Earl B Shetler

US Patent:

42904544, Sep 22, 1981

Filed:

Jun 30, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/164813

Inventors:

Earl B. Shetler - Clio MI

International Classification:

F16K 1514

US Classification:

137853

Abstract:

A back flow valve comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a tube mounted in the housing and having a open end communicating with the inlet in said housing. The tube has the other end thereof closed and has a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced openings at the center thereof such that liquid can only flow from the inlet to the housing through the openings in the tube to the outlet of said housing. An elastic sleeve is telescoped over the tube and normally closes the opening, the inside diameter of the sleeve being less than the outer diameter of the tube. The tube has longitudinally spaced abutments adjacent the ends of the sleeve and the length of the sleeve is less than the longitudinal distance between the abutments. The ends of the sleeve have portions thereof extending axially beyond other portions thereof such that as liquid pressure is built up, the liquid stretches the sleeve and flows out of the openings in the tube and along the exterior of the tube and the liquid engages said abutments and in cooperation with the longitudinally extending portions causes the sleeve to rotate facilitating the opening and closing of the sleeve even after prolonged periods of time and preventing foreign matter from remaining between the sleeve and the tube.

US Patent:

43579590, Nov 9, 1982

Filed:

Sep 14, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/302042

Inventors:

Earl B. Shetler - Clio MI

International Classification:

F16K 1514

US Classification:

137853

Abstract:

A back flow valve comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a tube mounted in the housing and having an open end communicating with the inlet in said housing. The tube has the other end thereof closed and has a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced openings at the center thereof such that liquid can only flow from the inlet to the housing through the openings in the tube to the outlet of said housing. An elastic sleeve is telescoped over the tube and normally closes the openings, the inside diameter of the sleeve being less than the outer diameter of the tube. The tube has longitudinally spaced abutments adjacent the ends of the sleeve and the length of the sleeve is less than the longitudinal distance between the abutments. The ends of the sleeve have portions thereof extending axially beyond other portions thereof such that as liquid pressure is built up, the liquid stretches the sleeve and flows out of the openings in the tube and along the exterior of the tube and the liquid engages said abutments and in cooperation with the longitudinally extending portions causes the sleeve to rotate facilitating the opening and closing of the sleeve even after prolonged periods of time and preventing foreign matter from remaining between the sleeve and the tube.

US Patent:

43045260, Dec 8, 1981

Filed:

May 17, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/040076

Inventors:

Earl B. Shetler - Clio MI

International Classification:

F04B 4906

US Classification:

417 38

Abstract:

A well system comprising a pump having an inlet and an outlet and a combined pressure regulating valve and pressure flow control tank. The tank comprises a hollow container having a diaphragm therein overlying an inlet connected to the outlet of the pump and an outlet connected to the system. The diaphragm is urged by a charge of gas in the container to normally seal the inlet and outlet to said chamber in the absence of fluid pressure from the pump sufficient to move the diaphragm away from the inlet and outlet. Thus, the combined pressure regulator valve and pressure tank functions as a flow control to insure that the flow from the outlet is substantially at a predetermined pressure and that when the pressure falls below a predetermined amount, the diaphragm seals against said inlet and the outlet to said chamber and maintains water in the outlet of the pump sufficient to maintain a prime on the pump and prevent the pump from running dry. The flow control tank is further combined as a well yield control in a low-yield well system including a downstream water storage tank and associated pump motor control pressure switch so as to protect the pump by matching the yield of the well to the capacity of the pump. The flow control tank is also combined with a water storage tank to apportion the water supply from the water system to at least two separate water distribution systems to thereby assure that water supply to one distribution system has priority over the supply to the other, or vice versa, as desired.