Pressure relief valve assembly

• US 6,273,127 B1
• Filed: 11/11/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wade, David Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHOENFELD, MEREDITH HOPE
• Application Number:
  US09/438,351
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 137/512.15, 137/512.1, 454/162, 454/164, 454/165
• US Class Current: 137/512.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/249 using one-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1402 having an integral flexible member cooperating with a plurality of seating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/144 the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/784 Integral resilient member forms plural valves

Abstract

A pressure relief valve assembly 10 including a generally rectangular member or housing 12, four generally flat and rectangular “flaps” or movable members 14, 16, 18, and 20, and eight substantially identical fastening members 24-34. Members 14-20 are pivotal along respective axes 78-84 which are each disposed at an angle 86 with respect to the longitudinal axis 60 of housing 12, and which allow assembly 10 to be operatively disposed in multiple positions and orientations.

Claims

1. A valve assembly for use in discharging air from a portion of a vehicle of the type having a floor, said valve assembly comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal axis which forms a first angle with said floor, said first angle having a value;

a first member which is disposed within said housing and which includes at least one opening through which air selectively passes; and

at least one selectively movable second member which is pivotally coupled to said first member along an axis which forms a second angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, said second angle is an acute angle, being effective to cause said at least one movable second member to operatively and selectively cover said first opening when said value of said first angle is between approximately zero degrees and approximately ninety degrees.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said second angle is an approximately equal to 45 degrees.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one opening comprises a plurality of substantially identical openings.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said first member is integrally formed within said housing.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a first aperture which is substantially contained within a first plane and wherein said first member is substantially disposed within a second plane which intersects said first plane.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one aperture member is generally rectangular.

7. The valve assembly of claim 6 wherein said housing and said first member are moldably formed.

8. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a peripherally disposed ridge having a front side and a back side.

9. The valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said vehicle further comprises a body having and interior surface and an exterior surface, said housing further including a plurality of fasteners, a first portion of said plurality of fasteners being disposed on said front side of said ridge and a second portion of said plurality of fasteners being disposed upon said back side of said ridge, thereby allowing said valve assembly to be selectively fastened to one of said interior and exterior surfaces of said body.

10. A valve assembly for use in combination with a vehicle of the type having a portion containing air, said valve assembly comprising:

a housing which is mounted within said vehicle and which is oriented within said vehicle in a certain manner;

a first member which is contained within said housing and which is communicatively coupled to said air containing portion, and which allows said contained air to be selectively discharged from said air containing portion; and

a second member which is contained within said housing, and which is movable from a first position in which said second member allows said first member to discharge said air and a second position in which said second member overlays said first member, thereby preventing said first member from discharging said air, said second member being movable between said first and said second position independent of said orientation of said housing within said vehicle.

11. The valve assembly of claim 10 wherein said second member comprises a flap.

12. The valve assembly of claim 10 wherein said vehicle further comprises a body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said valve assembly further comprising at first fastener and second fastener, which are coupled to said housing and which operatively extend in opposite directions, thereby allowing said assembly to be selectively fastened to one of said interior and exterior surfaces of said body.

13. A method for producing a valve assembly for use in discharging air from a passenger compartment of a vehicle of the type having a floor, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an elongated housing having at least one aperture through which said air may be selectively discharged and further having a longitudinal axis forming a first angle with said floor;

mounting the housing within the vehicle;

providing at least one member; and

pivotally attaching said at least one member to said housing along an axis which forms a second angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, said second angle is an acute angle that is effective to cause said at least one member to be operatively movable from a first position in which said aperture is covered to a second position remote said apertures, said member being operatively movable between said first and said second positions when said first angle has a value between zero degrees and approximately ninety degrees.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

attaching said valve assembly to a conduit; and

connecting said conduit to said passenger compartment.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said vehicle further comprises a body having and interior surface and an exterior surface, said method further comprising the steps of:

providing a first fastener and a second fastener; and

disposing said first and said second fastener upon said housing effective to cause first and said second fastener to operatively extend in substantially opposite directions, thereby allowing said housing to be selectively fastened to one of said interior and exterior surfaces of said body.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said first and said second fastener each comprise a clip.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said housing is generally rectangular.