Coupler and valve assembly

• US 6,474,363 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Perry Stephenson
• Original Assignee: Perry Stephenson
• Inventors: Stephenson, Perry
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US09/822,145
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 137/883, 137/887, 251/315.14
• US Class Current: 137/883
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/207 with two handles or actuating mechanisms at opposite sides of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/0002 Means for connecting central heating radiators to circulation pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/0075 Valves for isolating the radiator from the system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87909 Containing rotary valve

Abstract

A coupler and valve assembly for installing hydronic heating systems. The coupler and valve assembly includes a T-shaped tubular member including an elongate cross portion having open ends and a first channel being disposed therethrough, and also including a branch portion being attached to said elongate cross portion and having an open end and a second channel being disposed therethrough and being connected to the first channel; and also includes a valve assembly being disposed in the first channel and including a pair of valve members and a pair of valve stems.

Claims

1. A coupler and valve assembly comprising:

a T-shaped tubular member including an elongate cross portion having open ends and a first channel being disposed therethrough, and also including a branch portion being attached to said elongate cross portion and having an open end and a second channel being disposed therethrough and being connected to said first channel;

a valve assembly being disposed in said first channel and including a pair of valve members and a pair of valve stems;

wherein said T-shaped tubular member further includes boss portions being disposed in a side wall of said elongate cross portion;

each of said loss portions having a bore, and

wherein each of said bores of said boss portions has an annular recessed portion thus forming a ledge therein, and also has an annular groove disposed in a wall of said annular recessed portion.

2. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 1, wherein each of said boss portions of said T-shaped tubular member has a bore extending therethrough and into said first channel.

3. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 2, wherein said valve assembly further includes O-ring members being disposed in said bores of said boss portions and being disposed upon said ledges formed in said boss portions, and also includes seal members being disposed in said first channel.

4. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 3, wherein each of said valve members is generally a round body having a bore extending laterally therethrough, said round body further having a slot disposed in a top thereof, said valve members being rotatably disposed in said first channel and being in alignment with said bores of said boss portions.

5. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 4, wherein each of said valve stems includes a cylindrical member having a diametrically-disposed slot in a top end thereof and also having an annular flange extending thereabout and being received in said annular groove in said bore of a respective said boss portion with said top end of said cylindrical member being exposed externally of said bore, each of said valve stems also including an extension member being extended from a bottom end of said cylindrical member and being received in said slot of a respective said round body.

6. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 3, wherein each of said seal members is a disk having a wall, an opening through said wall, and also having an annular beveled depression in a side of said wall and about said opening.

7. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 6, wherein said seal member includes pairs of said seal members being diametrically-disposed about said valve members, said valve members being seated in said annular beveled depressions of said seal members to prevent leakage about said valve members.

8. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said T-shaped tubular member is threaded about exteriors of said ends of said elongate cross portion and said branch portion.

9. A coupler and valve assembly comprising:

a T-shaped tubular member including an elongate cross portion having open ends and a first channel being disposed therethrough, and also including a branch portion being attached to said elongate cross portion and having an open end and a second channel being disposed therethrough and being connected to said first channel;

a valve assembly being disposed in said first channel and including a pair of valve members and a pair of valve stems;

wherein said T-shaped tubular member further includes boss portions being disposed in a side wall of said elongate cross portion, each of said boss portions having a bore extending therethrough and into said first channel; and

wherein each of said bores of said boss portions has an annular recessed portion thus forming a ledge therein, and also has an annular groove disposed in a wall of said annular recessed portion.

10. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 9, wherein said T-shaped tubular member is threaded about exteriors of said ends of said elongate cross portion and said branch portion.

11. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 9, wherein said valve assembly further includes O-ring members being disposed in said bores of said boss portions and being disposed upon said ledges formed in said boss portions, and also includes seal members being disposed in said first channel.

12. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 11, wherein each of said valve members is generally a round body having a bore extending laterally therethrough, said round body further having a slot disposed in a top thereof, said valve members being rotatably disposed in said first channel and being in alignment with said bores of said boss portions.

13. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 12, wherein each of said valve stems includes a cylindrical member having a diametrically-disposed slot in a top end thereof and also having an annular flange extending thereabout and being received in said annular groove in said bore of a respective said boss portion with said top end of said cylindrical member being exposed externally of said bore, each of said valve stems also including an extension member being extended from a bottom end of said cylindrical member and being received in said slot of a respective said round body.

14. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 11, wherein each of said seal members is a disk having a wall, an opening through said wall, and also having an annular beveled depression in a side of said wall and about said opening.

15. A coupler and valve assembly as described in claim 14, wherein said seal member includes pairs of said seal members being diametrically-disposed about said valve members, said valve members being seated in said annular beveled depressions of said seal members to prevent leakage about said valve members.

16. A coupler and valve assembly comprising:

a T-shaped tubular member including an elongate cross portion having open ends and a first channel being disposed therethrough, and also including a branch portion being attached to said elongate cross portion and having an open end and a second channel being disposed therethrough and being connected to said first channel, said T-shaped tubular member further including boss portions being disposed in a side wall of said elongate cross portion, each of said boss portions having a bore extending therethrough and into said first channel, each of said bores of said boss portions having an annular recessed portion thus forming a ledge therein, and also having an annular groove disposed in a wall of said annular recessed portion, said T-shaped tubular member being threaded about exteriors of said ends of said elongate cross portion and said branch portion; and

a valve assembly being disposed in said first channel and including a pair of valve members and a pair of valve stems, said valve assembly further including O-ring members being disposed in said bores of said boss portions and being disposed upon said ledges formed in said boss portions, and also including seal members being disposed in said first channel, each of said valve members being generally a round body having a bore extending laterally therethrough, said round body further having a slot disposed in a top thereof, said valve members being rotatably disposed in said first channel and being in alignment with said bores of said boss portions, each of said valve stems including a cylindrical member having a diametrically-disposed slot in a top end thereof and also having an annular flange extending thereabout and being received in said annular groove in said bore of a respective said boss portion with said top end of said cylindrical member being exposed externally of said bore, each of said valve stems also including an extension member being extended from a bottom end of said cylindrical member and being received in said slot of a respective said round body, each of said seal members being a disk having a wall, an opening through said wall, and also having an annular beveled depression in a side of said wall and about said opening, said seal member including pairs of said seal members being diametrically-disposed about said valve members, said valve members being seated in said annular beveled depressions of said seal members to prevent leakage about said valve members.