US3698421A

US3698421A - Valve assembly

Info

Publication number: US3698421A
Application number: US185156A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel D Kersten Jr; Alton F Sautter; John M Simon
Original assignee: WATER SAVER FAUCET CO
Current assignee: WATER SAVER FAUCET CO
Priority date: 1971-09-30
Filing date: 1971-09-30
Publication date: 1972-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-17

Abstract

A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a support panel through an opening in the panel. The assembly comprises a control valve having positioning means for engaging the inner surface of a support panel, irrespective of the degree at which the support panel may be angled. A locking sleeve or collar is provided for the assembly to enable the control valve to be secured on the panel. One end of the locking sleeve or collar is shaped to enable it to make flush contact with the outer surface of the support panel at the opening therethrough. Locking means are provided to maintain the positioning means and the locking sleeve or collar in locked engagement on the support panel.

Description

United States Patent Kersten, Jr. et a1.

[ VALVE ASSEMBLY [72] Inventors: Samuel D. Kersten, Jr., Highland Park; Alton F. Sautter, Chicago; John M. Simon, Downers Grove, all of 111.

[73] Assignee: Water Saver Faucet Co., Chicago,

221 Filed: Sept. 30, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 185,156

52 U.S.CI ..l37/356,4/l9l 511 1111.01 ..Fl6l5/00 581 Field of Search ...4/191, 192; 137/356, 359,360

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France ..4/191 Noland ..4/191 [451 Oct. 11, 1912 Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Assistant Examiner-GeraldA. Michalsky Attorney-Wallenstein, Spangenberg, l-lattis & Strampel [57] ABSTRACT A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a support panel through an opening in the panel. The assembly comprises a control valve having positioning means for engaging the inner surface of a support panel, irrespective of the degree at which the support panel may be angled. A locking sleeve or collar is provided for the assembly to enable the control valve to be secured on the panel. One end of the locking sleeve or collar is shaped to enable it to make flush contact with the outer surface of the support panel at the opening 1 therethrough. Locking means are provided to maintain the positioning means and the locking sleeve or collar in locked engagement on the support panel.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUBT 17 I972 3,698,421

INVENTDRS ALTON F SAUTTER JOHN M. SIMON ATTYS.

SAMUEL o. KERSTEN, JR.

VALVE ASSEMBLY jThepresent invention relates to a valve assembly adaptedto be mounted on a support panel, especially a slanted support panel, in remote relation to the fixture to which the valve assembly is connected. h

In many areas of use, it is advantageous to mount a control valve for water, steam, gas, air, vacuum, or the like, at a position which is remote from the fixture to which the control valve is connected. One such area of use is in laboratories where it is a common practice to carry out chemical reactions, for example, within an exhaust or fume hood. In the usual case, the fixtures are positioned within the hood, and the control valves extend-through openings in a panel at the front of the hood. The outer face of the panel desirably has impressed upon it indicia to identify the substance which flowsthrough the control valves to the fixtures, and the panel preferably will be slanted, usually at an angle of 30 or 45, to enable an operator to more easily and readily read the indicia and to locate the control valve desired. The control valves in such an arrangement are not angled to conform to the angulation or slant of the panel, but, instead, are positioned in a horizontal plane. Thus, the angle formed by the control valve with the front or outer face of the slanted panel is different than that formed with the rear or inner face of the slanted panel. This difference in the angle formed between the control valve and the inner and outer faces of the slanted panel makes it difficult to secure the control valves on the panel in a manner whereby the valves will be held in a fixed, rigid position in relation to'the panel,

while at the same time providing an arrangement which will have a finished, attractive appearance, and which, more importantly, will afford protection against damage to the body of each of the valves mounted on the panel.

In accordance with the present invention, a valve assembly is provided which overcomes all of the aforestated difficulties. The valve assembly of this invention, apart from enabling a control valve to be rigidly and securely mounted on a support panel slanted at any desired angle, provides excellent protection for the body of the mounted control valve while concomitantly providing a control valve-support panel arrangement which is highly attractive and easy to maintain. The valve assembly furthermore, can be used in conjunction with standard water valves for hot and cold water service, or with needle valves for regulating steam, gas, air, vacuum, or the like.

