Lavatory service shut-off valve

• US 7,331,365 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AeroControlex Group, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Transdigm Incorporated (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Khoa D.
• Application Number:
  US10/505,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20050081951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 251/65, 251298-303, 137/237, 137/238, 137/246, 137/448, 137/527, 137/434, 141/198, 141/199
• US Class Current: 141/198
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1821 for check valves with a hinged or pivoted closure member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/086 the magnet being movable and actuating a second magnet connected to the closing element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7439 Float arm operated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7485 Pivoted valve

Abstract

A shut off valve (10) is provided for use in an aircraft lavatory system (70) during maintenance sanitizing operations. The shut off valve includes an inlet passage (20) in intermittent fluid communication with an outlet passage (30) and a magnetic flapper body (40) movable between a rest position and a seal position between said inlet passage and said outlet passage. The flapper body is moved by a magnetic actuator (60) whereby upon placing said magnetic actuator within the proximity of the flapper body, the flapper body is moved form the rest position and, with the assistance of fluid flow within the valve, into the seal position, thus preventing fluid communication between the inlet passage and the outlet passage.

Claims

1. A shut off valve for regulating fluid flow comprising:

an inlet passage in intermittent fluid communication with an outlet passage;

a flapper body movable between a rest position and a seal position between said inlet passage and said outlet passage; and

an actuator that moves said flapper body from said rest position toward said seal position, wherein the actuator comprises a float adapted to change position based on a fluid level;

wherein said flapper body is positioned so that inlet fluid flow assists said actuator in moving said flapper body into said seal position; and

a bypass passage, in fluid communication with the outlet passage, that diverts a small portion of the fluid to rinse the actuator.

2. The shut off valve of claim 1 wherein said flapper body comprises a magnetic material.

3. The shut off valve of claim 1 wherein said flapper body is made from a non-magnetic material and includes one or more affixed magnets.

4. The shut off valve of claim 1 further including a reset device whereby when said actuator is not within the proximity of said flapper body, said flapper body is urged toward said rest position.

5. The shut off valve of claim 1 wherein said outlet passage further includes a check valve for preventing back flow.

6. The shut off valve of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a magnetic material.

7. The shut off valve of claim 6 further comprising a stationary electromagnet.

8. The shut off valve of claim 7 wherein the float is adapted to trigger the stationary electromagnet when the fluid level reaches a predetermined level.