Positioning device for knob of valve unit

A valve unit includes a valve body with a plate located in a tubular portion of the valve body. The tubular portion has multiple notches defined in the outside there. A knob has a space defined therein and is threadedly mounted to the tubular portion. The knob has a groove defined in the outside thereof. A first hole and a second hole are respectively defined through knob and communicate with the groove. A resilient member is engaged with the groove and two ends of the resilient member are respectively engaged with the first and second holes. A spring is biased between the plate and the knob. The contact portion is engaged with the notches to generate sounds when rotating the knob.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The present invention relates to a valve unit (F16K-005/06), and more particularly, to a positioning device for a knob of the valve unit so that when rotating the knob, at least one sound is generated and the knob is well positioned.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

The conventional piping system for delivering fluid generally has at least one valve unit which is able to regulate the unit volume or pressure of the fluid in the piping system. A knob is located on outside of the valve unit and has an inner threaded portion so as to be connected to the outer threaded portion of the body of the valve. When rotating the knob, a plate in the valve unit can be moved to achieve the function of regulating the unit volume or pressure of the fluid in the piping system.

When finishing the regulation process, the knob has to be secured so as to prevent the knob from loosening.

As shown inFIG. 10, a conventional positioning device for a knob is disclosed and includes an external pin8which extends through the valve6and is inserted into one of the holes61of the knob7, such that the knob7is well positioned.

As shown inFIG. 11, another conventional positioning device for a knob is disclosed, wherein the knob7has a nut9located at the underside thereof. The nut9is threadedly connected to the outer threaded portion of the valve6. The nut9is securely connected to the knob7by using a wrench to tighten the nut9, such that the knob7is well positioned.

However, the external pin8protrudes outward, and the nut9has to be tightened by using a wrench. These conventional ways are not convenient.

The present invention intends to provide a positioning device for a knob of the valve unit so as to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a valve unit and comprises a valve body connected with a pipe and having a tubular portion extending therefrom. A plate is located in the tubular portion which has an outer threaded portion. Multiple notches are defined in the outside of the tubular portion and located below the outer threaded portion. A knob has a space defined therein. An inner threaded portion is defined in the inner periphery of the space. The knob has a groove defined in the outside thereof, and a first hole and a second hole are respectively defined through knob and communicate with the groove. A resilient member is a bent wire and has a hook and a contact portion formed on two ends thereof. The hook is engaged with the first hole, and the contact portion is engaged with the second hole. A spring has a first end contacting the plate, and a second end of the spring contacts the inner end of the space of the knob.

Preferably, a stop is located in the second hole and the groove.

Preferably, a first positioning portion is formed at the inner end of the space of the knob, and the second end of the spring is engaged with the first positioning portion.

Preferably, the plate has a second positioning portion extending from the top thereof. The first end of the spring is mounted to the second positioning portion.

Preferably, the notches comprise first notches and second notches. The lengths of the first notches are the same. The second notches have different lengths.

Preferably, the gap between the first notches is smaller than the gap between the second notches.

Preferably, the resilient member is bent from a straight wire. The first end of the straight wire is bent to form the hook, and the second end of the straight wire is bent to have the contact portion.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a knob for a valve unit, wherein the user does not need any tool to tighten the knob.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a knob for a valve unit, when rotating the knob, sounds are generated to acknowledge the user by engaging the contact portion of the resilient member with the notches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5, the valve unit1of the present invention comprises a valve body11connected with a pipe5, and the valve body11has a tubular portion12extending therefrom. A plate13is located in the tubular portion12. The tubular portion12has an outer threaded portion121. Multiple notches14are defined in the outside of the tubular portion12and located below the outer threaded portion121as shown inFIG. 4. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the notches14comprise first notches141and second notches142, wherein the lengths of the first notches141are the same, and the second notches142have different lengths. The gap between the first notches141is smaller than the gap between the second notches142.

A knob2has a space21defined therein. An inner threaded portion22is defined in the inner periphery of the space21so as to be threadedly connected to the outer threaded portion121of the tubular portion12. The knob2has a groove23defined externally thereon, and a first hole231and a second hole232are respectively defined through knob2and communicate with the groove23. Generally, the second hole232is larger than the first hole231. A resilient member3, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, is a bent wire and has a hook31and a contact portion32formed on two ends thereof. The hook31is engaged with the first hole231, and the contact portion32is engaged with the second hole232. The engagement between the resilient member3and the groove23ensures that the resilient member3is not disengaged from the groove23. A stop233is located in the first hole231and the groove23to avoid the hook31of the resilient member3from being exposed and also avoid the hook31from interfering with the outside of the tubular portion12.

A spring4has a first end contacting the plate13, and a second end of the spring4contacts the inner end of the space21of the knob2. In detail, a first positioning portion211is formed at the inner end of the space21of the knob2, and the second end of the spring4is engaged with the first positioning portion211. The plate13has a second positioning portion131extending from the top thereof. The first end of the spring4is mounted to the second positioning portion131.

As shown inFIGS. 5 to 8, the first notches141and second notches142are defined on the outside of the tubular portion12and located below the outer threaded portion121of the tubular portion12. The resilient member3is engaged with the groove23, the contact portion32extends through the second hole232so that when the knob2, the spring4and plate13are installed to the tubular portion12, the contact portion32is engaged with one of the notches14.

By the engagement between the outer threaded portion121of the valve body11and the inner threaded portion22of the knob2, when rotating the knob5to adjust the unit volume or pressure of the fluid in the pipe5, the resilient member3is moved upward or downward, and the contact portion32moves over the notches14so as to generate sounds which acknowledge the user the status of the operation of the knob2.

Because the gaps and the lengths of the second notches142of the tubular portion12, when the knob2starts to be rotated, the knob2can quickly move toward the final stage of the rotation. When the knob2moves to the position wherein the first notches141are located, because the gaps are narrower, so that the knob2is able to be rotated more precisely.

The above described parts and operations can be used for both the valve units1,1ashown inFIGS. 3 and 9.