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of the valve assembly of this invention comprises a control valve having a body portion formed to provide an inlet and an outlet at one end thereof, and a valve stem receiving chamber at the other end thereof. Control valve positioning means is provided on the body portion for engaging the inner surface of a support panel, irrespective of the angle at which the panel may be slanted. The

control valve is secured on the support panel by removable valve body locking means which includes a locking sleeve or collar and a locking nut or ring carried on the body portion of the control valve. One end of the locking sleeve or collar is shaped at an angle to enable it to lie in flush contact with the outer surface of the support panel at the control valve receiving opening thereof. The locking nut or ring acts to maintain the positioning means and the shaped end of thelocking sleeve in flush contact with the support panel, and, in cooperationwith the locking sleeve or collar, provides protection for that portion of the control valve body not concealed by the support'panel. The assembly enables the control valve to be rigidly and securely mounted with its longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane, and positions the handle of the control valve within ready and easy reach of an operator, thereby facilitating accurate regulation of material flow from a fixture connected to the panel mounted control valve.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of a typical remote control valve arrangement employing an embodiment of the valve assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side inelevation, partly in section, showing an embodiment of the valve assembly mounted on a support panel slanted at an angle of approximately 30 to the longitudinal axis of the control valve of the assembly.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view, partly in section and partly broken away, of said embodiment of the assembly of FIG. 2 taken substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the locking sleeve or collar of the assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation, partly in section, showing an embodiment of the valve assembly mounted on a support panel slanted at an angle of approximately 45 to the longitudinal axis of the control valve of the assembly.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the valve assembly 10 comprises a control valve 12 having a body portion 14. The body portion 14 has an internally threaded inlet .16 and an internally threaded outlet 18 formed at one end thereof for receiving nipples 20-20. The body portion 14 further is provided with a valve chamber (not shown) in which is positioned a valve seat (also not shown). The valve chamber receives a valve stem 22, one end of which carries a valve member (not shown). The valve stem 22 is secured on the body portion 14 by a valve chamber closure member 24 having external threads at each end thereof. A valve stem packing nut 26, which is threaded onto the closure member 24, and a control handle 28 are provided for the valve stem 22. The valve seat and the valve stem advantageously are of the standard type used in connection with conventional control valves.

The body portion 14 of the control valve 12 of the assembly 10 is formed with a pair of lateral, outwardly extending, substantially cylindrical positioning bosses or arms 30-30, the function of which will be made clear as the description proceeds. The body portion 14, at its valve stem receiving end, has external threads 14a, and carries a substantially cylindrically shaped locking sleeve or collar 32 and an internally threaded locking unit or ring 34. As shown, the inner end 32a of the sleeve or collar 32 is shaped, beveled or formed at an angle, the purpose of which also will become clear as the description proceeds.

As indicated hereinabove, the valve assembly of the present invention has particular utility in connection with slanted support panels of the type used, for example, to support control valves in remote relation to the fixtures connected to the valves. Typical of structures employing slanted support panels for this purpose are fume hoods.

In FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, a remote control valve arrangement is shown utilizing an embodiment of the valve assembly of this invention. The support panel 40, which is slanted at an angle of approximately 30 to horizontal, is provided with an opening 40a therethrough for receiving the externally threaded end of the body portion 14 of the control valve 12. As shown, the positioning bosses or arms 30-30 make edge contact with the inner surface of the panel 40. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the rounded configuration ofthe bosses or arms 3030 enables them to establish edge contact with the surface of a support panel irrespective of the degree to which the panel is slanted or angled. The correspondingly beveled end 32a of the locking sleeve or collar 32, in turn, lies in flush contact with the outer surface of the support panel 40 at the opening 40a therethrough. The bosses or arms 30-30 and the sleeve or collar 32 are maintained in rigid contact with the outer surface of the panel 40 by the locking nut or ring 34 which is threaded along the externally threaded end of the body portion 14 into tight engagement with the outer or nonbeveled end of the sleeve or collar 32. The cooperative action of the bosses or arms 3030, the locking sleeve or collar 32 and the locking nut or ring 34 thusly enables the control valve 12 to be securely mounted on the panel 40 with the longitudinal axis of the control valve in a horizontal plane. The sleeve or collar 32 and the nut or ring 34 further serve to protect that portion of the body of the control valve 12 which is not concealed by the panel 40, and, in addition, impart a finished, at-

tractive appearance to the installation.

As best seen in FIG. 1, nipples 2020 can be threaded into the inlet 16 and the outlet 18 of the control valve, and the valve then can be connected to a remotely located fixture 50 with conventional plumbing 52 in the usual manner. More than one valve assembly can, of course, be mounted on a single support panel, each of the control valves comprising the assembly in such an arrangement serving to regulate lfixtures for hot and cold water, steam, gas, vacuum, air, or the like.

In the embodiment of the assembly shown in FIG. 5, the support panel 60 is slanted at an angle of approximately 45. The locking sleeve or collar 62 .of the assembly, correspondingly, has the panel contacting end 62a thereof shaped, beveled or formed at an angle to enable it, as in the case of the sleeve or collar 32, to lie in flush contact with the outer surface of the panel 60 at the opening 60d therethrough. At stated hereinabove, the panel contacting end of the locking sleeve or collar of the assembly can be shaped at any desired angle to enable it to make flush contact with the outer surface of the support panel on which the control valve of the assembly is-to be mounted.

