Abstract
The present invention is a novel backflow meter Seatdriver apparatus which is much like a screwdriver. Its novel direct connection of the Seat Head slot, Driver Shaft and the Driver Handle work together creating one apparatus known as the Seatdriver allowing for easy installation and removal of backflow valve seats. This apparatus functions as a two in one device providing a check valve seat connector on one end and a relief valve seat connector on the other end. The Seatdriver channels on the handle matches the seat part profile which reduces the Camming Out effect which in turn increases the hand torque force, increases thread alignments, and holds the valve part in place during the replacement.
Claims
1-5. (canceled)
6. A seatdriver apparatus comprising: a handle member having 4 inter and 4 outer slot channel grooves to said external portion; a check valve seat head member having 4 inter and 4 outer slot channel grooves to said external portion joined to said one end of to said handle member; and an relief valve seat head having 4 inter and 4 outer slot-channel grooves to said external portion joined to said other end of handle member of to said seathead driver.
7. A Seat Head apparatus comprising: a screw head profile member fitting to said internal portion to said a check valve seat and relief valve seat part profile; and a seat head member to said be secured to each end to said a seat driver.
8. A Seat Head as in claim 7, wherein said the name to said will be set as Seat Head.
9. A Seat Head as in claim 7, wherein said not limited to one size rather to said adjustable with the respect to said a seat valve part profile size to said seat head; and wherein said seat head size member is adjustable with respect to said a backflow meter size.
10. A method of making a seat fit without falling off to said due to gravity, comprising: forming a diameter change by a slight diameter for two of the four outer channels to said the seat head member.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings or images, in which references may indicate similar elements.
[0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded view assembly drawing of both the check valve seat part and the relief valve seat part with the present apparatus herein called the Seatdriver.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an prior art assembly drawing showing its handle, driver, and screw head types and comparing it to FIG. 1's current apparatus's handle, driver and seat heads.
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of an sectional drawings of an RPZ backflow of (FIG. 4) meter used in the industry and shows the current apparatus-within the check valves and within the relief valves of an RPZ meter.
[0009] FIG. 4 depicts a section cut view of an RPZ meter used in the backflow industry showing the challenge and where the replacement valve seat parts are located within a RPZ meter using the present invention,
[0010] FIG. 5 depicts a transparent side view of FIG. 4 of a RPZ meter and shows the present apparatus functioning within an standard RPZ meter
[0011] FIG. 6 depicts an isometric view of the present apparatus and how and where tools will be used for tighten and losing the present apparatus.
[0012] FIG. 7 depicts an isometric view of the present apparatus showing the ability to store other replacement seat parts and its matching grooves from the check valve (cv) seats, to the body and handle.
[0013] FIG. 8 depicts a side view of a vertical position of the present apparatus to demonstrate the valve seat part doesn't fall off the apparatus due to gravity.
[0014] FIG. 9 depicts a bird's eye view of the present apparatus that shows the profile of the seat head part is incorporated throughout the apparatus
[0015] FIG. 10 depicts the end of a birds eye view, of the drawings from FIG. 4 RPZ part showing the current apparatus removing a relief valve seat part.
[0016] FIG. 11 depicts a birds eye view of the FIG. 4 internal components of a RPZ meter and shows the valve seat parts remains on the present apparatus during the install in-spite gravity
[0017] FIG. 12 depicts and birds eye view of FIG. 4 an RPZ meter showing the challenge of the valve seat part being out of sight during the install.
[0018] FIG. 13 depicts an exploded view and shows the assembly of the present apparatus with the relief valve seat part and the check valve seat part meet the stop ring to the seatdriver apparatus.
[0019] FIG. 14 depicts a top view of a replacement check valve seat part profile's and its four extrusions and its four channels creating the seats profile.
[0020] FIG. 15 depicts an exploded view assembly of a replacement relief valve seat part aligning to the channels on the present seatdriver apparatus.
[0021] FIG. 16 depicts a top view of a replacement relief valve part profile and its four extrusions and its four channels creating the seats profile.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] In describing the invention, let it be understood there will be a number of steps and techniques disclosed. For the sake of time and clarity the description will refrain from repeating repetitive steps and techniques and claims. Keeping in mind specification and claims should be read with the understanding of the scope of the invention and claims.
[0023] In the presenting invention, it is intended to specify the description and specification of the current apparatus. Many of the claims and descriptions will be illustrated and represented by preferred means and methods of image(s), figures (FIG.), drawing(s), and models using an appendix of sequenced numbers throughout all FIGURE sheets produced and illustrated below.
