US 2003/0205273 A1 · Valve with electromechanical device for actuating the valve

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising an electromechanical device and a self-sealing valve, and in particular, to any inflatable device that includes the assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a valve housing defining an opening through which fluid can be provided to the inflatable device, a flexible diaphragm assembly that is configured to self-seal the opening with sufficient fluid pressure in the inflatable device and to open under sufficient fluid pressure from a fluid moving device, to provide fluid through the opening to and seal the inflatable device. The assembly further comprises an electromechanical device including an actuating arm, having a first position in which the actuating arm urges open the self-sealing valve and a second position in which the actuating arm does not act upon the self-sealing valve, so as to regulate an amount of fluid within the inflatable device. With this arrangement, a small, low power, low duty cycle electromechanical device can be used.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A valve and electromechanical device assembly, comprising:

a self-sealing valve comprising a housing having a wall defining an opening through which a fluid is provided and also defining a valve seat;
a flexible diaphragm assembly that positions a flexible diaphragm adjacent the opening and the valve seat, that is configured to move at least a portion of the flexible diaphragm at least partially away from the valve seat under bias of a fluid provided on a first side of the flexible diaphragm assembly, and that is configured to close the flexible diaphragm assembly and maintain a self-seal with the flexible diaphragm against the valve seat under bias of a fluid on a second side of the flexible diaphragm assembly;
an electromechanical device comprising an actuator arm, the actuator arm having a first position in which the actuator arm acts on the flexible diaphragm assembly to urge the at least the portion of the flexible diaphragm at least partially away from the valve seat so as to open the self-sealing valve, and having a second position in which the actuator arm does not act upon the flexible diaphragm assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Valve with electromechanical device for actuating the valve

Life of this patent

Valve with electromechanical device for actuating the valve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38