Abstract:
A valve mounting bracket that has generally opposing first and second clamping components to hold a valve body in position relative to the bracket. The first clamping component is positioned to engage the valve body and bias the valve body into rigid contact with the second clamping component.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a retaining or mounting bracket for an agricultural sprayer, and more particularly to a mounting bracket for mounting valves. 
   For convenience and cost considerations, most valve bodies are made with a generally cylindrical external configuration through which the stem of the valve projects. It is common practice to provide the valve body with an external threaded section upon which is carried a panel mounting nut. Thus, the threaded section can be inserted into an aperture of the appropriate size provided through the panel or mounting bracket, the nut tightened against the wall of the bracket, and clamp the wall between the nut and the valve body to secure the valve in position. 
   The common mounting practice discussed above, and other similar practices, is time consuming in the original assembly process and when the valve must be removed for servicing, Furthermore, it often happens that the nut is not tightened sufficiently, or becomes loose in operation, against the bracket and the valve may move or otherwise dislocate. This dislocation can result in leaks or rupture in the connection points between the tubes and the valve. Additionally, in some situations the valve may have to be disassembled, and if this happens, reassembly my not be done properly, in which case the valve may not operate as intended, or at all. 
   It would be a significant advantage to provide a mounting bracket for a valve that eliminates the above-described problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a valve mounting bracket. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve mounting bracket that can secure a valve in a fixed position relative to the bracket. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a valve mounting bracket that will securely hold a valve in position despite the application of external forces from any direction. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a valve mounting bracket wherein the valve may be easily affixed to the valve body and readily removed therefrom without disassembly of the valve body. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a valve mounting bracket that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a valve mounting bracket that does not require the removal of tie rods holding the valve together, and thus does not require more delicate torque setting procedures to remount the valve. 
   These and other objects are attained by providing a valve mounting bracket that has generally opposing first and second clamping components to hold a valve body in position relative to the bracket. The first clamping component is positioned to engage the valve body and bias the valve body into rigid contact with the second clamping component. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a series of valves affixed to the mounting bracket of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is perspective view of the mounting bracket; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the valve clamping components of the mounting bracket, taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view, similar to  FIG. 3 , of alternative valve clamping components. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The mounting bracket  10  of the instant invention is intended for use with a valve  20  having a cylindrical body  22  with a longitudinal axis and containing the valve stem, seat and other components (not shown) that are held in position by transverse generally rectangular flanges  24 ,  26 . The four corners of each flange  24 ,  26  is drilled to receive an elongate bolts  28  that serve as tie rods maintaining the valve as a unit. A valve control handle  30  is affixed to the outer end of the valve stem and permits liquid flow through the valve to be manually controlled. 
   Valve  20  interconnects an inlet connector  32  and an outlet connector  34  and manages the liquid flow to whatever system components are located downstream thereof. In this regard, the instant invention was developed for use with an agricultural crop spraying system, but would find application in substantially any system in which the valves must periodically be removed for service, or to significantly reduce the assembly time of any type of liquid-handling system. 
   A plurality of valves such as valve  20  may be joined into a bank of two or more, depending upon system requirements. For instance the bank of valves shown generally as  40  in  FIG. 1  includes two valves  42 ,  44  joined by T-connector  46  interconnecting input connector  48  to outlet connectors  50 ,  52  and  54 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the mounting bracket  10  to comprise a rectangular plate  60  with various openings formed therein of various shapes as required by the valves and other system elements. Round openings, such as at  62  accommodate the cylindrical shape of connectors while a rectangular opening may be appropriate for a small control panel, such as  66 . In each position where a valve is to be located, a rectangular retaining tab  70  is formed, as by through-cutting three adjacent sides of the rectangle and bending the retaining tab slightly forwardly (as determined by the intended location of the valve(s) relative to plate  60 ). Using a relatively light metal with reasonable resiliency, retaining tab  70  will function somewhat like a spring or biasing means, as will be discussed further below. Alternatively, plate  60  can be formed from a plastic material with characteristics very similar to the metal identified above. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  also show a mounting shelf  72  rigidly affixed to plate  60  and extending generally perpendicularly and forwardly therefrom, below the cutout for retaining tab  70 . In operation of this preferred embodiment, bracket  10  is rigidly affixed to a structural member of the machine, the valves assembled as required, upper rear tie rod is placed under retaining tab  70 , and then the valve is rotated downwardly and rearwardly onto mounting shelf  72 . Retaining tab  70  flexes upwardly slightly until it snaps over the tie rod. The downward bias of the retaining tab holds the valve against mounting shelf  72 . To remove the valve, the steps are reversed. 
   An alternative embodiment is shown in cross-section in  FIG. 4  to dispense with the mounting shelf. Instead, two opposing tabs are formed in plate  60 , one above the other. Tab  74  snaps over the upper rear tie rod and tab  76  snaps over the lower rear tie rod. To affix the valve to the mount, the lower rear tie rod is placed behind tab  76  and the valve is rotated rearwardly until tab  74  snaps over the upper rear tie rod. The process is reversed to remove the valve. This attachment can be used with or without mounting shelf  72 . 
   It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventions. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown.