Shut-off valve for installation immediately downstream from a defective valve mounted into the compression-connection type of outlet of the defective valve

A trouble-shooting shut-off valve includes an inlet-tail-tube mountable directly into a compression-fitting outlet socket of a defective shut-off valve, thus positioning the trouble-shooting valve immediately downstream from the defective valve in line in series with the defective valve. An inlet-tail-tube fitting is mounted onto an upstream end of the valve housing as a component of the valve. This fitting has an axial bore forming an upstream extension of an inlet passage in the valve housing. The inlet-tail-tube projects axially from this fitting adapted for insertion directly into such a socket in the defective valve. The inlet-tail-tube has a diameter equal to the outside diameter of flexible plumbing tubing, referred to as flex tube, and is formed of material suitable for making a compression connection thereto. An inlet end termination of the inlet-tail-tube is flat for seating down squarely into the outlet socket of the defective valve. A downstream end of the valve housing has an exteriorly-threaded boss with a valve outlet passage extending through this boss to a downstream termination of the boss. A truncated conical surface within this downstream termination encircles the outlet passage and flares outwardly adapted for engaging a compression sleeve with inward wedging action when a compression nut is screwed onto external threads of the boss for squeezing the compression sleeve in making a compression connection with a downstream flex tube.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is in the field of shut-off valves for installation 
in supply lines for plumbing fixtures. More particularly this invention 
relates to a shut-off valve for convenient installation in-line in series 
with an existing defective valve being mounted into the outlet of the 
defective valve immediately downstream from the defective valve in a 
supply line leading to a plumbing fixture, such as a wash basin or toilet 
tank or the like. Also, this shut-off valve is adapted for serving as a 
high-quality, easy-to-install, premium valve unit for incorporation in a 
new plumbing installation. 
BACKGROUND 
Many plumbing fixtures, such as wash basins and toilet tanks, have water 
supply lines leading to them equipped with relatively small shut-off 
valves that plumbers refer to as "Speedy" valves. A flex tube often 
extends from the outlet side of the "Speedy" valve to the fixture, and 
this flex tube often is connected to the outlet of the small "Speedy" 
valve by a compression fitting. When a plumber is called upon to make a 
repair or replacement in such a wash basin or toilet, the first step is an 
attempt to shut off this existing small valve to prevent flow of water 
while doing the repair or replacement on the fixture involved. 
It is not unusual for such a "Speedy" valve which has been in its open 
condition for many years to become defective by sticking in its full-open 
position or for its valve stem to be covered by corrosion or mineral 
deposits so that the handle on the stem cannot be turned completely off. 
Sometimes the valve seat itself becomes eroded or irregularly 
mineral-coated such that the valve leaks significantly, even when 
strenuous attempts are made by the plumber to turn the valve handle to a 
fully off position. 
When a plumber is faced with a situation where an existing supply line 
valve has become defective such that it permits significant incoming water 
flow to continue, then the plumber must deal with two unattractive 
alternative procedures. 
1. One alternative is to attempt to make needed repairs on a fixture while 
trying to use rags, sponges and buckets to staunch unwanted incoming flow 
of water entering through the defective existing shut-off valve. Often the 
plumber is working in a cramped space, lying on a floor facing upwardly 
underneath the wash basin or toilet tank being repaired, and it is not 
unusual in such situations that the incoming water is squirting into the 
plumber's eyes or onto the plumber's face and running down his neck. 
2. The other alternative procedure is to attempt to trace back a supply 
pipe line for that particular fixture hoping to locate a main shut-off 
valve which can be used for temporarily stopping the incoming flow. In an 
apartment building, it is sometimes necessary for the plumber to go down 
into a basement so as to shut off a main riser for a whole tier of 
apartments, because a shut-off valve for a particular apartment (in which 
a fixture to be repaired is situated) is inaccessible in a locked service 
cabinet whose key is missing or is inoperative. When a plumber has trudged 
down into a basement, the plumber often finds a basement piping situation 
in which it is very difficult to ascertain which is an appropriate main 
riser valve to be turned off. Often the respective riser valves have not 
been tagged nor marked with identifications telling which tiers of 
apartments they control. Moreover, after an appropriate riser shut off 
valve is located and has been closed, other tenants in other apartments 
along that particular riser soon become annoyed by lack of water and raise 
complaints, while a needed repair or replacement of a fixture is being 
accomplished in one particular apartment. 
Considerable frustrating time is lost while a plumber goes down into a 
basement seeking a hoped-for riser shut-off valve, experimentally turning 
off a promising valve, then in coming back up to the apartment only to 
find out that the wrong valve was turned off, necessitating another trip 
down to the basement, amid possible complaints from neighboring tenants, 
etc. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,287,107--Robertson shows valves for a steam heating system 
of vintage 1918. In FIG. 1 a valve plunger opens downwardly, and in FIG. 4 
a valve plunger opens upwardly. FIG. 2 shows that the valve handle turns 
180.degree. between "ON" and "OFF" positions. This Robertson steam valve 
is cited because it happens to disclose female and male connections at 3 
and 4, respectively, on "induction and eduction necks 3 and 4" (Col. 1, 
lines 38-39). However, both the male and female connections are threaded. 
