Quick stop supply valve

A supply valve with a valve housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a control element which selectively turns the flow of liquid on and off; and a pipe joining assembly. The fluid inlet has a sequentially stepped inner cylindrical surface made up of a first portion having a first diameter at the distal end of the fluid inlet and terminating in a first shoulder, a second portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter extending from the first shoulder to a second shoulder, and a third portion having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter extending from the second shoulder to a third shoulder. The pipe joining assembly includes an O-ring seal, a protection ring, a lock ring, a release ring, and a cartridge ring having a predetermined thickness. The release ring, the lock ring, and the protection ring are mounted in the cartridge ring to form a cartridge ring assembly; the cartridge ring assembly is disposed in the first portion which extends axially for a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cartridge ring when the cartridge ring assembly is mounted in the first portion; the O-ring seal is disposed in the second portion; the cartridge ring assembly and the O-ring seal have an inner diameter substantially equal to the third diameter; and the third diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of a pipe to be inserted into the inlet with a press fit.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to valves and, more particularly, this invention relates to supply valves.

Supply valves are well-known and used in both industrial and domestic settings to supply the flow of water to, for example, sinks, toilets, and the like. Typically, the valve chosen is determined by the nature of the pipe to which the valve will be attached. For instance, copper tube may be attached to a valve using compression fittings. Compression fittings require a compression nut and a compression ring or ferrule which are to be mated with a compression seat of a valve housing. Copper pipe may require a valve suitable for soldering or brazing. Plastic pipe may require a valve specially constructed to accept plastic pipe. Some plastics require the use of a special cement or solvent. Thus, the installer must be prepared to install all types of pipe or tubing and valves to match. The installation in each case is time consuming and, at times, difficult. Consequently, there exists a need for a universal supply valve that can be used with any type of pipe.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a valve which is free of the aforementioned and other such disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a valve which can be used with any type of approved pipe.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a valve to which any type of approved pipe can be easily attached without heat or cement.

Consistent with the foregoing objects, the supply valve of the present invention comprises a valve housing having a fluid inlet which comprises a sequentially stepped inner cylindrical surface comprising a first portion having a first diameter at the distal or inner end of the fluid inlet and terminating in a first shoulder, a second portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter extending from the first shoulder to a second shoulder, and a third portion having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter extending from the second shoulder to a third shoulder; and a fluid outlet; a control element which selectively turns the flow of liquid on and off; and a pipe joining assembly, the pipe joining assembly comprising an O-ring seal, a protection ring, a lock ring, a release ring, and a cartridge ring having a predetermined thickness;

(A) the release ring, the lock ring, and the protection ring are mounted in the cartridge ring to form a cartridge ring assembly;

(B) the cartridge ring assembly is disposed in said first portion which extends axially for a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the cartridge ring when the cartridge ring assembly is mounted in the first portion;

(C) the O-ring seal is disposed in the second portion;

(D) the cartridge ring assembly and the O-ring seal have an inner diameter substantially equal to the third diameter; and

(E) the third diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of a pipe to be inserted into the inlet with a press fit.

It is to be understood that the word “pipe” as used herein is meant to include metal or plastic conduit or pipe as well as metal or plastic tubing which may be used to supply water or the like to a fixture such as a sink, toilet, ice-maker, etc. Pipes may be made of copper, stainless steel, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride), poly (polybutylene), PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) or any other type of pipe used for plumbing purposes

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1shows an angle supply valve generally indicated by the numeral10. Supply valve10includes a housing12which is typically made of brass but can be made of any suitable material known in the art. A conventional stem14is disposed within the housing10to control the flow of water through the valve. A handle16is attached to the stem14by conventional means such as a screw18. Water enters through fluid inlet20and exits through an outlet22.

FIG. 2shows a straight supply valve generally indicated by the numeral24. Supply valve24includes a housing26which is typically made of brass but can be made of any suitable material known in the art. A conventional stem28is disposed within the housing24to control the flow of water through the valve. A handle16is attached to the stem28by conventional means such as a screw18. Water enters through fluid inlet20and exits through an outlet22.

Turning now toFIG. 4, valve comprises housing12, conventional stem14, a brass packing washer30, a rubber packing washer32, a brass packing nut34, and handle16attached to the stem14by a screw18. The material of which the packing washers and packing nut are made, as just described, is preferred but they can be fabricated of any suitable material which is well-known in the art.

The outlet22is shown with a brass ferrule36and brass compression nut38which would be used to affix brass, copper, or the like tubing to the valve. Of course, if some other type of tubing or pipe is to be affixed to the outlet of the valve, a suitable well-known connection would be used.

At the inlet end20of the housing12there are, in order, an O-ring seal40, a protection ring42, a lock ring44, a release ring46, and a cartridge ring48. The protection ring42, release ring46, and cartridge ring48are each fabricated of a suitable plastic which is well-known in the art. Known plastics which may be used depending on the environment are nylon, acetal, Teflon® (polytetrafluoroethylene), and the like. The lock ring44is preferably made of stainless steel.

FIG. 5shows a pipe50inserted in the fluid inlet20of the housing12. The construction of the inlet can be better appreciated fromFIG. 6. There it will be seen that the fluid inlet20comprises a sequentially stepped inner cylindrical surface comprising a first portion52having a first diameter at the distal end of the fluid inlet20and terminating in a first shoulder54, a second portion56having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter extending from the first shoulder54to a second shoulder58, and a third portion60having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter extending from the second shoulder58to a third shoulder62.

O-ring40is disposed in the second portion56against second shoulder58. The axial length of the second portion56is approximately equal to the thickness of the O-ring when it is in place and partially compressed by pipe50. Protection ring42, lock ring44, and release ring46are assembled in cartridge ring48to form a cartridge ring assembly64and the cartridge ring assembly64is disposed in the first portion52against first shoulder54. The cartridge ring assembly64locks in place against axial movement due to abutting against the first shoulder54at the proximal end of first portion52and the press-fit at the distal end66. Annular extension68of release ring46extends out of fluid inlet20at the distal end.

As can be seen inFIGS. 5 and 6, pipe50is inserted into fluid inlet20creating a snug fit against release ring46, protection ring42, and O-ring40, then extending into third portion60and abutting third shoulder62. The radial dimension of third shoulder62is substantially the same as the thickness of the wall of pipe50, thereby minimizing, if not eliminating, turbulence which might be caused by an obstruction in the flow of fluid.

As mentioned earlier, the cartridge ring assembly64is locked in place. If it is necessary to remove the assembly at some time, the tool70which is shown inFIG. 3is placed over annular extension68of release ring46to compress it, thereby allowing for removal of the assembly, as shown inFIG. 6.