Abstract:
In one preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a valve having a glue diverter to divert or prevent glue from blocking a solenoid discharge passage and thereby ensure operation of the valve. The discharge passage terminates in a protruding area, spaced away from a surrounding area so as to allow excess glue within the valve to travel around the discharge passage.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/980,677 filed Oct. 17, 2007 entitled Slip Valve Glue Diverter, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Flow control valves are a well-known and integral part of most irrigation systems. A typical example can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,413 to Lohde et al., hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0003]    These valves control the flow of water through an upstream pipe and thereby turn sprinklers fed by the pipe on and off. Such valves are usually remotely actuated by control signals sent from an automated irrigation controller. Often these control signals are electric current sent from the controller to a solenoid in the valve which ultimately controls whether the valve is open or closed. 
         [0004]    Solenoid-activated diaphragm-operated valves for use in irritation systems are well known. One example can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,413 to Lohde et al., previously incorporated by reference. 
         [0005]    This style of valve has a closure member with a sealing surface which moves against or away from an annular seat to close or open the valve. Integral to the closure member is a diaphragm positioned to seal off an upper portion of the valve. When the valve is to be opened, the fluid pressure is relieved by bleeding fluid out of the diaphragm chamber through a manual valve or a remotely operated solenoid valve. Relieving this pressure allows the closure member to move upwards as water passes through the valve. The discharged water is most conveniently released into the passageway, beyond the primary flow-controlling sealing member, near the outlet port. This design is commonly referred to as “internal bleed” offering the advantage that no water is discharged outside the fluid path. 
         [0006]    A typical style of valve, of interest in this invention, is constructed of PVC (polyvinyl chloride plastic). One type has inlet and outlet that will accept standard threaded fittings. These require an additional fitting to create the threaded joint with PVC pipe. Another valve fitting design called a slip fit will accept PVC pipe directly, being fastened with suitable solvent-based glue. 
         [0007]    Solenoid valve installation into an irrigation system typically involves applying a primer to the end of a pipe (such as a PVC pipe), then coating the outer end surface of the pipe and possibly the inner surface of the valve fitting, with glue (e.g., PVC glue). Finally, the end of the pipe is inserted into the water inlet port. The same process is repeated for the water outlet port of the valve. 
         [0008]    Ideally, an appropriate amount of glue is applied to the pipe and therefore remains only between the pipe and the fitting for the pipe. However, it can be difficult to determine the appropriate amount of glue for installation. Therefore, contractors will frequently apply excess glue to both coated surfaces. 
         [0009]    This excess glue is often pushed or expelled on to the inner surfaces of the valve. When a pipe is inserted into the water outlet port, the glue can inadvertently cover the discharge passage of the discharge port. The discharge port allows the solenoid to relieve pressure in the diaphragm chamber and therefore open the valve to water flow. Thus, the solenoid is unable to release water from the diaphragm chamber when the discharge passage is blocked by glue, thereby preventing the valve from opening. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved valve that resists blocking the discharge passage. 
         [0011]    In one preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a valve having a glue diverter to divert or prevent glue from blocking a solenoid discharge passage and thereby ensure operation of the valve. The discharge passage terminates in a protruding area, spaced away from a surrounding area so as to allow excess glue within the valve to travel around the discharge passage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side cross sectional view of a prior art valve; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a valve according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the valve of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the valve of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of the valve of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective end view of the valve of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section view taken along line  7 - 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross sectional view taken along line  8 - 8 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cross sectional perspective view taken along line  8 - 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates an enlarged view of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross sectional view taken along line  11 - 11 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of a glue diverter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective view of a glue diverter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of a glue diverter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art irrigation valve  100  in the closed position. This irrigation valve  100  includes a water inlet port  114 , a water outlet port  115 , and a guide washer  102  that includes a sealing surface  103 . Typically the sealing surface  103  is made from a rubber or other resilient material. 
         [0027]    The valve is actuated by a solenoid  112  that is connected to a solenoid plunger  108  which controls the opening and closing of a discharge port  107 . In the closed position, the solenoid plunger  108  blocks a passage  150  that otherwise connects a diaphragm chamber  109  (located above a diaphragm  101 ) to the discharge port  107  and to the valve water outlet port  115 . 
         [0028]    The valve assembly seals off the diaphragm chamber  109  from the lower portion of the valve. The valve assembly  120  is made up of a diaphragm retaining cap  117  which sits over a diaphragm  101 . Beneath the diaphragm sits a guide washer  102  having an inner circular channel  110 . Retained in the guide washer  102  is a sealing surface  103 . The sealing surface  103  is secured to the guide washer  102  with a valve washer  118  and metering insert  106 . 
         [0029]    The diaphragm  101  is typically composed of a semi elastic material such as rubber. Such elastic material allows the diaphragm to flex as the valve assembly  120  rises up to an open position and down to a closed position. 
         [0030]    The metering pin  105  is located within the center of valve assembly  120 . The clearance  104  between the metering insert  106  and metering pin  105  allows water to enter into the diaphragm chamber  109 . The diameter of the metering pin  105  may be changed to let varying amounts of water into the diaphragm chamber  109 , thus controlling the pressure within the diaphragm chamber  109  as well as the rate of opening and closing. 
         [0031]    In the closed position, the water pressure in the diaphragm chamber  109  is equal to the water pressure in the valve through water inlet port  114 . In contrast, the water pressure of diaphragm chamber  109  is much less than the pressure of water entering through the water inlet port  114  when the valve is set to the open position as discussed below. The pressure is lower due to the pressure drop that occurs when the water flows through the clearance  104 . 
