High flow valve
First Claim
1. A high flow valve comprising:
- a well having an inner annular ridge, an outlet connected to said well above the annular ridge, a supply port connected to said well below the annular ridge and a vent hole in said well below the supply port;
a diaphragm having an upper web forming an airtight seal around said well above the outlet, a lower web forming an airtight seal around said well between the supply port and the vent hole, a cylindrical member connecting the lower web to the upper web, a diaphragm wall across the cylindrical member and an annular ridge projecting radially out from the cylindrical member so as to form a seal against the inner annular ridge of said well when said high flow valve is in a closed state; and
a pilot air chamber disposed above said diaphragm such that the upper web and the diaphragm wall are directly exposed to fluid pressure within said pilot air chamber, wherein said high flow valve achieves an open state upon application of sufficient pressure in said pilot air chamber to move said diaphragm so as to separate the annular ridge of the diaphragm from the inner annular ridge of said well permitting open fluid communication between the supply port and the outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflation control system including a high flow valve is controlled by pilot air selectively delivered by a piezo vent valve. The high flow valve includes a pilot input, an outlet and a main air chamber fed with main supply air through a main air conduit. The high flow valve further includes a diaphragm with an upper web, a lower web, a cylindrical member connecting the upper and lower webs and an annular ridge extending radially out around the cylindrical member. A pilot air supply is connected by a pilot air conduit to the pilot input. A piezo pilot valve interposed on the pilot air conduct opens or closes to provide or prevent the pilot air to the high flow valve. The pilot air shifts the high flow valve from a closed to an open state. A vent valve connected to the pilot air conduit removes the pilot air to allow the high flow valve to close. The high flow valve, the pilot air conduit, the piezo pilot valve and the vent valve may all be provided on a single valve module interconnectible with other valve modules of the same design.
96 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A high flow valve comprising:
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a well having an inner annular ridge, an outlet connected to said well above the annular ridge, a supply port connected to said well below the annular ridge and a vent hole in said well below the supply port; a diaphragm having an upper web forming an airtight seal around said well above the outlet, a lower web forming an airtight seal around said well between the supply port and the vent hole, a cylindrical member connecting the lower web to the upper web, a diaphragm wall across the cylindrical member and an annular ridge projecting radially out from the cylindrical member so as to form a seal against the inner annular ridge of said well when said high flow valve is in a closed state; and a pilot air chamber disposed above said diaphragm such that the upper web and the diaphragm wall are directly exposed to fluid pressure within said pilot air chamber, wherein said high flow valve achieves an open state upon application of sufficient pressure in said pilot air chamber to move said diaphragm so as to separate the annular ridge of the diaphragm from the inner annular ridge of said well permitting open fluid communication between the supply port and the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A valve comprising:
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a well having an inner annular ridge, an outlet connected to said well above the annular ridge, a supply port connected to said well below the annular ridge and a vent hole in said well below the supply port; an integral diaphragm having an upper web forming an airtight seal around said well above the outlet, a lower web forming an airtight seal around said well between the supply port and the vent hole, a central connecting portion between the upper web and the lower web, a diaphragm wall spanning across the central connecting portion and an annular ridge projecting radially out from the central connecting portion so as to form a seal against the inner annular ridge of said well when said valve is in a closed state; and wherein said valve achieves an open state upon application of sufficient pressure upon the upper web and the diaphragm wall from above said diaphragm to move said diaphragm so as to separate the annular ridge of the diaphragm from the inner annular ridge of said well permitting open fluid communication between the supply port and the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification