Faucet valve system

• US 8,443,825 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lautzenheiser, Terry L., Godfrey, David O., Miles, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARSS, KEVIN R
• Application Number:
  US12/613,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20100116369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 137/110, 137/599.14, 137/599.15, 137/599.11, 137/87.01, 137/78.1, 137/495, 137/487.5, 137/505.14, 137/87.04, 137/544, 137/597, 137/594, 137/505.21, 137/505.22, 137/505.38, 137/494, 137/87.06
• US Class Current: 137/87.01
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2496 Self-proportioning or correlating systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7782 With manual or external control for line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86493 Multi-way valve unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87153 Plural noncommunicating flow paths
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A valve system enables use of a standard single line faucet with a water treatment system. The valve system may include a housing having ports for receiving untreated supply water, supplying water to a water treatment system, receiving treated water from the water treatment system and supplying treated water to a dispenser. The valve system includes an automatic shutoff device that prevents water from flowing into the water treatment system when the dispensing faucet is closed and allows water to flow into the water treatment system when the faucet is open. The valve system may include a pressure relief mechanism that removes pressure from the water treatment system when the faucet is closed and a check valve for maintaining a desired amount of pressure within the valve system.

Claims

1. A valve system for connecting a downstream fluid treatment device to a single line faucet comprising:

a housing;

a first inlet port on said housing for receiving supply fluid into the valve system;

a first outlet port on said housing in fluid communication with said first inlet port, said first outlet port for transmitting fluid out of the valve system to the downstream device;

a second inlet port on said housing for receiving fluid into the valve system from the downstream device;

a second outlet port on said housing for transmitting fluid out of the valve system to the single-line faucet; and

an automatic shutoff valve in said housing in fluid communication with said first inlet port, said first outlet port, said second inlet port, and said second outlet port, wherein said shutoff valve is automatically switched from an open position to a closed position and from said closed position to said open position as a function of a pressure differential between the first inlet port and the second outlet port, said open position allowing fluid flow through said first inlet port to said first outlet port, and through said second inlet port to said second outlet port, said closed position prohibiting fluid flow from said first inlet port to said second outlet port, the valve system including a switch that prohibits said shutoff valve from placement in said open position.

2. The valve system of claim 1 including a check valve in said housing adjacent said second inlet port.

3. The valve system of claim 2 including a pressure relief mechanism between said check valve and said second inlet port capable of reducing a first pressure within said second inlet port.

4. The valve system of claim 2 wherein said check valve is capable of allowing fluid flow from said second inlet port to said second outlet port, and prohibiting fluid flow from said second outlet port to said second inlet port.

5. The valve system of claim 1 including a plunger in said shutoff valve, said plunger capable of being switched between a first position and a second position, said first position allowing fluid flow through said first inlet port to said first outlet port, and through said second inlet port to said second outlet port, said second position preventing fluid flow from said first inlet port to said second outlet port, wherein said plunger is in said first position when the pressure differential is greater than a specified value.

6. The valve system of claim 5 wherein said shutoff valve includes at least one stabilizing member, said stabilizing member biasing said plunger toward said closed position.

7. A water treatment system comprising:

a water supply;

a water treatment device;

an input device; and

a valve system, including a first inlet port connected to said water supply for receiving supply fluid into said valve system, a first outlet port connected to said water treatment device for transmitting fluid out of said valve system to said water treatment device, a second inlet port connected to said water treatment device for receiving fluid into said valve system from said water treatment device, a second outlet port connected to said input device for transmitting fluid out of said valve system to said input device, and a shutoff valve in fluid communication with said first inlet port, said first outlet port, said second inlet port, and said second outlet port, wherein said shutoff valve is capable of automatically switching from an open position to a closed position and from said closed position to said open position as a function of a pressure differential between the first inlet port and the second outlet port, said open position allowing fluid flow from said first inlet port to said first outlet port and from said second inlet port to said second outlet port, said closed position prohibiting fluid flow from said first inlet port to said first outlet port, wherein the valve system includes a switch that prohibits said shutoff valve from placement in said open position.

8. The water treatment system of claim 7 wherein said valve system includes a check valve adjacent said second inlet port.

9. The water treatment system of claim 8 including a pressure relief mechanism between said check valve and said second inlet port and a first pressure within said second inlet port, wherein said pressure relief mechanism is capable of reducing said first pressure.

10. The water treatment system of claim 7 including a flow controller adjacent to said water treatment device that limits the amount of fluid flow into said water treatment device.

11. The water treatment system of claim 7 wherein said shutoff valve includes a plunger and at least one stabilizing member, said stabilizing member biasing said plunger toward said closed position.

12. The water treatment system of claim 7 wherein said shutoff valve is switched to said open position when said pressure differential is more than a specified value and said shutoff valve is switched to said closed position when said pressure differential is less than said specified value.