Both the male and female connections are of large diameter suited for 
steam (gaseous) flow not of modest size as is typical for water (liquid) 
flow. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,414,118--Eller et al discloses a valve having a plunger 6 
(FIG. 4) with a pair of ears 8 (FIG. 2) sliding in grooves 7 for 
preventing the plunger 6 from rotating as it is moved up and down by 
turning a handle 22, 23. Multiple turns of the handle are required for 
moving the plunger from fully closed to fully open. The inlet passage 2 is 
located in a neck which is both male and female threaded. The outlet 
passage 3 is located in a male threaded neck. PG,6 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,508,130 and 4,691,726--Studer et al are directed to 
solving plumbing repair problems. Both of these patents describe solutions 
to plumbing repair problems. These solutions are considerably more complex 
and are more time-consuming than the problem-solving capability afforded 
by the described embodiment of the present invention. In addition, both of 
these prior patents involve temporary use of a main shut-off valve. 
Neither of these Studer et al patents discloses nor suggests a downstream 
repair problem where a main shut-off valve is inaccessible, inoperative or 
remotely located in a basement among an array of shut-off valves whose 
identifies or control functions are not identified. In contrast to Studer 
et al's repair sequence, the present invention advantageously avoids any 
need to seek and to shut off any main valve. 
In Studer et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,130, FIG. 1 shows a leak at 38 in pipe 
24 located in a crawl space beneath a floor 14. In order to repair this 
leak 38, these joint inventors describe a procedure involving a sequence 
of steps as follows: (A) An accessible exterior main shut-off valve 22 is 
closed; (B) in FIG. 2, a desired pipe-cutting location 92 is selected; (C) 
in FIG. 2, the pipe 24 is cut in two places at this selected position 92 
so that a short length 94 of the pipe 24 can be removed; (D) in FIG. 3, 
the spacing of the two cuts leaves a gap 96 equal to the spacing between 
two socket-stop shoulders 72 (FIG. 5) of their new valve 40; (E) in FIG. 
4, their new valve 40 is installed in the gap between the two cut ends of 
the pipe; (F) their new valve 40 has compression fittings at each end; (G) 
their new valve is installed and then is shut; (H) the main shut-off valve 
22 now is re-opened so that water will be available elsewhere in the 
building; (I) the leak 38 is repaired as shown at 98 in FIG. 4; (J) their 
new valve 40 is now opened for leak-proof testing of the repair 98. When 
repair 98 has been made and tested to be leak-proof, this new valve 40 is 
turned permanently open. Thus, this new valve becomes part of the supply 
pipe. 
There is no discussion nor suggestion in this Studer et al '130 Patent 
concerning the problems associated with attempting to make a repair 
downstream from a leaky localized shut-off "Speedy" valve, where a main 
shut-off valve is inaccessible, defective, unidentifiable or is 
impractical to use, because shutting it off would inconvenience too many 
other tenants in a large building. 
In Studer et al '130 the inventors are concerned about the difficulty of 
repeatedly squirming in and out of a crawl space. They want to shut off 
the main valve 22 once. Then, they squirm into the crawl space to install 
and shut off their new valve 40. Then, they get out of the crawl space to 
open the main valve 22. Then they get back into the crawl space for making 
repair 98. Their new valve 40 enables them to complete and to leak-proof 
test their repair 98 while remaining in the crawl space and then to leave 
new valve 40 in a permanently full-open position. They fully assume that 
the main shut-off valve 22 is accessible, is fully operational and is 
practical for them to use for temporary shut-off purposes. 
In the other Studer et al patent '726, the patentees describe a water tank 
32 (FIG. 1) where the existing valve assembly 38 needs to be replaced. 
They are not making a repair downstream from the existing valve assembly 
38; they are replacing it. 
Their valve-replacement procedure is: (A) turn off an accessible main 
shut-off valve 22; (B) cut the inlet pipe 40 (FIG. 3) adjacent to the 
inlet side 48 (FIG. 3) of the existing valve assembly 38; (C) remove the 
existing valve by disconnecting a flex-tube connection 52; (D) install a 
new valve 70 using a compression fitting 74 (FIG. 5) for connection to the 
cut end of the inlet pipe 40; (E) connect the flex-tube connection 52 to 
the compression fitting at the downstream side of their new valve 70; (F) 
open the main shut-off valve 22. 
In Studer et al '726, the patentees do not teach nor suggest that their new 
valve 70 is to be installed downstream from and in series with the 
existing defective valve assembly 38. This existing defective valve has 
soldered connections. Its downstream end is soldered to a short piece of 
pipe 68 which in turn is soldered to a downstream adapter 60 which is 
exteriorly threaded (male end fitting 60). 
Moreover, the new valve 70 of Studer et al '726 has two male threaded ends 
96 and 124. Thus, their new valve 70 is not adapted for direct connection 
immediately downstream from the existing valve assembly 38, since this 
existing valve assembly already has an adapter 60 with an exteriorly 
threaded male end 62 (Col. 5, lines 40-42). It will be understood that an 
exteriorly threaded male fitting is not directly connectable to another 
exteriorly threaded male fitting. 
