US 11,946,565 B2
Valve assembly
Kevin Doyle, Pompano Beach, FL (US); and William Weiss, Parkland, FL (US)
Assigned to Hayward Industries, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hayward Industries, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/558,349.
Application 17/558,349 is a continuation of application No. 17/185,926, filed on Feb. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,204,106, issued on Dec. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290777 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 37/00 (2006.01); G01F 1/115 (2006.01); G01F 15/00 (2006.01); F16K 1/48 (2006.01); F16K 31/04 (2006.01); F16K 31/50 (2006.01); G01F 1/075 (2006.01); G05D 7/06 (2006.01); G05D 16/20 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 37/005 (2013.01) [G01F 1/115 (2013.01); G01F 15/005 (2013.01); F16K 1/48 (2013.01); F16K 31/04 (2013.01); F16K 31/508 (2013.01); F16K 37/0033 (2013.01); G01F 1/075 (2013.01); G05D 7/0635 (2013.01); G05D 16/20 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve assembly comprising:
a first housing including:
a first mating structure,
a second mating structure, and
at least one wall segment extending between the first mating structure and the second mating structure, the at least one wall segment defining an open chamber and a gap placing the open chamber in fluidic communication with an area external to at least a portion of the first housing,
the first housing defining a fluid output chamber and an inlet downstream of
the open chamber;
a flow rate sensor positioned downstream of the inlet;
a second housing engaged with the first housing;
a valve member positioned in the first housing; and
an actuator housed within the second housing and attached to the valve member,
wherein the actuator is configured to cause the valve member to selectively put the inlet in fluid communication with the area external to at least a portion of the first housing through the open chamber.