Water re-circulation valve
First Claim
1. A valve for use in a water recirculation system comprising a unitary body member including(a) an upstream end and an upstream portion disposed adjacent to the upstream end;
- (b) a downstream end and a downstream portion disposed adjacent to the downstream end;
(c) a middle portion disposed between the upstream portion and the downstream portion;
(d) a radially outwardly facing outer wall;
(e) a radially inwardly facing inner wall defining an axially extending passageway extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, and through the upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion of the body member, the axially extending passageway including a corresponding upstream end, downstream end, upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion;
(f) a controller port; and
(g) a flow limiter port in fluid communication with the axially extending passagewaya flow limiter valve disposed in the flow limiter port, the flow limiter valve extending into the axially extending passageway to cause fluid flowing through the axially extending passageway to flow through the flow limiter valve, the flow limiter valve including(a) a housing defining an exterior and an interior, the housing including at least one aperture to permit fluid to flow from the axially extending passageway into the interior of the passageway;
(b) an outflow aperture to permit fluid in the interior to flow back into the axially extending passageway, and(c) a closure member movable in relation to the outflow aperture, andwherein fluid pressure passing through the housing interior exerts force on the closure member to move the closure member toward the outflow aperture to reduce the effective area of the outflow aperture to thereby control the amount of fluid that can flow back into the axially extending passageway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve is provided for use in a domestic water re-circulation system The valve has a unitary body member that includes an upstream end and an upstream portion disposed adjacent to the upstream end. The body member also includes a downstream end and a downstream portion disposed adjacent to the downstream end; and a middle portion disposed between the upstream portion and the downstream portion. A radially outwardly facing outer wall and a radially upwardly facing inner wall exist. The radially inner facing wall defines an axially extending passageway extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, and through the upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion of the body. The axially extending passageway includes a corresponding upstream end, a downstream end, an upstream portion, a middle portion and a downstream portion. The body further includes a radially extending controller port and a radially extending flow limiter port in fluid communication with the axially extending passageway.
10 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A valve for use in a water recirculation system comprising a unitary body member including
(a) an upstream end and an upstream portion disposed adjacent to the upstream end; -
(b) a downstream end and a downstream portion disposed adjacent to the downstream end; (c) a middle portion disposed between the upstream portion and the downstream portion; (d) a radially outwardly facing outer wall; (e) a radially inwardly facing inner wall defining an axially extending passageway extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, and through the upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion of the body member, the axially extending passageway including a corresponding upstream end, downstream end, upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion; (f) a controller port; and (g) a flow limiter port in fluid communication with the axially extending passageway a flow limiter valve disposed in the flow limiter port, the flow limiter valve extending into the axially extending passageway to cause fluid flowing through the axially extending passageway to flow through the flow limiter valve, the flow limiter valve including (a) a housing defining an exterior and an interior, the housing including at least one aperture to permit fluid to flow from the axially extending passageway into the interior of the passageway; (b) an outflow aperture to permit fluid in the interior to flow back into the axially extending passageway, and (c) a closure member movable in relation to the outflow aperture, and wherein fluid pressure passing through the housing interior exerts force on the closure member to move the closure member toward the outflow aperture to reduce the effective area of the outflow aperture to thereby control the amount of fluid that can flow back into the axially extending passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A valve for use in a water recirculation system comprising
(1) a unitary body member including (a) an upstream end and an upstream portion disposed adjacent to the upstream end; -
(b) a downstream end and a downstream portion disposed adjacent to the downstream end; (c) a middle portion disposed between the upstream portion and the downstream portion; (d) a radially outwardly facing outer walk; (e) a radially inwardly facing inner wall defining an axially extending passageway extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, and through the upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion of the body member, the axially extending passageway including a corresponding upstream end, downstream end, upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion; (f) a radially extending controller port; and (g) a radially extending flow limiter port in fluid communication with the axially extending passageway; (2) a user-actuable valve member disposed in the downstream portion adjacent to the controller port; (3) a controller disposed in the controller port and mechanically coupled to the user-actuable valve member; (4) a flow limiter valve disposed in the flow limiter port, the flow limiter valve extending into the middle portion of the axially extending passageway to cause fluid flowing through the axially extending passageway to flow through the flow limiter valve;
the flow limiter valve including an outflow aperture and closure member, the outflow aperture comprising an elongated tapered aperture having a diameter that decreases at increasing distances from the closure member, the closure member being moveable in relation to the outflow aperture to control the flow of fluid through the aperture; and
