Patent ID: 6024116
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: F16K,F24H,H01H,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve assembly for automatically shutting off a water supply line and disrupting an electrical circuit of a hot water vessel, said hot water vessel including a water inlet line, and an electrical circuit, said valve assembly comprising:a valve body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening which are in fluid communication, said inlet opening being connected to said water supply line and said outlet opening being connected to the water inlet line of said hot water vessel;a valve member movable within the valve body between an open position wherein the valve member does not block fluid flow between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, and a closed position wherein the valve member blocks fluid flow between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;a pair of contacts mounted adjacent to said valve member and being normally biased to a closed circuit condition, said pair of contacts being in electrical communication with said electrical circuit of said hot water vessel; anda water softenable actuator engaged with a portion of the valve member within said valve body, said water softenable actuator being in operative association with said valve member such that upon being subjected to water said water softenable actuator is weakened in said subjected water thus causing said valve member to move from said open position to said closed position,said valve member including a portion that engages said pair of contacts along a portion of the travel of said valve member as said valve member is moved from said open position to said closed position, said valve member portion moving said pair of contacts apart to at least temporally form an open circuit condition and at least temporarily disrupt power to said electrical circuit at an intermediate point of travel between said open and closed positions.