Switch valve unit, fluid switch and kit of fluid switches

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337641-B2
Application number	US-201715649935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2017
Priority date	Jul 27, 2016
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a switch valve unit, a fluid switch, and a fluid switch assembly. The switch valve unit comprises a valve seat which defines a valve cavity having an open bottom end port; an at least partially axially deformable diaphragm member which is mounted in the valve cavity to divide the valve cavity into an upper cavity portion and a lower cavity portion, and provided with a first hole and a second hole spaced from each other and providing fluid communication between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion; a button axially movably mounted on the valve seat; and a valve rod assembly connected to the button so as to follow the movement of the button, extending through the valve seat and into the upper cavity portion, and having a first position to seal the first hole and a second position to depart from the second first hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A switch valve unit, comprising:
a valve house to define a valve cavity having an open bottom end port;
an at least partially axially deformable diaphragm member which is mounted in the valve cavity to divide the valve cavity into an upper cavity portion and a lower cavity portion, and provided with a first hole and a second hole spaced from each other for providing fluid communication between the upper cavity portion and the lower cavity portion;
a button axially movably mounted on the valve house; and
a valve rod assembly connected to the button so as to follow the movement of the button, extending through the valve house and into the upper cavity portion, and having a first position in which the first hole is sealed and a second position in which the valve rod assembly is disengaged from the first hole,
wherein the valve house at the top thereof includes a central protrusion, and a surrounding wall surrounding the central protrusion, and defined between the central protrusion and the surrounding wall is a receiving space for receiving the button, wherein the central protrusion and/or the surrounding wall comprise at least one vertical ridge and/or at least one vertical groove, and the button comprises at least one corresponding vertical ridge and/or vertical groove, and arranged between the button and the valve house is a third spring;
wherein the valve house comprises:
a first house body;
a second house body releasably mounted on the first house body and defining the valve cavity together with the first house boy;
a third house body releasably mounted on the second house body and supporting at least a portion of the valve rod assembly; and
a fourth house body configured to cover over the second house body and the third house boy, connected to the first house body, and having a step in axial backstop cooperation with the third house body, wherein the central protrusion and the surrounding wall are defined by the fourth house body.

2. The switch valve unit of claim 1 , further comprising a spring means arranged in the upper cavity portion between the diaphragm member and the valve house.

3. The switch valve unit of claim 2 , wherein the spring means comprises a first spring, and a second spring sleeving over the first spring.

4. The switch valve unit of claim 3 , wherein the second spring comprises a puncturing member configured to extend into the second hole and move in respect of the diaphragm member.

5. The switch valve unit of claim 1 , further comprising a cover member mounted on the button.

6. The switch valve unit of claim 5 , wherein provided between the cover member and the button are a snap-fit means formed by cooperation between an expansion portion and a snap jaw, and an anti-rotation means formed by cooperation between the at least one vertical ridge and the at least one vertical groove.

7. A switch valve unit of claim 1 , comprising:
a cover member mounted on the button, wherein provided between the cover member and the button are an anti-rotation means and a snap-fit means.

8. The switch valve unit of claim 7 , wherein the snap-fit means comprises:
an expansion portion formed on the cover member and
a snap member formed on the button and provided with an axial-extending cantilever and a snap jaw at a free end of the cantilever.

9. The switch valve unit of claim 7 , wherein the anti-rotation means comprises:
formed on the cover member, first vertical ridges and first vertical grooves between the first vertical ridges; and
formed on the button, second vertical ridges and second vertical grooves between the second vertical ridges, wherein the first vertical ridges are configured to be received in the second vertical grooves, and the second vertical ridges are configured to be received in the first vertical grooves.

10. The switch valve unit of claim 7 , wherein the snap-fit means and the anti-rotation means are circumferentially spaced.

11. A fluid switch comprising:
at least one pipe joint having an outer wall and an inner wall that defines a central cavity, wherein an annular cavity is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall; and
the switch valve unit of claim 1 , wherein the valve house is received in the pipe joint, the central cavity is in fluid communication with the first hole, and the annular cavity is in fluid communication with the second hole.

12. The fluid switch of claim 11 , wherein the at least one pipe joint comprises an inflow passage in fluid communication with the annular cavity, and an outflow passage in fluid communication with the central cavity.

13. The fluid switch of claim 12 , wherein the inflow passage extends in a radial direction of the inner wall.

14. The fluid switch of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the inflow passage extends in an axial direction of the inner wall.

15. The fluid switch of claim 12 , wherein the outflow passage coaxially extends with the inner wall.

16. The fluid switch of claim 12 , wherein the outflow passage extends in an axial direction of the inner wall, and is offset from the inner wall axially.

17. The fluid switch of claim 12 , wherein the outflow passage extends in a radial direction of the inner wall.

18. A kit of fluid switches comprising:
the switch valve unit of claim 1 ; and
a pipe joint for mounting with the switch valve unit, wherein the pipe joint is selected from at least one of the following groups:
a. a first pipe joint having an outer wall and an inner wall that defines a central cavity in fluid communication with a first hole, wherein an annular cavity in fluid communication with a second hole is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the outer wall is integral with an inflow passage extending in a radial direction of the inner wall and in fluid communication with the annular cavity, and an outflow passage coaxially extending with the inner wall and in fluid communication with the central cavity;
b. a second pipe joint having an outer wall and an inner wall that defines a central cavity in fluid communication with a first hole, wherein an annular cavity in fluid communication with a second hole is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the outer wall is integral with an inflow passage extending in a radial direction of the inner wall and in fluid communication with the annular cavity, and an outflow passage extending in the radial direction of the inner wall and in fluid communication with the central cavity;
c. a third pipe joint having an outer wall and an inner wall that defines a central cavity in fluid communication with a first hole, wherein an annular cavity in fluid communication with a second hole is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the outer wall is integral with an inflow passage at least partially extending in an axial direction of the inner wall and in fluid communication with the annular cavity, and an outflow passage extending in a radial direction of the inner wall and in fluid communication with the central cavity; and
d. a fourth pipe joint having an outer wall and an inner wall that defines a central cavity in fluid communication with a first hole, wherein an annular cavity in fluid communication with a second hole is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the outer wall is integral with an inflow passage extending in an axial direction of the inner wall and in fluid communication with the annular cavity, and an outflow passage axially offset from the inner wall and in fluid communication with the central cavity.

Assignees

• Xiamen Lota Int Co Ltd
• La Vida Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ye Liming
• Zhou Jianping
• Bai shuanglin

Classifications

• F16K27/0236

  Diaphragm cut-off apparatus · CPC title

• F16K7/17 Primary

  the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure · CPC title

• F16K47/023

  for preventing water-hammer, e.g. damping of the valve movement · CPC title

• F16K31/52491

  comprising a diaphragm cut-off apparatus · CPC title

• F16K31/145

  the fluid acting on a diaphragm · CPC title