AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 22 January 1997 (22.01.97); original claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 9-11, 16 and 17 amended; remaining claims unchanged (14 Pages)](v) and wherein said primary diaphragm is adapted to be responsive to fluid pressure to move between (A) an open position wherein fluid pressure from said inlet disengages said primary diaphragm from said outlet so that fluid is allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet and thence to said outlet conduit; and(B) a closed position, wherein fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm forces said primary diaphragm to sealingly engage said outlet so that fluid is not allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet; (b) a bleed inlet line, said bleed inlet line having a first end and a second end, said first end hydraulically connected to said pilot portion of said primary diaphragm chamber; (c) a pilot valve, said pilot valve having (i) a bleed inlet, said bleed inlet hydraulically connected to said second end of said bleed inlet line from said pilot portion of said primary diaphragm chamber, (ii) a bleed outlet, (iii) a pressurizable fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir located between said bleed inlet and said bleed cutlet, said fluid reservoir adapted to receive pressurized liquid from said bleed inlet line; (iv) a repositionable pilot diaphragm; (v) a plunger, said plunger adapted to displace said repositionable pilot diaphragm between (A) a normally closed position wherein said repositionable pilot diaphragm sealingly engages said bleed outlet to block escape of said pressurized fluid through said pilot valve, and (B) an open position, wherein said repositionable pilot pilot diaphragm is displaced from said bleed outlet so as to open said bleed outlet for passage of fluid therethrough, so that said pressurized fluid from said pilot side of said primary diaphragm chamber is discharged through said pilot valve; and (d) an actuator, said actuator moveable between an open position and a closed position, said actuator further comprising an operating link connected with said pilot valve, so that upon positioning of said actuator to said open position, said operating link causes the plunger of said pilot valve to reposition said pilot valve diaphragm from a normally closed position to an open position, thereby effecting the release of pressurized fluid out the bleed outlet and releasing fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm, to thereby cause said primary diaphragm to move to said open position, so as to allow discharge of fluid from said valve apparatus. 2. The valve apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a bleed outlet line having a first end and a second end, and wherein said first end of said bleed outlet line is hydraulically connected to said bleed outlet of said pilot valve, and wherein said second end of said bleed outlet line is hydraulically connected to said outlet of said primary valve, so that when said pilot valve is opened to allow pressurized fluid to be discharged out the bleed outlet, said fluid is sent to the outlet of said primary valve, so that said fluid may be discharged out through said outlet conduit, so as to avoid waste of said pressurized bleed fluid. 3. The valve apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said primary diaphragm further comprises at least one weep passageway therethrough, said weep passageway adapted to allow at least a small volume of pressurized fluid to pass from said working portion to said pilot portion of said diaphragm chamber, so that fluid pressure is exerted on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm to close said primary valve. 4. A valve apparatus for control flow of fluid discharge from a pressurized fluid distribution system, where said valve apparatus is supplied with fluid via an incoming conduit supplying the fluid under pressure, said valve apparatus comprising; (a) a primary valve, said primary valve comprising (i) an inlet, said inlet adapted to receive said fluid under pressure from said incoming conduit, (ii) an outlet, said outlet adapted to discharge said fluid to an outlet conduit; (iii) a diaphragm chamber, said chamber having a pilot portion and a working portion; (iv) a fluid pressure controlled primary diaphragm, said primary diaphragm located in said primary diaphragm chamber between said pilot portion and said working portion of said primary diaphragm chamber, said primary diaphragm having a pilot side and a working side, said working side of said primary diaphragm configured to engage (A) at least a portion of said inlet, and(B) said outlet, (v) and wherein said primary diaphragm is adapted to be responsive to fluid pressure to move between (A) an open position wherein fluid pressure from said inlet disengages said primary diaphragm from said outlet so that fluid is allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet and thence to said outlet conduit; and (B) a closed position, wherein fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm forces said primary diaphragm to sealingly engage said outlet so that fluid is not allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet; (b) a bleed inlet line, said bleed inlet line having a first end and a second end, said first end hydraulically connected to said pilot portion of said primary diaphragm chamber; (c) a pilot valve, said pilot valve having (i) a bleed inlet, said bleed inlet hydraulically connected to said second end of said bleed inlet line from said pilot portion of said primary diaphragm chamber, (ii) a bleed outlet, (iii) a pressurizable fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir