Eccentric diaphragm valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A valve comprising:
- an inlet passage having an inlet end;
an outlet passage having an outlet end;
a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and outlet passage, the valve seat having a first vertical axis;
an inlet chamber about the valve seat, the inlet chamber having a second vertical axis parallel to and offset from the first vertical axis, the first vertical axis being closer to the outlet end than the second vertical axis;
a diaphragm configured to engage the valve seat;
a control chamber disposed on an opposite side of the diaphragm from the valve seat and being in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and
the first and second vertical axes are offset from one another a predetermined distance so that a first portion of the diaphragm closer to the inlet end lifts vertically off of the valve seat higher than a second portion of the diaphragm closer to the outlet end at least initially as the valve opens.
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Abstract
An irrigation valve has a valve body with an inlet passage, an outlet passage, and a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and the outlet passage. A diaphragm includes a valve seat engaging portion that cooperates with the valve seat to control flow through the valve. The valve seat and the valve seat engaging portion of the diaphragm are offset relative to the inlet passage to improve flow through the valve to reduce pressure and energy loss.
370 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A valve comprising:
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an inlet passage having an inlet end; an outlet passage having an outlet end; a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and outlet passage, the valve seat having a first vertical axis; an inlet chamber about the valve seat, the inlet chamber having a second vertical axis parallel to and offset from the first vertical axis, the first vertical axis being closer to the outlet end than the second vertical axis; a diaphragm configured to engage the valve seat; a control chamber disposed on an opposite side of the diaphragm from the valve seat and being in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and the first and second vertical axes are offset from one another a predetermined distance so that a first portion of the diaphragm closer to the inlet end lifts vertically off of the valve seat higher than a second portion of the diaphragm closer to the outlet end at least initially as the valve opens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An irrigation valve, comprising:
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a valve body having a valve component with an inlet passage, having an inlet end, an outlet passage having an outlet end, and a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and the outlet passage, the valve seat extending at least substantially horizontal; a diaphragm having an outer perimeter and a thickened portion within the outer perimeter, the diaphragm arranged to engage and disengage the valve seat, the thickened portion having a first center point, the diaphragm having a second center point relative to the outer perimeter, the first center point being closer to the outlet end than the second center point; a control chamber disposed on an opposite side of the diaphragm from the valve seat and being in fluid communication with the inlet passage; and the first center point being offset from the second center point by a predetermined distance so that a first portion of the diaphragm closer to the inlet vertically off of the valve seat higher than a second portion of the diaphragm closer to the outlet end at least initially as the valve opens. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An irrigation valve comprising:
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an inlet passage; an outlet passage; a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and the outlet passage, the valve seat extending at least substantially horizontal and defining a first center point; an upper rim about the valve seat and defining a second center point, the first center point being offset from the second center point; an annular wall having the valve seat thereon with the annular wall formed by an upwardly turned portion of the outlet passage; a projection extending upstream from the annular wall toward the inlet passage; a diaphragm configured to engage the valve seat; and a control chamber on an opposite side of the diaphragm from the valve seat, the fluid control chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet passage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A diaphragm for an irrigation valve comprising:
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an outer perimeter; a thickened portion within the outer perimeter and arranged to engage and disengage an at least substantially horizontally extending valve seat, the thickened portion having a first center point, the diaphragm having a second center point relative to the outer perimeter, the first center point being offset from the second center point; and a web interconnecting the thickened portion to the outer perimeter, the web having an inlet side portion and an opposite outlet side portion with the inlet side portion being thicker than the outlet side portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification