Patent Application
20140103234
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a valve assembly disposed along a path of fluid flow along in a conventional water supply line, upstream of a conventional water meter assembly which is disposed and structured to determine the quantity of water delivered to a corresponding facility. The valve assembly is structured to eliminate or significantly reduce the passage of air through the water meter, wherein the air may be in the form of an “air pocket” existing within the water supply line due to damage, repair, or maintenance thereof. As a result the meter will only register the actual quantity of water delivered to the facility and avoid any charges resulting from the passage of air through the meter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Approximately three and one-half billion people throughout the world have access to a water supply delivered to a domestic or commercial facility by a water supply line(s) in the form of pipes, conduits, etc. The origin of the water supply, especially in an urban environment, is typically from a public or regulated water utility which controls the supply, delivery, purification, and/or other processing of the water being delivered. Alternatively, many domestic facilities rely individually or collectively on wells or other underground sources of water which are not under the control a public water utility company. In either situation, it is recognized that water must be delivered to a facility with sufficient pressure to assure an adequate quantity of water being delivered at a sufficient flow rate for use in variety of different applications.
Water pressures may vary at different locations through out a given geographical area and are based in large part upon the structure and/or efficiency of the corresponding distribution system. By way of example, water mains below ground may operate at a higher pressure in order to deliver the water to distribution stations. Moreover, “pressure reducers” or like structures are frequently disposed in the path of water flow at such distribution locations prior to being delivered to the domestic or commercial facility. Accordingly, water may be delivered to a home or other conventional domestic facility having a typical water pressure of generally about 60 psi.
In situations involving the delivery of water along a conventional water supply line to a domestic or commercial facility a metering of the water supply takes place generally at the point of delivery to the domestic or commercial facility. A conventional water meter assembly may vary in both structure and operation but is typically provided to allow water utility companies other or agencies associated therewith to charge for water, based on the amount used. As a result, the metering of water delivered from a water utility company to any facility is widely considered to be an acceptable practice and a fair means of charging for the quantity of water utilized.
The monitoring procedure performed by the water meter being indicative of the quantity of water utilized, is accomplished in numerous ways including, but not limited to, the manual “reading” of the meter and the delivery of the results of the reading to a billing facility associated with the water utility. However, many cities are increasingly installing automatic meter reading systems to prevent fraud and lower the labor cost of manual meter reading. In addition, it is believed that such automatic meter reading systems improve customer service and satisfaction by assuring a more accurate determination of the quantity of water being utilized.
However, as is commonly recognized by individuals connected to public utility distribution facilities, wherein the delivered water is metered to determine the quantity of water utilized, there is an occasional interruption of water supply. Such interruptions may be caused by repair, maintenance, malfunction, etc., and typically results in quantities of air entering into the water supply lines. As a result segments of air flow or “air pockets” travel along the path of water flow within the water supply lines and are delivered to the various facilities connected to the supply lines after first passing through the meter assembly associated therewith. As a result, the occurrence of a breakdown or other occasion where air enters the water supply line(s) causes the resulting air pockets, to be measured by the meter assembly and charged to the corresponding facility as used water. This is due to the fact that most, if not all meter assemblies associated with either domestic or commercial facilities are not structured to distinguish between air flow and water flow passing there through. Accordingly, in situations where air enters the water supply line, the connected facility is charged for water that in fact has not been received due to the fact that the corresponding meter assembly registers the flow of air passing therethrough as conventional water flow.
Accordingly, there is a need in the area of water distribution for an appropriate way of eliminating the passage of air through a water meter assembly associated with either a domestic or commercial facility. As a result any cost or charge to the facility for water which was in fact not received or delivered would be eliminated. Such a proposed structure or assembly should efficiently function to prevent or significantly reduce the passage of “air pockets” or other air flow through the water meter assembly, while not interfering with the regular and intended supply of water delivered by the conventional water supply line. Further, such a proposed structure should include sufficient structural integrity and operative performance which assure a long operative life, while not requiring frequent maintenance, repair or replacement. In addition, such a proposed and preferred assembly should be sufficiently low in initial cost to be economically viable for wide spread use in conventional water supply lines, upstream of the water meter assembly, in a multitude of homes, businesses, etc. which are connected to water delivery systems throughout the world.
The present invention is directed to a valve assembly structured to eliminate or significantly reduce “air pockets” or other air flow segments, traveling along and within conventional water supply lines, from passing through a conventional water meter assembly, thereby eliminating erroneous charges for water which was not delivered.
