Float and hinge for a valve
In at least some implementations, an assembly includes a float having a void with an inlet leading into the void in a first direction, and at least one retention surface that is not parallel to the first direction and a hinge received at least partially within the void. The hinge has at least one retention feature that cooperates with the at least one retention feature of the float to inhibit removal of the hinge from the float in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the hinge is formed from a polymeric material. In at least some implementations, the hinge has a melting point similar to or lower than the melting point of the material of the float, and the hinge is formed separately from and is pressed into the void in the float.
1. An assembly, comprising:
a float having a void with an inlet leading into the void in a first direction, and at least one retention surface that is not parallel to the first direction;
a hinge received at least partially within the void and having at least one retention feature that engages the at least one retention surface of the float to inhibit removal of the hinge from the float in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the hinge is formed from a polymeric material, and wherein the hinge has a dimension greater than a dimension of a corresponding portion of the void, and the hinge has a finger that flexes to reduce the dimension of the hinge so that the hinge including the finger may be received in the void, and wherein the hinge includes one or more openings or a passage formed in a portion of the hinge outboard of the float; and
a pin received in said one or more openings or passage of the hinge, and the pin defining a pivot about which the float pivots.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the polymeric material that the hinge is formed from has a melting point similar to or lower than the melting point of a material that the float is formed from.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the void has a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion is smaller than the second portion, and wherein the finger is resilient and the at least one retention feature is carried by the finger, and when the hinge is inserted into the void the finger flexes from an original position to reduce the dimension of the hinge, and when the at least one retention feature is received in the second portion of the void, the finger unflexes to increase the dimension of the hinge.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one retention feature is carried by the finger.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the float and hinge include complementary control features that engage each other to inhibit movement of the hinge in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hinge includes a limit surface adapted to engage a stop surface of the float to limit insertion of the hinge into the void.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the at least one retention feature of the hinge is defined by a retention surface and the limit surface is arranged at a distance from the at least one retention surface of the hinge that is equal to or greater than a distance between the at least one retention surface of the float and the stop surface.
8. An assembly, comprising:
a float having a void with an inlet leading into the void in a first direction, and at least one retention surface that is not parallel to the first direction;
a hinge received at least partially within the void and having at least one retention feature that engages the at least one retention surface of the float to inhibit removal of the hinge from the float in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the hinge is formed from a polymeric material, and wherein the hinge has a dimension greater than a dimension of a corresponding portion of the void, and the hinge has a finger that flexes to reduce the dimension of the hinge so that the hinge may be received in the void; and
a valve body trapped between the float and hinge without a fastener, adhesive, bond or weld between the valve body and hinge, and wherein the valve body includes a flange that is received in a void of the hinge, and wherein the float prevents removal of the flange from the void of the hinge.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the hinge includes a pivot coupling feature spaced from the valve body.
10. A liquid vapor separator, comprising:
a body defining at least part of an interior volume;
a float received within the interior volume, the float being buoyant in liquid that may be received in the interior volume, and the float having a void with an inlet leading into the void in a first direction, and at least one retention surface that is not parallel to the first direction;
a hinge received at least partially within the void and having at least one retention feature that overlaps the at least one retention feature of the float to inhibit removal of the hinge from the float in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the hinge is formed from a polymeric material and the hinge has a dimension greater than a dimension of a corresponding portion of the void, and the hinge has a finger that flexes to reduce the dimension of the hinge so that the hinge including the finger may be received in the void and the at least one retention feature is carried by the finger; and
a valve body having a coupling feature that is overlied by a coupling feature of the hinge, and wherein the valve body is trapped between the hinge and float so that removal of the valve body from the hinge is prevented by engagement of the valve body with the float.
11. The liquid vapor separator of claim 10 wherein the polymeric material of the hinge has a melting point similar to or lower than the melting point of a material of the float.
12. The liquid vapor separator of claim 10 wherein a portion of the finger including the retention feature extends through the void of the float, and the finger is resilient to increase the dimension of the hinge so that the retention feature overlaps a surface of the float.
13. The liquid vapor separator of claim 10 wherein the valve body is trapped between the float and hinge without a fastener, adhesive, bond or weld between the valve body and hinge.
14. The liquid vapor separator of claim 10 wherein the valve body includes a flange that is received in a void of the hinge, and wherein the float prevents removal of the flange from the void of the hinge.
15. The liquid vapor separator of claim 10 which also includes a pivot and wherein the hinge includes a pivot coupling feature spaced from the valve body and coupled to the pivot to permit pivoted movement of the float within the interior volume.
16. The liquid vapor separator of claim 15 wherein the valve body is moved as the float moves about the pivot.
17. The liquid vapor separator of claim 16 which also includes a spring that yieldably biases the valve body relative to the hinge and float so that at least a portion of the valve body moves relative to the hinge.
18. The liquid vapor separator of claim 10 which also includes a cover that, with the body, defines the interior volume, and wherein the cover includes a pivot to which the hinge is coupled for pivoted movement of the hinge and float relative to the cover.
19. The liquid vapor separator of claim 18 wherein the valve body is coupled to the hinge at a location spaced from the pivot, and wherein the cover includes an inlet through which liquid enters the interior volume, and the valve body is moved relative to the cover, as the float moves relative to the cover, to selectively open and close the inlet of the cover.