Pressure regulating valve

US 7,052,243 B2
Filed: 09/07/2004
Issued: 05/30/2006
Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
Status: Expired due to Fees

First Claim

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1. Domestic water well pressure maintenance assembly, comprising:

a pressure maintenance valve having an inlet side and an outlet side;

a pressure tank in fluidic communication with the outlet side;

a pump in fluidic communication with the outlet side;

a pressure switch, wherein the pressure switch turns the pump on when a pressure in the outlet side is at a cut-in pressure and off when the pressure is at a cut-out pressure; and

a calibrated bypass, wherein, when the valve is closed, fluidic communication between the inlet side and the outlet side is provided solely by the calibrated bypass,wherein the size of the calibrated bypass and the size of the pressure tank are adapted and constructed to permit a flow rate between the inlet side and the outlet side that will fill the pressure tank in a time interval less than twice the time required to pump a volume of water that will dissipate heat generated by the pump when it is turned on.

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Abstract

A pressure maintenance assembly for a domestic water well system. The assembly comprises a pressure maintenance valve having an inlet side and an outlet side, a pressure tank in fluidic communication with the outlet side, and a calibrated bypass. When the valve is closed, the calibrated bypass provides fluidic communication between the inlet side and the outlet side. The size of the calibrated bypass and the pressure tank are adapted and constructed to permit a flow rate between the inlet side and the outlet side that will fill the pressure tank in a time interval less than twice the time required to pump a volume of water that will dissipate heat generated by the pump when it is turned on.

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20 Claims

1. Domestic water well pressure maintenance assembly, comprising:
- a pressure maintenance valve having an inlet side and an outlet side;
  
  a pressure tank in fluidic communication with the outlet side;
  
  a pump in fluidic communication with the outlet side;
  
  a pressure switch, wherein the pressure switch turns the pump on when a pressure in the outlet side is at a cut-in pressure and off when the pressure is at a cut-out pressure; and
  
  a calibrated bypass, wherein, when the valve is closed, fluidic communication between the inlet side and the outlet side is provided solely by the calibrated bypass,wherein the size of the calibrated bypass and the size of the pressure tank are adapted and constructed to permit a flow rate between the inlet side and the outlet side that will fill the pressure tank in a time interval less than twice the time required to pump a volume of water that will dissipate heat generated by the pump when it is turned on.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- - 2. The domestic water well pressure maintenance assembly of claim 1, wherein the pressure maintenance valve further comprises:
    - a moveable member interposed between the inlet side and the outlet side, wherein a pressure drop between the inlet side and the outlet side is moderated by an amount of displacement of the moveable member with respect to a first position;
      
      a diaphragm;
      
      an adjustable spring, wherein a tension in the spring enables the diaphragm to displace the moveable member with respect to the first position against a pressure imparted by a fluid in the outlet side; and
      
      a communication port providing fluidic communication between the outlet side and the diaphragm, wherein the pressure is imparted on the diaphragm via the communication port.
  - 3. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 2, wherein the calibrated bypass comprises a hole or groove disposed in a member of the movable member and a seat for the movable member.
  - 4. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 1, wherein a number of pump cycles per day is less than about 40% of a number of pump cycles per day in a water system comprising a pump, a pressure switch, and a pressure tank, in which there is not a pressure maintenance valve interposed between the pump and the pressure tank.
  - 5. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 4, wherein the number of pump cycles per day is less than about 50% of the number of pump cycles per day in a water system comprising a pump, a pressure switch, and a pressure tank, in which there is not a pressure maintenance valve interposed between the pump and the pressure tank.
  - 6. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 5, wherein the number of pump cycles per day is less than about 60% of the number of pump cycles per day in a water system comprising a pump, a pressure switch, and a pressure tank, in which there is not a pressure maintenance valve interposed between the pump and the pressure tank.
  - 7. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet side of the valve comprises first and second outlets, and wherein the second outlet is adapted and configured to receive the pressure tank.
  - 8. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 1, further comprising an accessory fitting threadably attached to the outlet side and adapted and configured to receive a member of the group consisting of a pressure switch, a pressure gauge, a relief valve, a drain valve, and any combination of the above.
  - 9. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 1, wherein the calibrated bypass is adapted and constructed to escort sufficient water from the inlet side to the outlet side to cool the pump when the valve is closed while the pump is on.
  - 10. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 1, wherein:
    - the pump has a capacity approximately between 5 and 15 GPM,the valve has an inlet with a diameter of about 1 in.,the pressure tank has a total capacity approximately between 15 and 30 gallons, andthe calibrated bypass has a cross-sectional area of about 0.0075 sq. in.
  - 11. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 1, wherein:
    - the pump has a capacity approximately between 15 and 30 GPM,the valve has an inlet with a diameter of about 1.25 in.,the pressure tank has a total capacity approximately between 30 and 50 gallons, andthe calibrated bypass has a cross-sectional area of about 0.0095 sq. in.

