Abstract:
A temperature and pressure sensitive valve is disclosed herein. The valve has a valve piston for regulating flow through the valve, a valve piston guide for directing movement of the piston, the piston guide having one or more passages there through, a thermal element for enabling movement of said piston, and an elongated housing having an anterior and posterior end and an interior wall able to house said piston, guide and thermal element. The housing further has two or more passages able to aid the piston in regulating flow, with at least one of the passages placed towards said anterior end of the housing, and at least one of the passages placed towards said posterior end of the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to valves. More specifically, the present invention relates to a temperature actuated valve that automatically opens in response to freezing temperatures, thereby enabling flow to continue through the valve, and that automatically closes when the temperature rises above freezing. 
     2. Background Information 
     Damage often occurs to water pipes and faucets that are externally exposed to freezing conditions due to the expansion of water when it freezes. The most common solution is to crack the faucet open sufficiently enough to allow a slow dripping of the water. This flowing of water is typically warm enough to prevent freezing of the piping upstream of the faucet. The warmer water usually comes from buried pipes at a temperature above freezing at a rate faster than it can be frozen. However, faucet dripping is not always feasible, as no one may be available to open the faucet, the faucet may be forgotten, or the cold weather may be unexpected. Further, this dripping can be wasteful of water in that the faucets often drip longer than is necessary. 
     As a solution to this concern of frozen pipes and faucets, a multitude of alternatives have been proposed that automatically allow the faucet to drip when freezing conditions are encountered. Typically, these alternatives include a thermally active element utilized in opening and closing various types of valves. Examples of thermally active elements include a combination of materials having differing coefficients of thermal expansion arranged such that one moves in relation to another with a change in temperature, a liquid that condenses at a specific temperature, or a wax that changes phases at a known temperature with a corresponding change in volume. Valves containing such thermal elements are constructed so that movement of the thermal elements enables movement of a plug, thereby opening the faucet and allowing water to drip. 
     However, many times a hose or other accessory may be attached to the end of the faucet. This accessory may already contain fluid in it that has frozen, causing the outlet of the faucet to be blocked. Accordingly, there is a need for a valve having a secondary means of permitting flow there through in the event that the primary means is prevented from allowing flow there through. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention disclosed herein alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to responding to fluid flow through a valve, particularly in that instance wherein the primary means of permitting fluid flow there through is unable to do so. The valve of the present invention is easily installed in a common water faucet. It allows the control of the flow of the volume of liquid to be unattended, regardless of how low the surrounding air temperature may be. The valve further allows such unattended control, even should the primary means of release, e.g., the outlet of the faucet, be blocked preventing flow there through. 
     The valve of the present invention is temperature and pressure sensitive and has a valve piston for regulating flow through the valve The valve further has a valve piston guide for directing movement of said piston, with the piston guide having one or more passages there through, a thermal element for enabling movement of the piston, and an elongated housing having an anterior and posterior end and an interior wall able to house the piston, guide and thermal element. The housing also has of two or more passages able to aid the piston in regulating flow, with at least one of the passages placed towards the anterior end of the housing, and at least one of the passages placed towards said posterior end of the housing. 
     The present invention further provides a method of controlling flow through a faucet in freezing conditions. The faucet has a valve in communication with the faucet, with the valve having a valve housing with an anterior end and a posterior end and an internal wall. The housing houses a valve piston, piston guide, piston seat and thermal element. The thermal element is able to expand and contract according to the surrounding air temperature, and the piston is sealably engaged with the seat. The method comprising the steps of contracting the thermal element as the surrounding air temperature approaches the freezing temperature of water; moving the valve piston towards the anterior end of the housing; and breaking the piston&#39;s sealable engagement with the seat, thereby automatically creating a flow passage through the valve. The flow passage through the valve automatically closes as the surrounding air temperature rises above a predetermined temperature. 
     As designed, the valve of the present invention is easily and conveniently installed in a faucet. Its simple design allows it to be inexpensively manufactured. It may be manufactured in a wide range of sizes, based upon the size of the flow line to be served. By proper selection of materials, the present invention may be used for controlling a wide variety of flow. 
     The valve of the present invention is comprised of at least two components that enable it to overcome those limitations that are encountered with typical temperature activated valves. These components include a valve piston and one or more valve piston seats that interact with one another to allow or prevent flow through the valve. Each seat communicates with one or more ports for allowing flow there through. The ports are closed when the piston is in contact with the seat, and opened when the piston is disengaged with the seat. 
