Fluid flow control valve
First Claim
1. A fluid flow control valve comprising:
- a housing defining a central passageway having fluid inlet and fluid outlet openings;
a pressure responsive element disposed within said passageway for selectively opening and closing said inlet opening to fluid flow in response to fluid pressure exerted thereon at said inlet opening;
a mechanism disposed within said passageway for exerting a bias force against said pressure responsive element sufficient to close said inlet opening to fluid flow absent a preestablished level of fluid pressure exerted on said pressure responsive element;
a fluid filter element disposed within said passageway; and
a retainer device for removably securing said filter element within said passageway.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid flow control valve is disclosed. This valve includes a housing which defines a central passageway having fluid inlet and fluid outlet openings. A pressure responsive element is disposed within the passageway for selectively opening and closing the inlet opening to fluid flow in response to fluid pressure exerted thereon at the inlet opening. A mechanism is provided within the passageway for exerting a bias force against the pressure responsive element which is sufficient to close the inlet opening to fluid flow absent a pre-established level of fluid pressure exerted on the pressure responsive element. A fluid filter element is also disposed within the passageway; and a retainer device is positioned for removably securing the filter element within the passageway.
11 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A fluid flow control valve comprising:
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a housing defining a central passageway having fluid inlet and fluid outlet openings;
a pressure responsive element disposed within said passageway for selectively opening and closing said inlet opening to fluid flow in response to fluid pressure exerted thereon at said inlet opening;
a mechanism disposed within said passageway for exerting a bias force against said pressure responsive element sufficient to close said inlet opening to fluid flow absent a preestablished level of fluid pressure exerted on said pressure responsive element;
a fluid filter element disposed within said passageway; and
a retainer device for removably securing said filter element within said passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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13. A fluid pressure-regulated inlet valve comprising:
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a valve housing defining a central bore, a fluid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening;
a pressure regulated control element disposed within said housing bore proximate said inlet opening and mounted for movement between a closed position wherein said control element is engaged with said inlet opening to seal said bore, and an open position wherein said control element is disengaged from said inlet opening enabling fluid to pass through said bore;
a biasing mechanism for urging said pressure regulated control element to its closed position, said mechanism having a bias force of pre-selected strength requiring pressure from an exterior fluid force on said pressure regulated control element at said inlet opening of a strength exceeding said pre-selected bias force strength to disengage said control element from said inlet opening and move it to its open position;
a fluid filter disposed within said bore adapted to filter any fluid passing through said bore; and
a retainer member for securing said fluid filter within said housing bore.
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21. An inlet valve for a gas pressure regulator to couple the regulator to a source of pressurized gas, said valve comprising:
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a housing defining a central duct with gas inlet and outlet openings defined at opposite ends thereof, said housing having an attachment portion disposed at said gas inlet opening adapted for engagement with a source of pressurized gas;
a pressure responsive element mounted within said duct proximate said gas inlet opening and adapted for movement between a first position for sealing said duct to prevent gas from entering said inlet opening, and a second position for opening said duct to permit gas to enter said inlet opening and pass through said duct;
a mechanism disposed in said duct for exerting a preselected bias force against said pressure responsive element to maintain said pressure responsive element at said first position in the absence of gas pressure from outside said housing at said gas inlet opening in excess of said preselected bias force;
a gas filter member disposed in said duct downstream from said pressure responsive element; and
a retainer element for removably securing said filter, said bias force exerting mechanism, and said pressure responsive element all within said duct. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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29. In a regulator system for use in an underwater breathing apparatus having a container of high pressure breathable gas, said regulator system having a first stage regulator adapted for coupling to the high pressure breathable gas container for reducing the pressure thereof to an intermediate pressure level, a mechanism for releasably attaching the first stage regulator to the high pressure gas container, and a second stage regulator adapted for further reducing the pressure of the breathable gas from the intermediate pressure level to a readily breathable pressure level useable by an underwater diver, the improvement wherein the mechanism for releasably attaching said first stage regulator to the outlet of the container of high pressure breathable gas comprises:
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a valve housing defining a central passageway having a gas inlet opening and a gas outlet opening, said housing further including an attachment portion disposed at said gas inlet opening adapted for engagement with a high pressure breathable gas container outlet;
a pressure sensing member positioned for mounting within said passageway between a first position to close said inlet opening and seal it from the entry of gas and other fluids therein, and a second position to open said inlet opening and permit flow of gas into said inlet opening and through said passageway to said first stage regulator;
a device for exerting selective bias force against said pressure sensing member to continuously urge it to said first position and maintain it at said first position absent gas pressure at said inlet opening from the high pressure breathable gas container in excess of said selective bias force to move said pressure sensing member to its second position; and
a retaining device for removably securing said pressure sensing member and bias exerting device within said passageway.