The patentees in Studer et al '726 wish to avoid making a soldered "sweat" 
plumbing connection close to an interior wood-stud wall 18 where the water 
tank is located. These inventors Studer and Schourup appear to have had 
considerable practical plumbing experience. Since they have not recognized 
the problem which the present invention has solved, namely an 
inaccessible, not fully operational or an impractically situated main 
shut-off valve, the teaching in this U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,726 serves to 
emphasize patentable novelty of the present invention. 
SUMMARY 
In accordance with the present invention, the described embodiments of the 
invention, which comprise the best mode contemplated by the inventor for 
putting this invention into practice, comprise a valve housing having 
inlet and outlet passages. A valve chamber interconnects the inlet and 
outlet passages, a movable shut-off valve element is positioned in the 
valve chamber. This shut-off valve element is movable between its fully 
open and fully closed positions. A valve stem has an inner end coupled to 
the valve element for moving the valve element between its fully open and 
fully closed positions, and a handle is mounted on an outer end of the 
valve stem. This new valve housing further comprises: an inlet-tail-tube 
fitting having a longitudinally projecting inlet-tail-tube which defines 
the inlet passage for the valve. This inlet-tail-tube has an outside 
diameter ("OD") suitable for insertion directly into a socket in the 
externally-threaded outlet end of a Speedy valve. This Speedy valve socket 
normally has a flex-line inserted therein for supplying water to a 
plumbing fixture, and the externally-threaded outlet end of the Speedy 
valve normally is connected in water-tight relationship to the flex-line 
by a compression sleeve encircling the flex line with a compression nut 
tightened upon the compression sleeve. This inlet-tail-tube of the new 
valve is fabricated from suitably soft plumbing material, for example such 
as copper or plastic, so as to be capable of making a water-tight 
compression sleeve and compression nut connection between this 
inlet-tail-tube and the externally-threaded outlet end of a defective 
Speedy valve. The new valve housing also comprises an externally-threaded 
outlet end having a compression-fitting-type of truncated conical surface 
therein. Thus, the outlet end of the new valve is adapted to be connected 
by a compression sleeve and compression nut directly to an existing 
flex-line or to a replacement new flex-line. The compression sleeve and 
nut which are used to connect the existing flex-line to the outlet end of 
the new valve may be the same sleeve and nut which previously had been 
used to connect the flex-line to the outlet end of the defective Speedy 
valve, or a new sleeve and nut may be used. 
Also, this new shut-off valve is well adapted to serve as a high-quality, 
convenient-to-install, premium valve unit for incorporation in a new 
plumbing installation wherein compression-connection plumbing fittings are 
employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIG. 1, an incoming water supply line 1, which may be either a 
cold or a hot water supply line, extends horizontally inward from a wall, 
for example a bathroom wall. This supply 1 feeds into an inlet 2 of an 
angle-stop "Speedy" shut-off valve 3 having a handle 4. The valve 3 is 
called an "angle-stop" valve because its outlet 5 is oriented at right 
angles to its inlet 2. 
As shown in FIG. 2, there are also "straight-through" "Speedy" valves 7 
which are used when an incoming supply line 1, which may be either for 
cold or hot water, extends vertically from a floor, for example the floor 
of a bathroom. 
Both valve 3 and valve 7 have an outlet 5 equipped with a screw-threaded 
male end 8 adapted to be joined by a compression nut 9 (and by a 
compression sleeve not seen within this compression nut) to a relatively 
flexible, bendable flex tube line 10. This flexible flow line 10 often 
comprises relatively small diameter, bendable tubing as is shown in FIGS. 
1 and 2. For example such a flex-line 10 may be attractively coated copper 
tubing, such as chromium-plated copper tubing. Alternatively, such a 
flex-line 10 may comprise flexible plastic tubing surrounded by a 
protective sheath, for example a flexible sheath of braided non-corrodible 
wire strands. This flex-line tubing is fabricated from suitably soft 
material for making a water-tight connection to its lower end using a 
compression nut and compression sleeve as known in the art. The flex-line 
10 runs up to a plumbing fixture 12, for example a wash basin, deep sink, 
toilet tank, or the like. 
In the present embodiment of the invention, a trouble-shooting, quick 
shut-off valve 14 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) has a suitably soft inlet-tail-tube 
15 on a fitting 16 at its inlet end 13. This inlet-tail-tube 15 defines 
the inlet passage into the valve 14 and is adapted to be inserted directly 
into the socket within the externally-threaded male outlet 
compression-connection-type end 8 of a defective angle-stop "Speedy" valve 
3 as is illustrated in FIG. 3 or into the socket in the outlet 
compression-connection-type end 8 of a defective straight-through "Speedy" 
valve 7 (FIG. 2). As soon as the inlet-tail-tube 15 has been inserted 
fully, as shown in FIG. 3, into a socket outlet 24 located in the outlet 
end 8 of the defective Speedy valve 3 or 7, a compression-connection-type 
nut 22 with a compression sleeve 23 is used quickly and easily for 
connecting the inlet-tail-tube 15 to the compression-connection-type 
outlet 8. 