     As disclosed herein, the valve is further comprised of a thermal element able to expand and contract based upon variations in temperature. As the element expands and contracts, the piston is moved so that it sequentially engages and disengages with the seat(s), thereby closing and opening the valve seat ports. 
     Additional ports are positioned on the valve such that flow may automatically continue through the faucet. These additional ports are found in differing locations on the valve. One is positioned so that flow may occur through the valve and faucet in the event of freezing temperatures. In the event that flow through the outlet of the faucet is blocked, e.g., a hose is attached to the outlet blocking flow, or fluid at the outlet is frozen blocking flow, another secondary port is positioned on the valve so that flow can bypass the faucet outlet, avoiding damage due to frozen pipes and/or faucets. By opening these ports, flow through the valve is permitted regardless of surrounding air temperature. 
     In the manner of the present invention, flow through the first port and out the faucet occurs due to freezing conditions. The secondary port is opened by both temperature and pressure due to the faucet outlet being blocked. The pressure for opening the secondary port may be predetermined by changing the diameter of the piston. 
     The general beneficial effects described above apply generally to each of the exemplary descriptions and characterizations of the devices and mechanisms disclosed herein. The specific structures through which these benefits are delivered will be described in detail herein below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a temperature actuated valve according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a flow control valve according to the present invention showing the position of the components with no flow through the valve. 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a flow control valve according to the present invention showing the position of the components with flow through the primary conduit of the valve. 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a flow control valve according to the present invention showing the position of the components with flow through the secondary conduit of the valve. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Although described as built into the stem of the faucet it should be under stood that the valve may be built into the body of the faucet if so desired. 
     Referring to the drawings, the temperature-actuated valve of the present invention is indicated generally at  20 . The valve or valve housing or valve stem  20  has an anterior end  21  and a posterior end  22 , with the posterior end  22  in communication with a faucet body  10 . The valve  20  is comprised of a hollow cylindrical housing having external stem threads  23  for communication or secured connection with the faucet body  10 . The valve stem  20  may have on or more ports positioned below and/or above the stem threads  23 . The ports and their function will be described more fully hereinafter. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4, the interior of the valve stem is comprised of an upper interior wall  26  and a lower interior wall  27 . The function of each wall will likewise be described herein below. 
     In one embodiment, applied onto and over the anterior end  21  of the valve stem  20  is a valve stem washer  84 , valve stem gasket  83 , cap or nut  82 , handle  80  and screw or bolt  81 . The bolt  81  threadably engages with the valve stem anterior end  21  for securely attaching the handle  80  thereto. The valve stem washer  84 , gasket  83  and cap  82  provide a means for sealably securing the valve stem  20  to the faucet body  10 . The washer  84 , gasket  83  and cap  82  have an interior diameter that is slightly larger than that of the valve stem  20  so that they are able to slide over the valve stem to the top of the faucet body  10 , where the cap  82  engages with the packing nut external threads  15  of the faucet body  10 , thereby providing a seal between the faucet  10  and the valve stem  20  for the prevention of fluid leakage. 
     The faucet body  10  is tapped at both ends to provide threads  12  and  14  at the valve inlet  11  and outlet  13 , respectively. While the drawings illustrate externally threaded inlet  11  and outlet  13  ends, it should be understood that both ends may be either internally or externally threaded. The top central portion of the faucet  10  between the tapped ends is both internally  16  and externally  15  threaded and adapted to threadably receive the valve stem  20  therein. In this manner, the valve stem  20  is able to be manually turned by the handle  80  in order to allow or stop flow through the faucet  10  without the valve stem  20  disengaging with the faucet  10 . The faucet body  10  is readily available commercially. Such faucets have a partition therein (not shown) for separating an inlet chamber from an outlet chamber. The valve stem  20  engages with the partition. By rotation of the handle  80 , the valve stem is rotated either upwardly increasingly opening flow from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber and out the faucet  10 , or rotated downwardly thereby increasingly limiting and eventually blocking flow through the chambers and out the faucet  10 . 
