Fluid valve

• US 6,296,011 B1
• Filed: 04/14/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Esche, John C., Slothower, Erich D., OʼConnell, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/291,393
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 137/355.25, 251/114, 251/239, 251/240, 239/583, 239/525, 239/530, 239/586
• US Class Current: 137/355.25
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4478 relating to handling of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/48 Automatic re-storing devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6951 Weighted

Abstract

A three position valve suitable for use in a trigger nozzle assembly is disclosed which is suitable for use in kitchen utensil rinsing areas has a valve housing with a bore, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A biased slidable member is positioned in the bore and provides for fluid flow between the fluid inlet and outlet when the valve is in a first position. High flow and stop flow positions are also provided upon compression of the trigger. The valve can be employed in conjunction with a combined spray and aerator head, as well as a hose take-up assembly.

Claims

1. A valve, comprising:

a valve body having an axial bore, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

a chamber in the valve body which can be brought into fluid communication with the fluid inlet and outlet;

a slidable member positioned in the axial bore and the chamber, the slidable member having a fluid passage therein;

biasing means constructed and arranged in conjunction with the slidable member to bias the slidable member towards a first outward position, the slidable member being held at the first outward position by the biasing means in the absence of an opposing force;

wherein when the slidable member is in the first outward position, a first low flow can be produced through the valve, when the slidable member is in a second partially outward position a higher flow can be produced through the valve and when the slidable member is in a third, further inward position flow through the valve is stopped.

2. The valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid passage of the slidable member is defined by an open ended spool.

3. The valve as defined in claim 1, further including a cap member connected to the valve body, the cap member having a cavity for receiving a portion of the slidable member.

4. The valve as defined in claim 1, wherein a valve seat is provided adjacent a junction of the axial bore and chamber by a shoulder portion and a surface of a passage.

5. The valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the biasing means is a spring.

6. The valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the slidable member is moved by a trigger member connected to the valve body.

7. The valve as defined in claim 6, wherein the fluid outlet is connected to a combined spray and aerator selector head.

8. The valve as defined in claim 6, wherein the combined spray and aerator selector head includes a rotatable disk having two pairs of ports positioned opposite each other.

9. The valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve body includes a trigger assembly connected to a flexible hose and the flexible hose is connected to a hose take-up assembly, comprising:

a pulley having a groove; and

a housing for rotatably guiding the pulley;

the hose being placed in a portion of the groove and the pulley being of sufficient weight to gravitationally pull the trigger assembly toward the end of a spout.

10. The valve as defined in claim 9, wherein the hose take-up housing has an enlarged cavity and the pulley includes flange portions for sliding therein.

11. The valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet is connected to a fluid conduit, fluid traveling through which is being controlled by a mixing valve.

12. A three position biased valve, comprising:

a valve body having an axial bore, an inlet and an outlet in communication with the bore;

a biased flow regulating member slidably positioned in the axial bore;

the axial bore and the biased flow regulating member being constructed and arranged to provide fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet when at a first position, at a second position a second flow rate is produced faster than the first flow rate, and at a third position flow is stopped;

the first, second and third positions being correlated with the biasing of the flow regulating member so that at the first position the biasing is at a least amount, at the third position, it is at a most amount and at the second position, it is biased to an amount between the least and most amounts;

wherein the flow regulating member is held in the first position in the absence of an opposing force.

13. The valve as defined in claim 12, where the biasing is produced by a spring member.