In use and operation of the quick shut-off valve 14, a plumber first makes 
sure that the L-shaped valve handle 18 on a rotatable stem 52 (Please see 
also FIGS. 4 and 5) is turned to its fully open position (FIG. 5) with the 
"ON" leg 19 of handle 18 resting against a handle stop stud 20. This. 
L-shaped valve handle 18 is shown configured with two legs 19 and 21 
(respectively "ON" and "OFF" legs) oriented 90.degree. apart. A 
one-quarter turn will position the OFF leg 21 against the stop stud 20, 
thereby shutting this valve 14. 
The reason for initially fully opening this valve 14 is that the plumber 
has already determined that the existing "Speedy" valve 3 or 7 is 
defective, and significant flow is passing through this existing valve in 
spite of vigorous efforts by the plumber to shut it off. When significant 
leakage flow is occurring, it is much easier to install an open valve 14, 
because the plumber thereby avoids fighting water pressure which otherwise 
would be resisting insertion of the inlet-tail-tube 15 into the socket 24 
(FIG. 3) within the externally threaded outlet end 8 of the leaking valve 
3 or 7. It is quite difficult to attempt to install a closed valve against 
water pressure of an existing flow, and such an attempt to fight against 
pressure may consume considerable time and may cause unwanted sprays of 
water to occur. Consequently, the new valve 14 needs to be open to 
accommodate leakage flow for facilitating installation of the new valve as 
quickly as possible while avoiding opposition from water pressure. The 
plumber wants to save time while uncontrolled leakage flow through a 
defective valve is occurring and wants to avoid needless spraying of 
leaking water. 
With the new valve 14 fully opened and at hand, and with a compression nut 
22 and a compression sleeve 23 positioned in readiness on the short 
inlet-tail-tube 15, the plumber as quickly as possible unscrews the nut 9 
(FIGS. 1 or 2) of the compression fitting which previously has been 
attaching the flex-line 10 to the threaded outlet 8 of the valve 3 or 7. 
As soon as this nut 9 begins to be loosened, there will be an amount of 
leakage (spurting or spraying) of water from between the sleeve and the 
threaded outlet 8, depending on the amount of leakage flow through 
defective valve 3 or 7. Quickly, the lower end of flex-line 10, together 
with the disconnected compression nut 9 and its compression sleeve, are 
temporarily shifted out of the way. 
As soon as the lower end of flex-line 10 has been removed from the socket 
24 (FIG. 3) and has been moved aside, the inlet-tail-tube 15 of the new 
valve 14, already prepared by putting thereon an encircling compression 
sleeve 23 with an encircling compression nut 22 resting loosely over the 
compression sleeve, as mentioned above, is inserted promptly into the 
empty socket 24. The compression nut 22 is quickly tightened for 
completing connection of the inlet-tail-tube 15 to the outlet end 8 of the 
defective valve 3 or 7. Then, the handle 18 is turned one-quarter turn 
putting the "OFF" arm 21 against the stop stud 20, thereby shutting off 
all leakage due to defective valve 3 or 7. The leakage flow has been 
stopped, and the plumber can proceed to make the needed repairs or 
replacement in fixture 12. 
The plumber may decide to re-use the existing flex-line 10 and existing 
compression nut 9 with a compression sleeve (not seen) which is already in 
place on the flex-line within the interior of this compression nut 9. 
Alternatively, the plumber may decide to use a new flex-line 10' (FIG. 3) 
and a new compression nut 9' (FIG. 4) with an accompanying new compression 
sleeve 64 (FIG. 4) for connecting the valve 14 to the repaired or replaced 
plumbing fixture 12. 
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the trouble-shooting, quick shut-off valve 14 
includes a valve housing 30. The inlet-tail-tube fitting 16 forms the 
inlet end 13 for this valve, being mounted in a threaded socket 32 in the 
valve housing 30. The fitting 16 has a downstream protruding end portion 
34 (FIGS. 7 and 8) with external screw threads 36 adapted to be screwed 
into this threaded socket 32. 
In order to facilitate assembly of the inlet-tail-tube fitting 16 into its 
socket 32, a main body portion 38 of the fitting 16 may be hexagonal for 
providing a wrench-engageable region 38. A circular rim 40 and the 
contiguous shoulder surface 74 on the main body portion 38 of the fitting 
16 abuts against the upstream end 78 of the valve housing 30. An axial 
bore inlet passage 42 extends through fitting 16, and it has an inside 
diameter "D" (FIG. 7) corresponding with the conventional inside diameter 
(I.D.) of a flex-line 10 or 10', for example having a nominal I.D. in a 
range from about 0.32 of an inch to about 0.21 of an inch, depending upon 
whether the inlet-tail-tube 15 is made from copper or plastic, or the 
like, suitably soft malleable material. A copper tail-tube 15 has a bore 
42 in the upper portion of this size range, while a plastic tail-tube has 
a bore in the lower portion of this size range for providing a slightly 
thicker tubing wall of plastic as compared with copper. The outside 
diameter "E" of the inlet tail-tube 15 corresponds with the conventional 
outside diameter (O.D.) of a flex-line 10 or 10', for example having a 
nominal O.D. of 3/8ths of an inch (a nominal value of 0.375 of an inch). 
