US 11,940,052 B2
Flow control valve for suction cleaners
Patrick Caty, Lewisville, NC (US); Joseph A. Tessitore, Clemmons, NC (US); Alan R. Levin, Hollywood, FL (US); and Gary Ortiz, Clemmons, NC (US)
Assigned to Hayward Industries, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Appl. No. 17/311,269
Filed by Hayward Industries, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 4, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/064519
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 4, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/117964, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 11, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/776,184, filed on Dec. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0018449 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 1/36 (2006.01); A47L 7/00 (2006.01); E04H 4/16 (2006.01); F16K 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 1/36 (2013.01) [A47L 7/0014 (2013.01); E04H 4/1645 (2013.01); F16K 27/02 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flow control valve assembly comprising:
a body member extending from a first open end to a second open end, the body member having a first lumen that extends from the first open end to an interior chamber of the body member, and a second lumen that extends from the second open end to the interior chamber;
an outer wall of the body member that surrounds and defines the first lumen, the second lumen and the interior chamber, the outer wall including a first slot therethrough;
a plug member and a spring member positioned within the interior chamber, the plug member including a first protruding cover member;
wherein when the plug member is in a first position within the interior chamber: (i) the plug member prevents fluid to flow from the first lumen to the interior chamber, and (ii) fluid can flow from outside the outer wall to the interior chamber via the first slot; and
wherein when the plug member is moved to a second position within the interior chamber via a suction force: (i) the plug member allows fluid to flow from the first lumen to the interior chamber, and (ii) the first protruding cover member covers the first slot and prevents fluid to flow from outside the outer wall to the interior chamber via the first slot.