located between said bleed inlet and said bleed outlet, said fluid reservoir adapted to receive pressurized liquid from said bleed inlet line; (iv) a repositionable pilot diaphragm, said diaphragm adapted to be repositionable pilot diaphragm between (A) a normally closed position wherein said repositionable pilot diaphragm sealingly engages said bleed outlet to block escape of said pressurized fluid through said pilot valve, and (B) an open position, wherein said repositionable pilot pilot diaphragm is displaced from said bleed outlet so as to open said bleed outlet for passage of fluid therethrough, so that said pressurized fluid from said pilot side of said primary diaphragm chamber is discharged through said pilot valve; and (d) an actuator, said actuator having an open position and a normally closed position, said actuator further comprising an operatively connected link with said pilot valve, said actuator adapted to be moveable to the open position in response to movement of said actuator, so that upon repositioning of said actuator to said open position, said operatively connected link causes said repositionable pilot diaphragm to reposition said pilot valve diaphragm from a normally closed position to an open position, thereby effecting the release of pressurized fluid out the bleed outlet and releasing fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm, to thereby cause said primary diaphragm to move to said open position. (A) at least a portion of said inlet, and(B) said outlet, (v) and wherein said primary diaphragm is adapted to be responsive to fluid pressure to move between (A) an open position wherein fluid pressure from said inlet disengages said primary diaphragm from said outlet so that fluid is allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet and thence to said tap, and(B) a closed position, wherein fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm forces said primary diaphragm to sealingly engage said outlet so that fluid is not allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet; (b) two or more bleed inlet lines, each of said bleed inlet lines having a first end and a second end, said first end hydraulically connected to said pilot portion of said primary diaphragm chamber;(c) two or more pilot valves, each of said two or more pilot valves having (i) a bleed inlet, said bleed inlet hydraulically connected to said second end of said bleed inlet line from said pilot portion of said diaphragm chamber, (ii) a bleed outlet, (iii) a pressurizable fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir located between said bleed inlet and said diaphragms from a normally closed position to an open position, thereby effecting the release of fluid pressure on each of said two or more said primary diaphragms, to thereby cause each of said two or more primary diaphragms to move to said open position. 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said primary valves and said pilot valves are provided as companions in sets of two or more, and wherein each set further comprises a bleed outlet line having a first end and a second end, and wherein said first end of said bleed outlet line is hydraulically connected to said bleed outlet of a selected pilot valve in said set of two or more pilot valves, and wherein said second end of said bleed outlet line is hydraulically connected to said outlet of a selected primary valve in said set of two or more primary valves, so that when said selected pilor valve is opened to allow pressurized fluid to be discharged out the bleed outlet, said fluid is sent to the outlet of said selected primary valve, so that said fluid may be discharged out through said tap, so as to avoid waste of said pressurized bleed fluid. 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein each primary diaphragm in each of said two or more primary valves further comprises at least one weep passageway therethrough, said weep passageway adapted to allow at least a small volume of pressurized fluid to pass from said working portion to said pilot portion of each of said diaphragm chambers, so that fluid pressure is exerted on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm to close any one of said two or more primary valves. 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, or claim 4, or claim 5, wherein each of said pilot valves further comprises a body, said body cooperating with an interior rear wall to form a recessed fluid receiving chamber. 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said interior rear wall of said pilot valve further comprises(a) a raised ledge having peripheral grooves, and(b) a flexible diaphragm seal having raised edges complementary to said peripheral grooves. 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said pilot valve further comprises two recessed, generally cymbal shaped diaphragm seal seats. 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said pilot valve further comprises (a) a plunger said plunger comprising two or more posts of length L, (b) a retainer, said retainer having two or more aperture defining edges complementary to said two or more posts of said plunger, and wherein said plunger may be actuated to depress said diaphragm seal against said diaphragm seal seats, so as to sealingly interrupt fluid flow through said pilot valve. 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said pilot valve further comprises an external housing, said housing having an interior aperture defining edge portion, said aperture defining edge portion adapted to securely snap into firm engagement a generally cylindrical object with an H-shaped engaging portion. 