Patent Application
20190112800
The present invention relates to a fluid control valve and, more particularly, to a fluid control valve having a drip edge for directing fluid away from the sealing body of the valve and/or focusing the fluid flow over a sensor.
Fluid control valves allow liquid to flow in one direction and prevent gaseous flow in the opposite direction. One application for a fluid control valve is in drains which are connected to the sewer system. Here, it is necessary to permit flow through the valve into a sewer system while preventing reverse flow of malodorous gas in the reverse direction. This can be particularly useful in urinals in which the water trap has been removed, or in which regular flushing does not occur with each use as in a urinal application. These applications often have fluid flowing through them in the first direction, which has solids of one form or another suspended within it. Even flushing water can have solids, such as calcium, suspended in it, which can form on any valve surfaces as the liquid evaporates, leading to solids build up. WO 2015/024965 by Geberit International attempts to deal with these solids by creating a serrated drip edge for the valve member.
Further, fluid control valves are often used to replace a liquid water seal, such as a trap found in floor drains or urinals. Examples of valves used as traps include flattened flexible, and preferably resilient, tubes extending from a wide inlet section. These were developed from drain-tube valves used in watercraft. The valves known to the applicant have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,266 (hereinafter referred to as the '266 patent), Netherlands Patent No. NL 1015745C, and U.S. Publication No. 2012/0167295 (hereinafter referred to as the '295 publication).
Valves, such as the valve described in the '295 publication, are generally umbrella-shaped and seal gas by forming a seal between a soft umbrella-shaped membrane and a cartridge wall, which serves as an outer sealing body, while valves like that described in the '266 patent are similar to a duck bill style membrane that seals against themselves. Further valves of this type are known from the documents EP 1174549, JP 49005434B, and JP 5090063 U.
Fluid moving through umbrella valves, such as the one described in the '295 publication, tends to flow faster than fluid flowing through duck bill valves, such as the one disclosed in the '266 patent. This faster flowing type of valve is an advantage when the valves are used in some form of hybrid urinal, which are flushed on occasion and must not overwhelm the valve and cause flushing water to overflow their rim. Valves with a faster rate of fluid flow are also advantageous in floor drains, where flooding is a threat, and codes often call for a minimum rate of flow based on drain size, to assure flooding does not spread to other rooms due to a slow flowing valve at the entrance to the drain. Umbrella style valves, while having the advantage of allowing less restriction to flowing fluid, have the disadvantage of gaining build-up in between the soft membrane and the sealing body, or cartridge body, with use. This build-up is a well-known issue when used in urinals, and causes sticking of the soft membrane of the valve to the tubular cartridge body in the sealing area where they meet. The sticking can also cause poor sealing between the membrane and cartridge body as build-up forms there and create air gaps, which then allow the back migration of gas to flow freely into the room, defeating the desired functionality of the valve. Flushing of these valves with water can help avoid this build-up. There are many known means of flushing valves and sensors. Additionally, when valves are used upstream of a sensing device, where the sensing device operates a flush, as in a urinal, the ability to control where the fluid flows and drips can improve the operation of flush sensor.
Thus, a continuing need exists for a fluid control valve with the benefits of faster flow, causing build-up to occur away from the sealing body of the valve, and focusing the flow of fluid over the sensor when one is used downstream of the fluid control valve.
The present invention relates to a fluid control valve and, more particularly, to a fluid control valve having a drip edge for directing fluid away from the sealing body of the valve and/or focusing the fluid flow over a sensor. The fluid control valve comprises an outer sealing body wall surrounding a sealing area, and a flexible membrane positioned within the sealing area, wherein the flexible membrane creates a seal with the outer sealing body wall within the sealing area. The outer sealing body wall comprises a drip edge to direct the fluid away from the outer sealing body wall over a sensor in a controlled manner.
In another aspect, the drip edge extends at an angle away from the sealing area, such that build-up from solids occurs away from the sealing area.
