Vacuum operated valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10704244-B2
Application number	US-201615558507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2016
Priority date	Mar 12, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A fill valve with pressure chamber having an open bottom end and a diaphragm at a top end such that falling water level in the toilet tank causes the diaphragm to flex in a first direction, thereby moving a sealing member to an open position, with a venturi in the fill valve keeping the sealing member in the open position until water refilling the tank causes the diaphragm to flex in a second direction, thereby moving the sealing member back to the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve system, comprising:
(a) a water supply member;
(b) a valve assembly in communication with the water supply member, the valve assembly comprising:
(i) a sealing member moveable between an open position during which water flows through the valve assembly and a closed position during which water is prevented from flowing through the valve assembly,
(ii) a pressure chamber;
(iii) a first diaphragm in the pressure chamber, wherein the sealing member is mounted to the first diaphragm such that movement of the first diaphragm causes movement of the sealing member;
(iv) a second diaphragm in communication with the sealing member;
(v) a vacuum chamber between the first and second diaphragms; and
(vi) a venturi downstream of the moveable sealing member, wherein the sealing member has an air passageway therethrough from the venturi to the vacuum chamber.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) a cap over the valve assembly, the cap being dimensioned to direct water flow down around the outside of the hollow water supply member.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein water flowing through the venturi decreases air pressure in the vacuum chamber.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure chamber has an open end and a vent, and the open end is larger than the vent.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) a seal around the sealing member, the seal being positioned at the entrance of the venturi.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a decrease in air pressure in the pressure chamber causes the first diaphragm to move the sealing member to the open position during which water flows through the valve assembly.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the decrease in air pressure in the pressure chamber is caused by a falling water level around the pressure chamber.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein a decrease in air pressure in the vacuum chamber causes the first diaphragm to move the sealing member to the closed position during which water does not flow through the valve assembly.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the decrease in air pressure in the vacuum chamber is caused by water passing through the venturi, thereby drawing air out of the vacuum chamber as a rising water level blocks an entrance to a vent channel into the vacuum chamber.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly further comprises:
(c) an upper mount receiving the first diaphragm therein.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the upper mount is positioned at a top end of the pressure chamber.

12. A method of opening and closing a valve, comprising:
(a) decreasing air pressure in a pressure chamber, thereby deflecting a first diaphragm valve, wherein the first diaphragm valve is in communication with the pressure chamber;
(b) moving a sealing member in a valve assembly to an open position by deflecting the first diaphragm valve, wherein the sealing member is supported by the first diaphragm valve, thereby permitting water to flow through the valve;
(c) directing the water flow through a venturi in the valve, thereby drawing air into a vacuum chamber between the first diaphragm valve and a second diaphragm valve, thereby holding the sealing member in the open position; and then
(d) blocking an air vent into the vacuum chamber, thereby decreasing pressure in the vacuum chamber, thereby deflecting the first diaphragm valve, thereby moving the sealing member to a closed position, thereby preventing water from flowing through the valve.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the air pressure in the pressure chamber is decreased by lowering the fluid level around the pressure chamber.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein blocking the air vent into the vacuum chamber is accomplished by rising tank water causing an end of the air vent to be submerged in tank water.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein decreasing air pressure in the vacuum chamber between the first diaphragm valve and the second diaphragm valve is accomplished by drawing air through an internal bore in the sealing member.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein decreasing the air pressure in the vacuum chamber after blocking the air vent into the vacuum chamber causes the first and second diaphragms to deflect towards one another, thereby moving the sealing member to the closed position.

17. A valve system, comprising:
(a) a water supply member;
(b) a valve assembly in communication with the water supply member, the valve assembly comprising:
(i) a sealing member moveable between an open position during which water flows through the valve assembly and a closed position during which water is prevented from flowing through the valve assembly,
(ii) a first diaphragm, wherein the sealing member is mounted to the first diaphragm such that movement of the first diaphragm causes movement of the sealing member;
(iv) a second diaphragm in communication with the sealing member;
(v) a vacuum chamber between the first and second diaphragms; and
(vi) a venturi around an end of the sealing member, wherein the sealing member has an air passageway therethrough from the venturi to the vacuum chamber.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first diaphragm is moved by an action of an operator on the sealing member to unseat the first diaphragm and start water flow through the venturi.

19. The system of claim 18 , where the action of the operator that unseats the first diaphragm comprises tilting a bucket tank.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein a decrease in air pressure in the vacuum chamber causes the first diaphragm to move the sealing member to the closed position during which water does not flow through the valve assembly.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the decrease in air pressure in the vacuum chamber is caused by water passing through the venturi, thereby drawing air out of the vacuum chamber as a rising water level blocks an entrance into a vent channel into the vacuum chamber.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the rising water level blocking the entrance into the vent channel in the vacuum chamber comprises water refilling the bucket tank, wherein an entrance to the vent channel is positioned within the bucket tank.

23. A method of using venturi energy to power operation of a valve, comprising:
(a) deflecting a diaphragm valve to move a sealing member in a valve assembly to an open position, wherein the sealing member is supported by the diaphragm valve and is coupled to a second diaphragm valve, thereby permitting water to flow through the valve;
(b) directing the water flow through a venturi in the valve, thereby drawing air through a vacuum chamber positioned between the diaphragm valve and the second diaphragm valve, thereby holding the sealing member in the open position; and then
(c) blocking an air vent into the vacuum chamber and decreasing air pressure in the vacuum chamber by drawing air through an internal bore in the sealing member, thereby
causing the diaphragm valve and the second diaphragm valve to deflect towards one another, decreasing pressure in the vacuum chamber, and moving the sealing member to a closed position, thereby preventing water from flowing through the valve.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the diaphragm valve is deflected by pressure dropping in a pressure chamber.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the diaphragm valve is deflected by mechanical action of a user.

Assignees

• Fluidmaster

Inventors

• Le Tuan

Classifications

• F16K31/145

  the fluid acting on a diaphragm · CPC title

• F16K31/1268

  with a plurality of the diaphragms · CPC title

• F16K31/1266

  one side of the diaphragm being acted upon by the circulating fluid · CPC title

• F16K31/22

  with the float rigidly connected to the valve · CPC title

• F16K31/20 Primary

  actuating a lift valve · CPC title