U.S. patent number 3,789,870 [Application Number 05/197,741] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-05 for disposable valve construction and method of making seals.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kel-Win Manufacturing Company. Invention is credited to Robert J. Keller, III.
United States Patent |
3,789,870 |
Keller, III |
February 5, 1974 |
DISPOSABLE VALVE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING SEALS
Abstract
A disposable valve construction and method of making seals in
which the valve member is made from a flexible material, such as
plastic. A valve housing member is provided with a longitudinal
bore which communicates with a fluid to be dispensed. The housing
member is provided with a countersunk portion to receive therein a
hollow valve member. The latter is provided with a lower
cylindrical portion, the bottom surface of which functions as a
valve seat for a centrally disposed stem member. The outer surface
of the lower cylindrical portion provides an interference fit for
the bore of the housing member. The hollow valve body member is
threaded into the countersunk housing until an interference seal is
initially established with the bore of the housing member. The
valve body member is threaded further causing flexing of the valve
body to occur as an integral annular skirt portion of the valve
body engages the shoulder at the bottom of the countersink which
serves as a valve seat therefor. Continued threading of the valve
body establishes a controlled tension on the valve housing member
by an interference in length between the valve member and the
housing member between the valve seat and a bottoming out position.
While the countersunk portion is threaded to receive the valve body
member, the bottom of the countersink is unthreaded and is
positioned to support the annular skirt portion of the valve body
and prevents radial movement thereof which would cause leaking
under heavy pressures.
Inventors: |
Keller, III; Robert J.
(Richmond, VA) |
Assignee: |
Kel-Win Manufacturing Company
(Chester, VA)
|
Family
ID: |
22730580 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/197,741 |
Filed: |
November 11, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/454.5;
137/359 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K
27/0263 (20130101); F16K 11/20 (20130101); Y10T
137/7613 (20150401); Y10T 137/6977 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F16K
11/20 (20060101); F16K 11/10 (20060101); F16K
27/02 (20060101); F16k 031/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/454.2,454.4,454.5,454.6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Weakley; Harold W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Low; Warren N. Matthews; Richard
P.
Claims
1. A valve construction which comprises:
a. a main housing having a threaded countersunk portion with the
bottom of the countersink defining a shoulder which constitutes a
first valve seat,
1. said main housing further having a bore extending beneath said
valve seat and communicating with a fluid to be dispensed,
b. a hollow valve body member threadedly received in said threaded
countersunk portion of said main housing,
1. said hollow valve body member having a lower hollow cylindrical
portion the bottom surface of which provides a second valve
seat,
2. said hollow cylindrical portion having a cylindrical external
surface which provides an interference valve sealing surface when
inserted into engagement with said bore of said main housing,
c. a stem member threadedly received within said hollow valve body
member,
1. said stem member having a valve disk at one end selectively
movable into and out of engagement with said second valve seat on
said hollow valve body member,
d. and said hollow valve body member having a flanged annular skirt
portion integral therewith, the lowermost surface of which
constitutes a second valve sealing surface,
e. said second valve sealing surface being brought into engagement
with said first valve seat by continued insertion of said lower
cylindrical portion of said hollow valve body member into said bore
of said main
2. A valve construction as defined in claim 1 including means for
limiting radial movement of said flanged annular skirt portion of
said hollow valve
3. A valve construction as defined in claim 2 wherein said
countersunk portion has a cylindrical wall the lowermost portion of
which is unthreaded and is positioned closely adjacent said flanged
annular skirt
4. A valve construction as defined in claim 3 wherein said
unthreaded lowermost portion of said cylindrical wall of said
countersunk portion is at least as high as the length of said
flanged annular skirt portion of
5. A valve construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said hollow
valve
6. A valve construction as defined in claim 1
a. wherein said stem member is provided with handle receiving means
at one end opposite from the end having said valve disk,
b. and wherein said hollow valve body member is provided with port
means located between said first valve seat and the threaded
securement of said hollow valve body member to said stem member to
permit fluids which enter said hollow valve body member between
said stem member and said first
7. A valve construction as defined in claim 6 wherein said hollow
valve body member is threaded by threads of one hand to said
countersunk portion
8. A valve construction as defined in claim 6 including means for
limiting radial movement of said flanged annular skirt portion of
said hollow valve
9. A valve construction as defined in claim 8 wherein said
countersunk portion has a cylindrical wall the lowermost portion of
which is unthreaded and is positioned closely adjacent said flanged
annular skirt