a housing defining an interior and an exterior, the housing including at least one aperture to permit fluid to flow from the axially extending passageway into the interior of the housing and a spring coupled to the closure member for biasing the closure member away from the outflow aperturewherein fluid pressure passing through the housing aperture exerts force on the closure member to move the closure member toward the outflow aperture to reduce the effective area of the outflow aperture through which fluid can pass into the axially extending passageway. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A valve for use in a water recirculation system comprising
(1) a unitary body member including (a) an upstream end and an upstream portion disposed adjacent to the upstream end; -
(b) a downstream end and a downstream portion disposed adjacent to the downstream end; (c) a middle portion disposed between the upstream portion and the downstream portion; (d) a radially outwardly facing outer wall; (e) a radially inwardly facing inner wall defining an axially extending passageway extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, and through the upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion of the body member, the axially extending passageway including a corresponding upstream end, downstream end, upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion; (f) a radially extending controller port; and (g) a radially extending flow limiter port in fluid communication with the axially extending passageway; (2) a user-actuable valve member disposed in the downstream portion adjacent to the controller port and a controller disposed in the controller port and mechanically coupled to the user-actuable valve member; (3) a one-way valve disposed in the axially extending passageway in the upstream portion, the one-way valve being configured for permitting fluid to flow into, but not out of, the upstream end of the axially extending passageway; and (4) an adaptor member having an axially extending wall portion defining an interior passageway configured for receiving the one-way valve, and an exterior surface sized and configured for being received in the upstream portion of the axially extending passageway. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A valve for use in a water recirculation system comprising
(1) a unitary body member including (a) an upstream end and an upstream portion disposed adjacent to the upstream end; -
(b) a downstream end and a downstream portion disposed adjacent to the downstream end; (c) a middle portion disposed between the upstream portion and the downstream portion; (d) a radially outwardly facing outer wall including a threaded portion adjacent to the upstream end; (e) a radially inwardly facing inner wall defining an axially extending passageway extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, and through the upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion of the body member, the axially extending passageway including a corresponding upstream end, downstream end, upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion; (f) a radially extending controller port; and (g) a radially extending flow limiter port in fluid communication with the axially extending passageway; (2) a user-actuable valve member disposed in the downstream portion adjacent to the controller port and a controller disposed in the controller port and mechanically coupled to the user-actuable valve member; (3) a flow limiter valve disposed in the flow limiter port, the flow limiter valve extending into the middle portion of the axially extending passageway to cause fluid flowing through the axially extending passageway to flow through the flow limiter valve; (4) a one-way valve disposed in the axially extending passageway in the upstream portion, the one-way valve being configured for permitting fluid to flow into, but not out of, the upstream end of the axially extending passageway; (5) a tail piece configured for being coupled to another connector, the tail piece including a radially outwardly extending flange portion; and (6) a nut member having a threaded radially inwardly facing surface for threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the body member, and a radially inwardly extending lip portion for engaging the radially outwardly extending flange of the tail piece.
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21. A valve for use in a water recirculation system comprising
a unitary body member including (a) an upstream end and an upstream portion disposed adjacent to the upstream end; -
(b) a downstream end and a downstream portion disposed adjacent to the downstream end; (c) a middle portion disposed between the upstream portion and the downstream portion; (d) a radially outwardly facing outer wall; (e) a radially inwardly facing inner wall defining an axially extending passageway extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, and through the upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion of the body member, the axially extending passageway including a corresponding upstream end, downstream end, upstream portion, middle portion and downstream portion; (f) a radially extending controller port; and (g) a radially extending flow limiter port in fluid communication with the axially extending passageway; a flow limiter valve disposed in the flow limiter port, the flow limiter valve extending into the middle portion of the axially extending passageway to cause fluid flowing through the axially extending passageway to flow through the flow limiter valve, the flow limiter valve including a housing defining an exterior and an interior, the housing including at least one aperture to permit fluid to flow from the axially extending passageway into the interior of the passageway; an outflow aperture to permit fluid in the interior to flow back into the axially extending passageway, a closure member movable in relation to the outflow aperture, and a spring coupled to the closure member for biasing the closure member away from the outflow aperture, wherein fluid pressure passing through the housing aperture exerts force on the closure member to move the closure member toward the outflow aperture to reduce the effective area of the outflow aperture to thereby control the amount of fluid that can flow back into the axially extending passageway.
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Specification