AUTOMATIC FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS

• US 20150114492A1
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry Pratt Company, LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Singer Valve Incorporated
• Inventors: Oksanen, Kari Juhani, Payot, Marc Norman Ferrer
• Granted Patent: US 9,298,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/487
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/10 with auxiliary valve for fluid operation of the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/105 using choking or throttling means to control the fluid operation of the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1245 with more than one valve
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/163 using membranes within the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/014 using sliding elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/03 with auxiliary non-electric power G05D7/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7758 Pilot or servo controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/776 Control by pressures across flow line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7762 Fluid pressure type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7764 Choked or throttled pressure type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7768 Pilot controls supply to pressure chamber

Abstract

A pilot valve assembly for use with a main valve apparatus coupled to a water pipe, includes a differential pilot valve apparatus, and first and second pilot valve apparatuses. An inlet of the differential pilot valve is coupled to a junction and an outlet is coupled to the first pilot valve apparatus. The differential pilot valve is responsive to a pressure differential to open the differential pilot valve apparatus for water to flow to the first pilot valve apparatus and to close the differential pilot valve apparatus to inhibit water flow to the first pilot valve apparatus. The first pilot valve apparatus is responsive to a first pressure to close the first pilot valve to reduce flow of water therethrough. The second pilot valve apparatus is coupled to the junction to facilitate flow of water through the second pilot valve apparatus when the second differential valve member is in an open position. The second pilot valve apparatus is responsive to a second pressure to close the second pilot valve apparatus to reduce flow of water therethrough.

Claims

1. An automatic flow control system for use with a main valve apparatus comprising a body having an inlet for coupling to a first end of a water pipe and an outlet for coupling to a second end of a water pipe, a main valve member disposed between the inlet and the outlet and moveable between a closed position in which flow of water through the main valve apparatus is inhibited and an open position to facilitate flow of water through the main valve apparatus, a main valve operator comprising a diaphragm or piston cooperating with the main valve member and the main valve body to provide a control chamber, the main valve operator responsive to control pressure in the control chamber to move the main valve member between the closed position and the open position, and a restriction mechansim disposed between the first end of the water pipe and the second end of the water pipe for creating a pressure differential, the automatic flow control system comprising:

a junction including an inlet port for fluid communication with the inlet of the main valve apparatus by an inlet conduit, a control port for fluid communication with a control chamber of the main valve apparatus by a control conduit, and a pilot port;

a pilot valve assembly comprising;

a differential pilot valve apparatus including a differential valve inlet coupled to the pilot port of the junction, a differential valve outlet, and a differential valve member disposed between the differential valve inlet and the differential valve outlet, the differential pilot valve apparatus responsive to the pressure differential to move the differential valve member between an open position in which water flows from the differential valve inlet to the differential valve outlet and a closed position in which water flow from the differential valve inlet to the differential valve outlet is inhibited;

a first pilot valve apparatus including a first pilot valve inlet coupled to the differential valve outlet, a first pilot valve outlet, and a first pilot valve member disposed between the first pilot valve inlet and the first pilot valve outlet, the first pilot valve outlet coupled to the second end of the water pipe to facilitate flow of water from the differential valve outlet, through the first pilot valve apparatus, to the second end of the water pipe when the differential valve member is in an open position, the first pilot valve apparatus being responsive to a first pressure to close the first pilot valve member to reduce flow of water through the first pilot valve apparatus;

a second pilot valve apparatus including a second pilot valve inlet coupled to the junction, a second pilot valve outlet, and a second pilot valve member, the second pilot valve outlet coupled to the second end of the water pipe to facilitate flow of water from the junction, through the second pilot valve apparatus, to the second end of the water pipe when the second differential valve member is in an open position, the second pilot valve apparatus being responsive to a second pressure to close the second pilot valve member to reduce flow of water through the first pilot valve apparatus,

wherein the first pressure differs from the second pressure.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the differential pilot valve apparatus comprises a body including the differential valve inlet and the differential valve outlet, a differential diaphragm dividing an interior of the body into a first pilot chamber and second pilot chamber, the differential valve member being coupled to the differential diaphragm and moveable therewith in response to a change in the difference in pressure between the first pilot chamber and the second pilot chamber.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the differential valve member is normally closed to inhibit fluid flow through the differential pilot valve apparatus.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein, in response to an increase in the pressure differential, the differential valve member is configured to move from a closed position to an open position to direct fluid through the differential pilot valve apparatus, to the first pilot valve apparatus.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein, in response to a decrease in the pressure differential, the differential valve member is configured to move from an open position to a closed position.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein, in response to an increase in pressure in the second end of the water pipe, the second pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus is configured to close.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus is configured to close at a lower pressure than the first pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus.

