A.o. Smith Corporation

Patrick J Bourke

Robert M Schurter

A fill valve for a water heating system. An expansion tank is provided with a flexible diaphragm which divides the tank into a water chamber and a closed gas chamber. A fill valve assembly is mounted within an opening in the tank and includes a valve body having an axial passage and a radial passage connects the axial passage to a water inlet. One end of the axial passage communicates with the water chamber of the expansion tank, while the opposite end of the axial passage communicates with the water heating system. The central portion of the axial passage defines a valve seat and a hollow valve member is mounted for sliding movement in the axial passage, and the inner end of the valve member extends into the tank in position to be contacted by the diaphragm. Mounted on the valve member is an annular valve which is biased to engage the valve seat. A plurality of ports extends laterally of the valve member and provides communication between the inlet and the interior of the valve member. When the liquid in the water heating system expands, the diaphragm will be flexed inwardly causing the valve to be biased to a closed position to prevent water from entering through the inlet. When the volume of water in the heating system contracts, the diaphragm will flex outwardly moving the valve member within the valve body to open the valve and permit water to flow from the inlet to the heating system.

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West Bend, WI, United States of America

Patrick J Bourke