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising an actuator pin housing, said actuator pin housing having an elongate, tubular body and a distal end with a generally H-shaped notch therein, said H-shaped notch adapted to provide an engaging portion when interfitted in locking engagement with a complementary sized snap-in aperture. 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising an actuator housing, said actuator housing generally in an elongated, hollow trapezoidal shape having a frontal opening, said frontal opening adapted to fit therein in operational cooperation with said Plunger with minimal peripheral gap between said actuator and said actuator housing. (v) and wherein the diaphragm is adapted to be responsive to fluid pressure to move between (A) an open position wherein fluid pressure from said inlet disengages said diaphragm from said outlet so that fluid is allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet and thence to said tap, and (B) a closed position, wherein fluid pressure on said pilot side of said diaphragm forces said diaphragm to sealingly engage said outlet so that fluid is not allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet; (b) one or more pilot valves, each of said one or more pilot valves paired with a corresponding primary valve, and each of said one or more pilot valves having an bleed inlet, a bleed outlet, a repositionable pilot diaphragm therebetween, and a plunger adapted to displace said repositionable pilot diaphragm between (i) a normally closed position wherein said repositionable pilot diaphragm sealingly engages said bleed outlet to block escape of said pressurized fluid through said one or more pilot valves, and (iii) an open position, wherein said repositionable pilot pilot diaphragm is displaced from said bleed outlet so as to open said bleed outlet (a) providing a primary valve to regulate the flow of fluid outward from said incoming conduit, wherein said primary valve comprises (i) an inlet, said inlet adapted to receive said fluid under pressure from said incoming conduit, (ii) an outlet, said outlet adapted to discharge said fluid to an outlet conduit; (iii) a diaphragm chamber, said chamber having a pilot portion and a working portion; (iv) a fluid pressure controlled primary diaphragm, said primary diaphragm located in said primary diaphragm chamber between said pilot portion and said working portion of said primary diaphragm chamber, said primary diaphragm having a pilot side and a working side, said working side of said primary diaphragm configured to engage (A) at least a portion of said inlet, and(B) said outlet, (v) and wherein said primary diaphragm is adapted to be responsive to fluid pressure to move between (A) an open position wherein fluid pressure from said inlet disengages said primary diaphragm from said outlet so that fluid is allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet and thence to said outlet conduit; and (B) a closed position, wherein fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm forces said primary diaphragm to sealingly engage said outlet so that fluid is not allowed to flow from said inlet to said outlet; (b) providing a bleed inlet line, said bleed inlet line having a first end and a second end, said first end hydraulically connected to said pilot portion of said primary diaphragm chamber; (c) providing a pilot valve, said pilot valve of the type comprising (i) a bleed inlet, said bleed inlet hydraulically connected to said second end of said bleed inlet line from said pilot portion of said primary diaphragm chamber,(ii) a bleed outlet, (iii) a pressurizable fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir located between said bleed inlet and said bleed outlet, said fluid reservoir adapted to receive pressurized liquid from said bleed inlet line; (iv) a repositionable pilot diaphragm; (v) a plunger, said plunger adapted to displace said repositionable pilot diaphragm between (A) a normally closed position wherein said repositionable pilot diaphragm sealingly engages said bleed outlet to block escape of said pressurized fluid through said pilot valve, and (B) an open position, wherein said repositionable pilot pilot diaphragm is displaced from said bleed outlet so as to open said bleed outlet for passage of fluid therethrough, so that said pressurized fluid from said pilot side of said primary diaphragm chamber is discharged through said pilot valve; and (d) providing an actuator, and operatively connecting said actuator with said pilot valve; (e) displacing said actuator to an open position to cause the pilot valve to reposition said pilot valve diaphragm from a normally closed position to an open position where pressurized fluid is released out said bleed outlet, thus releasing fluid pressure on said pilot side of said primary diaphragm, causing said primary diaphragm to move to said open position to provide fluid flow outward from said pressurized fluid distribution system. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19
1. Claims 1-17 originally were pending in the application.
2. Claims 1, 2, 4, 5. 9, 10, 11, 16, and 17 have been amended.
3. Claims 3, 6-8, and 12-15 have not been amended.
4. No claims have been cancelled.
Claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 16, and 17 have been amended to more particularly point out and claim the subject matter of the invention. Claims 4, 5, 9, 10, and 11 have been amended to correct the spelling of "diaphragm." It is believed that the minor clarifications made to the claims assist to clearly define the pilot valve operated valve apparatus of the instant invention over the magnetically operated valve disclosed in Van Marcke, U.S. Patent No. 4,819,682.