The present invention also relates to a fluid control valve comprising an outer sealing body wall surrounding a sealing area, and a flexible membrane positioned within the sealing area, wherein the flexible membrane creates a seal with the outer sealing body wall within the sealing area. The flexible membrane comprises a drip edge formed inboard from the outer sealing body wall.
In another aspect, the drip edge extends at an angle away from the sealing area, such that the fluid flows away from the sealing area.
In another aspect, the sealing area has a center and the fluid control valve further comprises an inner sealing body wall, and at least one portion of the drip edge extends away from the inner sealing body wall towards the center of the sealing area.
In another aspect, the sealing area has a circumference, and the drip edge has a circumference less than the circumference of the sealing area.
The present invention further relates to a urinal system comprising a urinal having a bowl and an outlet; a sensor positioned proximate the outlet; and a fluid control valve positioned in the outlet. The fluid control valve comprises an outer sealing body wall surrounding a sealing area, and a flexible membrane positioned within the sealing area. The flexible membrane creates a seal with the outer sealing body wall within the sealing area. The outer sealing body wall comprises a drip edge to direct the fluid away from the outer sealing body wall over the sensor.
In another aspect, the sensor is a flushing sensor configured to initiate a flush of the urinal when fluid is sensed.
The present invention further relates to a urinal system comprising a urinal having a bowl and an outlet; a sensor positioned proximate the outlet; and a fluid control valve positioned in the outlet. The fluid control valve comprises an outer sealing body wall surrounding a sealing area, and a flexible membrane positioned within the sealing area. The flexible membrane creates a seal with the outer sealing body wall within the sealing area. The flexible membrane comprises a drip edge formed inboard from the outer sealing body wall and formed to direct the fluid over the sensor.
Additionally, the present invention relates to a method for forming a fluid control valve, comprising acts of forming a flexible membrane; forming an outer sealing body wall having a drip edge shaped to direct fluid away from the outer sealing body wall; positioning the flexible membrane within the outer sealing body wall; and forming a sealing area between the flexible membrane and the outer sealing body wall.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for forming a fluid control valve, comprising acts of forming an outer sealing body wall; forming a flexible membrane having a drip edge formed inboard from the outer sealing body wall; positioning the flexible membrane with the outer sealing body wall; and forming a sealing area between the flexible membrane and the outer sealing body wall.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:
The present invention relates to a fluid control valve and, more particularly, to a fluid control valve having a drip edge for directing fluid away from the sealing body of the valve and/or focusing the fluid flow over a sensor. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses, in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded with the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.
Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter-clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object. As such, as the present invention is changed, the above labels may change their orientation.
(1) Specific Details
Described is a fluid control valve having a drip edge for directing fluid away from the sealing body/cartridge body and, in some cases, directed over a flush activating sensor in a precise manner, even down to a few drops of fluid. Throughout this disclosure, the terms sealing body and cartridge body as well as the terms sealing body wall and cartridge body wall are used interchangeably but denote the same structural element of the fluid control valve. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an umbrella style valve with a drip edge that is inboard of the sealing body of the valve, causing build-up of urine precipitates, such as struvite and other biological solids, to occur away from the sealing body. Additionally, it is an object of the invention described herein to direct the flushing water and urine over a urinal sensor which is capable of initiating a flush of the urinal.
Similar to the prior art fluid control valve 100-P, the fluid control valve 100 of the present invention includes a membrane 102, which creates a seal with an outer sealing body wall 104 of the fluid control valve 100 when it presses against the interior of the outer sealing body wall 104. Much care in design is required to provide a flexible membrane fluid control valve 100 that can press resiliently against the inner wall of the sealing body (element 104), without overpowering incoming fluids under only gravitational force. A housing 101 configured to receive the fluid control valve 100 can be formed in any suitable shape as needed to fit within a drain or other component of a urinal.
In one embodiment, the fluid control valve 100 is made from a suitable plastic body and an elastomeric material membrane 102, such as silicone or Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) (or any suitable flexible material). The membrane 102 is a flexible membrane which comprises any suitable material(s) including, but not limited to, silicon, rubber, or other resilient flexible materials, or combinations thereof, which prevent significant damage of the fluid control valve 100 by urine fluids and cleaning solvents. The fluid control valve 100 is used to regulate flow of various fluids, including one or more of water and urine.
As shown in
The sensor 208 must have fluid run over its sensing area in order to operate and initiate a flush. By creating a drip edge 200 on the membrane 102 itself (shown in
While it may seem to one not skilled in the art that a few drops are not so important, in fact they are essential to being able to flush a urinal 502 in a highly efficient manner. With the ability to read both high volume, and small drips, the sensor 208 can direct the urinal 502 to give the fluid control valve 100 just a very small flush if it senses urine in the drops after a full flush. In this manner, the fluid control valve 100 can be kept perfectly clean, elongating its life, while setting the system to flush the minimal amount of water. Without a drip edge 200 targeting these last few drops on the sensor 208, the sensor 208 would not be able to detect urine still remaining on the fluid control valve 100.
By focusing the drops on a sensor 208, such as the one made by Ipee, which can detect the difference between water and urine, the sensor 208 can communicate to the urinal system to have a small additional flush or extended flush time to ensure the fluid control valve 100 is cleaned of all urine. Sensors 208 of this type can operate best when being able to detect only drops of urine, water, and other fluids, so that they can be precisely tuned in their start time, run time, and finish time. Since the sensors 208 are capable of differentiating urine from flushing water, measuring even a few drops at a time can be important for the sensors efficiency in communicating to the urinal 502 when and how much to flush, and when to stop flushing, as well as if the flushing has completely cleaned the urine, down to only a few drops. This is significant as flush valves, such as the fluid control valve 100 described herein, require only a few drops of urine left on them in order that they might stick closed or gain build-up over a short period of time (e.g., few weeks).
In use with a urinal 502, urine flows by gravity down the throat, or inlet 202, of the fluid control valve 100 and into the sewer system. The flow of the urine is directed over the sensor 208 area by the drip edge 200 that is configured to aim the fluid (e.g., urine) to the area where the sensor 208 resides, as depicted in
In use, urine will flow through the outer sealing body wall 104 and past the membrane 102, where the two components meet. The gravitational pressure from the fluid is sufficient to deform the membrane 102, allowing the fluid to pass. As the fluid begins to slow and lose velocity and volume of the fluid decreases, the undercut of the membrane 102 below line AA (see
In use, the sealing area 206 of the fluid control valve 100 can close against a reverse flow of gas from the sewerage system when placed in a drain 500 of a urinal 502 (depicted in
The geometry of the drip edge 200, whether formed as part of the valve membrane 102 and/or the sealing body wall 104, will cause fluid flow to be directed over the sensor 208 area to cause the urinal 502 to flush. The undercut (or underside) geometry of the membrane 102 of the valve 100, defined by the area below line AA in
It is understood by those skilled in the art, that bell- or umbrella-shaped valves 100 of this nature, which count on only gravitational forces to open, must be both low resistance to open, and yet have sufficient spring back action to close even with the weight of residual liquid resting on the valve membrane's 102 surface. It will be further understood by those skilled in the art, that this structure and spring back can be achieved through other means, such as thickening of cross sections of the valve membrane 102, or by adding geometric curves or angles to a single thickness membrane 102. Additionally, the durometer of the membrane 102 can be manipulated to create stiffer or more flexible characteristics without changing geometry or cross-sectional thickness. EP 2859155B1 by Keller uses localized ribs to create a thickened structure, sufficient to keep the valve from collapsing, and to provide areas of stiffness capable of providing spring back to the membrane valve.
One skilled in the art will also understand that the membrane 102 of the valve 100, such as shown in
While the fluid control valve 100 described herein has a particular application in urinals, it can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that it can have other similar applications and the components can be made of varying materials and made more robust to meet such applications without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Additionally, it will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.
This is a Non-Provisional patent application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/571,707, filed in the United States on Oct. 12, 2017, entitled, “Drip Edge and Slow Flow Sensing,” the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62571707 | Oct 2017 | US |
