Clog resistant valve port and methods relating to same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539674-B2
Application number	US-201314087992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2013
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

An irrigation valve has a valve body with an inlet passage, an outlet passage, a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and the outlet passage and a control chamber exit or bypass passage terminating in a surface that defines a portion of the outlet passage, the valve body including at least one of a recess and a rib for hindering clogging of the bypass passage. Related methods for hindering clogging of the control chamber or exit bypass passage are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clog resistant valve body comprising:
an inlet passage;
an outlet passage having a longitudinal axis and a stop positioned therein for ceasing forward progress of a pipe inserted into the outlet passage, the stop defining at least one recess;
a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and outlet passage;
a bypass passage positioned generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the outlet passage and terminating at one end proximate the at least one recess so that the at least one recess helps prevent adhesive from clogging the bypass passage;
wherein the stop defines a flat wall extending from an inner surface of the valve body and having a downstream face that faces a downstream opening of the outlet passage, the stop together with the inner surface defining the outlet passage and a recess forming a depression in the downstream face of the stop and extending upstream therefrom to surround the bypass passage on at least three sides.

2. The clog resistant valve body of claim 1 wherein the stop defines first and second side walls and a recessed upstream wall located between the first and second side walls to form the depression surrounding the bypass passage on three sides, the depression leaving an unobstructed downstream passage for fluid exiting the bypass passage to flow through unobstructed while positioning the side walls close enough to one another to prevent an adhesive applicator from coming into contact with the bypass passage.

3. The clog resistant valve body of claim 2 wherein the stop further defines at least one rib extending from the outlet passage positioned proximate the bypass passage to further assist in preventing the adhesive applicator from coming into contact with the bypass passage.

4. The clog resistant valve body of claim 3 wherein the at least one rib comprises a plurality of ribs extending about the outlet passage and having at least one rib positioned proximate the bypass passage to further assist in preventing the adhesive applicator from coming into contact with the bypass passage.

5. A clog resistant valve body comprising:
an inlet passage;
an outlet passage having a longitudinal axis and a stop positioned therein for ceasing forward progress of a pipe inserted into the outlet passage, the stop defining at least one of a recess and a rib;
a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and outlet passage;
a bypass passage positioned generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the outlet passage and terminating at one end proximate the at least one of a recess and a rib so that the at least one of a recess and a rib help prevent adhesive from clogging the bypass passage;
wherein the stop defines a flat wall extending from an inner surface of the valve body and having a downstream face that faces a downstream opening of the outlet passage, the stop together with the inner surface defining the outlet passage and the recess forming a depression in the outlet passage that surrounds the bypass passage on at least three sides;
wherein the stop defines first and second side walls and a recessed upstream wall located between the first and second side walls to form the depression surrounding the bypass passage on three sides, the depression leaving an unobstructed downstream passage for fluid exiting the bypass passage to flow through unobstructed while positioning the side walls close enough to one another to prevent an adhesive applicator from coming into contact with the bypass passage;
wherein the stop defines a plurality of ribs extending from the outlet passage about the outlet passage, the plurality of ribs comprises a first rib positioned proximate and on one side of the bypass passage and a second rib positioned proximate and on another side of the bypass passage opposite the first, with the first and second ribs being positioned close enough to one another to prevent the adhesive applicator from coming into contact with the bypass passage.

6. The clog resistant valve body of claim 5 wherein the first and second ribs form thin walls having upstream and downstream surfaces and elongated side walls, with at least the upstream surfaces being narrow to hinder particle build-up on the ribs and the downstream walls being tapered to help deflect the adhesive applicator away from the bypass passage.

7. The clog resistant valve body of claim 5 wherein the first and second ribs are spaced apart by a distance ranging between eighty-one thousandths of an inch to one hundred ninety-one thousandths of an inch (0.081″-0.191″).

8. A clog resistant valve body comprising:
an inlet passage;
an outlet passage having a longitudinal axis and a stop positioned therein for ceasing forward progress of a pipe inserted into the outlet passage;
a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and outlet passage;
a bypass passage positioned generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the outlet passage and terminating at one end proximate the at least one of a recess and a rib so that the at least one of a recess and a rib help prevent adhesive from clogging the bypass passage;
wherein the stop defines a plurality of ribs extending from the outlet passage positioned proximate the bypass passage, the plurality of ribs comprises a first rib positioned proximate and on one side of the bypass passage and a second rib positioned proximate and on another side of the bypass passage opposite the first, with the first and second ribs being positioned close enough to one another to prevent the adhesive applicator from coming into contact with the bypass passage.

9. The clog resistant valve body of claim 8 wherein the first and second ribs form thin walls having upstream and downstream surfaces and elongated side walls, with at least the upstream surfaces being narrow to hinder particle build-up on the ribs and the downstream walls being tapered to help deflect the adhesive applicator away from the bypass passage.

10. The clog resistant valve body of claim 8 wherein the first and second ribs are spaced apart by a distance ranging between eighty-one thousandths of an inch to one hundred ninety-one thousandths of an inch (0.081″-0.191″).

11. A method of hindering clogging of a bypass passage in a diaphragm valve comprising:
molding a valve body having an inlet passage, an outlet passage, a valve seat intermediate the inlet passage and the outlet passage, and a bypass passage terminating in a surface that defines the outlet passage; and
adding a plurality of ribs proximate the bypass passage to deflect the adhesive applicator away from the bypass passage and wick or draw adhesive away from the bypass passage to prevent partial or total clogging of the bypass passage.

12. A valve comprising:
a body defining an inlet and an outlet;
a valve operating in the body between an open position permitting flow from the inlet to the outlet and a closed position preventing flow between the inlet and the outlet;
a control chamber communicating with the valve to permit the valve to move between the open and closed positions;
a control passage communicating with the control chamber and the outlet, the control passage terminating at the outlet with a control hole; and
at least three walls, each with a surface facing the control hole to protect the control hole from being blocked and at least two walls being parallel to one another, the at least three walls defining a recess at the control hole and an unobstructed downstream opening to allow fluid escaping the control hole to continue traveling downstream in an unobstructed manner, with the three walls being positioned upstream of the downstream opening to assist in guiding the fluid escaping the control ho

Assignees

• Rain Bird Corp

Inventors

• Walker Samuel C

Classifications

• B23P15/001 Primary

  valves or valve housings (welding B23K; valve housings per se F16K) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49417

  including molding or casting · CPC title

• F16K31/402 Primary

  acting on a diaphragm · CPC title

• Y10T29/49412

  with assembly, disassembly or composite article making · CPC title