Patent ID: 12203566

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in Figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

A motorized zone valve assembly2is illustrated inFIG.1. The motorized zone valve assembly2includes a motorized zone valve housing4. The motorized zone valve housing4includes an inlet6and an outlet8. A union member32is coupled to the inlet6, and a union member34is coupled to the outlet8. The union member34can be coupled to a fitting80, as shown inFIGS.8and9. A gasket82can be inserted into the union member34. The gasket82can be made of compressible material, such as EPDM. The fitting80is illustrated as being an FTG fitting, which can be inserted into the outlet8of the motorized zone valve housing4. Similarly, the union member32can be coupled to a fitting90and coupled to the inlet6of the motorized zone valve housing4. The fittings80,90are illustrated as separate pieces from the motorized zone valve housing4. While the illustrated embodiments show FTG fittings, different types of couplings can be arranged between the fittings80,90and the inlet/outlet (6/8). Alternatively, the fittings80,90can be integrally formed with the inlet6and outlet8of the motorized zone valve housing4.

The motorized zone valve assembly2includes a first valve assembly10. The first valve assembly10includes a tee-shaped body, as shown inFIG.4. The tee-shaped body can be integrally formed or can include one or more sections that threadedly engage each other, as shown inFIGS.3and4. The first valve assembly10includes a first valve member11with a ball12that is positioned in the first fluid passageway18between the inlet14and the oppositely disposed outlet16of the first valve assembly10. A handle20can be coupled to a stem70to move the ball12within the first fluid passageway18of the first valve assembly10. The first valve assembly10also includes a drain port26that can include a cap member28. A drain valve22has a second ball24that is positioned within the second fluid passageway19that heads to the drain port26. As illustrated inFIG.4, the first ball12is positioned at the intersection of the first fluid passageway18and the second fluid passageway19. The second ball24is positioned between the first ball12and the drain port26. A handle30can actuate the stem72that is connected to the second ball24to open and close the second fluid passageway19.

The inlet14of the first valve assembly10includes an external threaded section. The outlet16can be any type of plumbing fitting including a PEX fitting, push-to-connect fitting, press fitting, sweat, female pipe thread, male pipe thread, or other type of fitting. In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet16is a press fitting that can be coupled by threaded engagement to the outgoing water supply. The inlet14of the first valve assembly10is coupled by threaded engagement to the union34, as shown inFIGS.1,13, and14.

A second valve assembly40includes a third valve member41with a ball42that is positioned within the fluid passageway48between the inlet46and the outlet44of the second valve assembly40. The third valve member41can be actuated by movement of the handle50that is connected to a stem74that is connected to the ball42. The outlet end44of the second valve assembly40includes a threaded exterior surface that couples to the threaded internal surface of the union member32on the inlet6of the motorized zone valve housing4, as illustrated inFIGS.1and14. The inlet46of the second valve assembly40can be any type of plumbing fitting. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet end46is a press fitting. The outlet16of the first valve assembly10and the inlet46of the second valve assembly40can be the same or different types of fittings and sizes of fittings, thereby potentially coupling to different sizes and/or types of piping or other plumbing components.

The use of the union members32and34in threaded engagement with the first valve assembly10and second valve assembly40permits the removal of the motorized zone valve housing4by the decoupling of the threaded engagement of the unions32,34with the exterior threaded surfaces on the inlet14of the first valve assembly10and the outlet44of the second valve assembly40. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet46of the second valve assembly40is coupled to the incoming water supply. The outlet16of the first valve assembly10is coupled to the outgoing water supply. As illustrated inFIGS.15and16, the motorized zone valve housing4can be installed in a variety of manners, including, but not limited to, a generally horizontal manner (FIG.15) or a generally vertical manner (FIG.16), depending upon the space for and requirements of the plumbing system.

The motorized zone valve housing4includes an electrically powered motor (not shown) that opens or closes the flow of water from the motorized zone valve assembly2. The arrangement shown inFIG.1permits the closing of the first fluid passageway18by movement of handle20and the closing of the fluid passageway48in the second valve assembly40by movement of the ball42by handle50to close off the water supply to and from the motorized zone valve housing4. This permits the removal of the motorized zone valve housing4from the first valve assembly10and the second valve assembly40thereby permitting the motorized zone valve housing4and/or its internal components to be replaced and/or serviced. In addition, the use of the drain valve22permits the plumbing system and the associated heating and cooling zones to be drained and/or flushed by positioning the ball24to open the fluid passageway19headed to the drain port26. Also, depending upon the orientation of the installation, the motorized zone valve housing4can also be purged and/or drained by the opening of the fluid passageway19.

The first valve assembly10and second valve assembly40can be made from a metal material, such as a lead-free DZR brass alloy. The use of EPDM gaskets82in the unions32,34permit the water tight sealing of the first valve assembly10and the second valve assembly40by the compression of the gasket when the threaded surfaces of those valve assemblies10,40are coupled to the threaded surfaces of the unions32,34. Other types of sealable gaskets82can be used.

In the illustrated embodiments, the handles20,30, and50are all positioned on the same side of the motorized zone valve housing4. However, the use of the unions32,34permit the rotation of the first valve assembly10and second valve assembly40with respect to the motorized zone valve housing4and can permit the handles to be opened in different orientations depending upon spatial constraints.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the present disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” or “operably coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “connected” or “operably connected” (in all of its forms, connect, connecting, connected, etc.) generally means that one component functions with respect to another component, even if there are other components located between the first and second component, and the term “operable” defines a functional relationship between components.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the present disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that, unless otherwise described, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating positions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.