9. A pilot valve assembly comprising:

a differential pilot valve apparatus including a differential valve inlet for coupling to a junction, a differential valve outlet, and a differential valve member disposed between the differential valve inlet and the differential valve outlet, the differential pilot valve apparatus responsive to a pressure differential to move the differential valve member between an open position for the flow of fluid from the differential valve inlet to the differential valve outlet and a closed position in which fluid flow from the differential valve inlet to the differential valve outlet is inhibited;

a first pilot valve apparatus including a first pilot valve inlet coupled to the differential valve outlet, a first pilot valve outlet, and a first pilot valve member disposed between the first pilot valve inlet and the first pilot valve outlet, to facilitate flow of fluid from the differential valve outlet, to the first pilot valve outlet when the differential valve member is in an open position, the first pilot valve apparatus being responsive to a first pressure to close the first pilot valve member to reduce flow of water through the first pilot valve apparatus;

a second pilot valve apparatus including a second pilot valve inlet for coupling to the junction, a second pilot valve outlet, and a second pilot valve member, to facilitate flow of water from the junction, through the second pilot valve apparatus when the second differential valve member is in an open position, the second pilot valve apparatus being responsive to a second pressure to close the first pilot valve member to reduce flow of water through the second pilot valve apparatus.

10. The pilot valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein the differential pilot valve apparatus comprises a body including the differential valve inlet and the differential valve outlet, a differential diaphragm dividing an interior of the body into a first pilot chamber and second pilot chamber, the differential valve member being coupled to the differential diaphragm and moveable therewith in response to a change in the difference in pressure between the first pilot chamber and the second pilot chamber.

11. The pilot valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure.

12. The pilot valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein the differential valve member is normally closed to inhibit fluid flow through the differential pilot valve apparatus.

13. The pilot valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein, in response to an increase in pressure differential, the differential valve member is configured to move from a closed position to an open position to direct fluid through the differential pilot valve apparatus, to the first pilot valve apparatus.

14. The pilot valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein, in response to a decrease in pressure differential, the differential valve member is configured to move from an open position to a closed position.

15. The pilot valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein, in response to an increase in pressure in the second pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus, the second pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus is configured to close.

16. The pilot valve assembly according to claim 9, wherein the second pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus is configured to close at a lower pressure than the first pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus.

17. An automatic flow control system comprising:

a main valve apparatus comprising a body having an inlet for coupling to a first end of a water pipe and an outlet for coupling to a second end of a water pipe, a main valve member disposed between the inlet and the outlet and moveable between a closed position in which flow of water through the main valve apparatus is inhibited and an open position to facilitate flow of water through the main valve apparatus, a main valve operator comprising a diaphragm or piston cooperating with the main valve member and the main valve body to provide a control chamber, the main valve operator responsive to control pressure in the control chamber to move the main valve member between the closed position and the open position;

a restriction mechansim disposed between the first end of the water pipe and the second end of the water pipe for creating a differential pressure, the automatic flow control system comprising;

a junction including an inlet port for fluid communication with the inlet of the main valve apparatus by an inlet conduit, a control port for fluid communication with a control chamber of the main valve apparatus by a control conduit, and a pilot port;

a pilot valve assembly comprising;

a differential pilot valve apparatus including a differential valve inlet coupled to the pilot port of the junction, a differential valve outlet, and a differential valve member disposed between the differential valve inlet and the differential valve outlet, the differential pilot valve apparatus responsive to the pressure differential to move the differential valve member between an open position in which water flows from the differential valve inlet to the differential valve outlet and a closed position in which water flow from the differential valve inlet to the differential valve outlet is inhibited;

a first pilot valve apparatus including a first pilot valve inlet coupled to the differential valve outlet, a first pilot valve outlet, and a first pilot valve member disposed between the first pilot valve inlet and the first pilot valve outlet, the first pilot valve outlet coupled to the second end of the water pipe to facilitate flow of water from the differential valve outlet, through the first pilot valve apparatus, to the second end of the water pipe when the differential valve member is in an open position, the first pilot valve apparatus being responsive to a first pressure to close the first pilot valve member to reduce flow of water through the first pilot valve apparatus;

a second pilot valve apparatus including a second pilot valve inlet coupled to the junction, a second pilot valve outlet, and a second pilot valve member, the second pilot valve outlet coupled to the second end of the water pipe to facilitate flow of water from the junction, through the second pilot valve apparatus, to the second end of the water pipe when the second differential valve member is in an open position, the second pilot valve apparatus being responsive to a second pressure to close the first pilot valve member to reduce flow of water through the second pilot valve apparatus,

wherein the first pressure differs from the second pressure.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the differential pilot valve apparatus comprises a body including the differential valve inlet and the differential valve outlet, a differential diaphragm dividing an interior of the body into a first pilot chamber and second pilot chamber, the differential valve member being coupled to the differential diaphragm and moveable therewith in response to a change in the difference in pressure between the first pilot chamber and the second pilot chamber.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the differential valve member is normally closed to inhibit fluid flow through the differential pilot valve apparatus.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein, in response to an increase in pressure differential, the differential valve member is configured to move from a closed position to an open position to direct fluid through the differential pilot valve apparatus, to the first pilot valve apparatus.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein, in response to a decrease in the pressure differential, the differential valve member is configured to move from an open position to a closed position.

23. The system according to claim 17, wherein, in response to an increase in the pressure in the second end of the water pipe, the second pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus is configured to close.

24. The system according to claim 17, wherein the second pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus is configured to close at a lower pressure than the first pressure-reducing pilot valve apparatus.