US 12,342,767 B2
Valve assembly for an irrigation system
Ralf Claus, Illerkirchberg (DE); and Markus Maag, Ulm (DE)
Assigned to HUSQVARNA AB, Huskvarna (SE)
Appl. No. 18/836,602
Filed by HUSQVARNA AB, Huskvarna (SE)
PCT Filed Dec. 13, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/085581
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 7, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/147923, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 10, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 22155458 (EP), filed on Feb. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0160270 A1, May 22, 2025
Int. Cl. A01G 25/16 (2006.01); F16K 7/04 (2006.01); F16K 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 25/167 (2013.01) [F16K 7/04 (2013.01); F16K 31/001 (2013.01); Y10T 137/189 (2015.04)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve assembly adapted to be coupled with a flexible pipe, the valve assembly adapted to allow passage of the flexible pipe therethrough such that the valve assembly selectively allows passage of water through the flexible pipe, the valve assembly further comprising:
a hollow body defining a first end and a second end;
a porous body partially enclosing the hollow body proximate to the first end, wherein the porous body houses a swellable material such that the swellable material is operatively coupled with the hollow body proximate to the first end via an elastic diaphragm;
a screw element coupled to the hollow body proximate to the second end;
wherein the hollow body further defines a hollow chamber between the first end and the second end such that a piston is disposed within the hollow chamber and adapted to move between a first position and a second position corresponding to a contraction and an expansion of a swellable material such that the valve assembly allows the passage of water from the flexible pipe in the first position of the piston and the valve assembly disallows the passage of water from the flexible pipe in the second position of the piston;
wherein the porous body houses the swellable material such that the swellable material is operatively coupled with the hollow body proximate to the first end via an elastic diaphragm,
wherein the valve assembly further includes the elastic diaphragm disposed between the swellable material and the piston and in direct contact with the swellable material as well as the piston, and
wherein the elastic diaphragm includes an annular bead.