Float valve

• US 6,450,196 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gaap Gas Controls, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gaap Gas Controls, LLC
• Inventors: Grewal, Harsharan, Bartos, Josef A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US09/899,791
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 137/413, 137/414, 137/430, 137/446, 141/198
• US Class Current: 137/414
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/34 acting on pilot valve controlling the cut-off apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/385 the fluid acting on a diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7374 Flexible diaphragm valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7426 Float co-axial with valve or port
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7478 With interposed cam, gear or threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7488 Ball valves

Abstract

A liquid level responsive shut-off valve for filling a tank, such as a toilet water tank, comprises a valve housing having an inlet passageway for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, an outlet passageway opening into the tank, and a diaphragm actuated valve element having open and closed positions respectively opening and closing the inlet passageway to the flow of liquid therethrough to said outlet passageway and the tank. A float and lever operated ball valve element controls operation of the diaphragm actuated valve element in accordance with the liquid level in the tank.

Claims

1. A liquid level responsive flow control valve comprising a valve housing having a first end and an inlet passageway at said first end for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, said inlet passageway having an axis and an outlet end transverse to said axis, a diaphragm actuated valve element coaxial with said axis for opening and closing said outlet end, said housing including an outlet passageway laterally adjacent said downstream end for the flow of liquid from said housing when said outlet end of said inlet passageway is open, said diaphragm actuated valve element having a first side facing said outlet end of said inlet passageway and a second side opposite said first side, said housing including a liquid chamber on said second side coaxial with said axis and an outlet port laterally offset from said axis for the flow of liquid in said chamber from said housing, said diaphragm actuated valve element including a flow passageway between said first and second sides and having an inlet end in flow communication with said inlet passageway and an outlet end in flow communication with said liquid chamber, said housing having a second end spaced from said first end, a float retainer mounted on said second end of said housing coaxial with said axis and providing a float chamber having an inner end adjacent said second end of said housing, a tubular float member in said float chamber having an upper end facing said second end of said housing and having a lower end spaced from said upper end, a float operated lever having a first end pivotally mounted on said second end of said housing, said lever extending laterally in said float chamber between said upper end of said float member and said inner end of said float chamber and having a second end in sliding engagement with said upper end of said float, and a lever operated ball valve element in said second end of said valve housing overlying and engaging said first end of said lever, said fiat end having a surface operable in response to the position of said float in said float chamber to displace said ball valve element between open and closed positions for respectively opening and closing said outlet port to the flow of liquid from said liquid chamber through said outlet port, said ball valve element being in said closed position when said float is in a predetermined upper position in said float chamber, and said ball valve element being in said open position when said float descends from said upper position.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said upper end of said float member is closed and said lower end is open.

3. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said float is made of nylon.

4. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said second end of said housing is cylindrical and includes a radially outwardly open peripheral recess, said float retainer being cylindrical and having an upper end including circumferentially spaced apart fingers received in said recess, and the spaces between said fingers providing a portion of said outlet port.

5. A valve according to claim 4, wherein said valve housing includes first and second valve body members, said second body member including said peripheral recess, and said first body member including a peripheral skirt portion axially overlying said recess and engaging said fingers in said recess.

6. A valve according to claim 5, wherein said upper end of said float member is closed and said lower end is open.

7. A valve according to claim 4, wherein said float is made of nylon.

8. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said valve housing includes first and second valve body members, said second body member including a lower end providing said second end of said valve housing, said lower end including a ball valve recess opening toward said inner end of said float chamber and having a recess axis parallel to and laterally offset from said axis of said inlet passageway, a recess port between said recess and said liquid chamber coaxial with said recess axis and providing a portion of said outlet port, said ball valve element being in said recess and displaceable therein by said lever to open and close said recess port.

9. A valve according to claim 8, wherein said lower end of said second body member includes lever mounting blocks extending into said inner end of said float chamber on laterally opposite sides of said ball valve recess, said lever being between said mounting blocks and having said first end pivotally secured thereto by a pivot pin underlying said ball valve recess.

10. A valve according to claim 8, wherein said second end of said housing is cylindrical and includes a radially outwardly open peripheral recess, said float retainer being cylindrical and having an upper end including circumferentially spaced apart fingers received in said recess, and the spaces between said fingers providing a portion of said outlet port.

11. A valve according to claim 10, wherein said second body member includes said peripheral recess and said first body member includes a peripheral skirt axially overlying said recess and engaging said fingers in said recess.

12. A valve according to claim 11, wherein said lower end of said second body member includes lever mounting blocks extending into said inner end of said float chamber on laterally opposite sides of said ball valve recess, said lever being between said mounting blocks and having said first end pivotally secured thereto by a pivot pin underlying said ball valve recess.