Patent Application
20080011971
With reference to the various figures, the quick opening drain plug assembly of this invention is indicated generally at 10 which is adapted to be secured to a radiator header, a portion of which is shown at 12. Principal components of the plug assembly are a tubular fitting indicated generally at 14, a tubular socket body indicated generally at 16, a slidably mounted valve indicated generally at 18, a slidable collar 20, and a spring 22. The fitting 14 has first and second ends 14.1 and 14.2, respectively. The first end 14.1 is adapted to connect the drain plug assembly 10 to the radiator header 12. A passageway 14.3 extends from the first end 14.1 to the second end 14.2. As can be seen from
An abutment surface 16.1 is provided on the interior of the socket body 16. The slidably mounted valve 18 is located within the socket body 14. It has first and second ends 18.1 and 18.2, respectively. A cylindrical recess or passageway 18.3 extends from the second end 18.2 to the closed first end 18.1. A multiplicity of side ports 18.4, located away from the closed end 18.1, extend from the exterior of the valve 18 into the cylindrical recess 18.3. The valve 18 can slide back and forth between two positions, closed as shown in
When the valve is in the open position, the flow of the fluid is through the tubular fitting 14, through a circumferential passageway 26 (
The movement of the valve is limited such that when open, the closed end will lie outside the fitting and interior to the tubular socket body. The circumferential space 26 is between the socket body and the valve for fluid flow when the valve is in the open position.
Means to limit the movement of the moveable valve to the open position include the valve flange 18.6 and socket body abutment 16.1. Means to hold the valve in either a closed or an open position include the collar 20, carried by the socket body, the compression spring 22, which extends between the external abutment 16.2 on the socket body 16, and an internal abutment 22.1 on the collar 22. The compression spring 22 normally biases the collar to the extended position, and a plurality of balls 30, are carried by a plurality of apertures 16.3 in the socket body. The collar is movable between extended and retracted positions to hold the valve in either a closed or an open position, respectively. A split ring 32 which is received in groove 16.4 limits movement of the collar in its extended position. When the collar is in the extended position, and a tight fluid-proof seal is formed between the fitting and the valve when the valve is in its closed position. When the collar is moved to compress the spring, the balls are released from the groove, and the pressure of the fluid within the radiator will force the valve 18 to its open position. To close the valve, it is only necessary to push the valve 18 towards the fitting 14, and when it approached the closed position, the spring will force the balls back into the groove to hold the parts together in the closed position.
A protective rubber cap 34 fits over the open end of the valve and is affixed to the valve assembly with an integral lanyard 36.
While a preferred form of this invention has been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but intends to be limited only to the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. In this regard, the term “means for” as used in the claims is intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.
