Valve assembly and a method of forming the valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12504087-B2
Application number	US-202118252323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2021
Priority date	Nov 10, 2020
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A valve assembly is described herein. The valve assembly has a housing having first and second body portions cooperating to enclose a cavity. The first body portion includes a cap having a nozzle that extends from the cap, and the nozzle defines an outlet. The first body portion includes a seat defining an orifice in fluid communication with the outlet and the cavity. A float is disposed inside the cavity. A seal is spaced from the seat when the float is in the initial position and the seal engages the seat when the float is in the displaced position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A valve assembly comprising:
a housing including a first body portion and a second body portion attached to the first body portion, with the first body portion and the second body portion cooperating to enclose a cavity, wherein the first body portion includes a cap having a nozzle extending from the cap, and the nozzle defines an outlet, wherein the first body portion includes a seat defining an orifice in fluid communication with the outlet and the cavity, wherein the first body portion includes a column disposed inside the cavity so that the column defines a pocket open to the cavity, and wherein the second body portion includes a post; a float disposed inside the cavity and movable between an initial position and a displaced position; and a seal configured so that the seal is spaced from the seat when the float is in the initial position and the seal engages the seat when the float is in the displaced position, wherein the seal includes a first end defining a hole and a second end secured to the float, and wherein the post of the second body portion is disposed through the hole of the first end of the seal and into the pocket to secure the first end of the seal to the housing.

2 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seat extends from the cap into the cavity, and the orifice of the seat is disposed between the cavity and the outlet.

3 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seal includes the first end secured to the housing and the second end secured to the float.

4 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein:
the cap includes a first wall facing the cavity and a second wall opposing the first wall;
the first wall includes the column extending into the cavity and spaced from the seat; and
the first end of the seal is secured to the column.

5 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first body portion includes the column disposed inside the cavity, and the first end of the seal is secured to the column.

6 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the column and the cap are formed together as one piece.

7 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the column is further defined as a plurality of columns disposed inside of the cavity, and the columns each define a pocket open to the cavity, and wherein the first end of the seal is secured to a portion of the second body portion and the portion of the second body portion is disposed in the pocket of each of the columns to secure the seal to the housing.

8 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein:
the seal includes an engagement portion disposed between the first end and the second end;
the engagement portion engages the seat when the float is in the displaced position;
the seat includes a sealing face disposed inside the cavity and the sealing face faces the seal;
the seat includes an insert disposed inside of the orifice adjacent to the sealing face to prevent the engagement portion of the seal from entering the orifice beyond the insert; and
the insert defines at least one opening to allow fluid communication between the cavity and the orifice when the float is in the initial position.

9 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the insert and the seat are formed as one piece.

10 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
the post of the second body portion is further defined as a plurality of posts;
the hole of the first end of the seal is further defined as a plurality of holes;
the column is further defined as a plurality of columns;
the pocket is further defined as a plurality of pockets, with one of the pockets defined in each of the columns that are open to the cavity; and
each of the posts is disposed through a respective one of the holes of the first end of the seal and into the pocket of the respective columns to secure the first end of the seal to the housing.

11 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
the outlet of the nozzle includes an inner diameter;
the orifice of the seat includes an inner diameter; and
the inner diameter of the outlet is greater than the inner diameter of the orifice.

12 . The valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
the seat includes an inner wall that surrounds the orifice;
the nozzle includes an inner wall that surrounds the outlet;
the inner wall of the seat defines an elliptical configuration to present a first inner diameter of the orifice and a second inner diameter of the orifice;
the first inner diameter is less than the second inner diameter; and
the inner wall of the nozzle defines a circular configuration which presents an inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter of the inner wall of the seat.

13 . A valve assembly comprising:
a housing including a first body portion and a second body portion attached to the first body portion, with the first body portion and the second body portion cooperating to enclose a cavity, wherein the first body portion includes a cap having a nozzle extending from the cap, and the nozzle defines an outlet, wherein the nozzle includes an inner wall that surrounds the outlet, wherein the first body portion includes a seat defining an orifice in fluid communication with the outlet and the cavity; a float disposed inside the cavity and movable between an initial position and a displaced position; and a seal secured to the housing and the seal is spaced from the seat when the float is in the initial position and the seal engages the seat when the float is in the displaced position, wherein the seat includes an inner wall that surrounds the orifice and defines an elliptical configuration to present a first inner diameter of the orifice and a second inner diameter of the orifice, wherein the first inner diameter is less than the second inner diameter, and wherein the inner wall of the nozzle defines a circular configuration which presents an inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter of the inner wall of the seat.

14 . A valve assembly comprising:
a housing including a first body portion and a second body portion attached to the first body portion, with the first body portion and the second body portion cooperating to enclose a cavity; wherein the first body portion includes a cap having a nozzle extending from the cap, and the nozzle defines an outlet, wherein the nozzle includes an inner wall that surrounds the outlet, wherein the first body portion includes a seat defining an orifice in fluid communication with the outlet and the cavity, wherein the seat includes an inner wall that surrounds the orifice; a float disposed inside the cavity and movable between an initial position and a displaced position; and a seal secured to the housing and the float, wherein the seal is spaced from the seat when the float is in the initial position and wherein an engagement portion of the seal engages the seat when the float is in the displaced position, and wherein the seat further includes an insert disposed inside of the orifice to prevent the engagement portion of the seal from entering the orifice beyond the insert, wherein the insert extends from the inner wall of the seat to partially block the orifice.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Kankaria Anuj
• Pote Mayur
• Pai Sreenivas

Classifications

• Y10T137/3099

  Float responsive · CPC title

• B60K2015/03289

  Float valves; Floats therefor · CPC title

• B60K15/035 Primary

  characterised by venting means · CPC title

• F16K29/00

  Arrangements for movement of valve members other than for opening and closing the valve, e.g. for grinding-in, for preventing sticking · CPC title

• F16K24/042

  actuated by a float · CPC title