Patent Publication Number: US-6035887-A

Title: Valve assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is directed to an improved valve assembly for use with watering systems for yards, gardens, etc. 
     Valve assemblies, and meter assemblies are well known. Particularly, in the known valve assemblies, there is a lack of flexibility during installation as the conduits which connect with the valve units are not flexible. Also, these assemblies do not provide structure which provides for easy replacement of the valve unit. Valve assemblies with these features are described are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,805,099 and 5,511,574 to Bailey and Macke. 
     Known valve assemblies require that the incoming and outgoing conduits be aligned both horizontally and vertically during installation thereof. This is because neither the valve assembly or the inlet or outlet conduits forming the watering system are flexible. This is a very time consuming and tedious operation. Also, when the valve malfunctions, the entire area around the valve box housing must be dug up so that a new housing assembly can be connected with the rigid inlet and outlet conduits. 
     It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a valve assembly with a quick connect system which allows easy replacement of the valve unit. 
     Another object of the invention is a valve assembly with interchangeable valve mounts. 
     Another object of the invention is a valve assembly which includes inlet and outlet pipes having quick connect assemblies at each end. 
     Another object of the invention is a valve assembly which includes flexible inlet and outlet pipes. 
     Another object of the invention is a valve assembly having a plurality of valves. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a novel valve housing assembly for use with watering systems for yards, gardens, etc. The valve assembly includes a unitary housing, preferably formed of plastic, comprising a floor, four sides, and a top. 
     The floor is formed with a seat for seating a valve mount. The valve mount includes valve seating fingers which are adapted to engage or cradle a valve in a fixed position within the valve housing. 
     The valve housing assembly includes a plurality of interchangeable valve mounts which are each constructed to support a different make valve or valves having various case configurations. 
     A pair of holes are provided in selected opposed walls. An inlet pipe is carried in a first hole and connects with an inlet side of the valve. An outlet pipe is carried in the second hole and connects with the outlet of the valve. O-ring seals secure the pipes in the holes. 
     The opposite ends of the pipes are connected with the inlet and outlet conduits respectively of the watering system. The pipes are flexible and the connections are made with quick release connectors. 
     Because of the quick release connectors and the flexible pipes, the housing assembly is easily joined into the watering system as the rigid inlet and outlet conduits of the watering system do not have to be precisely aligned. Also, the quick release connectors and the valve mount allow easy access to the valve unit, allowing valve replacement without disturbing the connections with the valve housing assembly. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a first species of the valve assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top sectional view of a second species of the valve assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the housing of the novel valve assembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first valve mount; and, 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second valve mount. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to FIG. 1, a primary construction of valve assembly 10 according to the invention is shown. The valve assembly is designed for use with underground watering systems for yards, gardens, etc. and is intended to interconnect inlet conduits, such as shown at 12, with outlet conduits, such as shown at 14. Normally, conduits 12 and 14 are formed of PVC which is a substantially rigid synthetic material. The conduits are buried a desired depth with inlet conduit 12 being connected to a water supply and outlet conduit 14 being connected with a series of pop-up sprinklers arranged over the watering area. 
     Valve assembly 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3) includes housing or box 16 having vertical sides 18 and floor or bottom 20 formed as an integral unit. Preferably housing 16 is a molded plastic unit. 
     Housing 16 is formed with a pair of opening 22 formed in opposed sides at about their mid-point. Inlet pipe 24 is mounted in a first opening 22 and secured with an O-ring seal 26. Outlet pipe 28 is mounted in the other opening 22 and is secured by another O-ring seal 26. Each end of pipes 24 and 28 carries a quick connect unit 30. Pipes 24 and 28 are preferably made of cross-linked polyethylene which allows them to be flexible. Other synthetic material having appropriate strength and flexibility may be used. Also quick connect 30 may be of any known structure. 
     A third opening 32 is formed substantially centrally of floor 20. Opening 32 is preferably a circular opening, as shown in FIG. 3, which passes completely through floor 20. Obviously, opening 32 could be formed to any desired shape, the only requirement being that it mates with the shape of foot 36. Valve mount 33, which includes foot 36 and mounting fingers 38, mounts in opening 32. A slight depression may be formed in the earth below opening 32 to accommodate foot 36 as the valve mount is firmly seated on floor 20 as shown in FIG. 1. 
     Valve 40 is held in fixed position by fingers 38 of valve or control valve mount 34 with its inlet extension 42 directed toward inlet pipe 24 and outlet extension 44 directed toward outlet pipe 28. Quick release connectors 30 connect the pipes with valve 40. 
     At the present time there are only two major valve brands, TORRO and Rain Bird, on the market. These valves operate in similar manner, but their case structures vary slightly. Valve assembly 10 is provided with a pair of valve mounts 34, 34&#39;, each designed with teeth or fingers 38, 38&#39; which are positioned to engage with the valve case to stationarily mount the valve within housing 16. Teeth 38 may be altered or rearranged to fit with any case structure to securely seat or mount the valve. Each valve mount 34, 34&#39; includes a foot 36 which seats in opening 32. 
     An electrical connection box 48 is mounted with a side 18 and connects valve 40 with an electrical supply through leads 46. 
     In practice, conduits 12 and 14 are positioned underground and directed to their appropriate destinations. Housing assembly 10 is positioned in the excavated area between opposing ends of the two conduits. Inlet conduit 36 is connected with inlet pipe 24 by connector 30 and outlet conduit 14 is connected to outlet pipe 28 by quick release 30. Because pipes 24, 28 are flexible conduits 12 and 14 do not have to be precisely aligned vertically or horizontally for the connections to be easily and quickly made. The earth is now filled in around housing assembly 10 and top or lid 50 is positioned on upper ends of sides 18 to close the unit. 
     When valve 40 malfunctions, it is replaced by simply removing top 50, disconnecting pipes 24 and 28 from extensions 42, 44 and leads 46 from connector 48 and lifting the valve from housing 16. A replacement valve 40 is seated on valve mount 34 and connected with members 24, 28, and 48. Should a different brand valve be the replacement valve, valve mount 38&#39; is substituted for valve mount 34 prior to installation. 
     The valve housing assembly of the invention may include a plurality of valves and outlet pipes as shown in FIG. 2 at 10&#39;. Here the valve assembly has a single inlet pipe 24 mounted in a first side 18&#39; of housing 16&#39; and three outlet pipes 28, 28&#39;, and 28&#34; mounted in the opposed side. There are three valves 40, 40&#39;, 40&#34; each seated in a respective valve mount and connected with inlet pipe 24 through junction member 27 and second inlet pipes 25, 25&#39;, 25&#34;. Each outlet pipe 28, 28&#39;, 28&#34; is connected with an outlet conduit 14, 14&#39;, 14&#34; which supply separate watering fields. Electrical connector 48 may be programmed to actuate the valves sequentially, together, or in a patterned sequence. Alternatively, second inlet pipes 25, 25&#39;, and 25&#34; could be non-flexible in this arrangement with only inlet pipe 24 being flexible on the inlet side. 
     In the arrangement of FIG. 2, valves 40, 40&#39;, 40&#34; may be replaced all at once or one at a time as needed. In valve housing assembly 10&#39;, the system may continue to operate through two valves while the third is being replaced. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.