Accuracy enhancing valve assembly and related method of use

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method to improve accuracy of a meter. The method first contemplates introducing a desired fluid into a valve assembly having an external casing with an inlet, outlet and interior side forming a chamber. Next, a desired fluid contacts a toggle stopper having a shaft, plate, and guides. A calibrated spring positioned around the shaft in contact with the plate assesses if the desired fluid meets a predetermined pressure. If the fluid meets this threshold, the calibrated spring compresses thereby toggling plate within the chamber to allow desired fluid to enter the chamber. Should the total pressure of the desired fluid and/or an undesired fluid create a pressure that fails to meet the predetermined pressure, the calibrated spring expands to seal the valve assembly. Upon such seal, there is an equalizing of both the desired and undesired fluids to the same pressure by decreasing the volume of the undesired fluid, causing the calibrated spring to compress and reopen.

1 . A valve assembly to improve the accuracy of a meter employed to measure a desired fluid, the valve assembly comprising:
 an external casing having an inlet, a corresponding outlet, an exterior side and a corresponding interior side;   one or more chambers each having an interior diameter located within the interior side of the external casing;   a toggle stopper having an exterior diameter proximate to the interior diameter of the one chamber of the external casing, the toggle stopper including a shaft, a plate having a first side and corresponding second side and one or more guides; and   a calibrated spring positioned around the shaft capable of exerting a force on the first side of the plate.   
     
     
         2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more chambers includes a first chamber, a corresponding second chamber, and a wall positioned between both the first chamber and second chamber, the first chamber being located proximate the inlet while the second chamber is located proximate the outlet, the second chamber having an interior diameter larger than the first chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plate of the toggle stopper is positioned within the second chamber, the plate having an exterior diameter proximate to that of the interior diameter of the second chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the toggle stopper is affixed perpendicular to the first side of the plate. 
     
     
         5 . The valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein three or more guides are affixed perpendicular to the second side of the plate, the three or more guides are oriented to create a shape and size sufficient to conform to the internal diameter of the first chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The valve assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the three or more guides are of a sufficient size and dimension to fit within the internal diameter of the first chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The valve assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising an o-ring positioned proximate to the wall, the o-ring capable of effectuating a seal with the second side of the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a connector affixed to the inlet of the external casing, the connector having an outer flange perpendicular to the external casing. 
     
     
         9 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a perforated positioning member positioned within the one or more chambers and proximate to the outlet of the external casing, the perforated positioning member having a shape of a disk, wherein   the disk includes a first side, a corresponding second side, an opening and one or more flow-through perforations, wherein   the opening is located in the middle of the disk and has a size and dimension capable of receiving the shaft of the toggle stopper, such that the calibrated spring rests upon the second side of the disk, and wherein   the flow-through perforations are capable of allowing the desired fluid to flow through the outlet for removal from the valve assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The valve assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the calibrated spring is capable of being compressed when the desired fluid flowing into the inlet is at a pre-determined sufficient pressure such that the toggle stopper will shift into a second chamber of the one or more chambers and corresponding the shaft will toggle into the opening of the perforated positioning member. 
     
     
         11 . A method of improving the accuracy of a meter employed to measure a desired fluid, comprising the steps of:
 (a) introducing the desired fluid into a valve assembly having an external casing which includes an inlet, a corresponding outlet, an exterior side and a corresponding interior side forming one or more chambers;   (b) contacting the desired fluid with a second side of a plate positioned within the exterior casing, the plate being part of a toggle stopper also having a shaft and one or more guides;   (c) determining whether the desired fluid is at or greater than a predetermined pressure through use of a calibrated spring positioned around the shaft of the toggle stopper, the calibrated spring in contact with and capable of exerting force on a first side of the plate,   (d) if the desired fluid meets or exceeds the predetermined pressure, compressing the calibrated spring resulting in toggling the plate within the chamber and allowing the desired liquid to flow through chamber to exit the outlet;   (e) should the total pressure of the desired fluid and an undesired fluid create a pressure which fails to meet the predetermined pressure, expanding the calibrated spring so as to position the plate in proximity of the inlet to seal the valve assembly and prevent both the desired fluid and undesired fluid from entering; and   (f) equalizing both the undesired fluid and desired fluid to essentially the same pressure by decreasing the volume of the undesired fluid in order to reach the predetermined pressure to allow the calibrated spring to compress and re-open the valve assembly to resume flow.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more chambers includes first chamber, a corresponding second chamber, and a wall positioned between both the first chamber and second chamber, the first chamber being located proximate the inlet while the second chamber is located proximate the outlet, the second chamber having an interior diameter larger than the first chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plate of the toggle stopper is positioned within the second chamber, the plate having an exterior diameter proximate to that of the interior diameter of the second chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft of the toggle stopper is affixed perpendicular to the first side of the plate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein three or more guides are affixed perpendicular to the second side of the plate, the three or more guides are oriented to create a shape and size sufficient to conform to the internal diameter of the first chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 15 , wherein the three or more guides are of a sufficient size and dimension to fit within the internal diameter of the first chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising an o-ring positioned proximate to the wall, the o-ring capable of effectuating a seal with the second side of the plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a connector affixed to the inlet of the external casing, the connector having an outer flange perpendicular to the external casing and a curved coupler, an intermediary lip and a curved coupler. 
     
     
         19 . The method  claim 11 , further comprising a perforated positioning member positioned within the one or more chambers and proximate to the outlet of the external casing, the perforated positioning member having a shape of a disk, wherein the disk includes a first side, a corresponding second side, an opening and one or more flow-through perforations, wherein the opening is located in the middle of the disk and has a size and dimension capable of receiving the shaft of the toggle stopper, such that the calibrated spring rests upon the second side of the disk, and wherein the flow-through perforations capable of allowing the desired fluid to flow through the outlet for removal from the valve assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the desired fluid is water while the undesired fluid is air.