10. A valve construction as defined in claim 9 wherein said
unthreaded lowermost portion of said cylindrical wall of said
countersunk portion is at least as high as the length of said
flanged annular skirt portion of
11. A valve construction is defined in claim 6 wherein said hollow
valve
12. A valve construction which comprises:
a. a plastic main housing having a threaded countersunk portion
with the bottom of the countersink defining a shoulder which
constitutes a valve seat,
1. said main housing further having a bore extending beneath said
valve seat and communicating with a fluid to be dispensed,
b. a hollow plastic valve body member threadedly received in said
threaded countersunk portion of said main housing,
1. said hollow plastic valve body member having a lower hollow
cylindrical portion the bottom surface of which provides a valve
seat for a stem member,
i. said lower hollow cylindrical portion having an external surface
molded integrally with said hollow plastic valve body member which
provides an interference valve sealing surface in engagement with
said bore of said main housing,
2. said hollow valve body member carrying an abutment means
engageable with a fixed reference point for limiting the threaded
insertion of said hollow valve body member into said main housing
member,
3. and said abutment means being spaced a predetermined distance
above said shoulder of said main housing to limit the amount of
compression of said hollow valve body member and the amount of
tension exerted on said main housing member,
c. a stem member threadedly received within said hollow valve body
member,
1. said stem member having a valve disk at one end selectively
movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat therefor on
said hollow valve
13. A valve construction comprising:
a. a plastic main housing having a threaded countersunk portion
with the bottom of the countersink defining a shoulder which
constitutes a valve seat,
1. said main housing further having a bore extending beneath said
valve seat and communicating with a fluid to be dispensed,
b. a hollow plastic valve body member threadedly received in said
threaded countersunk portion of said main housing,
1. said hollow plastic valve body member having a lower hollow
cylindrical portion the bottom surface of which provides a valve
seat for a stem member,
i. said lower hollow cylindrical portion having an external surface
which provides an interference valve sealing surface in engagement
with said bore of said main housing,
ii. said lower hollow cylindrical portion of said hollow valve body
member carrying an outwardly extending annular flange member,
2. said hollow valve body member carrying an abutment means
engageable with a fixed reference point for limiting the threaded
insertion of said hollow valve body member into said main housing
member,
3. said abutment means being spaced a predetermined distance above
said shoulder of said main housing to limit the amount of
compression of said hollow valve body member and the amount of
tension exerted on said main housing member,
4. said outwardly extending annular flange member having a
downwardly extending annular skirt portion the lowermost surface of
which contacts the shoulder of said main housing member prior to
engagement of said abutment means with said fixed reference
point,
c. and a stem member threadedly received within said hollow valve
body member,
1. said stem member having a valve disk at one end selectively
movable into and out of engagement with said valve seat therefor on
said hollow valve
14. A valve construction as defined in claim 13, wherein said
outwardly extending annular flange has a weakened portion which
permits flexing of said annular flange thereby permitting the
further insertion of said hollow valve body member into said main
housing member until said abutment
15. A valve construction as defined in claim 14, including means
for limiting radial movement of said flanged annular skirt portion
of said
16. A valve construction which comprises:
a. a main housing having a threaded countersunk portion with the
bottom of the countersink defining a shoulder which constitutes a
valve seat and the top thereof constituting an open mouth,
1. said main housing further having a bore extending beneath said
valve seat and communicating with a fluid to be dispensed,
b. a hollow valve body member threadedly received in said threaded
countersunk portion of said main housing,
1. said hollow valve body member having a lower hollow cylindrical
portion the bottom surface of which provides a valve seat for a
stem member,
i. said lower cylindrical portion having a cylindrical external
surface which provides an interference valve sealing surface when
inserted in engagement with said bore of said main housing,
2. said hollow valve body member having an annular groove to
receive an annular sealing member adjacent the open mouth of said
countersink in said main housing member,
3. said hollow valve body member having a flanged annular skirt
portion integral therewith, the lowermost surface of which
constitutes a second valve sealing surface,
i. said second valve sealing surface being brought into sealing
engagement with said shoulder of said main housing by continued
insertion of said lower cylindrical portion of said hollow valve
body member into the bore of said main housing member during which
time said annular sealing member adjacent the mouth of said
countersink is being compressed within said annular groove of said
hollow valve body member,
c. a stem member threadedly received within said hollow valve body
member,
1. said stem member having a valve disk at one end selectively
movable into and outer of engagement with said valve seat therefor
on said hollow valve body member.