         [0032]    In operation, a water supply is connected to water inlet port  114 , and further portions of an irrigation system are connected to water outlet port  115 . When the solenoid  112  is un-energized, the solenoid plunger  108  is biased to cover and seal the discharge port  107 . As water enters from the water inlet port  114 , it travels through the clearance  104  of the metering insert  106 , into the diaphragm chamber  109 . Simultaneously, due to losses resulting from flow of water, the pressure of the inlet port  114  drops while passing between the seal surface  103  and valve seat  121 , causing an annular area of low pressure  152 , which helps the diaphragm assembly  120  to move downwards. Pressure builds within the diaphragm chamber  109  until it approaches equalization with the water pressure coming in from water inlet port  114 . Typical inlet pressure is about 60 psi. With the help of the spring  111 , the diaphragm assembly continues downwards until the sealing surface  103  makes contact with the valve seat  121 . 
         [0033]    In the shut position, the pressure within the diaphragm chamber  109  is equal to the pressure of the inlet  114 , but the overall force on the diaphragm assembly  120  is downwards. This is due to the fact that the pressure in the diaphragm chamber  109  is exerting its effect over a larger surface area of the diaphragm assembly  120 , than the pressure in the inlet  114 . This downward resultant force prevents the diaphragm assembly  120  from being pushed up from the water pressure of the inlet  114 . As a result, the sealing surface  103  of the diaphragm assembly  120  remains seated on the valve seat  121 , preventing passage of the inlet water through the valve. 
         [0034]    When the solenoid  112  is energized, the solenoid plunger  108  lifts and thus allows water from the diaphragm chamber  109  to pass through the discharge port  107  and out to the water outlet port  115 . The open discharge port  107  thus causes pressure in the diaphragm chamber  109  to drop. As a result, the water from the water inlet port  114  pushes up on the valve assembly  120 , which compresses valve spring  111  and unseats the sealing surface  103  from the valve seat  121 . With the valve pushed upwards, away from its valve seat  121 , water may freely pass from the water inlet port  114 , through valve  100 , and out water outlet port  115 . 
         [0035]    Installation of the valve  100  into an irrigation system typically involves applying a primer to the end of a pipe  130  (such as a PVC pipe), then coating the outer end surface of the pipe  130  with glue  122  (e.g., PVC glue). Finally, the end of the pipe  130  is inserted into the water inlet port  114  or the water outlet port  115 . The pipe  130  moves into an outer diameter  127  of the valve  100  until it butts against a smaller, inner diameter  129 . 
         [0036]    Ideally, an appropriate amount of glue  122  is applied to the pipe  130  and therefore remains only between the pipe  130  and the outer diameter  127 . However, it can be difficult to determine exactly what the appropriate amount of glue is. Therefore, contractors will frequently coat the end of the pipe  130  with too much glue  122 . 
         [0037]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , this excess glue  122  is often pushed or expelled on to the inner surfaces of the valve  100 . When a pipe  130  is moved into the water outlet port  115 , the glue  122  can cover the discharge passage  128  of the discharge port  107 . Thus, the solenoid  112  is unable to release water from the diaphragm chamber  109 , thereby preventing the valve  100  from opening. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 2-11  illustrate a preferred embodiment of a valve  200  according to the present invention that includes a glue diverter  202  that prevents the discharge passage  128  from being covered or clogged. As seen best in  FIGS. 5-11 , the glue diverter  202  terminates the discharge passage  128  at a different elevation than the adjacent inner diameter  129 . Therefore, then the pipe  130  is inserted into the valve  200 , the excess glue  122  is diverted around the discharge passage  128 , ensuring the valve  200  operates as intended. 
         [0039]    As seen best in  FIG. 10 , the glue diverter  202  preferably includes a relatively cubic or rectangular shape with curved edges. Preferably, the vertical length (i.e., the height of the diverter  202  from the inner diameter  129 ) of the glue diverter  202  is sufficient to divert a typical amount of glue  122  around or away from the discharge passage  128 . More preferably, the vertical length of the diverter  202  is at least one hundred thousandths of an inch. In another preferred embodiment, the vertical length is about 0.2 inches, the width is between about 0.18 and 0.25 inches and the depth is about 0.507 inches. 
         [0040]    Preferably, the diverter  202  is a unitary feature of the valve  200 , however, the diverter may also be a separate, connectable component fixed to the valve and composed of a rigid or semi rigid material. 
         [0041]    In operation and referring to  FIG. 11 , the user applies glue  122  to the end of the pipe  130  and inserts the pipe  130  into the outer diameter  127  of the water outlet port  115  until it reaches the inner diameter  129 . Excess glue  122  moves on to the surface of the inner diameter  129 , but moves around the glue diverter  202 . Thus, discharge passage  128  remains clear and the valve  200  operates normally. 
         [0042]    In another preferred embodiment seen in  FIG. 12 , a glue diverter  204  may have a triangular shape, similar to a pie or wedge. In another preferred embodiment seen in  FIG. 13 , a glue diverter  206  may have a cylindrical shape. In another preferred embodiment seen in  FIG. 14 , a glue diverter  208  includes a plurality of walls (e.g., 4) surrounding the discharge passage  128 . Optionally, the glue diverter  208  also includes a top surface with water permeable holes within the top surface and optionally the side walls which allow water to pass through while diverting the glue and other debris from the discharge passage  128 . 
         [0043]    While solenoid valves have been described in this specification, it should be noted that the present invention may be used with any valve in which glue may block a discharge passage. For example, the solenoid  112  shown in the Figures may be replaced by a manual discharge device. In this respect, almost any discharge member or device that discharges pressure to open and close a valve can be used according to the present invention. 
         [0044]    Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.