Molded plastic flowmeter and control valve therefor

Claim 2

A flowmeter comprising: a one-piece body formed to define: a float tube having a tapering bore diverging upwardly, tubular mounting studs at the top and base of said float tube, and projecting from said body to defining outwardly projecting stud end portions, and a valve chamber at the base of said float tube and aligned with the bore of said base stud at one end thereof and being open at the other end thereof, said chamber being defined by a substantially cylindrical wall that is in coaxial relation to said base stud bore and that extends between said ends thereof, said chamber wall defining a passage at the base of said float tube communicating with said float tube bore, a cylindrical valve member received in said chamber including a sidewall defining a bore aligned with said base stud bore and a port adapted to be aligned with said chamber wall passage to permit fluid flow between said base stud bore and said passage, with the external surface of said valve member sidewall being coaxial with and substantially juxtaposed to said chamber wall, a tubular connector mounted in said base stud bore and defining a bore that is in fluid flow communication with said valve member bore and a flange engaging said base stud end portion, said connector and said valve member including interengaging means for holding said valve member in said chamber, a float in said float tube, and means for sealing said valve member port and bore against fluid leakage between said chamber wall and said valve member wall, said interengaging means comprising: a flange defined by said valve member and extending radially inwardly thereof, said connector defining a body portion extending through said base stud bore and including one or more resiliently flexible legs extending longitudinally thereof and terminating in laterally directed flange portions, said legs being proportioned such that when said connector flange engages said base stud end portion, said leg flange portions are received behind said valve member flange.

Claim 3

The flowmeter set forth in claim 1 whereiN: said valve chamber defines a rear wall at said one end thereof that is in substantial concentric relation about said base stud bore, said connector holding said valve member against said rear wall.

Claim 4

The flowmeter set forth in claim 1 wherein: said base stud bore is defined by a cylindrical wall extending lengthwise of said base stud, said connector body has an outer diameter substantially complementing the diameter of said base stud wall, and said valve member flange defines a port to said valve member bore having a diameter that is substantially equivalent to that of said base stud bore, whereby said legs on being inserted into said base stud bore are deflected inwardly of said connector body by the engagement of the flange portions thereof with said base stud wall, said legs resiliently snapping said flange portions thereof behind said valve member flange when said connector flange engages said base stud end portion.

Claim 5

A flowmeter comprising: a one-piece body formed to define: a float tube having a tapering bore diverging upwardly, tubular mounting studs at the top and base of said float tube, and projecting from said body to defining outwardly projecting stud end portions, and a valve chamber at the base of said float tube and aligned with the bore of said base stud at one end thereof and being open at the other end thereof, said chamber being defined by a substantially cylindrical wall that is in coaxial relation to said base stud bore and that extends between said ends thereof, said chamber wall defining a passage at the base of said float tube communicating with said float tube bore, a cylindrical valve member received in said chamber including a sidewall defining a bore aligned with said base stud bore and a port adapted to be aligned with said chamber wall passage to permit fluid flow between said base stud bore and said passage, with the external surface of said valve member sidewall being coaxial with and substantially juxtaposed to said chamber wall, a tubular connector mounted in said base stud bore and defining a bore that is in fluid flow communication with said valve member bore and a flange engaging said base stud end portion, said connector and said valve member including interengaging means for holding said valve member in said chamber, a float in said float tube, and means for sealing said valve member port and bore against fluid leakage between said chamber wall and said valve member wall, said sealing means comprising: a continuous sealing ridge formed about said valve member port in said valve member surface, and a sealing ridge formed about said valve member adjacent either end thereof, said sealing ridges being in firm fluid-sealing relation with said chamber wall, said body being formed from a relatively rigid material and said valve member is formed from a resiliently compressible material, said sealing ridges being proportioned to flatten against said cylindrical wall when said valve member is inserted in said chamber to provide said firm fluid-sealing inserted in said chamber to provide said firm fluid-sealing relation with said wall.