[0024] The picture in FIG. 1 depicts the present invention apparatus, here in known as a seatdrive. In (FIG. 2 #8) is a replacement part know in the industry as a seat valve part and 5 is known as a relief valve part that must be repaired or replaced do to wear or damage
[0025] Also seen in (FIG. 1) is the current invention the seatdriver functioning as one apparatus that functions much as the in (FIG. 2, #20) the typical screwdriver shown in (FIG. 2) Whereas the regular (FIG. 2 #20) and the current apparatus will have in (FIG. 1,2 #1) the handle and (FIG. 1,2 #4) the driver head). But in (FIG. 2#2) the shank on the screwdriver is incorporated into the (FIG. 1 #1) the handle of the current invention apparatus. This allows the current apparatus to have two driver heads one on each end of the apparatus (FIG. 1 #4). Allows for two different replacement seats to use one apparatus the seatdriver for a single RPZ meter without multiple tools. (FIG. 1,6,7,8 #6 is the stop ring which allows the (FIG. 1,6,7,8 #8) seat part to rest against it during the install which keeps the threads on the (FIG. 1,6,7,8 #8) seat valve part to maintain aligned to the manufactures RPZ's internal threads. In (FIG. 1, #5) the relief valve will rest against the (FIG. 1, #1) the handle for its proper thread alignment. Current RPZ manufactures have an apparatus name Optional Seat Removal Tool. Which intentionally is not label either as install or alignment tool.
[0026] The present invention backflow Seatdriver combines both the novel Screw head slot in (FIG. 1, #4) with the novel handle in (FIG. 1, #1) which is the mechanical Driver which is incorporated into the current invention as a hand held driver apparatus for removing, aligning and installing the Valve Seats for the Wilkins, Febco, Apollo and other models. See the example models depicted in (FIG. 3, 4,5). The handheld driver apparatus can be produced with the 3D process of plastic filaments, injection molding, CNC machining and cold forming. The current handheld backflow Seatdriver apparatus conforms to the backflow meters such as Wilkins, Febco & Apollo or any company that uses the same 4 tooth protrusion locking screw head slot seats seen in (FIG. 13,14 15, 16, #2). However, the intent of this invention apparatus' purpose is not to be limited to this one size for backflow valve seat-removal and installations. This apparatus transcends to all models and sizes using the cross-section or profile of the manufactured SEAT PART. As shown in (FIG. 1, #2, #3), and (FIG. 14-16 #2, #3)
[0027] The intent of the present invention is to be defined by its unique function and, application method(s). The current device on the market for removing and installing valve seats is clearly ill defined, dubious, vague, and delusive as to its applications. Trying to hold onto a seat part as seen in (FIG. 11, #5) and allow for an install 2-3 inches deep (FIG. 5, #50) within the brass RPZ meter. This is the downfall of the few available backflow tools current being used in (FIG. 5, 10, 11, 12). The present invention will try to establish a clear, distinct, clearly defined and credible method for the removal, aligning of the threads and for install of the valve seats on backflow meters without cross threading.
[0028] In the present invention a defined and compatible Type of Screw Head Slots is seen in (FIG. 1, #23, #2, #3) and in (FIG. 1,6,8, #4) a defined seat heads is established, which will receive the seats parts seen in (FIG. 1, #5, #8). These slots seen in (FIG. 1, #23, #2, #3 define the seat head for the current invention apparatus and will be referenced henceforth as the Seat Head. The present invention will also try to establish a distinct and apparent Driver also known as the handle seen in (FIG. 1, 2,3,5,6,7,8,11,12, #1).
[0029] The now referenced Seat Head is much like the Phillips Head or Robertson Head as seen in (FIG. 2 #23) and it is a Type of Screw Head Slot used for a screwdriver. However, in the current seatdriver apparatus, the Screw Head Slot is called a Seat Head Slot seen in (FIG. 1, 2, 8, 13 #4) which will receive the screw part, known as the SEAT valve part seen in (FIG. 1, #5, #8). The profile of the Seat Head is now defined as a tapered 4 grooved notches seen in (FIG. 1, 13,14,15,16 (#2) also seen as inter & outer channels in (FIG. 9, 13, 15, #93, #91, #131). These channels are also created onto the handle to allow for stored of extra seat parts as seen in (FIG. 7, #70, #71) and to increase grip for the handle.