12. A method of configuring a water well pressure maintenance assembly, comprising:
- selecting a desired maximum flow rate through a plumbing system in fluidic communication with the assembly;
  
  selecting a pump having sufficient capacity to deliver the maximum flow rate; and
  
  selecting a valve for the assembly that has a predetermined pressure drop at the maximum flow rate, wherein the valve comprises an inlet side to which water is provided by the pump, an outlet side from which water is delivered to a user, and a calibrated bypass that provides fluidic communication between the inlet side and the outlet side when the valve is closed, wherein the time required to fill a pressure tank in fluidic communication with the outlet side is less than twice that required to flow sufficient water over the pump to dissipate heat generated by the pump when it is started.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- - 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting a cut-in outlet side pressure at which the pump is turned on and a cut-out outlet side pressure at which the pump is turned off.
  - 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the calibrated bypass escorts sufficient water from the inlet side to the outlet side to cool the pump when the valve is closed while the pump is on.
  - 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting a size of the pressurized water tank.
  - 16. The method of claim 15, wherein a number of pump cycles per day is less than about 40% of a number of pump cycles per day in a water system comprising a pump, a pressure switch, and a pressure tank, in which there is not a pressure maintenance valve interposed between the pump and the pressure tank.
  - 17. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 16, wherein the number of pump cycles per day is less than about 50% of the number of pump cycles per day in a water system comprising a pump, a pressure switch, and a pressure tank, in which there is not a pressure maintenance valve interposed between the pump and the pressure tank.
  - 18. The pressure maintenance assembly of claim 17, wherein the number of pump cycles per day is less than about 60% of the number of pump cycles per day in a water system comprising a pump, a pressure switch, and a pressure tank, in which there is not a pressure maintenance valve interposed between the pump and the pressure tank.
  - 19. The method of claim 15, wherein:
    - the calibrated bypass has a cross-sectional area of about 0.0075 sq. in. when the pump has a capacity approximately between 5 and 15 GPM and the tank has a total volume approximately between 15 and 30 gallons; and
      
      the calibrated bypass has a cross-sectional area of about 0.0095 sq. in. when the pump has a capacity approximately between 15 and 30 GPM and the tank has a total volume approximately between 30 and 50 gallons.

20. A method of optimizing a pressure maintenance assembly comprising a valve having an outlet side and an inlet side in fluidic communication with a pump, a pressure tank in fluidic communication with the outlet side, a pressure switch that turns the pump on and off in response to a pressure in the outlet side, and a calibrated bypass that provides fluidic communication between the inlet side and the outlet side when the valve is closed, comprising selecting a size for at least one member of the pressure tank, the valve, and the calibrated bypass, wherein a time interval required for the pump to fill the tank is less than twice as long as required to dissipate heat generated by the pump when it is turned on.

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Current Assignee
Flexcon Industries Incorporated
Original Assignee
Flexcon Industries Incorporated
Inventors
van Houten, David, Lombari, Robert, Duggan, Gerard
Primary Examiner(s)
Freay, Charles G.

Application Number

US10/936,243
Publication Number

US 20050118031A1
Time in Patent Office

630 Days
Field of Search

417/26, 417/44.2, 417/441, 417/296
US Class Current

417/26
CPC Class Codes

E03B 5/02   arranged in buildings

F16K 5/06   with plugs having spherical...

Y10T 137/0318   Processes

Y10T 137/7287   Liquid level responsive or ...

Y10T 137/7829   Yoke has valve closing bias

Pressure regulating valve

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

15 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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Pressure regulating valve

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Subscription Required

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

15 Citations

20 Claims

Specification

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Use Cases

Quick Links

Others