Quiet appliance water valve

• US 5,487,528 A
• Filed: 04/22/1993
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Richmond, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US08/051,136
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 251/30.03, 251/118, 251/120, 251/127, 138/42, 138/45
• US Class Current: 251/127
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/404 the discharge being effected through the diaphragm and being blockable by an electrically-actuated member making contact with the diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/08 for decreasing pressure or noise level and having a throttling member separate from the closure member , e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

A solenoid controlled, pilot actuated inlet water valve apparatus has an inlet connected to a residential water source pipe and an outlet connected to an appliance such as a dishwasher or clothes washing machine. The inlet water valve contains a flow control, a noise suppressor, a pilot valve controlled by an electrically operated armature, and a main valve composed of a diaphragm, diaphragm insert, valving surface and bleed passage. The noise suppressor is located downstream of the flow control and reduces water velocity by first radially dispersing incoming water to the periphery of the noise suppressor in a dispersion chamber. Next, water passes through passage holes located around the periphery of the noise suppressor into a recombining chamber with it is directed toward a central exit port. When water moves in the recombining chamber toward the central exit port, the water converges from different directions further reducing water velocity and noise caused by cavitation.

Claims

1. An appliance water valve, comprising:

(a) a valve body defining an inlet,, an outlet, and a valving cavity disposed between and communicating with the inlet and the outlet, and a valving surface between the inlet and the outlet;

(b) a main valve moveable to a position away from the valving surface for permitting flow from the inlet through the valving cavity to the outlet, and moveable to a position contacting the valving surface for preventing flow from the inlet through the valving cavity;

(c) a flow control located between the inlet and the valving cavity for providing a substantially constant rate of water flow; and

,

(d) means for reducing water flow noise, comprises;

(1) a dispersion chamber having passage holes placed downstream of the flow control which indirectly communicates with a central exit port for radially dispersing and accelerating water to the periphery of the dispersion chamber and into the passage holes decelerating water to decrease inlet water velocity,

(2) a recombining chamber downstream of the dispersion chamber communicating with the dispersion chamber and the valving cavity receiving water from the passage holes in the dispersion chamber to redirect and accelerate all water flow radially from the periphery of the recombining chamber inward toward the central exit port thus causing water flow from opposing directions to converge at the central exit port and decelerate thereby reducing water velocity.

2. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for reducing water flow noise reduces water flow noise without substantially affecting water flow.

3. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for reducing noise is accomplished by decreasing cavitation which reduces the collapse of cavities that crease noise.

4. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 3 wherein decreasing cavitation is accomplished by reducing water velocity and creating backpressure.

5. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a noise suppression bullet extending into the flow control to disperse and channel water into the dispersion chamber after flowing through the flow control.

6. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 1 wherein the passage holes in the dispersion chamber are placed around the periphery of the dispersion chamber to increase a water flow path.

7. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 2 wherein the dispersion chamber causes water flow to change directions and reduce velocity due to viscous friction and placing an object in the path of water flow to create back pressure.

8. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 1 wherein the reuniting chamber causes water flow received from the periphery of the dispersion chamber to be redirected toward a central exit port creating opposed velocity vectors that decrease water velocity upon entry into the central exit port.

9. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 1 wherein when water is received from the passage holes in the dispersion chamber into the recombining chamber the water makes about a 90 degree turn.

10. The appliance water valve as recited in claim 1 wherein when water moves from the recombining chamber into the central exit port, the water makes about a degree turn.