Center position biased slide air valve
US5447178A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 1994 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 7, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/8667
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides an air valve (10) for inflating and deflating an inflatable. The air valve (10) includes a housing floor (16) with air ports (36, 38), and a slide bar (12) with an air passageway (54) formed therein. The slide bar (12) is supported on the floor (16) by seal rings (92) surrounding the ports (36, 38) and is biased into a center position by a spring (94) positioned in a spring well (28) in the slide bar (12) or the floor (16). Pins (50, 52) project into the spring well (28) and engage opposite ends of the spring (94). A stem extends from a tilt button (66) into a socket (48) on the slide bar (12). When the button (66) is tilted, it moves the slide bar (12), compressing the spring (94) and aligning the ports (36, 38) and the passageway (54) to allow air to pass through the valve (10). The slide bar (12) is prevented from tilting by a stabilizer frame (82) or housing shoulders (220). Pressure in the outlet port (38) may be controlled by a metered aperture in the inlet port (36) and bleeding off a portion of flow in the passageway (54).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.