametrically opposed inlets adjacent said closed end for permitting fluid external to said valve stem to pass into said drainage bore;

an actuator having a small diameter bore, said valve stem being press fit into said small diameter bore in order for the valve stem to be joined with the actuator to form the valve stem assembly, and a large diameter bore slidably engaging an outer diameter of the cylindrical section of said tubular housing assembly; and

a compression spring slidably disposed over said valve stem and further disposed between said shoulder of said tubular housing assembly and said actuator, said compression spring providing a force for closing said drain valve by axially urging said actuator away from said cylindrical section.

2. The drain valve as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a second O-ring disposed to abut said shoulder and a spring retaining means disposed between said second O-ring and said compression spring.

3. The drain valve as set forth in claim 1, said threaded section further comprising a valve seat for receiving said first O-ring to seal said drain valve when said compression spring provides said force for closing said drain valve.

4. The drain valve as set forth in claim 3, said valve seat being formed from a 60 degree bevel in an end of said threaded section of said tubular housing assembly through which said valve stem extends.

5. The drain valve as set forth in claim 1, said actuator further comprising a ball seat and a guide ball mounted in said ball seat for enabling said drain valve to be opened.

6. The drain valve as set forth in claim 5, said cylindrical section further comprising an actuate slot for guiding said guide ball and for enabling said drain valve to remain in an open position.

7. The drain valve as set forth in claim 6, wherein said actuate slot has an "L" shape.

8. The drain valve as set forth in claim 1, said valve stem further comprising:

a mounting bore in said closed end and aligned axially along the longitudinal center of said valve stem; and

a magnet having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said valve stem, said magnet having a mounting pin for insertion into said mounting bore for mounting said magnet to said valve stem.

9. The drain valve as set forth in claim 1, said actuator further comprising:

a drainage extension having a pair of annular knurls for facilitating drainage of a fluid through a drain hose.

10. The drain valve as set forth in claim 1, said polygonal nut section being hexagonal in shape and comprising safety wire holes therein for attachment to a safety wire.

11. A drain valve comprising, in combination:

a tubular housing assembly comprising;

a threaded section for threading said tubular housing assembly into a drain hole,

a cylindrical section and a polygonal nut section located between the threaded section and the cylindrical section,

a first bore of a first diameter and a second bore, axially aligned with said first bore, of a second diameter larger than said first diameter, a junction of said first bore and said second bore forming a shoulder;

a valve stem assembly comprising;

an actuator having a small diameter bore forming an opening through which fluid is drained, and a large diameter bore slidably engaging an outer diameter of the cylindrical section of said tubular housing assembly; and

a valve stem having an outer diameter slidably engaging the first bore of said tubular housing assembly, said valve stem comprising;

a closed end having a first annular groove for reception of a C-clip and second annular groove for reception of a first O-ring, said first and second annular grooves being formed in the outer circumference of said closed end of said valve stem,

a drainage bore extending from said closed end through said small diameter bore forming said opening in said actuator, said actuator and said valve stem being machined as one integral, monolithic component, and

a pair of diametrically opposed inlets located adjacent to said closed end for permitting fluid external to said valve stem to pass into said drainage bore; and

a compression spring slidably disposed over said valve stem and further disposed between said shoulder of said tubular housing assembly and said actuator, said compression spring providing a force for closing said drain valve by axially urging said actuator away from said cylindrical section.

12. The drain valve as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a second O-ring disposed to abut said shoulder and a spring retaining means disposed between said second O-ring and said compression spring.

13. The drain valve as set forth in claim 11, said threaded section further comprising a valve seat for receiving said first O-ring to seal said drain valve when said compression spring provides said force for closing said drain valve.

14. The drain valve as set forth in claim 13, said valve seat being formed from a 60 degree bevel in an end of said threaded section of said tubular housing assembly through which said valve stem extends.

15. The drain valve as set forth in claim 11, said actuator further comprising a threaded hole and an allen hex screw mounted in said threaded hole seat for enabling said drain valve to be opened.

16. The drain valve as set forth in claim 15, said cylindrical section further comprising an actuate slot for guiding said allen hex screw and for enabling said drain valve to remain in an open position.

17. The drain valve as set forth in claim 16, wherein said actuate slot has an "L" shape.

18. The drain valve as set forth in claim 11, said valve stem further comprising:

a mounting bore in said closed end and aligned axially along the longitudinal center of said valve stem; and

a magnet having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said valve stem, said magnet having a mounting pin for insertion into said mounting bore for mounting said magnet to said valve stem.

19. The drain valve as set forth in claim 11, said actuator further comprising:

a drainage extension having a pair of annular knurls for facilitating drainage of a fluid through a drain hose.

20. The drain valve as set forth in claim 11, said polygonal nut section being hexagonal in shape and comprising safety wire holes therein for attachment to a safety wire. PG,23

21. A drain valve comprising, in combination:

a tubular housing assembly comprising;

a threaded section for threading said tubular housing assembly into a drain hole,

a cylindrical section and a polygonal nut section located between the threaded section and the cylindrical section,

a first bore of a first diameter and a second bore, axially aligned with said first bore, of a second diameter larger than said first diameter, a junction of said first bore and said second bore forming a shoulder;

a valve stem assembly comprising;

an actuator having a small diameter bore forming an opening through which fluid is drained, and a large diameter bore with which an outer diameter of the cylindrical section of said tubular housing assembly is slidably engaged; and

a valve stem having an outer diameter which slidably engages the first bore of said tubular housing assembly, said valve stem comprising;

a closed end having a first annular groove for reception of a C-clip and second annular groove for reception of a first O-ring, said first and second annular grooves being formed in the outer circumference of said closed end of said valve stem,

a drainage bore extending from said closed end through said small diameter bore forming said opening in said actuator, and

a pair of diametrically opposed inlets adjacent to said closed end for permitting fluid external to said valve stem to pass into said drainage bore; and

a compression spring slidably disposed over said valve stem and further disposed between said shoulder of said tubular housing assembly and said actuator, said compression spring providing a force for closing said drain valve by axially urging said actuator away from said cylindrical section.

22. The drain valve as set forth in claim 21, further comprising said actuator and said valve stem being machined as one component.

23. The drain valve as set forth in claim 21, further comprising said valve stem and said small diameter bore being formed as two separate components, wherein said valve stem and said small diameter bore are pressed together in order for the valve stem to be joined with the actuator to form the valve stem assembly.