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Pilot operated water conservation valve actuator

  • US 6,298,872 B1
  • Filed: 12/01/1999
  • Issued: 10/09/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A valve apparatus for control flow of fluid discharge from a pressurized fluid distribution system, where said valve apparatus is supplied with fluid via an incoming conduit supplying the fluid under pressure, said valve apparatus comprising:

  • (a) a primary valve, said primary valve comprising (i) an inlet, said inlet adapted to receive said fluid under pressure from said incoming conduit, (ii) an outlet, said outlet adapted to discharge said fluid to an outlet conduit;

    (iii) a diaphragm chamber, said chamber having a pilot portion and a working portion;

    (iv) a fluid pressure controlled primary diaphragm, said primary diaphragm located in said primary diaphragm chamber between said pilot portion and said working portion of said primary diaphragm chamber, said primary diaphragm having a pilot side and a working side, said working side of said primary diaphragm configured to engage (A) at least a portion of said inlet, and (B) said outlet, (v) and wherein said primary diaphragm is adapted to be responsive to fluid pressure to move between (A) an open position wherein fluid pressure from said inlet disengages said primary diaphragm from said outlet so that fluid is allowed from said inlet to said outlet and thence to outlet conduit; and

    (B) a closed position, wherein fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm forces said primary diaphragm to sealingly engage said outlet so that fluid is not allowed from said inlet to said outlet;

    (b) a bleed inlet line, said bleed inlet line having a first end and a second end, said first end hydraulically connected to said pilot portion of said primary diaphragm chamber;

    (c) a pilot valve, said pilot valve having (i) a bleed inlet, said bleed inlet hydraulically connected to said second end of said bleed inlet line from said pilot portion of said diaphragm chamber, (ii) a bleed outlet, (iii) a pressurizable fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir located between said bleed inlet and said bleed outlet, said fluid reservoir adapted to receive pressurized liquid from said bleed inlet line;

    (iv) a repositionable pilot diaphragm;

    (v) a plunger, said plunger adapted to displace said repositionable pilot diaphragm between (A) a normally closed position wherein said repositionable pilot diaphragm sealingly engages said bleed outlet to block escape of said pressurized fluid through said pilot valve, and (B) an open position, wherein said repositionable pilot diaphragm is displaced from said bleed outlet so as to open said bleed outlet for passage of fluid therethrough, so that said pressurized fluid from said pilot side of said primary diaphragm chamber is discharged through said pilot valve; and

    (d) an actuator, said actuator having an open position and a normally closed position, said actuator further is comprising (i) an operating link connected with said pilot valve, and (ii) a releasably securable lock, said lock manually operable to secure said actuator in said open position while actuation force is withdrawn from said actuator;

    (e) said actuator repositionable to the open position in response to movement of said actuator, so that upon repositioning of said actuator to said open position, said operating link causes the plunger of said pilot valve to reposition said pilot valve diaphragm from a normally closed position to an open position, thereby effecting the release of pressurized fluid out the bleed outlet and releasing fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm, to thereby cause said primary diaphragm to move to said open position.

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