US3662949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure temperature relief valve
Assignee: Zurn Industries LLC
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Filing: 1970-08-06
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A relief valve including a T-shaped casing having a first port with an insert member secured therein having a conical wall forming a valve seat in a chamber communicating with the first port and a second outlet port, a valve member cooperating with the valve seat and loosely attached with a valve stem extending through a third port axially aligned with the first port, a thermostat assembly, and a retainer for holding the thermostat assembly and including clips engageable with a register groove and shoulder in the insert member.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold A Mcintosh
- 👤 Theodore J Dykzeul
- 👤 Gordon K Slocum
- 👤 William D Rattan
- 👤 Donald K Murrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:46
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/36; F16K17/38; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7876
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A pressure and temperature relief valve comprising an internal T-shaped casing having a first port, a second port axially aligned with said first port, a third port defining an outlet for said casing, and a single chamber communicating with said ports; an adjustment plug secured to said first port; insert means secured in said second port and defining an inlet for said casing, said insert means including a wall extending into said chamber to define a valve seat and an inner surface defining register means; a valve member cooperating with said valve seat to control flow between said inlet port and said outlet; bias means forcing said valve member toward said valve seat; valve stem means loosely attached to said valve member and having an external end extending through said adjustment plug; lever means engaging said external end of said valve stem means to permit manual opening of said pressure and temperature relief valve; a thermostat assembly including temperature sensing means and actuator means controlled by said temperature sensing means for engaging said valve member to move said valve member away from said valve seat when said temperature sensing means senses a predetermined high limit temperature; and retainer means including a collar holding said thermostat assembly, a plurality of spaced arms angularly extending from said collar, a plurality of spaced clips, one for each arm, each of said clips being engaged with said register means whereby said thermostat assembly is accurately aligned with said valve seat and said valve member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A pressure and temperature relief valve comprising an internal T-shaped casing having a first port, a second port axially aligned with said first port, a third port defining an outlet for said casing, and a single chamber communicating with said ports; an adjustment plug secured to said first port; insert means secured in said second port and defining an inlet for said casing, said insert means including a wall extending into said chamber to define a valve seat and an inner surface defining register means; a valve member cooperating with said valve seat to control flow between said inlet port and said outlet; bias means forcing said valve member toward said valve seat; valve stem means loosely attached to said valve member and having an external end extending through said adjustment plug; lever means engaging said external end of said valve stem means to permit manual opening of said pressure and temperature relief valve; a thermostat assembly including temperature sensing means and actuator means controlled by said temperature sensing means for engaging said valve member to move said valve member away from said valve seat when said temperature sensing means senses a predetermined high limit temperature; and retainer means including a collar holding said thermostat assembly, a plurality of spaced arms angularly extending from said collar, a plurality of spaced clips, one for each arm, each of said clips being engaged with said register means whereby said thermostat assembly is accurately aligned with said valve seat and said valve member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said insert means is a single component having a valve seat portion including said wall and a first inner surface having a first diameter, and a nipple portion including an externally threaded outer surface and a second inner surface having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter, and said register means includes an annular groove in said first inner surface and an annular shoulder aligned with said groove and formed by the meeting of said first and second inner surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein said second port is internally threaded, and said single component includes an externally threaded shank threadedly engaging said second port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said insert means includes a valve seat piece including said wall and a nipple piece including an externally threaded outer surface and an inner surface forming an annular shoulder and having an annular groove therein aligned with said shoulder, and said register means includes said shoulder and said groove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said valve seat piece and said nipple piece are brazed into said second port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said insert means has a shank portion with an axially serrated external surface, and said second port has an axially serrated inner surface engaging said shank portion with a press fit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said thermostat assembly includes a tubular housing having a sealed end and a flared open end, and said collar has an upper shoulder abutting said flared open end of said tubular housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The invention as recited in claim 6 wherein said insert means has an inner surface, said register means includes an annular groove and an annular shoulder in said inner surface, and said plurality of clips includes first and second oppositely disposed clips, said first and second clips each including a central portion and first and second leGs offset on either side of said central portion, said central portions abutting said shoulder and said first and second legs being inserted in said groove.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said tubular housing is circumferentially crimped at said sealed end to capture a plug, said temperature sensing means is disposed in said tubular housing and includes a thermally responsive plastic material having a movable end and a fixed end abutting said plug, and said actuator means is disposed in said tubular housing and includes a first actuator pin having a first head controlled by said movable end of said plastic material and a first rod extending from said first head and a second actuator pin having a second head spaced from said first rod and in axial alignment therewith and a second rod extending from said second head through said open end of said tubular housing to abut said valve member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said plastic material is polyethylene, said actuator means includes a bias spring mounted in compression between said first and second heads, a silicone plug disposed adjacent said movable end of said polyethylene and a polytetrafloroethylene washer disposed adjacent said silicone plug and said first head of said first extension pin, and said tubular housing has a plurality of dimples therein near said open end to guide said second rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as recited in claim 9 wherein said first port of said casing is internally threaded, said adjustment plug is externally threaded and threadedly engages said first port, and said bias means includes a coiled spring mounted in compression between said adjustment plug and said valve member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
