Exhalation valve
US4699137A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 1986 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M16/205
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An exhalation valve is disclosed having an inlet, an outlet and a diaphragm movable between closed position covering the inlet and an open position away from the inlet. The valve includes a bias means comprising a sealed chamber containing a gas acting upon the diaphragm and urging the diaphragm to its closed position. An opening means in said sealed chamber conducts a control pressure to chamber to create the bias acting against one side of the diaphragm. The diaphragm comprises a flexible peripheral portion and a semi-rigid plunger. The plunger has a projection adapted to move within a confined space to align the diaphragm and provide damping to its movement. The flexible peripheral portion of the diaphragm has a specially shaped cross-section comprising two attached cantilever sections that reduce the effective resistance to motion between open and closed positions. In the preferred embodiment, the plunger is an insert that fits into and is retained by the flexible peripheral portion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.