Granted Patent B2

US 7,252,113 · App. 10/891,285 · Granted Aug 7, 2007

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A timer valve for controlling the flow of water, the valve comprising:

a main body having an inlet and outlet for communication of water through the valve;

a valve between the inlet and outlet, the valve having a plunger shaft therethrough which activates the valve;

a timing mechanism controlling the plunger shaft, the timing mechanism having gearing and a windup shaft which turns the gearing, the windup shaft extending parallel to the plunger shaft;

a first coil spring coupled to the windup shaft, the coil spring being wound up by rotating the windup shaft; and

wherein the gearing provides resistance against the first coil spring such that when the first coil spring is wound up, it is released slowly to rotate the windup shaft; and

a control mechanism which is coupled to the windup shaft and allows the timing mechanism to be set to move the plunger shaft to activate the valve for a predetermined amount of time.

2. The timer valve in claim 1 wherein the valve further includes:

an outlet chamber fluidly coupled to the outlet; an intermediary chamber;

a diaphragm separating the outlet chamber from the intermediary chamber, the diaphragm having a center hole allowing the plunger shaft to pass therethrough;

a plunger on one side of the diaphragm;

a spring in contact with the plunger and opposite the timing mechanism, the spring forcing the diaphragm in a first position to close the valve and prevent water flow between the inlet and the outlet chamber; and wherein movement of the plunger shaft compresses the spring to move the diaphragm in a second position and actuate the valve to permit water flow between the inlet and the outlet chamber.

3. The timer valve of claim 2 wherein the diaphragm is fabricated from a resilient material.

4. The timer valve of claim 2 wherein the diaphragm includes a small hole drilled therethrough to allow water flow from the inlet to the intermediary chamber.

5. The timer valve of claim 1 wherein the control mechanism is a dial knob in contact with one end of the plunger shaft, the dial knob having an extended position and a retracted position which actuates the valve by moving the plunger shaft.

6. The timer valve of claim 5 wherein the dial knob may be rotated to set the timing mechanism in the retracted position.

7. The timer valve of claim 6 wherein the control mechanism includes an end cap within the dial knob, the end cap having an outer surface having a track, the dial knob having a pin which travels with the track when the dial knob is in the retracted position.

8. The timer valve of claim 5 wherein the dial knob has a cylindrical outer surface with time markings representing different times the valve will remain actuated.

9. The timer valve of claim 1 wherein the inlet includes a hose coupler.

10. The timer valve of claim 1 wherein the timing mechanism includes:

a stop washer coupled to one end of the windup shaft, the opposite end of the wind up shaft being coupled to the control mechanism;

wherein the stop washer prevents the windup shaft from being turned more than one rotation.

11. The timer valve of claim 10 wherein the gearing further includes:

a first planetary gear coupled to the windup shaft;

a sun gear intermeshed with the first planetary gear via other planetary and sun gears;

a sprocket coupled to the sun gear;

a rocker arm which swings in relation to the sprocket; and

a second coil spring coupled to a flywheel which has a pin which swings the sprocket.

12. A timing valve comprising:

an inlet capable of being coupled to a water source;

an outlet;

a valve housing fluidly coupled to the inlet and the outlet to control water flow between the inlet and the outlet;

a bisecting cylinder perpendicular to the inlet and outlet, the bisecting cylinder having a central axis and a diaphragm which has an open position allowing water flow to the outlet and a closed position preventing water flow to the outlet;

a dial knob having an extended position and a retracted position and the dial knob being rotatable about the central axis of the bisecting cylinder when in the retracted position;

a timing mechanism having a windup shaft parallel to the central axis of the bisecting cylinder, the windup shaft having a first end coupled to the dial knob; and

a plunger shaft parallel to the central axis of the bisecting cylinder and inserted through the timing mechanism, the plunger shaft having a first end which is coupled to the diaphragm and an opposite second end which is coupled to the dial knob, wherein the dial cap may be rotated in the retracted position to set the timing mechanism to remain in the retracted position for a set period of time;

a first coil spring coupled to the windup shaft, the coil spring being wound up by rotating the windup shaft; and

wherein the gearing provides resistance against the first coil spring such that when the first coil spring is wound up, it is released slowly to rotate the windup shaft.

13. The timer valve of claim 12 further comprising a main body holding the inlet and outlet and valve, the main body having a weld cap on one end of the bisecting cylinder and holding the timing mechanism and dial knob in proximity to the opposite end of the bisecting valve.

14. The timer valve of claim 12 further comprising:

a plunger in contact with the diaphragm and

a spring on the weld cap in contact with the plunger which forces the diaphragm in the closed position.

15. The timer valve of claim 12 further comprising an end cap within the dial knob, the end cap having an outer surface having a track, the dial knob having a pin which travels within the track when the dial knob is in the retracted position.

16. The timer valve of claim 12 wherein the dial cap has an outer cylindrical surface with time indicators relative to the amount of time the timing mechanism allows the valve to stay open.

Assignments (7)