Description
This invention relates to a disposable valve construction and
method of making same and more particularly to such a valve
construction and method which can be made almost exclusively from
plastic.
The invention is illustrated for use in connection with mixing
faucets such as are disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,710, issued
Jan. 18, 1966; 3,241,810, issued Mar. 22, 1966; and 3,448,768,
issued June 10, 1969, although the valve per se and the method of
effecting a seal are not limited to this usage.
It is particularly desirable to device a disposable valve wherein
substantially all of the wear occurs on the part or assembly which
is easily removed. This is accomplished in accordance with the
present invention whereby it becomes possible to make a permanent
installation of the non-disposable elements of the valve
assembly.
It is also desirable to effect a double seal in the vicinity of the
valve seat. This is accomplished in accordance with the present
invention by providing an interference seal between the bore of the
main housing member and an external cylindrical surface at the
lower end of a hollow valve body member and a second seal between a
flanged annular skirt on the hollow valve body member and a valve
seat in the main housing member formed at the bottom of a
countersink therein. While the seal areas are closely adjacent,
they are substantially at right angles to each other.
One difficulty which has heretofore been experienced in mixing
faucets in the tendency of the inner O-ring member to be extruded
through the lateral ports of the valve member which communicate
with a mixing chamber during the assembly of the O-ring member.
This tendency for the O-ring to be extruded through these lateral
ports frequently cuts the O-ring and results in leaks. The
construction of the valve member in accordance with the present
invention obviates this tendency to cut or extrude the O-ring
during assembly of the valve and ensures that a leak-proof valve is
obtained.
Still another feature of the present invention is the use of means
to provide support for a flanged annular skirt portion of the
hollow valve body member which flexes when it is brought into
sealing position. This support is effected in the present invention
by so dimensioning the countersunk underbody or main housing member
of the valve construction so that it is closely adjacent the
flanged annular skirt of the valve body member so as to prevent
radial outward movement thereof. In this manner, leaking under
heavy pressure is prevented.
The inherent advantages and improvements of the present invtion
will become more readily apparent upon considering the following
detailed description of the invention and by reference to the
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view, partially in vertical cross
section, illustrating the disposable valve construction of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken partially in
vertical cross section, and drawn to an enlarged scale illustrating
one position of the valve assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but
showing another position of the valve assembly of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view taken in vertical cross
section along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an elevational view, taken in vertical cross section, of
the valve member of the present invention; and,
FIG. 6 is an exploded rear elevational view, shown partially in
vertical cross section, further illustrating the arrangement of the
parts in accordance with the present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a
mixing faucet unit, indicated generally at 10, having one valve
assembly 12 on the left side thereof and a duplicate valve assembly
indicated generally at 14 on the right side thereof. Since each
valve assembly 12 and 14 is identical, only one will be described
in detail. An underbody or main housing member 16 is shown to have
a central bore 18 extending therethrough and provided with an
externally threaded portion 20. The underbody or main housing
member 16 is provided with port means 22 consisting of an aperture
which communicates with a mixing chamber 24.
Reference is now made to the remaining figures, and in particular
to FIG. 6 for the further details of the main housing member. Thus
there is shown a neck portion 26 which is protected within a
plastic cover member indicated generally at 27. The plastic cover
member 27 is provided with a top wall 28 and side walls 30 which
are preferably all made from plastic. A snap-in plastic bottom
closure member is shown partially at 32 in FIG. 6 and for purposes
of this invention may be substantially identical to that shown in
my U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,768. The snap-in bottom closure member 32 is
received in suitable snap-in catches 34 and the plastic cover
member 27 is further illustrated to have a top wall 36 and an
integral depending skirt 38.
