Ballcock valve

Claim 2

A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston element dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom, the piston element comprising a base member having a hole therethrough, a stem passing through the hole and having a peripheral retention groove therein, a head on the stem, a ring groove in the base member facing the inlet port, the inlet seal embracing the stem and being held in the ring groove by the head on the stem, a cup-shaped flange member having a central hole therein through which the stem is passed, the flange member thereby being engaged in the peripheral groove, and an outwardly tapering wall having a trailing edge contacting the said cylindrical wall to make the said sliding fluid sealing contact; an inlet seal carried by said piston element adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent port; an outlet port through the body from the flow chamber; and a bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat.

Claim 3

A ballcock valve according to claim 1 in which a peripheral skirt overhangs and surrounds the ring groove extending axially beyond the inlet seal to form a recess facing the inlet seat.

Claim 4

A ballcock valve according to claim 1 in which the flange member has a heel adjacent to the tapering wall, and in which a rim on the base member surrounds and contiguously embraces the heel so as to prevent radial outward movement of the heel.

Claim 5

A ballcock valve according to claim 3 in which a peripheral skirt overhangs and surrounds the ring groove, extending axially beyond the inlet seal to form a recess at the inlet seal.

Claim 6

A ballcock valve according to claim 4 in which an elastic antisiphon skirt is attached to the body upstream of the outlet port, extends axially to a region downstream therefrom where it makes an elastic peripheral seal, and in which an air port passes through the wall of the hush tube adjacent to the skirt, whereby the antisiphon sleeve in its relaxed condition prevents fluid flow from the hush tube into the flow chamber and in the presence of a lesser pressure in said flow chamber than in the hush tube opens the air poRt to admit air into the hush tube.

Claim 7

A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, said piston element comprising a base member having a hole therethrough, a stem passing through the hold, a peripheral retention groove in the stem, a ring seat in the base member facing the inlet port, an outwardly extending chamber at the outer wall of the ring seat, a cup-shaped flange member retained in said retention groove and tapering axially outwardly therefrom to make the sliding fluid seal with the cylindrical wall and a bias port passing through the stem from end to end, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom; a seal carried in the ring seat and adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent ports; an outlet port from the flow chamber through the body, the bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat, and complementary engagement means on the body and on the base member which limit the travel of the piston element away from the inlet seat.

Claim 8

A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, said piston element comprising a base member having a hole therethrough, a stem passing through the hold, a peripheral retention groove in the stem, a ring seat in the base member facing the inlet port, an outwardly extending chamber at the outer wall of the ring seat, a cup-shaped flange member retained in said retention groove and tapering axially outwardly therefrom to make the sliding fluid seal with the cylindrical wall and a bias port passing through the stem from end to end, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom; a seal carried in the ring seat and adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent ports; an outlet port from the flow chamber through the body, the bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat, and complementary engagement means on the body and on the base member which limit the travel of the piston element away from the inlet seat.

Claim 9

A ballcock valve according to claim 6 in which a bias spring is placed within the bias chamber and is disposed between the piston element and the body, the bias spring being of such length as not to exert bias force when the valve is closed, but to exert the same over a range of piston element positions when the valve is open.

Claim 10

A ballcock valve according to claim 7 in which the control means comprises a moveable plug adapted to seal the vent port, and an actuator means responsive to water level to move said plug to close the vent port or to move away from it to permit it to open, said actuator means comprising a lever mounted to the valve with a float thereon.

Claim 11

A ballcock valve according to claim 7 in which the body portions are engaged to each other by a bayonet coupling.

Claim 12

A ballcock valve according to claim 6 in which the inlet seat makes mechanical contact with the inlet seal adjacent to a radially outermost boundary of its sealing face, whereby the seal''s outer edge is mechanically compressed between the piston element and the inlet seat when the ballcock valve is closed to flow, and in which a peripheral outwardly tapered skirt overhangs and surrounds the inlet seal, extending away from the seal surface as it extends toward the inlet seat.

Claim 13

A ballcock valve according to claim 10 in which an annular open region surrounds the piston element in the flow chamber, and the outlet port opens into the said region.

Claim 14

A ballcock valve according to claim 6 in which the body and the piston element carry fully peripheral complementary engagement means which limit the travel of the piston element away from the inlet seat and make a surface-to-surface engagement in the fully open position to resist the flow of particulate matter past their junction.

Claim 15

A piston element for the piloted actuation of a ballcock valve comprising: a base member having a hole therethrough, a stem passing through the hole, a peripheral retention groove in the stEm, a ring seat in the base member facing a inlet port, an outwardly extending chamber at the outer wall of the ring seat, a cup-shaped flange member retained in said retention groove and having an outer wall tapering axially outwardly therefrom to make a sliding fluid seal with a cylindrical wall, a bias port passing through the stem from end to end, and an annular seal fitting in said ring seat and held in place by the stem.