Thus, the O.D. and physical characteristics of the tail-tube 15 are very 
suitable for making a compression-type connection thereto using a 
conventional compression nut 22 (FIG. 3) with a conventional compression 
sleeve 23. 
To make the inlet-tail-tube 15 well suited for applying a compression 
sleeve 23 and compression nut 22 thereto, this tail-tube is fabricated 
from suitably soft, malleable material, for example such as copper or 
plastic similar to copper, for example such as the plastic used for 
fabricating a flex-line 10 or 10'. A convenient method of manufacturing 
this suitably soft, malleable tail-tube 15 is to make the whole fitting 16 
as an integral component all fabricated from the same material, as is 
shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. Thus, the fitting 16 as a whole may be softer than 
the material, for example brass, of which the valve housing 30 may be 
fabricated. 
Alternatively, the tail-tube 15 itself may be fabricated from a desired 
material suitable for a compression connection thereto, for example soft 
copper, and then this tail-tube may be permanently suitably bonded at the 
inlet end region 13 to the main body portion 38 of the fitting 16. The 
main body portion 38 and its downstream protruding end portion 34 may be 
fabricated from material corresponding with the material of which the 
housing 30 is fabricated. 
The valve housing 30 has an outlet passage 44, and between this outlet 
passage and the inlet passage 42 is a valve chamber 46, which 
interconnects the inlet and outlet passages 42 and 44. Within the valve 
chamber 46 is positioned a quarter-turn rotatable valve element 48, for 
example shown as a ball, having a through bore 50 for connecting the inlet 
and outlet passages when this rotatable element is turned to the "ON" 
position, as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A rotatable valve stem 52 is 
mechanically coupled to the rotatable element 48 for turning it into its 
"ON" and "OFF" positions. This valve stem 52 is shown captured in the 
valve housing 30 by a nut sleeve 56 screwed into a threaded opening 54 in 
which the valve stem is located. A washer 58 is held by the nut sleeve 56, 
and this washer rests against an annular shoulder 60 on the valve stem 52 
for capturing it in the opening 54. A locknut 62 is threaded onto the 
outer end of the valve stem 52 for securing the handle 18 to the valve 
stem. Another advantage of this L-shaped handle 18 is its compact shape 
for enabling the valve 14 to fit into a relatively small available space 
between an existing valve 3 or 7 and a nearby plumbing fixture 12. For 
example its legs 19 and 21 may be no more than about one and a half inches 
long, and yet this two-legged handle enables a strong torque to be applied 
by hand to the valve stem 52. 
Within the valve chamber 46 are a pair of seat seals for receiving the 
rotatable valve element 48 sandwiched between them. These seat seals are 
shown as an inlet seat seal 66 and an outlet seat seal 68. In order to 
position and to retain these respective seals 66, 68 in their seated 
relationship against the ball element 48, the fitting 16, as seen most 
clearly enlarged in FIG. 8, is shown having an annular recess 70 in its 
downstream protruding end portion 34. This annular recess 70 receives and 
holds the inlet seat seal 66. This annular recess 70 has a radial surface 
72 which presses against the upstream side of the inlet seat seal 66 in 
the assembled valve 14, as shown in FIG. 4. 
For providing an appropriate pressure of the seat seals 66, 68 against 
opposite sides of ball element 48 sandwiched between these seals in 
assembled relationship, the radial back surface 72 of recess 70 is spaced 
a predetermined suitable distance "F" from a radial shoulder surface 74 
adjacent to the circular rim 40 and also is spaced a predetermined 
suitable distance "G" from the downstream radial face 76 of a rim 
encircling the recess 70. The distance F is predetermined in relation to 
the position of the upstream end 78 of the housing 30 encircling the 
socket 32. The shoulder surface 74 of fitting 16 is assembled abutting 
against this end 78 of the housing. The distance G is predetermined in 
relation to the axial position of an annular shoulder 80 at the downstream 
end of the socket 32 and in relation to the desired position of the seat 
seal 66 to be held against the ball 48 rotatable about axis 82. The radial 
face 76 of the rim around the recess 70 is assembled adjacent to this 
annular shoulder 80. 
The tail-tube 15 is shown having an upstream end 27 which is formed flat in 
a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis 29 of the fitting 
16, and the inlet-tail-tube has an axial length "L" (FIG. 7) of at least 
5/8ths of an inch as measured from the upstream end 13 of the main body 
portion 38 to the flat end 27, for enabling this tail-tube to be inserted 
fully into the socket 24 of valve 3 or 7. Such a compression-connection 
type of socket 24 often is about 3/8ths of an inch deep, and there needs 
to be sufficient additional available length of the tail-tube for 
accommodating thereon the loose compression sleeve 23 and the loose 
compression nut 22 in readiness for making the connection to valve 3 or 7. 
