Vent with relief valve
AssigneeDonaldson Company, Inc.
InventorsJacob Sanders, Michael J. Hebert, Daniel Dotzler, Koen Gatz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vent assembly has a housing defining a cavity, a first end, a second end, and a coupling structure towards the second end. A mounting surface is positioned between the first end and the second end within the cavity and defines a valve opening and a vent opening. A vent is coupled to the mounting surface across the vent opening, and an umbrella valve is sealably disposed on the mounting surface across a valve opening.
Claims17
A vent assembly comprising:
- a housing defining a cavity, a first end, a second end, and a coupling structure towards the second end;
- a mounting surface positioned between the first end and the second end within the cavity, the mounting surface defining a valve opening and a vent opening;
- a vent coupled to the mounting surface across the vent opening;
- and
- an umbrella valve sealably disposed on the mounting surface across a valve opening.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1 and 3-17, further comprising an end cap coupled to the housing towards the first end.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-2 and 4-17, wherein the mounting surface forms a unitary structure with the housing.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-3 and 5-17, wherein the vent comprises a breathable membrane.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-4 and 6-17, wherein the housing defines an opening between an ambient environment and the cavity, to define a fluid flow pathway between the outside of the housing and the mounting surface.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-5 and 7-17, the housing comprising a first obstruction, wherein the first obstruction is positioned between the opening and the vent.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-6 and 8-17, the housing comprising a second obstruction disposed on the mounting surface extending into the fluid flow pathway, wherein the second obstruction is positioned between the opening and the umbrella valve.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-7 and 9-17, wherein the fluid flow pathway defines a tortuous path between the opening and the umbrella valve.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-8 and 10-17, the coupling structure defining a fluid flow pathway between the outside of the housing and the vent.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-9 and 11-17, wherein the housing defines a first fluid flow pathway between the outside of the housing and the vent, the coupling structure defines a second fluid flow pathway between the outside of the housing and the vent, and the umbrella valve is configured to unseal from the mounting surface when the pressure in the second fluid flow pathway is greater than the pressure in the first fluid flow pathway by 0.5 to 1 psi.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-10 and 12-17, wherein the housing further defines a central axis extending from the first end to the second end, and wherein the mounting surface is about the central axis.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-11 and 13-17, wherein the valve opening comprises a plurality of openings defining a segmented annulus about the central axis.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-12 and 14-17, wherein the vent opening is a plurality of openings defining a segmented annulus about the central axis.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-13 and 15-17, wherein the mounting surface defines a central opening about the central axis and the umbrella valve comprises an extension portion that extends through the central opening.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-14 and 16-17, wherein the housing defines radial openings about the central axis, wherein the radial openings define a fluid flow pathway between the outside of the housing and the vent.
The vent assembly of any of claims 1-15 and 17, wherein the vent and the umbrella valve are concentric.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.