A regulator valve for managing a fluid in an appliance is provided. The regulator valve comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a filter, a pressure regulator, a solenoid valve, a mounting structure, and a locking tab depending from the mounting structure. The inlet and outlet utilize quick connect adaptors.

The pressure regulator maintains the fluid in the housing within a desired pressure range and the solenoid valve alternatively permits and prevents expulsion of the fluid from the outlet. The twist mount is inserted through a twist mount aperture on, e.g., a drinking fountain and rotated until a portion of the twist mount engages with a portion of the drinking fountain and the locking tab rests in a tab aperture on the drinking fountain. Therefore, the regulator valve is secured to the drinking fountain and can clean, regulate, and manage the fluid.

A typical appliance (e.g., a drinking fountain) can include various components such as a solenoid valve for controlling the expulsion of water from the fountain, a pressure regulator for maintaining the pressure of the water dispensed within adesired pressure range, and a filter for removing contaminants from the water.

Unfortunately, each of the components must be connected to a water source, to one of the other components, to a water delivery device (e.g., a bubbler), and the like, using a tube, a pipe, or some other type of conduit capable of distributingfluids. Each connection can be difficult to form, time consuming, and a potential source of fluid leaks.

Additionally, each of the components must be independently secured to the appliance. Such securement is typically performed using one of a variety of connecting devices such as fasteners, nut and bolt combinations, screws, rivets, and the like. Undesirably, each device usually has its own unique type of fastener. Therefore, securing the host of components to the appliance can be difficult, can require several different types of connections, and can be very time consuming. Therefore, a singledevice that can clean, regulate, and manage the fluid in the appliance, as well as be easily and quickly connected to the appliance, is desirable.

The invention provides such a device. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

In one aspect, the invention provides a regulator valve for managing a fluid in an appliance. The regulator valve comprises a housing having an inlet, an inlet filter section, a pressure regulation section, an outlet valving section, and anoutlet in fluid communication therethrough. The housing further has a mounting structure including a mounting flange that has a locking tab depending therefrom. The filter is removably positioned in the inlet filter section of the housing for removingcontaminants from the fluid. The pressure regulator is positioned in the pressure regulation section of the housing for regulating an outlet fluid pressure. The solenoid valve is positioned in the valving section of the housing for alternativelypermitting expulsion of the fluid from the outlet and preventing expulsion of the fluid from the outlet.

In another aspect, the invention provides a regulator valve for cleaning, regulating a pressure of, and managing the flow of a fluid in an appliance. The regulator valve comprises a housing including, in fluid communication, an inlet forreceiving the fluid, an outlet for expelling the fluid, a filter aperture, a regulator aperture, a solenoid aperture, and a mounting structure proximate the regulator aperture. The filter is removably disposed within the filter aperture of the housingfor cleaning the fluid flowing therethrough. The pressure regulator is disposed within the regulator aperture of the housing for regulating the pressure of the fluid at an outlet thereof. The solenoid valve is secured to the solenoid aperture of thehousing for managing the flow of fluid therein.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a regulator valve body for managing a fluid in an appliance. The regulator valve body comprises a housing having an inlet, an inlet filter section, a pressure regulation section, an outlet valvingsection, and an outlet in fluid communication therethrough. The housing further has a mounting structure proximate the pressure regulation section.

The inlet section defines a filter aperture at one end thereof, the filter aperture sized to accommodate a filter that may be removably positioned therein for removing contaminants from the fluid. The inlet section is sealed by an end capremovably affixed to the inlet aperture.

The pressure regulator section defines a regulator aperture at one end thereof, the regulator aperture sized to accommodate a pressure regulator that may be removably positioned therein for regulating an outlet fluid pressure. The pressureregulator section includes a regulator mounting cap removably positioned therein. The regulator mounting cap has an adjustment aperture positioned therein.

The outlet valving section is sized to accommodate a solenoid valve that may be positioned thereon for alternatively permitting expulsion of the fluid from the outlet and preventing expulsion of the fluid from the outlet.