Preferably the length L is at least about one inch. The flat end 27 seats 
squarely down against the bottom of the socket 24. It is preferred that 
the length L be less than about 11/4 of an inch. 
In order to make connection with a flex tube 10 or 10', the externally 
threaded boss 17 projecting downstream from the valve housing 30 has a 
downstream termination with a truncated conical surface 65 contiguous with 
the downstream end of the outlet passage 44. This truncated conical 
surface 65 flares outwardly in the downstream direction adapted for 
engaging a compression sleeve such as the compression sleeve 64 for making 
a compression-connection 67 (FIG. 3) between the flex tube 10 or 10' and 
the boss 17. In this compression connection 67 the compression sleeve 64 
encircles the flex tube, and a compression nut 9 or 9' engages the 
external threads on the boss 17 for wedging the compression sleeve 64 in 
contact with the truncated conical surface 65 (FIG. 4) and also wedging 
this sleeve in compression gripping relationship around the flex tube 10 
or 10'. 
It is noted that after the plumber has completed repairing or replacing the 
fixture 12, the plumber may turn the handle 4 of the valve 3 or 7 into its 
full-flow position and then may permanently remove the handle 4 so that a 
homeowner or subsequent plumber will use only the new valve 14 as the 
operable replacement shut-off valve. 
The present inventor is not claiming inventorship of ball-type valves per 
se. The inventor is claiming patentable novelty in the overall structural 
configuration and interrelationships embodied in this trouble-shooting, 
quick shut-off valve 14 with its inlet-tail-tube which is conveniently 
adapted to be directly mounted onto a defective Speedy valve 3 or 7 in 
series relationship immediately downstream from the defective valve and 
with its externally-threaded boss 17 and truncated conical surface 65 
adapted for making a compression connection directly with a flex tube 10 
or 10'. 
In addition to the convenience of employing this valve 14 to solve the 
difficulties of dealing with a defective valve 3 or 7, this quick shut-off 
valve is quite well suited for use as a high-quality, easy-to-install, 
premium valve unit for incorporation in a new plumbing installation 
employing compression-connection fittings. 
In FIGS. 9 and 10, another embodiment of the invention is a 
trouble-shooting, shut-off valve 14A having a suitably soft 
inlet-tail-tube 15 on a fitting 16 at its inlet end 13. This 
inlet-tail-tube 15 defines the inlet passage 42 into the valve 14 and is 
adapted to be inserted directly into the socket 24 (FIG. 9) within the 
externally-threaded male outlet compression-connection-type end 8 of a 
defective angle-stop "Speedy" valve 3 as is illustrated in FIG. 9 or into 
the socket in the outlet compression-connection-type end 8 of a defective 
straight-through "Speedy" valve 7 (FIG. 2). As soon as the inlet-tail-tube 
15 has been inserted fully, as shown in FIG. 9, into a socket outlet 24 
located in the outlet end 8 of the defective Speedy valve 3 or 7, a 
compression-connection-type nut 22 with a compression sleeve 23 is used 
quickly and easily for connecting the inlet-tail-tube 15 to the 
compression-connection-type outlet 8. 
In use and operation of the shut-off valve 14A, a plumber first makes sure 
that the valve handle 18A on a rotatable stem 52 is turned to its fully 
open position. 
As explained previously, the reason for initially fully opening this valve 
14A is that the plumber has already determined that the existing "Speedy" 
valve 3 or 7 is defective. Significant flow is passing through this 
existing valve in spite of vigorous efforts by the plumber to shut it off. 
When significant leakage flow is occurring, it is much easier to install 
an open valve 14A, because the plumber thereby avoids fighting water 
pressure which otherwise would be resisting insertion of the 
inlet-tail-tube 15 into the socket 24 (FIG. 9) within the externally 
threaded outlet end 8 of the leaking valve 3 or 7. It is quite difficult 
to attempt to install a closed valve against water pressure of an existing 
flow, and such an attempt to fight against pressure may consume 
considerable time and may cause unwanted sprays of water to occur. 
Consequently, the new valve 14A needs to be open to accommodate leakage 
flow for facilitating installation of the new valve as quickly as possible 
while avoiding opposition from water pressure. The plumber wants to save 
time while uncontrolled leakage flow through a defective valve is 
occurring and wants to avoid needless spraying of leaking water. 
With the new valve 14A fully opened and at hand, and with a compression nut 
22 and a compression sleeve 23 positioned in readiness on the short 
inlet-tail-tube 15, the plumber as quickly as possible unscrews the nut 9 
(FIGS. 1 or 2) of the compression fitting which previously has been 
attaching the flex-line 10 to the threaded outlet 8 of the valve 3 or 7. 
As soon as this nut 9 begins to be loosened, there will be an amount of 
leakage (spurting or spraying) of water from between the sleeve and the 
threaded outlet 8, depending on the amount of leakage flow through 
defective valve 3 or 7. Quickly, the lower end of flex-line 10, together 
with the disconnected compression nut 9 and its compression sleeve, are 
temporarily shifted out of the way. 
