Patent ID: 8453992

Claim:
A pilot operated water valve, comprising: a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a main valving chamber defined therebetween, the valve body further defining a bypass channel in fluid communication with the outlet; a main valving chamber body operably coupled to the valve body to enclose the main valving chamber, the main valving chamber body forming a pilot valve opening therein to provide fluid communication between the main valving chamber and the bypass channel; a main valving member positioned in the main valving chamber and operable to control a main flow of water from the inlet to the outlet, the main valving member having at least one bleed hole positioned therethrough; a pilot valving member positioned to control a bypass flow of water from the main valving chamber through pilot valve opening to the outlet to control a position of the main valving member; means for controlling the pilot valving member, the means utilizing a lever arm to provide inverse three multiplication to position the pilot valving member; and wherein the means comprises a solenoid assembly having a coil wound on a magnetic frame structure surrounding a guide tube formed by the main valving chamber body that is open on one end to the main valving chamber, a plunger moveably positioned within the guide tube and extending into the main valving chamber, the plunger coupled to a first end of the lever arm opposite the second end to which the pilot valving member is coupled, a spring operably coupled to the lever arm to apply a spring force thereto, and a fulcrum pivotably coupled to the lever arm at a position along a length of the lever arm closer to the second end thereof.