In order to receive an individual valve member, the plastic cover
member 27 is provided with upstanding flanges 40 which are provided
with an internal seat 42. Each underbody member 16 is countersunk
as indicated generally at 44 in FIG. 6 and has a threaded upper
wall portion 46 and an unthreaded lower wall portion 48 the purpose
of which will become more apparent thereinafter. The bottom of
countersink 44 comprises a shoulder which constitutes a valve seat
50. A chamber 52 which permits a stem member 82 to open and close
is disposed between valve seat 50 and the lower portion of central
bore 18.
The valve body member itself is shown in isolation in FIG. 5.
Reference to this figure shows that the valve body member
designated generally at 54 is hollow by virtue of a certral bore 56
which has an internal threaded portion at 58. The hollow valve body
member is provided with a central bore region 60 for reception
therein of an O-ring 61, shown in assembled position in FIG. 4. The
bore is shown to have a relieved portion 62 in order to prevent
extrusion of the O-ring 61 through the port means of the valve body
member or cutting of the O-ring 61 during the assembly of the
valve.
The valve body member is externally threaded at 64. One feature of
the invention which permits adjustment of the cooperative forces on
the sealing elements of the valve is to make the threaded portion
64 of an opposite hand from the internal threading 58. Thus in one
embodiment of the invention the external threads 64 were right-hand
threads and the internal threads 58 were left-hand threads.
The hollow valve body member 54 is provided with a lower
cylindrical portion, the bottom surface of which at 66 provides an
annular valve seat. The lower portion of hollow valve body member
54 has an external surface at 67 which provides a valve sealing
surface intended to establish an interference seal with the bore of
the main housing or underbody member 16 immediately below valve
seat 50. The diameter of external surface 67 is made approximately
0.010 inches greater than the bore of the underbody 16 immediately
below valve seat 50 to establish an interference seal. Hollow valve
body member 54 is provided with a flanged annular skirt portion 70
integral therewith the lowermost surface of which constitutes a
valve sealing surface 68 which is brought into engagement with
valve seat 50. The radius illustrated between the flanged annular
skirt 70 and the lower cylindrical portion of the hollow valve body
member 54 permits flexing of the flanged annular skirt 70. The
external surface 67 is permitted to penetrate the bore of underbody
16 below valve seat 50 for approximately 0.075 inches in the fully
assembled position of FIG. 3.
The valve body member 54 is shown to have port means 72 and which
preferably are in diametrically opposed walls of the valve body
member 54. The relieved portion 62 of the central bore of the valve
body member 54 is of sufficient length so that O-ring 61 may
substantially pass port means 72 before engaging the more
restricted bore 60. Therefore, the O-ring 61 will not be extruded
through port means 72 nor be cut thereby during the assembly of the
disposable valve.
The top 74 of valve body member 54 is preferably hexagonal as is
illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 whereby the valve body 54 may be
turned by a socket head wrench or the like and establish a
controlled torque in tension on the main housing or underbody 16 by
virtue of a length interference between parts between valve seat 50
and bottoming out seat 42. Beneath the hexagonal top 74 is an
abutment means 76 having a shoulder 78 formed on the lower surface
thereof. This shoulder 78 provides a final stop for valve 54 and
because a controlled torque is applied to the valve body 54 this
results in a controlled tension being applied to the main housing
or underbody 16. The valve body member 54 is further provided with
an annular groove 80 in order to receive an O-ring member (not
shown).
A stem member is illustrated at 82 in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6 and, as
best seen in FIG. 4, is shown to have a valve disk 84 at the lower
end thereof and a handle receiving means, such as a spline 86 at
the upper end thereof. The valve disk 84 is brought into sealing
engagement with the annular valve seat 66 by longitudinal movement
of stem member 82.
A handle 88 is frictionally received on spline 86 of the stem
member 82 by engagement of its cylindrical hub 90 therewith and is
retained thereon with the aid of a screw 92. The stem member 82 is
preferably made of brass and with the further exception of screw
92, all other parts hereof are preferably made of plastic. One
plastic material which may be used, for example, is Celanese
Plastic Company's "CELCON" which is a copolymer of formaldehyde and
is suitable because it has some resiliency. The parts may be made
by injection molding.