Claim 16

A piston element for the piloted actuation of a ballcock valve comprising: a base member having a hole therethrough, a stem passing through the hole, a peripheral retention groove in the stEm, a ring seat in the base member facing a inlet port, an outwardly extending chamber at the outer wall of the ring seat, a cup-shaped flange member retained in said retention groove and having an outer wall tapering axially outwardly therefrom to make a sliding fluid seal with a cylindrical wall, a bias port passing through the stem from end to end, and an annular seal fitting in said ring seat and held in place by the stem.

Claim 17

A piston element according to claim 13 in which the flange member has a heel adjacent to its tapered outer wall, and in which a rim on the base member surrounds and contiguously embraces the heel so as to prevent radial outward movement of the heel.

Claim 18

A piston element according to claim 14 in which a peripheral skirt overhangs and surrounds the ring groove, extending axially and tapering beyond the inlet seal to form an open recess facing away from the base member.

Claim 19

A piston element according to claim 13 in which a peripheral skirt overhangs and surrounds the ring groove, extending and tapering axially outwardly beyond the inlet seal to form an open recess facing away from the base member.

Claim 20

A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom; an inlet seal carried by said piston element adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent port; an outlet port through the body from the flow chamber; a bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat; and a bias spring within the bias chamber, disposed between the piston element and the body, the bias spring being of such free length as not to exert bias force when the valve is closed, but to exert the same over a range of piston element positions when the valve is open.

Claim 21

A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom; an inlet seal carried by said piston element adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent port; an outlet port through the body from the flow chamber; a bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat; and a bias spring within the bias chamber, disposed between the piston element and the body, the bias spring being of such free length as not to exert bias force when the valve is closed, but to exert the same over a range of piston element positions when the valve is open.

Claim 22

A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom; an inlet seal carried by said piston element adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow, the inlet seat making mechanical contact with the inlet seal adjacent to a radially outermost boundary of its sealing face, whereby the seal''s outer edge is mechanically compressed between the piston element and the inlet seat when the ballcock valve is closed to flow; a peripHeral outwardly tapered skirt overhangs and surrounds the inlet seal, extending away from the seal surface as it extends toward the inlet seat; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent port; an outlet port through the body from the flow chamber; and a bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat. 19, A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom; an inlet seal carried by said piston element adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent port; an outlet port through the body from the flow chamber; a bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat; and fully peripheral complementary engagement means on the body and on the piston element which limit the travel of the piston element away from the inlet seat and make a surface-to-surface engagement in the fully open position to resist the flow of particulate matter past their junction.

Claim 23

A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom; an inlet seal carried by said piston element adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow, the inlet seat making mechanical contact with the inlet seal adjacent to a radially outermost boundary of its sealing face, whereby the seal''s outer edge is mechanically compressed between the piston element and the inlet seat when the ballcock valve is closed to flow; a peripHeral outwardly tapered skirt overhangs and surrounds the inlet seal, extending away from the seal surface as it extends toward the inlet seat; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent port; an outlet port through the body from the flow chamber; and a bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat. 19, A ballcock valve comprising: an inlet pipe; an inlet seat fixed to and terminating said inlet pipe and having a sealing plane lying normal to an axis of the valve; a body attached to the inlet pipe having an internal cavity in fluid communication with the inlet seat; a cylindrical wall axially aligned with said axis and bounding a portion of said cavity; a piston element making a sliding fluid sealing contact with said cylindrical wall so as to move axially toward and away from the inlet seat, the piston dividing the cavity into a flow chamber and a bias chamber, the flow chamber being on the side of the piston closer to the inlet seat and the bias chamber being on the opposite side therefrom; an inlet seal carried by said piston element adapted to make a fluid sealing closure with the inlet seat in one position, thereby to close the valve to flow from the inlet pipe and to be moved away from the same to another position to permit said flow; a vent port passing through the body and entering the bias chamber; control means adapted to close and to open said vent port; an outlet port through the body from the flow chamber; a bias port fluidly interconnecting the bias chamber to the flow chamber at all times, the cross-sectional area of that portion of the control chamber bounded by the cylindrical wall being greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet seat; and fully peripheral complementary engagement means on the body and on the piston element which limit the travel of the piston element away from the inlet seat and make a surface-to-surface engagement in the fully open position to resist the flow of particulate matter past their junction.

Claim 24

A ballcock valve according to claim 19 in which the inlet seat makes mechanical contact with the inlet seal adjacent to a radially outermost boundary of its sealing face, whereby the seal''s outer edge is mechanically compressed between the piston element and the inlet seat when the ballcock valve is closed to flow, and in which a peripheral outwardly tapered skirt overhangs and surrounds the inlet seal, extending away from the seal surface as it extends toward the inlet seat.