Inflation valve

US4624441A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• VALCOR ENGINEERING CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Morton A. Kreitchman · South Orange, US
• Kurt Arnold · Kaiserslautern, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 13, 1982
• Grant date: Nov 25, 1986
• Expiry date: Sep 13, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16K31/406
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A pilot-operated valve suitable for pontoon inflation arrangements contains a main valve poppet urged against a valve seat connecting the inlet and outlet ports of the valve. A portion of the inlet pressure urges a piston carrying the valve poppet away from the valve seat, but this is resisted by a portion of the inlet pressure acting in a pressure volume on the opposite side of the piston. By way of an electrical signal, a manual operation or pneumatic pressure, a pilot valve is opened so as to relieve the pressure on the main valve poppet tending to close it. This allows the valve to open and fluid to pass through the valve assembly. Once the pilot valve has opened pressure from the inlet is applied within the pilot valve to hold it in the open position until the inlet pressure has been substantially reduced. Operation of the pilot valve also allows inlet pressure to be applied to a crossover connection of the valve. Thus a series of valves with their crossover connections connected together will all be operated, if one of them is operated so as to generate pressure in the crossover line.