As soon as the lower end of flex-line 10 has been removed from the socket 
24 (FIG. 9) and has been moved aside, the inlet-tail-tube 15 of the new 
valve 14A, already prepared by putting thereon an encircling compression 
sleeve 23 with an encircling compression nut 22 resting loosely over the 
compression sleeve, as mentioned above, is inserted promptly into the 
empty socket 24. The compression nut 22 is quickly tightened for 
completing connection of the inlet-tail-tube 15 to the outlet end 8 of the 
defective valve 3 or 7. Then, the handle 18A is turned rapidly for 
shutting off all leakage due to defective valve 3 or 7. Now that the 
leakage flow has been stopped, the plumber can proceed to make the needed 
repairs or replacement in fixture 12. 
The plumber may decide to re-use the existing flex-line 10 and existing 
compression nut 9 with a compression sleeve (not seen) which is already in 
place on the flex-line within the interior of this compression nut 9. 
Alternatively, the plumber may decide to use a new flex-line 10' (FIG. 3) 
and a new compression nut 9' (FIG. 4) with an accompanying new compression 
sleeve 64 for connecting the valve 14A to the repaired or replaced 
plumbing fixture 12. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the trouble-shooting, shut-off valve 14A includes a 
valve housing 30. The inlet tail-tube fitting 16 forms the inlet end 13 
for this valve, being mounted in a threaded socket 32 in the valve housing 
30. The fitting 16 has a downstream protruding end portion 34 with 
external screw threads 36 adapted to be screwed into this threaded socket 
32. 
In order to facilitate assembly of the inlet tail-tube fitting 16 into its 
socket 32, the main body portion 38 of the fitting 16 may be hexagonal for 
providing a wrench-engageable region 38 (FIG. 9). A circular rim 40 (FIG. 
9) and a contiguous shoulder surface 74 on the main body portion of the 
fitting 16 abuts against the upstream end 78 of the valve housing 30. An 
axial bore inlet passage 42 extends through fitting 16, and it has an 
inside diameter "D" corresponding with-the conventional inside diameter 
(I.D.) of a flex-line 10 or 10', for example having a nominal I.D. in a 
range from about 0.32 of an inch to about 0.21 of an inch, depending upon 
whether the inlet-tail-tube 15 is made from copper or plastic, or the 
like, suitably soft malleable material. A copper tail-tube 15 has a bore 
42 in the upper portion of this size range, while a plastic tail-tube has 
a bore in the lower portion of this size range for providing a slightly 
thicker tubing wall of plastic as compared with copper. The outside 
diameter "E" of the inlet tail-tube 15 corresponds with the conventional 
outside diameter (O.D.) of a flex-line 10 or 10', for example having a 
nominal O.D. of 3/8ths of an inch (a nominal value of 0.375 of an inch). 
Thus, the O.D. and physical characteristics of the tail-tube 15 are very 
suitable for making a compression-type connection thereto using a 
conventional compression nut 22 (FIG. 9) with a conventional compression 
sleeve 23. 
To make the inlet tail-tube 15 well suited for applying a compression 
sleeve 23 and compression nut 22 thereto, this tail-tube is fabricated 
from suitably soft, malleable material, for example such as copper or 
plastic similar to copper, for example such as the plastic used for 
fabricating a flex-line 10 or 10'. A convenient method of manufacturing 
this suitably soft, malleable tail-tube 15 is to make the whole fitting 16 
as an integral component all fabricated from the same material, as is 
shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. Thus, the fitting 16 as a whole may be softer than 
the material, for example brass, of which the valve housing 30 may be 
fabricated. 
Alternatively, the tail-tube 15 itself may be fabricated from a desired 
material suitable for a compression connection thereto, for example such 
as soft copper, and then this tail-tube may be permanently suitably bonded 
at the inlet end region 13 to the main body portion 38 of the fitting 16, 
which may be fabricated from material corresponding with the material of 
which the housing 30 is fabricated. 
The valve housing 30 has an outlet passage 44, and between this outlet 
passage and the inlet passage 42 is a valve chamber 46, which 
interconnects the inlet and outlet passages 42 and 44. Within the valve 
chamber 46 is positioned a movable valve element 48, for example shown as 
a plug, having resilient washer 45 secured to the lower end of the plug 48 
by a machine screw 47. FIG. 10 shows the closed ("OFF") position of the 
valve 14A in which the resilient washer 45 presses down onto a lip seat 49 
in the valve chamber 46, thereby blocking communication between the inlet 
and outlet passages 42 and 44. A rotatable valve stem 52 is mechanically 
coupled to an axially-movable rotatable plunger actuator 51 having 
external threads 53 engaging internal threads 55 within a boss 57 on the 
valve housing 30. This plunger actuator 51 is connected to the valve plug 
48, thus, turning the handle 18A in one direction moves the plug washer 45 
against the lip seat 49 for shutting the valve 14A, and turning it in the 
other direction lifts the plug washer 45 off of the lip seat 49 for 
opening the valve for providing communication between inlet and outlet 
passages 42 and 44. The valve stem 52 is shown captured in the valve 
housing 30 by a nut sleeve 56 screwed onto the threaded boss 57 in which 
the valve stem 52 is located. A sealing washer or gasket or packing 59 is 
held around the valve stem by the nut sleeve 56, and this sealing means 59 
seats upon an annular washer 61 engaging against the upper end of the 
threaded boss 57. A machine screw 63 is threaded into the outer end of the 
valve stem 52 for securing the handle 18A to the valve stem. 
