Clog resistant water valve inlet screen with ribs
First Claim
1. A clog resistant water valve, comprising:
- (a) an inlet channel for receiving water from a water source pipe and a valving cavity for controlling water flow into an appliance; and
,(b) an inlet screen carried in the water valve inlet channel having an upstream end, a downstream end and a sidewall, the inlet screen comprising;
(1) a mesh network, having openings formed on the upstream end and its sidewall, for screening contaminates received through the water source pipe from entering the water valve, and,(2) ribs of differing height formed on the mesh network that extend outwardly from the mesh network.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A water valve inlet screen has a mesh network for filtering contaminates, and openings to allow water to pass through the inlet screen and into the valving cavity. Ribs of differing heights are formed on the mesh network to hold large particles away from the openings and allow water to flow around the particles. Additionally, the ribs increase the turbulence of water flow and, thus, reduce the stability of contaminates lodged on the ribs and encourage them away from the openings that they rest in front of. A flange is located on the downstream end of the inlet screen with serrations to provide openings for allowing water passage through the flange. Water passing through the flange encourages large particles to accumulate at the downstream end of the inlet screen, and leaves the upstream end of the inlet screen with fewer obstructions to block the free flow of water.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A clog resistant water valve, comprising:
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(a) an inlet channel for receiving water from a water source pipe and a valving cavity for controlling water flow into an appliance; and
,(b) an inlet screen carried in the water valve inlet channel having an upstream end, a downstream end and a sidewall, the inlet screen comprising; (1) a mesh network, having openings formed on the upstream end and its sidewall, for screening contaminates received through the water source pipe from entering the water valve, and, (2) ribs of differing height formed on the mesh network that extend outwardly from the mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A clog resistant water valve, comprising:
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(a) a water valve having an inlet channel for receiving water from a water source pipe and a valving cavity for controlling water flow into an appliance; and
,(b) an inlet screen having an .upstream end, a downstream end and a sidewall carried in the water valve inlet channel, the inlet screen comprising; (1) a mesh network having openings formed on the upstream end and its sidewall for screening contaminates received through the water source pipe from entering the water valve, and, (2) a serrated flange extending from the downstream end of the inlet screen having flange passages around its edge defining serrations permitting communication of water from the inlet channel into the valving cavity, thus creating a low pressure area around the serrated flange causing more water to flow towards the flange and urging contaminates on the mesh network towards the serrated flange. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of directing particles of contamination away from an inlet screen in a water valve, comprising:
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(a) providing a mesh network, having openings formed on an inlet screen upstream end and a sidewall, for screening contaminates from entering a valving cavity; (b) maintaining water flow around particles of contamination that become positioned on the mesh network by positioning contaminates away from the openings with ribs of differing height; (c) creating a turbulent flow of fluid around the inlet screen the ribs of differing height so as to direct the particles of contamination toward a downstream end of the inlet screen; and
,(d) collecting contaminates around the downstream end of the inlet screen by creating a low pressure area around the downstream end of the inlet screen with a serrated flange to urge particles of contamination away from the mesh network toward the serrated flange.
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Specification