Shut-off valve for sprinkler system

Claim 2

A shut off valve for use in a sprinkler system having a water source path throughout an area and at least one riser pipe connecting said water source path with a sprinkler head, said sprinkler head having an opening therein substantially less in area than the cross sectional area of said riser pipe, whereby the water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head when said head is attached to said riser pipe, said valve restricting the water flow through said riser pipe when said sprinkler head becomes dislodged, said valve comprising: a valve seat positioned within said riser pipe; means for limiting the down stream movement of said seat; a coil spring having one end positioned upstream from said valve seat; and means, including a flange, a stem and a valve element, said flange being positioned against the other end of said spring, said stem extending from said flange into the center of said spring, said stem having a length less than the normal length of said spring, said valve element being positioned around said stem and having a cross sectional size less than the inner cross sectional area of said spring while being sized to engage said seat to prevent water flow therethrough upon compression of said spring, said flange and stem having a first water flow path from the upstream side of said flange through said stem and into the center of said spring; said spring being selected to have a length and a tension so that said valve element is held away from said valve seat when said water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head and engages said seat when said head is dislodged from said riser pipe; said shut-off valve further having reset means, including a second water flow path when said valve element engages said valve seat, for disengaging said valve element from said valve seat when said head opening is blocked after said head is replaced on said riser pipe.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said stem includes a plurality of openings evenly spaced around said stem as a part of the flow path of said flange and stem, whereby said stem is maintained centered within said spring interior.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1: wherein said valve seat includes an opening therein through which the front of said stem extends when said valve element engages said valve seat; and wherein said second flow path includes at least one opening through said stem front.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said second flow path further includes filter means up stream from said stem front opening.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said stem includes a plurality of openings evenly spaced around said stem as a part of the flow path of said flange and stem, whereby said stem is maintained centered within said spring interior.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said second water flow path is formed by a leaky fit of said valve element and said valve seat.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said stem includes a plurality of openings evenly spaced around said stem as a part of the flow path of said flange and stem, whereby said stem is maintained centered within said spring interior.

Claim 9

A shut off valve for use in a sprinkler system having a water source path throughout an area and at least one riser pipe connecting said water source path with a sprinkler head, said sprinkler head having an opening therein substantially less in area than the cross sectional area of said riser pipe, whereby the water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head when said head is attached to said riser pipe, said valve restricting the water flow through said riser pipe when said sprinkler head becomes dislodged, said valve comprising: a valve seat positioned within said riser pipe; means for limiting the down stream movement of said seat; a coil spring having one end positioned upstream from said valve seat; and means, including a flange, a stem and a valve element, said flange being positioned against the other end of said spring, said stem extending from said flange into the center of said spring, said stem having a length less than the normal length of said spring, said valve element being positioned around said stem and having a cross sectional size less than the inner cross sectional area of said spring while being sized to engage said seat to prevent water flow therethrough upon compression of said spring, said flange and stem having a water flow path from the upstream side of said flange through said stem and into the center of said spring; said spring being selected to have a length and a tension so that said valve element is held away from said valve seat when said water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head and engages said seat when said head is dislodged from said riser pipe wherein said sprinkler head is a pop-up head; and wherein said spring tension and length are further selected to permit said valve element to engage said valve seat during normal operation when said pop-up head is depressed and released.

Claim 10

A shut off valve for use in a sprinkler system having a water source path throughout an area and at least one riser pipe connecting said water source path with a sprinkler head, said sprinkler head having an opening therein substantially less in area than the cross sectional area of said riser pipe, whereby the water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head when said head is attached to said riser pipe, said valve restricting the water flow through said riser pipe when said sprinkler head becomes dislodged, said valve comprising: a valve seat positioned within said riser pipe; means for limiting the down stream movement of said seat; a coil spring having one end positioned upstream from said valve seat; and means, including a flange, a stem and a valve element, said flange being positioned against the other end of said spring, said stem extending from said flange into the center of said spring, said stem having a length less than the normal length of said spring, said valve element being positioned around said stem and having a cross sectional size less than the inner cross sectional area of said spring while being sized to engage said seat to prevent water flow therethrough upon compression of said spring, said flange and stem having a water flow path from the upstream side of said flange through said stem and into the center of said spring; said spring being selected to have a length and a tension so that said valve element is held away from said valve seat when said water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head and engages said seat when said head is dislodged from said riser pipe wherein said sprinkler head is a pop-up head; and wherein said spring tension and length are further selected to permit said valve element to engage said valve seat during normal operation when said pop-up head is depressed and released.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said stem includes a plurality of openings evenly spaced around said stem as a part of the flow path of said flange and stem, whereby said stem is maintained centered within said spring interior.

Claim 12

A shut off valve for use in a sprinkler system having a water source path throughout an area and at least one riser pipe connecting said water source path with a sprinkler head, said sprinkler head having an opening therein substantially less in area than the cross sectional area of said riser pipe, whereby the water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head when said head is attached to said riser pipe, said valve restricting the water flow through said riser pipe when said sprinkler head becomes dislodged, said valve comprising: a valve seat positioned within said riser pipe; means for limiting the down stream movement of said seat; a coil spring having one end positioned upstream from said valve seat; and means, including a flange, a stem and a valve element, said flange being positioned against the other end of said spring, said stem extending from said flange into the center of said spring, said stem having a length less than the normal length of said spring, said valve element being positioned around said stem and having a cross sectional size less than the inner cross sectional area of said spring while being sized to engage said seat to prevent water flow therethrough upon compression of said spring, said flange and stem having a water flow path from the upstream side of said flange into the center of said spring; said spring being selected to have a length and a tension so that said valve element is held away from said valve seat when said water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head and engages said seat when said head is dislodged from said riser pipe; wherein said sprinkler head is a pop-up head; wherein said spring tension and length are further selected to permit said valve element to engage said valve seat during normal operation when said pop-up head is depressed and released; wherein said stem includes a plurality of openings evenly spaced around said stem as a part of the flow path of said flange and stem, whereby said stem is maintained centered within said spring interior; and wherein said shut-off valve further includes a second water flow path therethrough when said valve element engages said valve seat.

