Fluid flow control valve

• US 6,263,912 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whetstone Group International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whetstone Group International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gyben, Christopher J., Brown, Joseph P., Norum, Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schoenfeld, Meredith H.
• Application Number:
  US09/346,106
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 239/203, 239/204, 239/205, 239/206, 239/533.15, 239/569, 239/570, 239/571, 239/572, 137/68.11, 137/71, 137/513.5, 137/513.7, 137/517, 137/519, 137/519.5, 137/533.13, 137/533.15
• US Class Current: 137/519.5
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/74 driven by the discharged fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/34 in which the flow-energy of the flowing medium actuates the closing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1789 Having pressure responsive valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7849 Bypass in valve casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7873 Ball valves

Abstract

A fluid flow control valve within a pop-up sprinkler arrests fluid flow through a riser of the pop-up sprinkler under abnormal flow conditions, such as when the riser is broken or a sprinkler head is removed from the riser. The riser, which is movable relative to a housing of the pop-up sprinkler, is attached to a sprinkler head which distributes water to the surrounding area. A valve seat device is disposed within the riser. A stopper is positioned within a valve passageway defined by the valve seat device. The stopper selectively engages the valve seat to inhibit water flow through the riser under abnormal flow conditions. A biasing device prevents the stopper from engaging with the valve seat under normal flow conditions.

A fluid flow control valve assembly within a swing joint of an irrigation system includes a first within a first elbow fitting and a second valve within a second elbow fitting. The first and second elbow fittings are movable relative to each other and together form the swing joint. Each valve includes a valve seat device and a stopper positioned within a valve passageway defined by the valve seat device. A biasing device positioned between the stoppers of the first and second valves prevents the second stopper from seating against the second valve seat under normal flow conditions.

Claims

1. A pop-up sprinkler comprising a housing, a pop-up riser at least partially disposed within the housing and movable relative to the housing, a valve seat disposed within the riser, a stopper cooperating with the valve seat and having a valve element, the stopper being movable between a first position in which the valve element is located a distance away from the valve seat, and a second position in which the valve element sits against the valve seat, and a biasing device which prevents the valve element from seating against the valve seat under normal flow conditions, the biasing device including an integral spring configured to allow the effective length of the biasing device to vary.

2. The pop-up sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the biasing device comprises a rod.

3. The pop-up sprinkler of claim 2 additionally comprising a sprinkler head attached to the riser and a filter between the sprinkler head and the valve seat, the rod being unitary with the filter.

4. The pop-up sprinkler of claim 2, wherein the rod includes a plurality of grooves spaced longitudinally along the rod, whereby the grooves facilitate in breaking off a portion of the rod to size the rod to fit within the pop-up riser.

5. The pop-up sprinkler of claim 2, wherein the riser includes an annular ring against which the valve seat device is positioned.

6. The pop-up sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the valve seat is positioned within the housing.

13. The fluid flow control device of claim 1, wherein the valve seat is unitary with the riser.

31. The pop-up sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the stopper includes a valve element and a stem, the stem having a flared portion, the stopper located relative to the valve seat device such that the flared portion of the stem is located on one side of the valve seat and the valve element is located on the other side of the valve seat.

32. The pop-up sprinkler of claim 31, wherein the stopper further includes a compressible sealing member positioned around a portion of the valve element to seat against the valve seat when the stopper is in the closed position.

7. A fluid flow control valve for a pop-up sprinkler having a housing and a riser disposed at least partially within the housing and movable relative to the housing, the fluid flow control device comprising a valve seat device defining a valve passageway the valve seat device sized and shaped to fit within the riser, a stopper positioned within the valve passageway, the stopper being movable between an open position and a closed position, and a biasing device which biases the stopper toward the open position and prevents the stopper from seating against the valve seat under normal flow conditions, the biasing device including an integral spring configured to allow the effective length of the rod to vary.

8. The fluid flow control device of claim 7, wherein the biasing device comprises a rod.

9. The fluid flow control device of claim 8, wherein the rod comprises a plurality of grooves spaced longitudinally along the rod, whereby the grooves facilitate in breaking off a portion of the rod to size the rod to fit within the riser.

10. The fluid flow control device of claim 7, wherein the stopper includes a compressible sealing member positioned around a portion of the stopper to seat against the valve seat when the stopper is in the closed position.

11. The fluid flow control device of claim 10, wherein the stopper additionally includes a valve element, the valve element being located away from the valve seat when the stopper is in the open position and seated against the valve seat when the stopper is in the closed position, and the sealing member is located around a portion of the valve element.

12. The fluid flow control device of claim 11, wherein the stopper additionally includes a stem portion.

14. The fluid flow control device of claim 7, wherein the stopper includes a valve element and a stem, the stem having a flared portion, the stopper located relative to the valve seat device such that the flared portion of the stem is located on one side of the valve seat and the valve element is located on the other side of the valve seat.

15. The fluid flow control device of claim 14, wherein the stopper positioning device is cylindrical in shape and extends away from the valve seat in an opposite direction from the valve element of the stopper.

16. The fluid flow control device of claim 14, wherein the diameter of the flared portion of the valve stem is larger than the diameter of a valve passageway defined by the valve seat.

17. The fluid flow control device of claim 16, wherein the diameter of the stopper positioning device is slightly greater than the diameter of the flared portion of the valve stem.

18. The fluid flow control device of claim 7, wherein the biasing device is attached to a filter of the pop-up sprinkler, the filter being positioned within the riser.

19. A fluid flow control valve assembly comprising a first fitting and a second fitting, the first and second fittings cooperating with and movable relative to one another, each fitting having a valve within the fitting, the valve including a valve seat positioned within the fitting and a stopper positioned within a valve passageway defined by the valve seat, the stopper being movable between an open position and a closed position, and a biasing device positioned between the stopper of the first fitting and the stopper of the second fitting, the biasing device biasing at least one of the stoppers in an open position under normal flow conditions.

20. The fluid flow control valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the first fitting is an elbow fitting.

21. The fluid flow control valve assembly of claim 20, wherein the second fitting is an elbow fitting.

22. The fluid flow control valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the biasing device is a spring.

23. The fluid flow control valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the biasing device biases the stopper of the second valve in the open position under normal flow conditions, and additionally comprising a support which prevents the biasing device from contacting the stopper of the first valve.

24. The fluid flow control valve assembly of claim 23, wherein the support comprises a basket.

25. The fluid flow control valve assembly of claim 23, wherein the support comprises a post.

26. A fluid flow control valve within a swing joint of an irrigation system comprising a first valve seat device and a second valve seat device, each valve seat device having a valve seat, a first stopper and a second stopper, the first stopper cooperating with the first valve seat and the second stopper cooperating with the second valve seat, each stopper having a valve element and a stem, the stem having a flared portion, the first stopper being located relative to the first valve seat device such that the flared portion of the stem is located on one side of the valve seat and the first valve element is located on the other side of the valve seat, and the second stopper being located relative to the second valve seat device such that the flared portion of the stem is located on one side of the valve seat and the second valve element is located on the other side of the valve seat, a first biasing device which prevents the first valve element from seating against the first valve seat under normal flow conditions, and a second biasing device which prevents the second valve element from seating against the second valve seat under normal flow conditions.

27. The fluid flow control valve of claim 26 additionally comprising a support which prevents the second biasing device from contacting the first valve element.

28. The fluid flow control valve of claim 27, wherein the support comprises a basket.

29. The fluid flow control valve of claim 26, wherein the first biasing device comprises a rod.

30. The fluid flow control valve of claim 26, wherein the second biasing device comprises a spring.