IP Library Granted Patent US 11,994,235
Granted Patent B2
US 11,994,235 · App. 17/268,269 · Granted May 28, 2024

Angle stop assembly

Inventors: Eric B. Soberano (Barnegat, NJ); Niloy Talukder (San Jose, CA); Steven D. Kappus (Manville, NJ); Verne Myers (Fort Wayne, IN); Nitin S. Kolekar (Piscataway, NJ); Behnam Heydari (Ridgewood, NJ); Mahendra Gunawardena (Hillsborough, NJ); Benjamin Smith (Milwaukee, WI); Douglas Leavitt (Bethlehem, PA)
Assignee: AS America, Inc.
F16K31/508F16K1/02F16K31/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,994,235
App. No.
17/268,269
Granted
May 28, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An automatic angle stop assembly for a urinal or toilet may include an angle stop adjustment device and an angle stop. The automatic angle stop assembly may automatically control flow through the angle stop to a flush valve. The automatic angle stop assembly may include a motor and an adjustment screw. A method for closing the angle stop may include sensing a flow condition, automatically rotating a motor based on the flow condition, and closing the angle stop.

Claims (42)

1. An automatic angle stop assembly comprising

an angle stop body;

an angle stop valve disposed within the body; and

an angle stop adjustment device coupled to the body,

wherein

the angle stop valve is configured to be in flow communication with an inlet of a flush valve for a toilet or a urinal,

the angle stop adjustment device is configured to automatically adjust a position of the angle stop valve based on a fluid flow rate through the angle stop valve during a flush cycle, and

the angle stop adjustment device is configured to automatically adjust the angle stop valve to an intermediate position between a fully open position and a closed position.

2. The angle stop assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the angle stop adjustment device comprises an adjustment screw and a motor,

the motor is configured to rotate to adjust a position of the adjustment screw, and

the position of the adjustment screw determines the intermediate position of the angle stop valve.

3. The angle stop assembly of claim 1 , comprising a sensor and a controller, wherein

the sensor is configured to detect the fluid flow rate through the angle stop valve,

the sensor is configured to communicate the fluid flow rate to the controller, and

the controller is configured to actuate the angle stop adjustment device.

4. The angle stop assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is a flow sensor.

5. The angle stop assembly of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate a motor to rotate the motor to move an adjustment screw.

6. The angle stop assembly of claim 3 , wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the sensor via a wired or a wireless connection.

7. The angle stop assembly of claim 3 , wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the adjustment device via a wired or a wireless connection.

8. The angle stop assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device is disposed within a housing.

9. The angle stop assembly of claim 8 , wherein the housing is coupled to the angle stop body via a connector.

10. The angle stop assembly of claim 9 , wherein the connector comprises an interior threaded surface, and wherein an exterior threaded surface of the adjustment screw is configured to engage the interior threaded surface of the connector.

11. The angle stop assembly of claim 10 , wherein the adjustment screw is configured to rotate and translate longitudinally with respect to the connector.

12. The angle stop assembly of claim 1 , comprising a motor, a female coupling socket, a male coupling socket, and an adjustment screw, wherein rotation of the motor rotates the female coupling socket, male coupling socket, and adjustment screw, and rotation of the motor moves the adjustment screw.

13. The angle stop assembly of claim 12 , wherein the female coupling socket is coupled to a motor shaft of the motor and the male coupling socket is received within a receptacle of the female coupling socket, and wherein rotation of the motor rotates the female coupling socket and the male coupling socket.

14. The angle stop assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angle stop valve intermediate position is configured to provide for a target flush volume during the flush cycle.

15. The angle stop assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angle stop adjustment device is configured to automatically adjust the position of the angle stop valve to the closed position.

16. The angle stop assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angle stop adjustment device is configured to automatically adjust the position of the angle stop valve to the fully open position.

17. The angle stop assembly of claim 1 , comprising an electronic or manual bypass actuator configured to open, close, or adjust the angle stop.

18. An angle stop adjustment device for an angle stop valve, comprising

an adjustment screw;

a motor coupled to the adjustment screw and configured to rotate the adjustment screw;

a sensor;

and

a controller,

wherein

the angle stop valve is configured to be in flow communication with an inlet of a flush valve for a toilet or a urinal,

the controller is configured to actuate the motor in response to a sensed fluid flow rate through the angle stop valve to adjust a position of the adjustment screw to an intermediate position between a fully open position and a closed position, and

the adjustment device is configured to couple to an angle stop body.

19. The angle stop adjustment device of claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a flow sensor.

20. The angle stop adjustment device of claim 18 , comprising a female coupling socket, and a male coupling socket, and wherein actuation of the motor rotates the female coupling socket, the male coupling socket, and adjustment screw.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST ,FOURTH AND SEVENTH CONVEYING PARTIES NAMES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 55711 FRAME: 662. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 26, 2021
From: KAPPUS, STEVEN D.; HEYDARI, BEHNAM; GUNAWARDENA, MAHENDRA; MYERS, VERNE; TALUKDER, NILOY; KOLEKAR, NITIN S.; SOBERANO, ERIC; SMITH, BENJAMIN ANGUS; LEAVITT, DOUGLAS F.
To: AS AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 055994/0648 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2021
From: K, STEVEN D.; HEYDARI, BEHNAM; GUNAWARDENA, MAHENDRA; MYERS, VERNE H.; TALUKDER, NILOY; KOLEKAR, NITIN S.; SOBERANO, ERIC B.; SMITH, BENJAMIN ANGUS; LEAVITT, DOUGLAS F.
To: AS AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 055711/0662 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62764770 · Aug 16, 2018
Related Publication 20210310578A1 · Oct 7, 2021