     Disposed within the valve stem  20  is a thermal element  75 , valve piston  30 , and valve piston guide  40 . The thermal element  75  is slightly smaller in external diameter than the upper internal diameter or wall  26  of the valve stem  20 , and is able to expand and contract based upon variations in temperature. By being internally disposed in the valve stem  20  between the anterior end  21  and the valve piston  30 , the thermal element  75  is able to move the piston  30  along the length of the internal wall of the valve stem  20  as variations occur within a predetermined temperature range. The thermal element  75  is preferably a hollow bellows type device, filled with a substance such as a liquid, gel or gas that expands and contracts based upon changes in temperature. Such an element  75  may be provided with a thermal plug  76  whereby the liquid, gel or gas can be added to the element  75  as needed. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, it is possible to fill the element  75  by removing first the screw  81  and handle  80  and then the plug  76 , accessing the thermal element  75  through the valve stem anterior end  21  without separating all components. While a bellows type element  75  is preferred, one skilled in the art would readily recognize that any type of thermal element  75  that expands and contracts with variations in temperature would serve the purpose of the present invention. 
     In the embodiment illustrated, the valve piston  30  is comprised of a piston base  31 , piston travel stop  32 , central portion  35 , piston primary terminus  34  and secondary terminus  33 , and biasing member  70  such as a spring. The piston base  31  is adjacent to the thermal element  75  and provides a surface for contact with the element  75 . The piston stop  32  is of smaller diameter than the biasing member or spring  70 , whereas the piston base  31  is of the same or greater diameter than the spring  70 . As such, the piston stop  32  provides an area or region for supporting the spring  70  within the valve stem  20 . The piston stop  32  serves a further purpose, as will be discussed herein below along with the function of the primary  34  and secondary  33  terminus. Further, the piston base  31  is preferably of slightly smaller diameter than the valve stem upper internal wall  26  so that the piston  30  is slidably disposed therein. 
     The valve piston seat or guide  40  is comprised of a valve piston guide  41  for directing the piston  30  through the valve stem  20 , and a valve piston terminus seat  50  for interaction with the piston terminus  33 ,  34 . The guide  41  has a recess there through and is further comprised of a posterior ridge  42 , anterior aperture  43 , and one or more guide ports  44 . The posterior ridge  42  is of slightly smaller diameter than the valve stem lower interior wall or diameter  27 , and is of such width that the guide  41  is slidably yet securely or stably placed therein the valve stem  20 . Referring to the embodiment found in FIGS. 2-4, it is seen that the valve stem upper internal wall  26  is of smaller diameter than the lower internal wall  27 , thereby creating an internal ridge  28  separating the two areas. As shown, the posterior ridge  42  is substantially larger in diameter than the upper internal wall  26  so that only the anterior end of the guide  41  enters into the upper portion of the interior of the valve stem  20 . The central portion  35  of the piston  30  is preferably of at least a slightly smaller diameter than the recess of the guide  41 . As such, the piston  30  is placed through the anterior aperture  43  and able to slidably pass through the guide  41  up to the piston stop  32 . Thereby, the guide  41  centers the piston  30  within the valve stem  20 . 
     The piston terminus seat  50  interacts with the piston  30  to provide a path for allowing or preventing flow from the faucet  10  through the valve stem  20  as will be explained herein below. In the embodiment illustrated, the piston terminus seat  50  is comprised of a primary terminus seat  61  and secondary terminus seat  51 . The secondary terminus seat  51  has a secondary anterior aperture  52 , secondary axial ridge  53 , secondary posterior aperture  54  in communication with the anterior aperture  52 , and one or more secondary ports  55  disposed about the posterior end of the secondary terminus seat  51 . The diameter of the axial ridge  53  should be of such size that it is slidably in communication with the lower interior surface or wall  27  of the valve stem  20 , thereby enabling the secondary terminus seat  51  to be stably placed within the valve stem  20 . The anterior end of the secondary terminus seat  51  is in communication with the posterior end of the piston guide  41 . 
     The secondary terminus seat  51  may have one or more seals or gaskets there about. A secondary exterior seal  57  may be provided that is disposed about or around the anterior end for providing a seal between the guide  41  and secondary terminus seat  51 . A secondary interior seal  56  may be provided that is disposed about or just inside the secondary anterior aperture  52  for sealably communicating with the secondary terminus  33  of the piston  30 . As such, the secondary interior seal  56  should be of such external diameter that it is able to sealably fit within the secondary anterior aperture  52 , and of such internal diameter that it is able to sealably communicate with the valve piston secondary terminus  33 . 
     The primary terminus seat  61  has a primary anterior aperture  62 , primary external threads  63  and a primary posterior head  64 . The primary threads  63  are engageable with threads internally located at the valve stem posterior end  22  below the primary ports  24 , thereby acting as a retainer for keeping the other internal components of the valve stem  20  therein. The primary posterior head  64  may be slotted for engagement with a tool such as a screwdriver, or may be shaped so that it is able to engage with any other tool such as a wrench, thereby allowing one to turn and secure the primary terminus seat  61  within the valve stem  20 . The primary posterior head  64  has a recess  67  that is in communication with the primary anterior aperture  62  for allowing fluid flow there through, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. 