In the assembly of the valve disclosed herein, the O-ring 61
illustrated in FIG. 4 is placed on stem member 82 and the hollow
valve body member 54 is then slipped over the splined end 86 of the
stem member and assembled thereto by engagement of the left-handed
threads 58 of the valve member with the left-handed threads 87 on
stem member 82. A suitable wrench means such as a socket head
wrench capable of imparting a controlled torque is used to engage
the hexagonal nut like top 74.
The lower cylindrical portion of the hollow valve body 54 enters
the bore immediately below the valve seat 50 of countersink 44 and
establishes an interference seal therewith by engagement of the
valve sealing surface 67. This general position of the valve body
member 54 is indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4 although handle 88 will not
be in place at tht time so that a wrench may engage nut 74. By
continuing to thread the hollow valve body member 54 into the
countersunk bore the lowermost surface 68 of the flanged annular
skirt 70 engages the valve seat 50 at the bottom of countersink 44.
In so doing, the hollow valve body member 54 flexes and the radial
movement of annular skirt 70 is restrained by the nearness of the
unthreaded lower wall portion 48 of countersink 44. In actual
practice, only about .005 inches clearance is permitted between the
outer wall of the flanged annular skirt 70 and the unthreaded lower
wall 48. Thus additional radial movement of the flanged annular
skirt 70 is prevented which would cause leaking under heavy
pressures. The hollow valve body member is continued to be threaded
into the counterbore 44 until a final bottoming out position is
reached when shoulder 78 abuts against seat 42 of the plastic cover
member 27. By making the length of the hollow valve body member 54
between the valve sealing surface 68 and shoulder 78 slightly
greater than the distance from the bottom of the counterbore, i.e.,
shoulder 50, to seat 42 of the plastic cover member 27 a controlled
tensioning is established in the main housing or underbody member
16 when shoulder 78 bottoms out on seat 42. This amounts to an
interference in length which is partially taken up by the
resilience of the threads. In actual practice an interference in
length of approximately 0.012 inches has been used. When handle 88
is applied and retained by screw 92, the fully assembled and closed
position of the valve assembly is reached as is shown in FIG.
3.
It will be observed that valve disk 84 of the stem member 82 is in
engagement with the valve seat 66 provided by the bottom surface of
the lower cylindrical portion of the hollow valve body member 54.
It is also important to note that the valve disk 84 of the stem
member 82 provides a substantially conical surface whereby the
valve disk has a component of force directed toward the bore of the
main valve housing member or underbody 16. When the valve body
member 54 is new the lower edge of valve seat 66 forms
substantially a right angle with the inner bore of the valve body
member. The conical surface of the valve disk 84 compensates for
wear of this valve seat as the inner edge takes on a beveled
configuration.
Since the plastic cover member 27 does not move vertically,
engagement of shoulder 78 therewith constitutes engagement with a
fixed reference point. The stem member 82 is then movable between
the closed position shown in FIG. 3 to its open position by
counterclockwise movementof handle 88 assuming right-hand threads
at 64 and 46, and left-hand threads for the internal threads 58 on
valve member 54 and at 87 on stem member 82. In the closed position
of the valve disk 84 as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom of hub 90 is
separated from the top 74 of the valve member. Thus it is possible
when valve disk 84 is open for water to be received into the bore
18 of the underbody or main housing member 16 from a suitable
source, not shown, past the valve disk 84 into the relieved bore
portion 62 of valve member 54 and out through port means 72 into
mixing chamber 24 and then through neck 26 to be dispensed. While
the unthreaded lower wall portion 48 is shown to be substantially
larger than the height or length of the flanged annular skirt
portion 70 i is only necessary for wall portion 48 to be at least
as great as the length of this flange in order to provide close
support therefor and prevent radial movement of the flange 70.
The bottom of hub 90 by engagement with the upper surface of
hexagonal nut-like top 74 of the valve member 54 as shown in FIG. 2
prevents the O-ring 61 from moving out of the restricted bore
portion 60 of the valve body member 54. In other words, hub 90
serves to limit the downward movement of stem member 82.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that a disposable valve
assembly is provided wherein a controlled tension load is placed
upon the main housing or underbody member. An unpredictable load is
exerted in compression of the valve body member, but this member is
supported.
While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention
may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope
of the claims which follow.
* * * * *