As is well recognized, there are occasional breakdowns, repairs, maintenance procedures, malfunctions, etc., of public water utility facilities and/or other water distribution and supply systems which results in the interruption of water delivery. Such interruptions, while not common, frequently result in air entering the path of fluid flow within the water supply lines. Such interruptive air flow, for purposes of clarity, may hereinafter be referred to as “air pockets” and/or “air flow segments”, it being recognized that such air flow may also contain minimal amounts of water such as entrained water vapor. As such, these air pockets are at least partially separated from the conventional water supply passing through the water supply line(s). Regardless of the degree of separation, the formed air pockets or air flow segments also pass through a water meter assemblies associated with the various facilities to which the supply of water is normally delivered. As a result, the homes, businesses and like facilities connected to the water supply lines are charged for water that was never delivered.
Further, the encroachment of air into a conventional water supply line is a well known phenomenon and evidenced by the opening of a spigot or faucet during or immediately after the interruption of the water supply to the facility. Typically, the presence of air pockets will be apparent by a relatively harsh and frequently loud rush of air from the open spigot or faucet followed by successive “spurts” of water and the eventual passage of the normal water flow, once the water supply line has been returned to normal service.
It is also recognized that in a conventional water supply facility controlled and regulated by a public water utility, water is delivered to most domestic and commercial facilities at a water pressure of generally about 60 psi. In contrast, the encroachment of air into the water supply line is typically delivered to the connected home or other intended facility, as well as to the meter assembly associated therewith, at a much lower pressure of generally about 0.3 kg f/cm2. Therefore, the air pressure of the air pocket or air flow segment is delivered to the water meter assembly at a significantly lower pressure than the water pressure of the supply of water delivered to the corresponding meter assembly. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to the aforementioned valve assembly, which is structured to remove or significantly eliminate the air pocket or air flow segment prior to its passage through the meter assembly. As a result any cost or charges associated with the passage of air through the meter assembly will be avoided, thereby providing a more accurate representation of the quantity of water actually delivered to the facility.
More specifically, the valve assembly of the present invention comprises a valve housing connected to the water supply line upstream of the water meter assembly associated with the home or other facility to which the water is being delivered. Further, the valve housing includes an interior channel which is disposed along and at least partially defines the path of fluid flow of the water supply line. Therefore, the normal supply of water travels along the path of fluid flow and through the interior channel of the valve housing as it passes, through the water meter assembly, into the facility where it is used. Moreover, the interior channel includes both an inlet and outlet disposed in fluid communication therewith. In addition, a valve body is movably disposed within the interior channel and includes a sealing structure which is forced, through the provision of a biasing assembly, into sealing engagement or relation with the inlet of the interior channel. The sealing structure and the various components associated therewith, when disposed in sealing relation to the inlet, prevents fluid flow from passing into the interior channel or through the housing and also prevents fluid flow from reaching and passing through the metering assembly associated with the facility to which the water flow is intended to be delivered.
The biasing assembly is disposed within the interior channel in biasing relation with the sealing structure and is disposed and structured to exert a “predetermined force” or “predetermined biasing force” on the sealing structure. This predetermined biasing force is calculated to effectively “recognize” and/or respond to the difference in pressures exerted on the sealing structure, through the inlet, by the water or air existing within the water supply line. More specifically, the predetermined biasing force exerted on the sealing structure is sufficient to force it into sealing relation with the inlet. Therefore, the sealing structure will be displaced from its sealing relation with the inlet, only when the pressure exerted thereon from within the water supply line exceeds the predetermined biasing force. As set forth above, the water pressure passing along a conventional water supply line may typically be in the range of 60 psi. Accordingly, when water having a predetermined water pressure of, by way of example only, 60 psi is exerted on the sealing structure from within the water supply line, it will exceed the predetermined biasing force and the sealing structure will be displaced from its sealing relation with the inlet. Water will then flow through the interior channel of the valve housing and through the water meter. It is emphasized that the predetermined biasing force may vary or be adjusted by a structuring of the biasing assembly to accommodate the actual water pressure of the normal flow of water passing along the water supply line and is not limited to a water pressure of 60 psi, as represented above by way of example only.
In contrast, an air pocket or like air flow segment passing along the water supply line will exert an insufficient amount of air pressure on the sealing structure to displace it from its sealing relation with the inlet. More specifically, the predetermined force or predetermined biasing force exerted on the sealing structure by the biasing assembly from within the interior of the housing is calculated to be greater than any force exerted on the sealing structure from within the water supply line by an air pocket passing along and reaching the inlet of the valve assembly. As a result, the sealing structure will not be displaced from its sealing relation with the inlet and the air pocket will be compressed, resulting in it being disbursed or it being forced into the water in the water supply line being delivered to the facility. As a result air flow will not independently pass through the metering assembly and no inaccurate costs or charges will be registered.
