Flush valve diaphragm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9896829-B2
Application number	US-201514850415-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2015
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A diaphragm for use in a diaphragm-type flush valve includes a flexible diaphragm body having a first side and a second side and an outer periphery, a center passageway defined in the diaphragm body, a bypass orifice defined in the diaphragm body, and a sealing ring attached to the outer periphery of the flexible diaphragm body. The sealing ring defines an outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm. The outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring defines a recessed area. The recessed area is configured to be positioned in a keyed relationship with a flush valve body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A diaphragm for use in a diaphragm-type flush valve, the diaphragm comprising:
a flexible diaphragm body having a first side and a second side and defining an outer periphery;
a center passageway defined in the diaphragm body;
a bypass orifice defined in the diaphragm body;
a sealing ring attached to the outer periphery of the flexible diaphragm body, the sealing ring defining an outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm; and
a first plurality of protruding ribs comprising:
a first and a second protruding rib on the first side of the diaphragm body, each of the first and second protruding ribs having a first end adjacent the bypass orifice and extending in a curved line to a second end; and
a third protruding rib on the first side of the diaphragm body that is substantially U-shaped with a first end and a second end, wherein an open end of the U-shaped third protruding rib is oriented toward the center passageway;

wherein the outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring defines a recessed area.

2. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring comprises:
an inner ring attached to the outer periphery of the diaphragm body; and
an outer ring which defines the outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring,
wherein the outer ring of the sealing ring defines the recessed area.

3. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the recessed area is configured to engage in a keyed relationship with a valve body of a flush valve.

4. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a shape of the recessed area is defined by an indentation in the sealing ring and an imaginary line that extends along the outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring from a first end of the indentation to a second end of the indentation.

5. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the recessed area is substantially rectangular-shaped.

6. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the recessed area is defined in the sealing ring at a predetermined angular position with respect to the bypass orifice.

7. The diaphragm as claimed in 6 , wherein the recessed area is positioned approximately 90 degrees from the bypass orifice.

8. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the recessed area is positioned approximately 135 degrees from the bypass orifice.

9. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sealing ring is configured to create a seal between the diaphragm and a valve body.

10. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first protruding rib and a portion of the third protruding rib define a first channel therebetween, and the second protruding rib and an opposing portion of the third protruding rib define a second channel therebetween.

11. The diaphragm as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of protruding ribs on the second side of the diaphragm body with a first end positioned adjacent to the center passageway and a second end positioned adjacent to the sealing ring,
wherein the second plurality of protruding ribs are curved between the first end and the second end.

12. A flush valve, comprising:
a valve body having an inlet and an outlet;
a barrel section having a sealing end positioned within the valve body, the sealing end defined between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the barrel section adapts to fluidly connect the inlet to the outlet; and
a diaphragm positioned in the valve body and separating the inlet and the outlet, the diaphragm configured to have a pressure differential applied across the diaphragm, the diaphragm comprising:
a flexible diaphragm body having an outer periphery, a first side, and a second side adapted to seal against the sealing end of the barrel section, the diaphragm body defining a center passageway and a bypass orifice spaced radially from the center passageway, and a sealing ring attached to the outer periphery of the flexible diaphragm body, the sealing ring defining an outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm,
a first plurality of protruding ribs comprising:
a first and a second protruding rib on the first side of the diaphragm body, each of the first and second protruding ribs having a first end adjacent the bypass orifice and extending in a curved line to a second end; and
a third protruding rib on the first side of the diaphragm body that is substantially U-shaped with a first end and a second end, wherein an open end of the U-shaped third protruding rib is oriented toward the center passageway;

wherein the diaphragm and the valve body are configured to engage in a keyed relationship.

13. The flush valve as claimed in claim 12 , the sealing ring further comprising:
an inner ring attached to the outer periphery of the diaphragm body; and
an outer ring which defines the outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring.

14. The flush valve as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring defines a recessed area,
wherein the valve body further comprises a protrusion extending from an inner surface thereof, and
wherein the recessed area and the protrusion are configured to engage in the keyed relationship between the diaphragm and the valve body.

15. The flush valve as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a shape of the recessed area is defined by an indentation in the sealing ring and an imaginary line that extends along the outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring from a first end of the indentation to a second end of the indentation.

16. The flush valve as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the recessed area and the protrusion have corresponding shapes.

17. The flush valve as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the recessed area is substantially rectangular or trapezoidal-shaped and the protrusion is substantially rectangular or trapezoidal-shaped.

18. The flush valve as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the recessed area is defined in the sealing ring at a predetermined angular position with respect to the bypass orifice.

19. The flush valve as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the recessed area is positioned approximately 90 degrees from the bypass orifice.

20. The flush valve as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the recessed area is positioned approximately 135 degrees from the bypass orifice.

21. The flush valve as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the sealing ring is configured to create a seal between the diaphragm and the valve body.

22. A method of assembling a flush valve assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a flush valve diaphragm for use in a flush valve comprising a diaphragm body with an outer periphery, a first side, and a second side, and a sealing ring attached to the outer periphery of the diaphragm body, the sealing ring defining an outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm, the flush valve diaphragm further comprising a first plurality of protruding ribs comprising a first and a second protruding rib on the first side of the diaphragm body, each of the first and second protruding ribs having a first end adjacent a bypass orifice and extending in a curved line to a second end, and a third protruding rib on the first side of the diaphragm body that is substantially U-shaped with a first end and a second end, wherein an open end of the U-shaped third protruding rib is oriented toward a center passageway of the diaphragm body;
b. providing a flush valve body having an inlet and an outlet;
c. positioning the flush valve diaphragm in the flush valve body by positioning th

Assignees

• Zurn Ind Llc

Inventors

• Davis Matthew C
• Funari Michael A
• Schoolcraft John Kevin

Classifications

• E03D3/06 Primary

  with diaphragm valve and pressure chamber for retarding the valve-closing movement · CPC title

• F16K31/3855

  the discharge being effected through the diaphragm and being blockable by a mechanically-actuated member making contact with the diaphragm · CPC title

• F16K31/145

  the fluid acting on a diaphragm · CPC title

• F16K7/17

  the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure · CPC title