Testing cap for a valve body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816637-B2
Application number	US-201514728585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2015
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A testing cap for a valve body includes a base configured to releasably attach to the valve body and to cover an opening in the valve body. The opening is configured to receive a valve cartridge and the base covers the opening in place of the valve cartridge. The testing cap includes a structure extending from the base. The structure is configured to be oriented relative to the valve body in a first orientation and a second orientation. The structure allows fluid to enter the valve body through an inlet port in the valve body and exit the valve body through an outlet port in the valve body when the structure is oriented in the first orientation. The structure covers at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port when the structure is oriented in the second orientation, thereby preventing fluid flow through the valve body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A testing cap for a valve body, the testing cap comprising:
a base configured to releasably attach to the valve body and to cover an opening in the valve body, wherein the opening is configured to receive a valve cartridge and the base covers the opening in place of the valve cartridge;
a structure extending from a first side of the base, wherein the structure is located within the valve body when the base is attached to the valve body and configured to be oriented relative to the valve body in multiple different orientations comprising a first orientation and a second orientation; and
a dial located on a second side of the base opposite the first side, the dial comprising indentations in a portion of the dial accessible outside the valve body, the indentations extending through the base and into hollow regions within the structure on the first side of the base such that each of the hollow regions is open to one of the indentations in the dial;
wherein the structure allows fluid to enter the valve body through an inlet port in the valve body and exit the valve body through an outlet port in the valve body when the structure is oriented in the first orientation;
wherein the structure comprises a wall having a first surface that defines a boundary of at least one of the hollow regions within the shell and a second surface, opposite the first surface, that covers at least one of the inlet port or the outlet port when the structure is oriented in the second orientation, thereby preventing fluid flow through the valve body, wherein at least one of the hollow regions is aligned with at least one of the inlet port or the outlet port.

2. The testing cap of claim 1 , wherein the structure is configured to align with an inner wall of the valve body when the base is attached to the valve body.

3. The testing cap of claim 2 , wherein the structure comprises a frustoconical portion configured to align with a frustoconical side wall of the valve body when the base is attached to the valve body.

4. The testing cap of claim 1 , further comprising:
flanges extending radially outward from the base; and
holes extending through the flanges and configured to align the base to the valve body for releasably coupling the base to the valve body.

5. The testing cap of claim 4 , wherein the holes comprise a first set of holes configured to align the base to the valve body in the first orientation and a second set of holes configured to align the base to the valve body in the second orientation.

6. The testing cap of claim 1 , wherein the structure is fixed to the base and reorienting the structure relative to the valve body comprises removing the base from the valve body and reattaching the base to the valve body in a different orientation.

7. The testing cap of claim 1 , wherein the dial extends through the base and is configured to rotate relative to the base about a central axis, the dial comprising a portion inside the valve body and a portion accessible outside the valve body when the base is attached to the valve body.

8. The testing cap of claim 7 , wherein the indentations are configured to facilitate rotating the dial from outside the valve body.

9. The testing cap of claim 7 , wherein the structure is fixed to the dial and reorienting the structure relative to the valve body comprises rotating the dial and the structure about the central axis without removing the base from the valve body.

10. The testing cap of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises:
a first fluid channel configured to seal against and extend between a first inlet port of the valve body and a first outlet port of the valve body; and
a second fluid channel configured to seal against and extend between a second inlet port of the valve body and a second outlet port of the valve body;
wherein the fluid channels direct a first fluid from the first inlet port to the first outlet port and a second fluid from the second inlet port to the second outlet port, through the valve body, while preventing the first and second fluids from mixing.

11. A testing cap for a valve body, the testing cap comprising:
a base having a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the valve body;
a first portion of the base configured to align the base to the valve body for releasably coupling the base to the valve body in the first orientation;
a second portion of the base configured to align the base to the valve body for releasably coupling the base to the valve body in the second orientation;
a structure extending from a first side of the base, wherein the structure is located within the valve body when the base is attached to the valve body; and
a dial located on a second side of the base opposite the first side, the dial comprising indentations in a portion of the dial accessible outside the valve body, the indentations extending through the base and into hollow regions within the structure on the first side of the base such that each of the hollow regions is open to one of the indentations in the dial;
wherein the structure allows fluid to enter the valve body through an inlet port in the valve body and exit the valve body through an outlet port in the valve body when the base is coupled to the valve body in the first orientation;
wherein the structure comprises a wall having a first surface that defines a boundary of at least one of the hollow regions within the shell and a second surface, opposite the first surface, that covers at least one of the inlet port or the outlet port when the base is coupled to the valve body in the second orientation, thereby preventing fluid flow through the valve body, wherein at least one of the hollow regions is aligned with at least one of the inlet port or the outlet port.

12. The testing cap of claim 11 , wherein the structure is configured to align with an inner wall of the valve body when the base is attached to the valve body.

13. The testing cap of claim 12 , wherein the structure comprises a frustoconical portion configured to align with a frustoconical side wall of the valve body when the base is attached to the valve body.

14. The testing cap of claim 11 , further comprising:
flanges extending radially outward from the base; and
holes extending through the flanges and configured to align the base to the valve body for releasably coupling the base to the valve body.

15. The testing cap of claim 14 , wherein the holes comprise a first set of holes configured to align the base to the valve body in the first orientation and a second set of holes configured to align the base to the valve body in the second orientation.

16. The testing cap of claim 11 , wherein the structure is fixed to the base and reorienting the structure relative to the valve body comprises removing the base from the valve body and reattaching the base to the valve body in a different orientation.

17. The testing cap of claim 11 , wherein the dial extends through the base and is configured to rotate relative to the base about a central axis, the dial comprising a portion inside the valve body and a portion accessible outside the valve body when the base is attached to the valve body.

18. The testing cap of claim 17 , wherein the indentations are configured to facilitate rotating the dial from outside the valve body.

19. The testing cap of claim 17 , wherein the structure is fixed to the dial and reorienting the structure relative to the valve body comprises rotating the dial and the structure about the central axis without removing the base from the v

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Brouwer Douglas J
• Smith Michael W
• Niver Michael A
• Cochart Chad J

Classifications

• F16K39/024

  using an auxiliary valve on the main valve · CPC title

• Y10T137/7668

  Retained by bonnet or closure · CPC title

• E03C1/0408

  Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18) · CPC title

• F16K27/062 Primary

  with conical plugs · CPC title

• F16K27/04

  of sliding valves · CPC title