Fill valve

Abstract

A fill valve is provided that includes an inner assembly and a float operatively coupled to the inner assembly. The fill valve also includes a distributor having an inner volume, the distributor is rotatably coupled to the inner assembly. The distributor is freely rotatable 360 degrees. The fill valve further includes a cover having an inner volume, the cover coupled to the distributor. The inner assembly is retained within the inner volumes of the distributor and the cover. The inner assembly includes a body member with a threaded end, an outer body member, ballast, a stem, a diaphragm, a valve cap, a pilot cap and a float arm.

1 . A fill valve comprising:
 an inner assembly;   a float operatively coupled to the inner assembly;   a distributor having an inner volume, the distributor rotatably coupled to the inner assembly, wherein the distributor freely rotatable 360 degrees; and   a cover having an inner volume, the cover coupled to the distributor, wherein the inner assembly is retained within the inner volumes of the distributor and the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The fill valve of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is adjustably coupled to the distributor, wherein the height of the cover is adjustable in response to rotating the cover with respect to the distributor. 
     
     
         3 . The fill valve of  claim 2 , wherein the height of the inner volume between the cover and the distributor is adjusted in response to adjusting the height of the cover. 
     
     
         4 . The fill valve of  claim 2 , further comprising detents, wherein detents create a discrete rotational positions of the cover that correspond to discrete lengths of vertical movement of the cover 
     
     
         5 . The fill valve of  claim 1 , wherein the inner assembly comprises a body member with a threaded end, an outer body member, ballast, a stem, a diaphragm, a valve cap, a pilot cap and a float arm. 
     
     
         6 . The fill valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a fill line coupled to the distributor, the fill line comprising a fill port, a fill tube and a hook member. 
     
     
         7 . The fill valve of  claim 6 , wherein the hook member comprises an anti-siphon device to present backflow from the tank to the overflow tube. 
     
     
         8 . The fill valve of  claim 1 , further comprising an over center spring, wherein the over center spring assists in closing a pilot valve of the fill valve. 
     
     
         9 . A fill valve comprising:
 an inner assembly;   a float operatively coupled to the inner assembly;   a distributor having an inner volume, the distributor rotatably coupled to the inner assembly, wherein the distributor freely rotatable  360  degrees; and   a cover having an inner volume, the cover coupled to the distributor, wherein:
 the inner assembly is retained within the inner volumes of the distributor and the cover; and 
 the inner assembly, the float and the cover are axially symmetric. 
   
     
     
         10 . The fill valve of  claim 9 , wherein the cover is adjustably coupled to the distributor, wherein the height of the cover is adjustable in response to rotating the cover with respect to the distributor. 
     
     
         11 . The fill valve of  claim 10 , wherein the height of the inner volume between the cover and the distributor is adjusted in response to adjusting the height of the cover. 
     
     
         12 . The fill valve of  claim 10 , further comprising detents, wherein detents create a discrete rotational positions of the cover that correspond to discrete lengths of vertical movement of the cover 
     
     
         13 . The fill valve of  claim 9 , wherein the inner assembly comprises a body member with a threaded end, an outer body member, ballast, a stem, a diaphragm, a valve cap, a pilot cap and a float arm. 
     
     
         14 . The fill valve of  claim 9 , further comprising a fill line coupled to the distributor, the fill line comprising a fill port, a fill tube and a hook member. 
     
     
         15 . The fill valve of  claim 14 , wherein the hook member comprises an anti-siphon device to present backflow from the tank to the overflow tube. 
     
     
         16 . The fill valve of  claim 9 , further comprising an over center spring, wherein the over center spring assists in closing a pilot valve of the fill valve. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a fill valve, the method comprising:
 installing a fill valve in a tank of a water closet;   rotating a distributor of the fill valve into the proper orientation after installation of the fill valve; and   adjusting the water level height in response to adjusting the height of a cover of the fill valve with respect to the distributor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein adjusting the height of the cover comprises rotating the cover. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein rotating the cover comprises rotating the cover discrete to discrete rotational positions corresponding to discrete lengths of vertical movement of the cover. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising assisting the closing of a pilot valve of the fill valve with an over center spring.