US3735922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination air vent-vacuum breaker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-07
•
Granted: 1973-05-29
•
Expires: 1992-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A combination air vent-vacuum breaker such as is employed in a system using steam, is formed of a main body member and a cover member attached to and combining with the body member to form a pressure chamber. The main body member contains an inlet port and an outlet port which communicate with the pressure chamber and has a surface facing the pressure chamber which provides an inner annular valve seat and an outer annular valve seat. A disc valve, positioned within the pressure chamber, is movably displaceable relative to the valve seats to regulate flow between the inlet and outlet ports. Further, a bi-metal ring and a support member with a slanted surface are associated with the main body member and cooperate in opening and closing flow between the inlet and outlet ports as the bi-metal ring expands and contracts. Further, the construction of the air vent-vacuum breaker assures that any vacuum developed in the system during its operation can be broken immediately, any condensate in the system in the system at shutdown can be discharged and any dirt clogging operation of the valve disc can be blown clear.
Inventors
- 👤 K Fujiwara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:58
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/18; F16K17/19; F16K17/196; F16K17/36; F16K17/38; F16T; F16T1/00; F16T1/12; F16T1/16; F16T1/165; F16T1/38; F16T1/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
343 words
A valve member serving as a combination air vent-vacuum breaker and comprising aN axially extending main body portion including an inlet port, an outlet port spaced from said inlet port and a valve seat surface extending transversely of the axial direction of said main body portion, a cover member secured to said main body portion and forming in combination with said valve seat surface a pressure chamber, a disc valve disposed transversely of the axial direction of said main body portion and displaceably positioned within said pressure chamber for movement between a contacting position with said valve seat surface and at least one other position spaced from said valve seat surface, said main body portion including an inlet passage extending between said inlet port and said valve seat surface and communicating with said pressure chamber, said valve seat surface having an inner annular valve seat and an outer annular valve seat with said inner annular valve seat encircling said inlet passage extending through said valve seat surface and said outer annular valve seat encircling said inner annular valve seat, said valve seat surface having an annular groove disposed between said inner and outer annular valve seats and having its opening facing toward said pressure chamber, said main body portion having a discharge passage connecting said annular groove with said outlet port, means supported by said main body portion for axially displacing said disc valve, said means comprising a bi-metal ring having its axis disposed in parallel with the axis of said main body portion and being expandible and contractible in its diametrical direction, and a member having a slanted surface disposed at an acute angle to the axis of said main body portion with said bi-metal ring supported at one transverse end thereof on said slanted surface so that as said bi-metal ring expands and contracts it moves on said slanted surface transversely of the axial direction of said main body part for converting the expanding and contracting action of said bi-metal ring through said means into axial displacement of said disc valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
343 words
A valve member serving as a combination air vent-vacuum breaker and comprising aN axially extending main body portion including an inlet port, an outlet port spaced from said inlet port and a valve seat surface extending transversely of the axial direction of said main body portion, a cover member secured to said main body portion and forming in combination with said valve seat surface a pressure chamber, a disc valve disposed transversely of the axial direction of said main body portion and displaceably positioned within said pressure chamber for movement between a contacting position with said valve seat surface and at least one other position spaced from said valve seat surface, said main body portion including an inlet passage extending between said inlet port and said valve seat surface and communicating with said pressure chamber, said valve seat surface having an inner annular valve seat and an outer annular valve seat with said inner annular valve seat encircling said inlet passage extending through said valve seat surface and said outer annular valve seat encircling said inner annular valve seat, said valve seat surface having an annular groove disposed between said inner and outer annular valve seats and having its opening facing toward said pressure chamber, said main body portion having a discharge passage connecting said annular groove with said outlet port, means supported by said main body portion for axially displacing said disc valve, said means comprising a bi-metal ring having its axis disposed in parallel with the axis of said main body portion and being expandible and contractible in its diametrical direction, and a member having a slanted surface disposed at an acute angle to the axis of said main body portion with said bi-metal ring supported at one transverse end thereof on said slanted surface so that as said bi-metal ring expands and contracts it moves on said slanted surface transversely of the axial direction of said main body part for converting the expanding and contracting action of said bi-metal ring through said means into axial displacement of said disc valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A valve member, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said disc valve has a throughhole communicating between said valve seat surface on said main body portion and said pressure chamber, a pilot valve displaceably mounted in said through-hole for opening and closing flow therethrough in response to pressure changes on said valve seat surface side of said disc valve which communicates with said inlet port and on said pressure chamber side of said disc valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
A valve member, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a bushing positioned within said annular groove in said valve seat surface, said bushing having the slanted surface formed on its radially outwardly facing surface so that it slopes outwardly in diverging relationship in the direction extending axially away from said disc valve, and said bi-metal ring arranged to be supported in its contracted condition on said slanted surface closer to said disc valve and to ride radially outwardly on said slanted surface as it expands so that it moves axially away from said disc valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
A valve member, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main body portion is spaced inwardly from said cover member at a location spaced outwardly from said outer annular valve seat and forms therebetween an annular space, said means comprises an annular member positioned within said annular space, said annular member having said slanted surface formed thereon on the side facing away from said disc valve, and said bi-metal ring positioned within said annular space in contact with said slanted surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A valve member, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said bushing is positioned within said annular groove so that it forms an annular space defined between the bottom of said annular groove and the bottom of said bushing within said annular groove so that said annular space is separated from said pressure chamber by said bushing, and said bushing having a plurality of axially extending holes therethrough affording Communication between said annular space and said pressure chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A valve member, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means comprises a sleeve positioned within said annular groove radially outwardly from said slanted surface on said bushing, the opposite end of said bi-metal ring from the end contacting said slanted surface is in contact with said sleeve, and said sleeve being shaped so that it remains in contact with said bi-metal ring over the full range of expansion and contraction of said bi-metal ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A valve member, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said annular member is shaped so that it retains said bi-metal ring within said annular space over the full range of expansion and contraction of said bi-metal ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A valve member, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said disc valve has a diameter at least equal to the outside diameter of said annular valve seat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |