EXHALATION VALVE FOR RESPIRATOR

• US 3,688,794 A
• Filed: 08/10/1970
• Issued: 09/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Forrest M. Bird, Henry L. Pohndorf
• Original Assignee: Forrest M. Bird, Henry L. Pohndorf
• Inventors: Forrest M. Bird, c/o P.O. Box 817, Henry L. Pohndorf, c/o P.O. Box 817
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert G. Nilson
• Application Number:
  US05/062,343
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 128/145.5,145.8,146.4,146.5 137/102,529,63R,542 251/82,83
• US Class Current: 137/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/00 Check valves valves specially adapted for inflatable balls A63B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7905 Plural biasing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7932 Valve stem extends through fixed spring abutment

Abstract

An improved exhalation valve for a mechanical respirator. The valve includes valving elements combined in a cartridge adapted for ready insertion and removal into a valve housing for convenient assembly and disassembly. A valve closure member in the cartridge occludes the exhalation flow path in a manner decreasing flow turbulence and valve flutter. The valve head on the closure member is formed by a surface of revolution generated by a curve of constant radius, and includes a cylindrical skirt adapted for axial aligning, non-binding movement with respect to longitudinal ribs formed on a central support. The closure member is operated by a plunger molded on the hub of a gas-operated diaphragm, and the plunger releaseably locks into a split intrusive ring on a hollow stem of the closure member in a lostmotion connection.

Claims

1. Exhalation valve apparatus for use with a respirator having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase in its operative cycle, the apparatus comprising the combination of a housing having an inlet and an outlet in communication with each other, a valve seat formed in the inlet and a removable cartridge mounted in the housing, said cartridge including a body, a plunger, a valve head slidably mounted on the plunger and adapted to be moved between open and closed positions with respect to said seat, yieldable means carried by the body and engaging the valve head for yieldably urging the valve head toward said closed position, resilient diaphragm means engaging the plunger and the body and serving as the sole means for yieldably urging the plunger in a direction away from said valve head.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said diaphragm means is fabricated from a material creating a yieldable tension force urging the diaphragm and plunger in said direction away from said valve head.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said valve head is defined by a surface of revolution generated by a curve of constant radius convex with respect to the valve seat.

4. Exhalation valve apparatus for use with a respirator having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase in its operative cycle, the apparatus comprising the combination of a housing having an inlet adapted to be connected with the respirator and an outlet adapted to be connected with ambient air, valve means in the housing to control the flow of expiratory gasses from the inlet to the outlet including a valve seat, valve closure means mounted within the housing for movement to and from the valve seat, plunger means mounted in the housing for movement to and from thE valve closure means, a central support removably mounted in the housing and having a distal end spaced from the valve seat, said plunger means being mounted for axial movement relative to the support and said valve closure means being mounted for axial sliding movement on the plunger means, the closure means including a cylindrical skirt substantially enclosing the distal end of the support and means axially aligning the skirt with respect to the support distal end, lost-motion connection means mounting the closure means on the plunger for movement within a given range of axial travel, and pressure responsive means in operating connection with the plunger means, the pressure means comprising a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the chamber and connected with an end of the plunger, the diaphragm being adapted to move between a first position with the chamber substantially depressurized for moving the plunger from the valve closure means and a second position responsive to gas pressure in the chamber to urge the closure means to occlude the valve seat and prevent flow there-through during the inspiratory phase.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 in which the means aligning the valve closure skirt comprises a plurality of circumferentially positioned longitudinally extending rib members formed on the outer periphery of the central support and radially spaced from the inner surface of the skirt to provide a plurality of bearing surfaces therewith.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 in which the valve closure means comprises a closure member including a valve head and a central valve stem having a rearwardly extending hollow distal end and an intrusive annulus formed on said distal end, said plunger having a distal end projecting forwardly within said stem distal end and a radially outwardly projecting shoulder adapted to cooperate with said intrusive annulus to releasably lock the closure member with respect to the plunger.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 in which said hollow stem is formed with at least one longitudinal slot at its distal end, the slot extending into the area of the intrusive annulus affording outward flexing of the stem distal end to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the plunger therewith.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the lost-motion connection means comprises a pair of axially spaced abutments on the plunger and the valve closure means includes a hollow valve stem enclosing an end of the plunger together with an intrusive annulus on the stem distal end positioned for movement between said plunger abutments to define said range of travel.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said flexible diaphragm is formed with a central hub constrained for movement with said plunger means, and means to pressurize said chamber on a side of the diaphragm for urging said plunger means in engagement with said closure means during the inspiratory phase, and to dissipate said pressure in the chamber during the expiratory phase.

10. Exhalation valve apparatus for use with a respirator having an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase in its operative cycle, the apparatus comprising the combination of a housing, a cartridge removably mounted in the housing, a cap removably secured to the housing and retaining the cartridge within the housing, said housing having an inlet adapted to be connected with the respirator and an outlet adapted to be connected with ambient air, said housing being formed with a valve seat in the inlet, said cartridge including a central support body, a plunger disposed in said body, valve closure means mounted on the plunger for limited axial movement with respect to the plunger within the body for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the valve seat, yieldable spring means disposed in the body and engaging the body and the valve closure means to yieldably urge the valve closure means towards a closed position, a flexible diaphragm secured to the plunger, and having its outer margin secured between the cap and the body So that chambers are formed on opposite sides of the diaphragm, the diaphragm being normally in a first position permitting the valve closure means to move to the open position and assuming a second position in response to gas pressure in one of said chambers to prevent said valve closure means from moving to an open position.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the diaphragm includes an integral handle affording manual grasping thereof for removal of the cartridge as a unit from the housing with said valve cap removed.