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38. In a regulator device for reducing the gas pressure of a source of pressurized breathable gas in a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus to a useable level when delivered to an underwater diver using said apparatus, the regulator device including a regulator housing, a gas inlet mechanism including a gas inlet valve for the regulator housing, pressure-sensing means for reducing gas pressure within the regulator housing at variable water depths, and an outlet mechanism for delivering breathable gas at a pressure level less than the pressure level of said gas at the gas inlet mechanism, the improvement wherein said gas inlet valve comprises:
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a valve housing defining a tubular interior duct having gas inlet and gas outlet apertures at opposite ends thereof;
a gas flow control element positioned within said duct for movement between a first position to seal said gas inlet aperture to prevent entrance of gas and any other fluid into said duct, and a second position to open said gas inlet aperture to the flow of pressurized gas therethrough into said duct, said control element moving in a reciprocal manner within said tubular duct between said first and second positions;
a resilient member mounted in said duct in operative relation with said gas flow control element to create a bias force to regulate the movement of said gas flow control element between said first and second positions, the bias force created by said resilient member maintaining said gas flow control element at said first position absent sufficient pressure of breathable gas from said source at said inlet aperture to overcome the bias force of said resilient member; and
a retainer member for removably securing said gas flow control element and said resilient member within said tubular duct.
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51. A one-way inlet valve for a first stage regulator adapted to selectively engage a gas outlet portion of a container filled with pressurized breathable gas for use in a SCUBA system, said valve comprising:
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a housing defining a central duct with gas inlet and outlet apertures defined at opposite ends thereof, said housing having an attachment portion comprising a collar extending outwardly from said gas inlet aperture, and a yoke fixture adapted for compressing said collar and valve housing gas inlet aperture against the gas outlet portion of the pressurized breathable gas container;
a pressure responsive element mounted within said duct proximate said gas inlet opening and adapted for movement between a first position for sealing said duct to prevent gas from entering said inlet opening, and a second position for opening said duct to permit gas to enter said inlet opening and pass through said duct;
a mechanism disposed in said duct for exerting a preselected bias force against said pressure responsive element to maintain said pressure responsive element at said first position in the absence of gas pressure from said pressurized breathable gas container at said gas inlet opening in excess of said preselected bias force;
a gas filter member disposed in said duct downstream from said pressure responsive element; and
a retainer element for removably securing said filter, said bias force exerting mechanism, and said pressure responsive element all within said duct.
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52. A one-way inlet valve for a first stage regulator adapted to selectively engage a gas outlet portion of a container filled with pressurized breathable gas for use in a SCUBA system, said valve comprising:
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a housing defining a central duct with gas inlet and outlet apertures defined at opposite ends thereof, said housing having an attachment portion comprising a DIN connector extending outwardly from said gas inlet aperture, and a threaded connection knob for removably engaging said DIN connector and valve housing gas inlet aperture against the gas outlet portion of the pressurized breathable gas container;
a pressure responsive element mounted within said duct proximate said gas inlet opening and adapted for movement between a first position for sealing said duct to prevent gas from entering said inlet opening, and a second position for opening said duct to permit gas to enter said inlet opening and pass through said duct;
a mechanism disposed in said duct for exerting a preselected bias force against said pressure responsive element to maintain said pressure responsive element at said first position in the absence of gas pressure from said pressurized breathable gas container at said gas inlet opening in excess of said preselected bias force;
a gas filter member disposed in said duct downstream from said pressure responsive element; and
a retainer element for removably securing said filter, said bias force exerting mechanism, and said pressure responsive element all within said duct.
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53. A one-way inlet valve for a second stage regulator for use as an alternate gas source in a SCUBA system adapted to selectively engage a gas outlet portion of a gas hose delivering breathable gas of an intermediate gas pressure, said valve comprising:
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a housing defining a central duct with gas inlet and outlet apertures defined at opposite ends thereof, said housing having an attachment portion comprising a quick connect element associated with from said gas inlet aperture for attachment to said intermediate gas pressure hose, and a threaded member for attaching said valve housing gas outlet aperture to the second stage regulator;
a pressure responsive element mounted within said duct proximate said gas inlet opening and adapted for movement between a first position for sealing said duct to prevent gas from entering said inlet opening, and a second position for opening said duct to permit gas to enter said inlet opening and pass through said duct;
a mechanism disposed in said duct for exerting a preselected bias force against said pressure responsive element to maintain said pressure responsive element at said first position in the absence of gas pressure from said intermediate pressure gas hose at said gas inlet opening in excess of said preselected bias force;
a gas filter member disposed in said duct downstream from said pressure responsive element; and
a retainer element for removably securing said filter, said bias force exerting mechanism, and said pressure responsive element all within said duct.
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Specification