     Similar to the secondary terminus seat  51 , the primary terminus seat  61  may have one or more seals or gaskets there about. A primary exterior gasket or seal  66  may be provided that is disposed about or around the posterior end for providing a seal between the valve stem posterior end  22  and the faucet body  10 . A primary interior seal  67  may be provided that is disposed about or just inside the primary anterior aperture  62  for sealably communicating with the primary terminus  34  of the piston  30 . As such, the primary interior seal  67  should be of such external diameter that it is able to sealably fit within the primary anterior aperture  62 , and of such internal diameter that it is able to sealably communicate with the valve piston primary terminus  34 . 
     An helical coil spring  70  is disposed at one end substantially concentrically about the piston travel stop  32  with one end abutting one side of the piston base  31  and the other end disposed substantially concentrically about the valve piston guide  41 , adjacent to the top portion of the piston guide posterior ridge  42 , or that end of the ridge  42  least distal from the piston base  31 . When relaxed and extended, the spring  70  extends substantially the length of the piston  30  and piston guide  41 , thereby biasing the piston  30  towards the valve stem anterior end  21 . 
     Referring again to the Figures, particularly FIGS. 2-4, the operation of the valve is as follows: With temperatures at or above a predetermined activation temperature, the temperature valve  20  in the embodiment illustrated functions as a common faucet, with fluid flow there through enabled simply by turning the handle  80  so that the valve  20  is lifted up from a partition found within the faucet body  10 . By turning in the opposite direction, flow there through is stopped. While at or above this activation temperature, the substance within the thermal element  75  is expanded, thereby expanding the element  75 . With the element  75  expanded, the piston  30  is pushed toward the valve stem posterior end  22 , so that the secondary terminus  33  engages with the secondary interior seal  56  and the primary terminus  34  engages with the primary interior seal  65 , thereby preventing flow through the valve stem  20 , preventing flow there through as illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     As the temperature reaches the activation temperature, the substance within the element  75  begins to contract, thereby allowing the pressure of the spring  70  to push against the piston  30  and, thus, the element  75 , causing it to contract and the piston  30  to move away from the valve stem posterior end  22 . As the piston  30  moves away, the piston terminus breaks contact from the piston terminus seat  50 , allowing flow to occur within the valve stem  20 . This break first occurs between the piston primary terminus  34  and the primary terminus seat  61 . With the primary terminus  34  no longer engaged with the primary terminus seat  61 , flow is able to occur through the primary terminus recess  67 , onward through the secondary terminus seat port(s)  55 . into a piston seat chamber  45  between the piston seat  40  and the valve stem lower internal wall  27 , out the primary port(s)  24 , and onward through the faucet body  10  and out its outlet  13 . It should be noted that the piston secondary terminus  33  is still engaged with the secondary terminus seat  51 , so that flow is prevented from continuing further within the valve stem  20 . In this manner, the posterior passage of the valve stem housing  20  provides a primary path for flow to occur and the anterior passage provides a secondary path for flow to occur. 
     In the event that flow is prevented from continuing out the faucet body outlet  13  while at or below the activation temperature, or in the instance of further temperature decline below the activation temperature, the substance within the element  75  may continue to contract, allowing the spring  70  to continue to expand and push the piston  30  away from the piston seat  40 . Another break occurs between the piston secondary terminus  33  and the secondary terminus seat  51  enabling fluid to flow through the piston guide port(s)  44 , into a piston chamber  35 , and out the valve stem secondary port(s)  25  as illustrated in FIG.  4 . Flow may also continue through the valve stem primary port(s)  24 . In this manner, the temperature actuated valve provides an alternative or secondary path of fluid flow. In the event that flow through the faucet outlet is block, the valve  20  provides a method of fluid escape without damage to the faucet  10 , valve  20  or pipes due to pressure buildup, particularly in inclimate conditions. It should be further noted that both temperature and pressure may open the secondary fluid path. Further, the pressure required to open the secondary path may be predetermined by changing the diameter of the piston secondary terminus  33 . In this manner, a larger diameter provides more surface thereby requiring less pressure to open. 
     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken as a limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of any claims presented hereafter. 
     Industrial Applicability. 
     The present invention finds applicability in the valve industry, and more specifically in automatic flow valves. Of particular importance is the invention&#39;s ability to stop damage caused by frozen faucets and pipes.