US 11,697,927 B2
Valve assemblies for leak prevention
Christopher M. Hayden, Shelton, CT (US); Harsha Satyanarayana, Bristol, CT (US); and Raymond Ytuarte, Seymour, CT (US)
Assigned to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on May 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/883,020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0372093 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. E03B 7/07 (2006.01); F16K 17/36 (2006.01); F24H 15/12 (2022.01); F16K 31/00 (2006.01); F24H 9/13 (2022.01); F24H 9/17 (2022.01)
CPC E03B 7/071 (2013.01) [F16K 17/36 (2013.01); F16K 31/001 (2013.01); F24H 9/133 (2022.01); F24H 9/17 (2022.01); F24H 15/12 (2022.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve assembly for detecting and mitigating a liquid leak comprising:
a valve having an open position and a closed position, the valve being configured to permit unobstructed passage of liquid through a straight plumbing assembly when the valve is in the open position, to partially restrict passage of liquid through the straight plumbing assembly when the valve is between the open position and the closed position, and to restrict passage of the liquid through the plumbing assembly when the valve is in the closed position;
a seat configured to receive the valve in the closed position, wherein the seat has a shape corresponding to a shape of the valve such that the valve can fit into the seat and the passage of the liquid can be restricted;
a valve stem extending linearly from the valve;
a trigger configured to transition from a dry state to a hydrated state in response to interacting with a leaked liquid, wherein the trigger includes an opening that receives a portion of the valve stem and blocks movement of the valve such that the valve is maintained in the open position in the dry state, and a component of the trigger at least partially dissolves in response to interacting with the leaked liquid; and
an actuating system including a spring substantially coiled around the valve stem, the actuating system being in mechanical communication with the valve and the trigger, wherein (i) in response to the component of the trigger at least partially dissolving and the trigger transitioning to the hydrated state, the trigger structurally fails causing the trigger to unblock movement of the valve, and (ii) in response to the trigger unblocking movement of the valve, the spring transitions from a compressed state to an elongated state, thereby causing the valve to move a linear distance to transition from the open position to the closed position,
wherein the valve assembly is configured so that the trigger is positionable such that the trigger can interact with the leaked liquid, and
wherein the valve assembly intersects the straight plumbing assembly at a right angle.