Other features of one or more preferred embodiments of the valve assembly of the present invention includes a retaining structure also disposed within the housing of the valve assembly in retaining engagement with the biasing assembly. As such, the biasing assembly is preferably disposed in biasing engagement with the sealing structure and in a retaining relation with the retaining structure. Also, the retaining structure includes an apertured construction which allows water, once entering into the interior channel of the valve housing, to pass therethrough and eventually through the metering assembly for delivery to the facility associated therewith. Yet additional structural and operative feature include a stabilizing assembly which maintains an accurate, aligned orientation of the valve body and the sealing structure relative to the inlet of the interior channel. As such, the sealing structure is accurately and reliably disposed into and out of sealing relation with the inlet when an appropriate amount of exterior force is exerted thereon from within the water supply line, such as by conventional water flow along the water supply line.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
As represented in the accompanying Figures, the present invention is directed to a valve assembly generally indicated as 10 structured to remove or significantly reduce an “air pocket” or an “air flow segment” traveling along a water supply line, generally indicated as 12, as schematically represented in
Accordingly, the valve assembly 10 of the present invention is connected to and located along the water supply line 12 upstream of a water meter assembly 26 which is associated with the facility 29 to which the water is delivered. As such, water flowing through the meter assembly 26 is measured and the quantity of water utilized and/or delivered to the facility 20 is charged an appropriate rate based on readings or other determinations provided by the meter assembly 26. Therefore, in order to provide an accurate measure of the quantity of water delivered to the facility 20, the valve assembly 10 is structured to prevent air flow from reaching and/or passing through the water meter assembly 26. Such air flow may be in the form of an air pocket or air flow segment which is at least partially separated from the conventional flow water within the supply line 12. Therefore, the facility 20 will only be charged for the actual quantity of water delivered thereto and will not be charged for “air pockets” or “air flow segments” existing within the water supply line 12 due to repair, maintenance, damage, etc. Such air pockets or air flow segments are eliminated or significantly reduced prior to reaching the meter assembly 26 due to the structure and operation of the valve assembly 10, as described in greater detailed hereinafter.
Accordingly, the valve assembly 10 includes a housing 13 structured to be connected to the water supply line 12 such that the interior channel 14 defines at least a part of the path of fluid flow along the water supply line 12 which leads to the meter assembly 26. Further, the housing 13 is appropriately structured to accomplish such “in-line” connection with the water supply line 12 and may include a threaded exterior portion 15. The threaded portion 15 may serve to connect or position the valve assembly 10 immediately adjacent to the meter assembly 26 or in direct connected and fluid communication therewith but upstream thereof.
With primary reference to
The valve body 30 also includes an elongated stem or other appropriately configured body portion 40 fixedly or integrally connected to the stop member 34 of the sealing structure 32. Moreover, the length of the body portion 40 preferably extends along at least the majority of the length of the interior channel 14 such that an outer or distal 40′ is supported and/or is movably disposed in cooperative relation to a retaining structure 42. The retaining structure 42 is maintained in its operative position, as represented in
In addition, the biasing assembly 46 is structured to exert the aforementioned predetermined force on the sealing structure 32 so as to maintain it in its sealing orientation, as represented in
However, during times of repair, malfunction, maintenance, etc. on or along the water supply line it is common for air pockets or air flow segments to encroach into the path of fluid flow on the interior of the water supply line 12. Typically, the external air pressure exerted on the stop member 32 of the sealing structure 32 when the air pockets or air flow segments reach the inlet 16 is significantly less than the water pressure of the flow of water passing along the water supply line 12 in a conventional fashion. Therefore, this reduced external air pressure of the air pocket or air flow segment, will be insufficient to display the stop 34 of the sealing structure 32 from its sealing relation with the inlet 16, as represented in
It should therefore be apparent that during conventional operation and typical water flow along the water supply line 12, the water pressure will be sufficient to displace and maintain the sealing structure 32 out of the sealing position or orientation as represented in
Other structural and operative features associated with the one or more preferred embodiments of the valve assembly include an apertured construction of the retaining structure 42. This apertured construction is defined by at least one, but in certain preferred embodiments, a plurality of apertures 45 formed in the retaining structure 42. This apertured construction defined by the one or more apertures 45 allows water to flow through the interior channel 14 and properly exit through the outlet 18 as indicated by directional arrow 50′, by passing through the one or more apertures 45.
Yet additional structural and operative features of the valve assembly 10 in at least one preferred embodiment thereof, include the provision of a stabilizing assembly generally indicated as 60. The stabilizing assembly 60 includes at least one but may also include a plurality of stabilizing members 62 connected to and extending outwardly from the stop member 34 of the sealing structure 32. The plurality of stabilizing members 62 are disposed in spaced relation to one another so as to allow fluid flow there through and facilitate fluid flow through the inlet 16 when the stop member 34 of the sealing structure 32 is displaced out of the sealing position or orientation as represented in
Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Now that the invention has been described,
The present application is a Continuation-In-Part application of previously filed, now pending application having Ser. No. 12/383,708 which was filed on Mar. 27, 2009, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) filed Provisional patent application, having Ser. No. 61/070,994 filed on Mar. 27, 2008, and which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61070994 | Mar 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12383708 | Mar 2009 | US |
| Child | 13888875 | US |