It should be understood that the embodiments shown and described in detail above are only-exemplary, and

. that various modifications can be made in construction and arrangement within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a slanted support panel through an opening therein, comprising a control valve having a body portion formed to provide an inlet and outlet at one end thereof and valve stem receiving means at the other end thereof, control valve positioning means provided on said body portion for engaging oneface of a slanted support panel, and valve body locking means carried by the body portion of the valve for securing the valve on the slanted support panel, said valve body locking means including a locking sleeve having an opening therethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portion of the valve, one end of said locking sleeve being slanted to enable it to lie in flush contact with the other face of the slanted support panel whereby the panel will be positioned between the positioning means and the locking sleeve and the control valve will be rigidly mounted on the panel. I

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the control valve positioning means comprises a pair of lateral, outwardly extending, cylindrically shaped arms capable of making edge contact with a surface of a support panel irrespective of the angle at which the support panel is slanted.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the valve body locking means also includes an internally threaded locking nut for maintaining the slanted end of the locking sleeve in flush engagement with the surface of the support panel.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein the body portion of the control valve is provided with external threads to receive the locking nut.

5. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the locking sleeve has a length sufficient to overlie that area of the body portion of the control valve on which the locking sleeve is carried thereby to provide protection against damage for said area of the body portion.

6. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the locking sleeve is slidably engaged on the body portion of the control valve to enable the sleeve to be readily moved toward or away from the support panel.

7. A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a support panel through an opening therein, comprising a control valve having a body portion formed to provide an inlet and outlet at one end thereof and valve stem receiving means at the other end thereof, control valve positioning means provided on said body portion for engaging one face of a support panel, and removable valve body locking means carried by the body portion of the control valve for securing the control valve on the support panel, said valve body locking means including a locking sleeve having an opening therethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portion of the control valve, one end of said locking sleeve being adapted to lie in flush contact with the other face of the panel whereby the panel will be positioned between the positioning means and the locking sleeve, and the control valve will be rigidly mounted on the panel.

8. A panel mounted remote control valve assembly, comprising a support panel having an inner and an outer face and an opening therethrough for receiving a control valve, a control valve having a body portion which is received in the opening through the support panel, said' body portion being formed to provide an inlet and an outlet at one end thereof and having valve stem receiving means at the other end thereof,- laterally extending, substantially cylindrical control valve positioning means provided on said body portion for making edge contact with the inner face of the support panel, valve body locking means carried by the body portion of the valve for securing the valve on the support panel, said valve body locking means including a locking sleeve having an opening therethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portion of the control valve, one end of said locking sleeve being formed to enable it to lie in flush contact with the outer face of the support panel, alocking ring for urging and maintaining the said one end of the locking sleeve in flush contact with the outer face of the support panel, and

connector means for the body portion of the control valve for connecting the inlet of the control valve to a supply line for water, steam, gas, air, vacuum, or the like, and the outlet of the control valve to a fixture remotely located with relation to the control valve.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support panel is slanted and the control valve is mounted thereon with its longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane, the locking sleeve having the panel engaging end thereof slanted to correspond to the degree of slant of the panel to enable said end of the sleeve to lie in flush contact with the outer face of the panel at the opening therethrough.

Claims

1. A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a slanted support panel through an opening therein, comprising a control valve having a body portion formed to provide an inlet and outlet at one end thereof and valve stem receiving means at the other end thereof, control valve positioning means provided on said body portion for engaging one face of a slanted support panel, and valve body locking means carried by the body portion of the valve for securing the valve on the slanTed support panel, said valve body locking means including a locking sleeve having an opening therethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portion of the valve, one end of said locking sleeve being slanted to enable it to lie in flush contact with the other face of the slanted support panel whereby the panel will be positioned between the positioning means and the locking sleeve and the control valve will be rigidly mounted on the panel.

8. A panel mounted remote control valve assembly, comprising a support panel having an inner and an outer face and an opening therethrough for receiving a control valve, a control valve having a body portion which is received in the opening through the support panel, said body portion being formed to provide an inlet and an outlet at one end thereof and having valve stem receiving means at the other end thereof, laterally extending, substantially cylindrical control valve positioning means provided on said body portion for making edge contact with the inner face of the support panel, valve body locking means carried by the body portion of the valve for securing the valve on the support panel, said valve body locking means including a locking sleeve having an opening therethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portion of the control valve, one end of said locking sleeve being formed to enable it to lie in flush contact with the outer face of the support panel, a locking ring for urging and maintaining the said one end of the locking sleeve in flush contact with the outer face of the support panel, and connector means for the body portion of the control valve for connecting the inlet of the control valve to a supply line for water, steam, gas, air, vacuum, or the like, and the outlet of the control valve to a fixture remotely located with relation to the control valve.