The inlet-tail-tube fitting 16 has a radial shoulder surface 74 contiguous 
with the circular rim 40, and this radial surface 74 of fitting 16 is 
assembled abutting against an upstream end 78 of the housing 30 encircling 
the threaded socket 32. 
The tail-tube 15 is shown having an upstream end 27 which is formed flat in 
a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis 29 of the fitting 
16, and the inlet-tail-tube 15 has an axial length "L" (FIG. 10) of at 
least 5/8ths of an inch, as measured from the upstream end 13 of the main 
body portion 38 to the flat end 27, for enabling this tail-tube to be 
inserted fully into the socket 24 of valve 3 or 7. Such a 
compression-connection type of socket 24 often is about 3/8ths of an inch 
deep, and there needs to be sufficient additional available length of the 
tail-tube for accommodating thereon the loose sleeve 23 and the loose nut 
22 in readiness for making the connection to valve 3 or 7. Preferably the 
length L is at least about one inch. The flat end 27 seats down squarely 
against the bottom of the socket 24. 
In order to make connection with a flex tube 10 or 10', the externally 
threaded boss 17 projecting downstream from the valve housing 30 has a 
downstream termination with a truncated conical surface 65 contiguous with 
the downstream end of the outlet passage 44. This truncated conical 
surface 65 flares outwardly in the downstream direction adapted for 
engaging a compression sleeve such as the compression sleeve 64 for making 
a compression-connection 67 (FIG. 11) between the flex tube 10 or 10' and 
the boss 17. In this compression connection 67 the compression sleeve 64 
encircles the flex tube, and a compression nut 9 or 9' engages the 
external threads on the boss 17 for wedging the compression sleeve 64 in 
contact with the truncated conical surface 65 (FIG. 11) and also wedging 
this sleeve in compression gripping relationship around the flex tube 10 
or 10'. 
It is noted that after the plumber has completed repairing or replacing the 
fixture 12, the plumber may turn the handle 4 of the valve 3 or 7 into its 
full-flow position and then may permanently remove the handle 4 so that a 
homeowner or subsequent plumber will use only the new valve 14A as the new 
replacement shut-off valve. 
The present inventor is not claiming inventorship of resilient plug washer 
and lip seat types of valves per se. The inventor is claiming patentable 
novelty in the overall structural configuration and interrelationships 
embodied in this trouble-shooting, shut-off valve 14A with its 
inlet-tail-tube 15 which is conveniently adapted to be directly mounted 
into a socket 24 of a compression-connection fitting type outlet 8 of a 
defective Speedy valve 3 or 7 immediately downstream from the defective 
valve and with its externally-threaded boss 17 and truncated conical 
surface 65 adapted for making a compression connection directly with a 
flex tube 10 or 10'. 
In addition to the convenience of employing this valve 14A to solve the 
difficulties of dealing with a defective valve 3 or 7, this shut-off valve 
14A is quite well suited for use as a high-quality, easy-to-install, 
premium valve unit for incorporation in a new plumbing installation 
employing compression-connection fittings. 
FIGS. 11 and 12 show another valve 14B embodying the present invention. 
This valve 14B is a gate valve having a slidable gate member (not shown) 
as is known in the art. This gate member is slid between open and closed 
positions by threaded screw actuation occurring within the boss 57 and 
accomplished by turning a handle 18B. This threaded screw actuation within 
the boss 57 of the valve 14B is similar to that shown in FIG. 10 involving 
an axially movable-rotatable plunger having external screw threads 
engaging with internal screw threads within the boss 57 as is known in the 
art. The inlet-tail-tube fitting 16 is shown as being substantially 
identical with the inlet-tail-tube fitting 16 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
The inlet-tail-tube fitting 16 in FIG. 11 is shown having a downstream 
protruding end portion 34 with external screw threads 36 engaging in an 
internally threaded socket 32 in an upstream end 38 of the valve housing 
30. The radial shoulder surface 74 of the inlet-tail-tube fitting which is 
contiguous with circular rim 40 abuts against the upstream end 78 of the 
housing 30. 
As shown in FIG. 11, when the valve 14B is installed onto a defective valve 
3 or 7, the inlet-tail-tube 15 of the valve 14B is inserted directly into 
the socket 24 of a compression-connection fitting type of outlet 8 of a 
defective valve 3 or 7 immediately downstream from this defective valve 
with the square end 27 seating down squarely into the bottom of the socket 
24 and with a compression sleeve 23 and a compression nut 22 being used 
for making a compression connection to the externally-threaded end 8 of 
the defective valve. 
Since other changes and modifications varied to fit particular plumbing 
installation operating requirements and environments will be recognized by 
those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the 
examples chosen for purposes of illustration, and includes all changes and 
modifications which do not constitute a departure from the true spirit and 
scope of this invention as claimed in the following claims and equivalents 
thereto.