Claim 13

A shut off valve for use in a sprinkler system having a water source path throughout an area and at least one riser pipe connecting said water source path with a sprinkler head, said sprinkler head having an opening therein substantially less in area than the cross sectional area of said riser pipe, whereby the water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head when said head is attached to said riser pipe, said valve restricting the water flow through said riser pipe when said sprinkler head becomes dislodged, said valve comprising: a valve seat positioned within said riser pipe; means for limiting the down stream movement of said seat; a coil spring having one end positioned upstream from said valve seat; and means, including a flange, a stem and a valve element, said flange being positioned against the other end of said spring, said stem extending from said flange into the center of said spring, said stem having a length less than the normal length of said spring, said valve element being positioned around said stem and having a cross sectional size less than the inner cross sectional area of said spring while being sized to engage said seat to prevent water flow therethrough upon compression of said spring, said flange and stem having a water flow path from the upstream side of said flange into the center of said spring; said spring being selected to have a length and a tension so that said valve element is held away from said valve seat when said water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head and engages said seat when said head is dislodged from said riser pipe; wherein said sprinkler head is a pop-up head; wherein said spring tension and length are further selected to permit said valve element to engage said valve seat during normal operation when said pop-up head is depressed and released; wherein said stem includes a plurality of openings evenly spaced around said stem as a part of the flow path of said flange and stem, whereby said stem is maintained centered within said spring interior; and wherein said shut-off valve further includes a second water flow path therethrough when said valve element engages said valve seat.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 10 wherein said valve element becomes disengaged from said seat element whenever the water flow is blocked downstream from said second flow path.

Claim 15

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said valve element is adjustably positionable along said stem length to compensate for different water pressure.

Claim 16

A shut off valve for use in a sprinkler system having a water source path throughout an area and at least one riser pipe connecting said water source path with a sprinkler head, said sprinkler head having an opening therein substantially less in area than the cross sectional area of said riser pipe, whereby the water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head when said head is attached to said riser pipe, said valve restricting the water flow through said riser pipe when said sprinkler head becomes dislodged, said valve comprising: a valve seat positioned within said riser pipe; means for limiting the down stream movement of said seat; a coil spring having one end positioned upstream from said valve seat; and means, including a flange, a stem and a valve element, said flange being positioned against the other end of said spring, said stem extending from said flange into the center of said spring, said stem having a length less than the normal length of said spring, said valve element being positioned around said stem and having a cross sectional size less than the inner cross sectional area of said spring while being sized to engage said seat to prevent water flow therethrough upon compression of said spring, said flange and stem having a water flow path from the upstream side of said flange into the center of said spring; said spring being selected to have a length and a tension so that said valve element is held away from said valve seat when said water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head and engages said seat when said head is dislodged from said riser pipe; wherein said valve element is adjustably positionable along said stem length to compensate for different water pressure; wherein said sprinkler head is a pop-up head; wherein said spring tension and length are further selected to permit said valve element to engage said valve seat during normal operation when said pop-up head is depressed and released; and wherein said stem includes a plurality of openings evenly spaced around said stem as a part of the flow path of said flange and stem, whereby said stem is maintained centered within said spring interior.

Claim 17

A shut off valve for use in a sprinkler system having a water source path throughout an area and at least one riser pipe connecting said water source path with a sprinkler head, said sprinkler head having an opening therein substantially less in area than the cross sectional area of said riser pipe, whereby the water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head when said head is attached to said riser pipe, said valve restricting the water flow through said riser pipe when said sprinkler head becomes dislodged, said valve comprising: a valve seat positioned within said riser pipe; means for limiting the down stream movement of said seat; a coil spring having one end positioned upstream from said valve seat; and means, including a flange, a stem and a valve element, said flange being positioned against the other end of said spring, said stem extending from said flange into the center of said spring, said stem having a length less than the normal length of said spring, said valve element being positioned around said stem and having a cross sectional size less than the inner cross sectional area of said spring while being sized to engage said seat to prevent water flow therethrough upon compression of said spring, said flange and stem having a water flow path from the upstream side of said flange into the center of said spring; said spring being selected to have a length and a tension so that said valve element is held away from said valve seat when said water flow through said riser pipe is restricted by said head and engages said seat when said head is dislodged from said riser pipe; wherein said valve element is adjustably positionable along said stem length to compensate for different water pressure; wherein said sprinkler head is a pop-up head; wherein said spring tension and length are further selected to permit said valve element to engage said valve seat during normal operation when said pop-up head is depressed and released; and wherein said stem includes a plurality of openings evenly spaced around said stem as a part of the flow path of said flange and stem, whereby said stem is maintained centered within said spring interior.

Claim 18

The invention according to claim 13 wherein said shut-off valve further includes a second water flow path therethrough when said valve element engages said valve seat.

Claim 19

The invention according to claim 14 wherein said valve element becomes disengaged from said valve seat whenever the water flow is blocked downstream from said second flow path.

Claim 20

The invention according to claim 15: wherein said valve seat includes an opening therein through which the front of said stem extends when said valve element engages said valve seat; and wherein said second flow path includes at least one opening through said stem front.

Claim 21

The invention according to claim 16 wherein said second flow path further includes filter means up stream from said stem front opening.

Claim 22

The invention according to claim 15 wherein said second water flow path is formed by a leaky fit of said valve element and said valve seat.