Valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10281049-B2
Application number	US-201715414878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2016
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A fluid control valve includes a body, a stem, a moveable disc, a stationary disc, and a valve seal. The stem is rotatably coupled to the body, and is configured to freely rotate three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the body. The moveable disc is coupled to the stem, and is configured to rotate with the stem. The stationary disc is coupled to the body below the moveable disc. The valve seal is coupled to the body below the stationary disc, and is reversible such that the valve seal is configured to be coupled to the body in at least two different orientations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid control valve comprising,
a body;
a stem rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the stem is configured to freely rotate three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the body;
a moveable disc coupled to the stem, wherein the moveable disc is configured to rotate with the stem;
a first stationary disc coupled to the body below the moveable disc; and
a second stationary disc coupled to the body below the first stationary disc;
wherein the first and second stationary discs are fixed relative to the body;
wherein the fluid control valve is configured to be biased in an axial direction within a valve body by an incoming supply of fluid through the first stationary disc and the second stationary disc;
wherein the first stationary disc includes one or more apertures disposed therein; and
wherein the second stationary disc includes one or more apertures disposed therein, and wherein the one or more apertures of the first stationary disc are substantially aligned with the respective one or more apertures of the second stationary disc.

2. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , further comprising a seal disposed around the stem, wherein the seal is configured to engage an inner portion of the body.

3. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , further comprising a seal disposed around an outer portion of the body, wherein the seal is configured to engage the valve body.

4. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , wherein the stem includes a protrusion, and wherein the moveable disc includes a receiving channel configured to receive the protrusion such that rotation of the stem results in corresponding rotation of the moveable disc.

5. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , wherein the body does not include any external threads.

6. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , wherein the fluid control valve is a bottom discharge valve.

7. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , wherein the moveable disc includes a recess for receiving a supply of fluid therein, and wherein the moveable disc is configured to prevent the supply of fluid from flowing through the moveable disc to the body and the stem.

8. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , wherein the body includes one or more slots, and wherein each of the first and second stationary discs includes one or more tabs configured to be received within the respective one or more slots such that the first and second stationary discs are fixed relative to the body.

9. The fluid control valve of claim 1 , wherein the stem is made from a polymeric material.

10. A fluid control valve comprising,
a body;
a stem rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the stem is configured to freely rotate three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the body;
a moveable disc coupled to the stem, wherein the moveable disc is configured to rotate with the stem;
a first stationary disc coupled to the body below the moveable disc; and
a second stationary disc coupled to the body below the first stationary disc;
wherein the fluid control valve is configured to be biased in an axial direction within a valve body by an incoming supply of fluid through the first stationary disc and the second stationary disc; and
wherein the body includes one or more slots, and wherein each of the first and second stationary discs includes one or more tabs configured to be received within the respective one or more slots such that the first and second stationary discs are fixed relative to the body.

11. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , wherein the body does not include any external threads.

12. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , wherein the fluid control valve is a bottom discharge valve.

13. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , wherein the moveable disc includes a recess for receiving a supply of fluid therein, and wherein the moveable disc is configured to prevent the supply of fluid from flowing through the moveable disc to the body and the stem.

14. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , wherein the first stationary disc includes one or more apertures disposed therein.

15. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , further comprising a seal disposed around the stem, wherein the seal is configured to engage an inner portion of the body.

16. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , further comprising a seal disposed around an outer portion of the body, wherein the seal is configured to engage the valve body.

17. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , wherein the stem includes a protrusion, and wherein the moveable disc includes a receiving channel configured to receive the protrusion such that rotation of the stem results in corresponding rotation of the moveable disc.

18. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , wherein the first stationary disc includes one or more apertures disposed therein, and wherein the second stationary disc includes one or more apertures disposed therein, and wherein the one or more apertures of the first stationary disc are substantially aligned with the respective one or more apertures of the second stationary disc.

19. The fluid control valve of claim 10 , wherein the stem is made from a polymeric material.

20. A fluid control valve for a faucet, comprising:
a body including a slot;
a stem rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the stem is configured to freely rotate three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the body;
a moveable disc coupled to the stem, wherein the moveable disc is configured to rotate with the stem;
a first stationary disc coupled to the body below the moveable disc, wherein the first stationary disc includes an aperture; and
a second stationary disc coupled to the body below the first stationary disc, wherein the second stationary disc includes an aperture that is substantially aligned with the aperture of the first stationary disc;
wherein the fluid control valve is configured to be biased in an axial direction within a valve body by an incoming supply of fluid through the first stationary disc and the second stationary disc; and
wherein each of the first and second stationary discs includes a tab configured to be received within the slot of the body such that the first and second stationary discs are fixed relative to the body.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Ritter David H
• Core Brian S

Classifications

• F16K31/602

  Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E03C1/04

  Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths (valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K) · CPC title

• F16K11/0743 Primary

  with both the supply and the discharge passages being on one side of the closure plates · CPC title

• F16K11/22

  with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves · CPC title

• Y10T137/6017

  Including removable valve head and seat unit · CPC title