[0030] The Type of Screw Head (FIG. 1, 2, 8 #4) now referenced as Seat Head is clearly a screw. It can be described as being much like a thermos bottle screw cap. The threads (FIG. 13, 14, 15 #7) are on the outside diameter (OD) connecting to an inside diameter (ID) thread but thermos having its Driver handle connection on the outside of the lid. The current Valve Seat part used in the present apparatus has the same OD threads seen in (FIG. 1, 2, 8 #7) connecting to ID threads in (FIG. 11, #114), however there is not a hand held Driver which is available and matches the our seat valve part slot. Just like all screws it will require a screw head slot be identified and fitted with a driver apparatus as seen in (FIG. 1, 2, #1 & #22). This is the purpose for the Seatdriver apparatus. It is designed to join to the seat valve and properly align it to the brass threads on the meter in (FIG. 11, #114) This apparatus works similar to other types of screw heads slots which have different applications such as in (FIG. 2 #5) Robertson, Hex and Phillips. Screw heads are named after a person or function. Philips head has been named after its creator, Henry F. Philips. The Robertson head was named after the Canadian inventor P. L Robertson. (FIG. 2 #13) The current invention's seat valve part is unique in that it has no top groove for a slot. Its slot has to comes from the inside diameter section profile of the seat itself. This new novel Seat Head slot is now clearly defined and will be used in the Seatdriver apparatus in (FIG. 1,2 #4) head and by the seat parts inside profile (FIG. 1, #2, #3) from the seats (FIG. 1, #8, #5).
[0031] Another purpose of this present invention apparatus Seatdriver is to reduce the resistance to the Cam-Out effect (which is the driver slipping from a loose fit in the slot) this is very crucial in the aligning.
[0032] All screw types require a driver apparatus that can match the screw head slot and be inserted into the slot to produce mechanical force to remove the screw. The present invention Seatdriver reduces the cam-out effect and produces more efficient torque force reducing damage to the valve seat part as apparent in (FIG. 2, #8, #5) as well as the tight fit seen in (FIG. 7, #71, #72) parts. The present apparatus Seatdriver connects the screw head, driver shaft, and the driver handle all together allowing a much greater crank torque force and reduces the cam-out effect. It is much like a 4 wheel drive truck versus a 2 wheel drive truck. By engaging all functioning parts into one apparatus the torque's hand crank power is increased which also reduces the cam-out effect. Creating better alignment of the thread during replacement or install of a seat part.
[0033] The market tool for removing the Valve Seat is clearly at best ill-defined and delusive in defining its TYPE of SCREW HEAD SLOT and matching it to an apparatus which can install the screw type Valve Seat. The optional seat tool sold in the market provides limited hand torque and leads to increased Cam-Out effect during removal of the Valve Seat.
[0034] Approximately 50 percent of valve seat repairs jobs done will done be in a vertical downward position. It is crucial for the seat part to be aligned and held in place on the driver for proper installations especially since many installs are out of the line of sight. The present invention Seatdriver is a handheld driver much like a hand screwdriver (FIG. 2 #20). The present invention apparatus prevents the valve seat part from falling off even with the vertical gravity effect during installs as you can see in (FIG. 8, #7) This holding effect from the Seatdriver is accomplished by an extra 0.050 inch in diameter on the nominal of two of the diagonal outer channels of the Seatdriver apparatus profile seen in (FIG. 9,15, #93).
[0035] The present invention Seatdriver functions as a two in one device for both the check valve seats and the relief valve seat parts seen in (FIG. 1, #8, #5). The present invention apparatus has been configured with a stop ring feature seen in (FIG. 1,6,8,13,14, #6). This ring holds the seat part perpendicular to the backflow brass threads seen in (FIG. 11, #114) where the seats will be installed. This stop ring is key to reducing and/or stopping the misalignment of the valve seat threads while installing. The ring also maintains a set position of the seat part during the out of sight time for installs. The handle apparatus length is configured to provide enough space outside the cylinder of the meter for a person's hand to hold the Seatdriver apparatus as seen in (FIG. 5, #51). The handle's channel grooving provides grip and also allows for storage of additional spare seat parts seen in (FIG. 7, #70, #72). This present all in one apparatus provides greater torque leverage for tightening and loosening the seat parts without the assistance of other leverage tools.
[0036] The Valve Seat Part profile seen in (FIG. 1, #5, #8) will herein be used as the novel screw slot for the present invention's Seatdriver apparatus. This screw head slot will not be limited by size and will change in size to accommodate the present apparatus to be used for any backflow meters using the defined Seat Head in this current apparatus. It will not change in function or application or method. The seatdriver is hand held apparatus fitted with slots along the apparatus for additional tightly and loosing torque if it becomes necessary as seen in (FIG. 6, #60-#64).
