Patent US3827670A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3827670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve assembly
Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank NA
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Filing: 1973-06-12
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1993-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A manually operated angle valve assembly is provided which has particular, although not exclusive utility in sprinkler systems, or the like. The valve assembly of the invention serves to shut off and regulate the water flow from a supply source to the sprinkler heads or other outlets of the sprinkler system. The valve assembly to be described is formed of plastic components, and it incorporates a slip clutch between the handle and the valve stem which serves to obviate high stresses in the valve as it is closed. By such a construction, the objectionable characteristic of creep in the plastic parts of the valve is eliminated. The valve assembly also incorporates an improved contamination guard, and improved thread terminations, as will be described.
Inventors
- 👤 M Saarem
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:03
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/44; F16K31/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A valve assembly comprising: a body section; a valve stem rotatable in said body section to open and close the valve; a handle relatively, rotatably mounted at one end of said valve stem having camming teeth formed on the under side thereof surrounding the valve stem and havng an inner tubular portion surrounding the teeth; and a slip clutch coupling said handle to said valve stem, said slip clutch including a driver member for the valve stem axially slidably non rotatably mounted on the valve stem and having complementary teeth formed in the upper end thereof, a wave-shaped resilient washer mounted on said handle resiliently to bias said driver member into the inner tubular portion of said handle to cause the teeth of said driver member to engage the teeth of the handle, and a nut threaded to the inner tubular portion of the handle to hold the resilient washer in its biasing relationship with the driver member; so that rotation of the handle causes the driver member to impart rotational movement to the valve stem, and said clutch permitting relative movement between said handle and said valve stem when a particular torque is exceeded.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A valve assembly comprising: a body section; a valve stem rotatable in said body section to open and close the valve; a handle relatively, rotatably mounted at one end of said valve stem having camming teeth formed on the under side thereof surrounding the valve stem and havng an inner tubular portion surrounding the teeth; and a slip clutch coupling said handle to said valve stem, said slip clutch including a driver member for the valve stem axially slidably non rotatably mounted on the valve stem and having complementary teeth formed in the upper end thereof, a wave-shaped resilient washer mounted on said handle resiliently to bias said driver member into the inner tubular portion of said handle to cause the teeth of said driver member to engage the teeth of the handle, and a nut threaded to the inner tubular portion of the handle to hold the resilient washer in its biasing relationship with the driver member; so that rotation of the handle causes the driver member to impart rotational movement to the valve stem, and said clutch permitting relative movement between said handle and said valve stem when a particular torque is exceeded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The valve assembly defined in claim 1, in which the teeth of the handle and of the driver member are shaped to prevent slippage of the clutch for the valveclosing direction of rotation of said handle until a first torque has been exceeded, and to prevent slippage of said clutch for the valve-opening direction of rotation thereof until a second torque greater than said first torque has been exceeded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The valve assembly defined in claim 1, and which includes a cap section threaded to said body section, and in which said stem and said cap section have mating threads so that said stem may be threaded into said cap section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The valve assembly defined in claim 3, and which includes a resilient washer mounted on the underside of said cap section and surrounding said valve stem to serve as a contamination guard for the threads of said stem and cap section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The valve assembly defined in claim 3, in which said threads of said stem and cap section are formed with an abrupt termination to obviate any tendency for the valve stem to stick, when the valve is opened to its full extent.
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) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |