Air valve device having flush closing nozzle

• US 5,399,119 A
• Filed: 08/10/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Puritan Bennett Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Towey, Michael T., Birk, Brian L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US08/103,986
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 454/76, 454/154, 454/286, 454/323, 454/334
• US Class Current: 454/76
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3442 the frame being spherical
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/00 Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space , or structural parts of the aircraft treatment rooms with artificial climate for medical purposes A61G10/02; respiratory apparatus in general A62B; for vehicles in general B60H
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/003 Cabin ventilation nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/072 of elongated shape, e.g. between ceiling panels

Abstract

A ventilation air valve assembly (10) for use in aircraft or similar contexts is provided which may be selectively opened and oriented for directing desired quantities of ventilation air in desired directions. The valve assembly (10) includes a tubular valve body (12) presenting an apertured, flattened lowermost end wall (40) together with an internal valve member (14) in the form of an elongated shank having a bottom surface (46) and a marginal sealing surface (48). In the valve-closed position of the assembly (10), the sealing surface (48) engages a correspondingly configured internal surface of the body (12) in order to prevent air flow through the body (12). Moreover, in the valve-closed position, the lower surface of the valve assembly (10) is flat, essentially flush, and presents no dirt-collecting recesses.

Claims

1. In an air valve including a tubular valve body presenting an input end and an output end, means supporting said valve body for selective movement thereof in order to vary the direction of air output from said output end, a shiftable valve member located at least partially within said body and being selectively movable between a valve closed position blocking air flow through the body, and a valve open position permitting air flow through the body, the improvement comprising:

said valve body output end including structure defining an outer wall, a planar, annular end wall transverse to said outer wall, and an inner wall located radially inward of said outer wall and adjacent said end wall, a part of said inner wall defining a sealing surface; and

said valve member being supported for shiftable movement relative to said valve body and including an elongated shank having a sealing surface that seats against the valve body sealing surface in the valve-closing position of the valve members, the shank including a planar end surface disposed parallel to said valve body end wall,

said end surface being coplanar with the valve body end wall and presenting a substantially continuous flat surface when said valve member sealing surface is seated against the valve body sealing surface.

2. The air valve as set forth in claim 1, said output end including a frustoconically-shaped wedge section, said sealing surface forming a part of the outer defining surface of said wedge section.

3. The air valve as set forth in claim 2, said output end sealing surface terminating in and forming a part of said end wall.

4. The air valve as set forth in claim 1, said valve body including a plurality of slots adjacent said input end, said valve member including a plurality of outwardly extending vanes secured to said shank, each of said vanes being slidably received within an associated slot for shifting movement of the valve member along the length of said valve body.

5. The air valve as set forth in claim 1, said means for supporting said valve body comprising a frustospherical body receiving said valve body therein, and means supporting said frustospherical body for movement thereof.

6. The air valve as set forth in claim 1, said shank including an outwardly diverging segment, the butt end of said segment presenting said planar end surface, said shank sealing surface defining the periphery of said segment adjacent said flattened end.