217 words
A pressure and temperature relief valve comprising an integral pipe Tee forming a casing for said valve, said pipe Tee having a first port, a second port axially aligned with said first port, a third port defining an outlet for said casing and a single chamber in communication with all said ports; insert means secured in said first port and defining an inlet, said insert means including a wall forming a valve seat within said chamber and an inner surface defining register means; a valve member cooperating with said valve seat to control flow between said inlet and said outlet; bias means forcing said valve member toward said valve seat; a thermostat assembly including temperature sensing means and actuator means for engaging said valve member and movable to control the position thereof with respect to said valve seat in response to temperature variations, said actuator means being controlled by said temperature sensing means to move said valve member away from said valve seat when a predetermined high limit temperature is sensed by said temperature sensing means; and retainer means for holding said thermostat assembly and including clip means engaged with said register means to position said retainer means in said insert means whereby said thermostat assembly is accurately aligned with said valve seat and said valve member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
217 words
A pressure and temperature relief valve comprising an integral pipe Tee forming a casing for said valve, said pipe Tee having a first port, a second port axially aligned with said first port, a third port defining an outlet for said casing and a single chamber in communication with all said ports; insert means secured in said first port and defining an inlet, said insert means including a wall forming a valve seat within said chamber and an inner surface defining register means; a valve member cooperating with said valve seat to control flow between said inlet and said outlet; bias means forcing said valve member toward said valve seat; a thermostat assembly including temperature sensing means and actuator means for engaging said valve member and movable to control the position thereof with respect to said valve seat in response to temperature variations, said actuator means being controlled by said temperature sensing means to move said valve member away from said valve seat when a predetermined high limit temperature is sensed by said temperature sensing means; and retainer means for holding said thermostat assembly and including clip means engaged with said register means to position said retainer means in said insert means whereby said thermostat assembly is accurately aligned with said valve seat and said valve member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said thermostat assembly includes a tubular housing and said retainer means includes a collar holding said tubular housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as recited in claim 13 wherein said tubular housing has a flared open end, and said collar has an upper shoulder abutting said flared end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as recited in claim 14 wherein said register means includes a shoulder on the inner surface of said insert means, and said clip means abuts said shoulder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as recited in claim 15 wherein said register means includes a groove in the inner surface of said insert means aligned with said shoulder, and said clip means is inserted in said groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention as recited in claim 16 wherein said clip means includes first and second clips, each of said first and second clips having a central portion connected with said collar by an inwardly extending aRm, and first and second curved legs offset on either side of said central portion, said first and second legs being inserted in said groove, and said central portion abutting said shoulder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention as recited in claim 17 wherein said tubular housing has a sealed end, said temperature sensing means includes a thermally responsive plastic material disposed in said tubular housing to define a fixed end adjacent said sealed end and a movable end, and said actuator means is disposed in said tubular housing to abut said movable end of said plastic material and extends out of said flared open end of said tubular housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
102 words
The invention as recited in claim 18 wherein said actuator means includes a first actuator pin having a first head and a first rod extending therefrom, a second actuator pin having a second head and a second rod extending therefrom through said open end of said tubular housing to engage said valve member, and a bias spring mounted in compression between said first head and said second head to space said first rod from said second head when normal operating temperatures are sensed and to permit said first rod to contact said second head when the predetermined high limit temperature is sensed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as recited in claim 19 wherein said plastic material is polyethylene, and said actuator means includes a silicone plug abutting said movable end of said polyethylene and a polytetrafloroethylene washer abutting said first head and said silicone plug.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said wall of said insert means is frusto-conical to form said valve seat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as recited in claim 21 wherein said first port is internally threaded and said insert means has an externally threaded outer surface threadedly engaging said first port.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as recited in claim 22 wherein said insert means includes an externally threaded nipple portion adapted to be connected with a water heater.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said insert means includes a valve seat piece including said wall and a cylindrical portion secured in said first port, and a cylindrical nipple piece having a first portion secured in said first port and abutting said cylindrical portion of said valve seat piece and a second externally threaded portion adapted to be connected with a water heater.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said insert means has a shank portion with an axially serrated outer surface; and said first port has an axially serrated inner surface engaging said shank portion with press fit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |