Patent ID: 11959564
Assignee: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 18:
19. A valve comprising:
a valve body defining a pair of ports and comprising a valve body step defining a recessed valve body sealing surface, a diaphragm support flange comprising a rounded support surface, an inlet cavity region, and an outlet cavity region;
a bonnet coupled to the valve body and defining an upper chamber, the bonnet defining a bonnet bore;
a seat assembly movable between an open orientation and a closed orientation and defining an equalization pathway extending from the inlet cavity region to the upper chamber, comprising:
a diaphragm supported by the diaphragm support flange and a diaphragm guide, the diaphragm guide defining a guide disc and a guide stem; and
a diaphragm end wall at a second diaphragm end comprising a head pad extending from an inner wall to an outer wall and defining a diaphragm step between the inner wall and the outer wall and opposite the valve body step, the guide disc abutting the diaphragm end wall, the guide stem configured to slide through the bonnet bore,
a diaphragm sidewall coupled to the diaphragm end wall and extending from a first diaphragm end to the second diaphragm end, the diaphragm sidewall defining the diaphragm step between a diaphragm sealing surface of the outer wall and the diaphragm sidewall;

a depressurization pathway extending from the upper chamber to the outlet cavity region; and
a solenoid system comprising a plunger, the plunger movable between a closed position, wherein the depressurization pathway is sealed by abutment of the plunger with an inlet channel of the depressurization channel, which causes engagement of the head pad and diaphragm step of the diaphragm to the recessed valve body sealing surface and the valve body step of the valve body, and an open position, wherein the depressurization pathway is unsealed.