Claim 6

A flowmeter comprising: a one-piece body formed to define: a float tube having a tapering bore diverging upwardly, tubular mounting studs at the top and base of said float tube, and projecting from said body to defining outwardly projecting stud end portions, and a valve chamber at the base of said float tube and aligned with the bore of said base stud at one end thereof and being open at the other end thereof, said chamber being defined by a substantially cylindrical wall that is in coaxial relation to said base stud bore and that extends between said ends thereof, said chamber wall defining a passage at the base of said float tube communicating with said float tube bore, a cylindrical valve member received in said chamber including a sidewall defining a bore aligned with said base stud bore and a port adapted to be aligned with said chamber wall passage to permit fluid flow between said base stud bore and said passage, with the external surface of said valve member sidewall being coaxial with and substantially juxtaposed to said chamber wall, a tubular connector mounted in said base stud bore and defining a bore that is in fluid flow communication with said valve member bore and a flange engaging said base stud end portion, said connector and said valve member including interengaging means for holding said valve member in said chamber, a float in said float tube, and means for sealing said valve member port and bore against fluid leakage between said chamber wall and said valve member wall, said sealing means comprising: a continuous sealing ridge formed about said valve member port in said valve member surface, and a sealing ridge formed about said valve member adjacent either end thereof, said sealing ridges being in firm fluid-sealing relation with said chamber wall, said body being formed from a relatively rigid material and said valve member is formed from a resiliently compressible material, said sealing ridges being proportioned to flatten against said cylindrical wall when said valve member is inserted in said chamber to provide said firm fluid-sealing inserted in said chamber to provide said firm fluid-sealing relation with said wall.

Claim 7

A flowmeter comprising: a one-piece body formed to define: a framed float tube having a tapering bore diverging upwardly, tubular mounting studs at the top and base of said float tube, and projecting from said body to defining outwardly projecting stud end portions, and a valve chamber at the base of said float tube and aligned with the bore of said base stud at one end thereof and being open at the other end thereof, said chamber being defined by a substantially cylindrical wall that is in coaxial relation to said base stud bore and that extends between said ends of said chamber, said chamber wall defining a passage at the base of said float tube communicating with said float tube bore, a generally cylindrical one-piece valve member rEceived in said chamber and including a sidewall defining a bore aligned and communicating with said base stud bore and a port in said sidewall positioned to be aligned with said chamber wall passage to permit fluid flow between said base stud bore and said passage through said valve member bore, with the external surface of said valve member sidewall being coaxial with and substantially juxtaposed to said chamber wall, and a one-piece tubular connector mounted in said base stud bore and defining a bore that is in fluid flow communication with said valve member bore and a flange engaging said base stud end portion, said connector and said valve member including interengaging means for holding said valve member in said chamber, a float in said float tube, and means for sealing said valve member port and bore against fluid leakage between said chamber wall and said valve member wall, said sealing means comprising: a continuous sealing ridge formed about said valve member port in said valve member surface, and a sealing ridge formed about said valve member adjacent either end thereof. said sealing ridges being in firm fluid-sealing relation with said chamber wall, said body being formed from a relatively rigid, shatter-resistant material and said valve member being formed from a resiliently compressible material, said sealing ridges being integral with said valve member and proportioned to flatten against said cylindrical wall when said valve member is inserted in said chamber to provide said firm fluid-sealing relation with said wall.

Claim 8

A flowmeter comprising: a one-piece body formed to define: a framed float tube having a tapering bore diverging upwardly, tubular mounting studs at the top and base of said float tube, and projecting from said body to defining outwardly projecting stud end portions, and a valve chamber at the base of said float tube and aligned with the bore of said base stud at one end thereof and being open at the other end thereof, said chamber being defined by a substantially cylindrical wall that is in coaxial relation to said base stud bore and that extends between said ends of said chamber, said chamber wall defining a passage at the base of said float tube communicating with said float tube bore, a generally cylindrical one-piece valve member rEceived in said chamber and including a sidewall defining a bore aligned and communicating with said base stud bore and a port in said sidewall positioned to be aligned with said chamber wall passage to permit fluid flow between said base stud bore and said passage through said valve member bore, with the external surface of said valve member sidewall being coaxial with and substantially juxtaposed to said chamber wall, and a one-piece tubular connector mounted in said base stud bore and defining a bore that is in fluid flow communication with said valve member bore and a flange engaging said base stud end portion, said connector and said valve member including interengaging means for holding said valve member in said chamber, a float in said float tube, and means for sealing said valve member port and bore against fluid leakage between said chamber wall and said valve member wall, said sealing means comprising: a continuous sealing ridge formed about said valve member port in said valve member surface, and a sealing ridge formed about said valve member adjacent either end thereof. said sealing ridges being in firm fluid-sealing relation with said chamber wall, said body being formed from a relatively rigid, shatter-resistant material and said valve member being formed from a resiliently compressible material, said sealing ridges being integral with said valve member and proportioned to flatten against said cylindrical wall when said valve member is inserted in said chamber to provide said firm fluid-sealing relation with said wall.