Diver's suit excess gas exhaust valve
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorCharles H. Dickson, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve for controlling venting of excess gas from a diving suit includes a alve body housing first and second rubber check valves arranged in series. A control knob is rotatable on the valve body to selectively open or close outlet ports for venting gas from between the check valves and to actuate a member to selectively either hold the first check valve closed or to allow it function.
Claims12
A valve for controlling venting of air from a diver's suit of the type wherein a thermally insulating layer of air is maintained in the body portion of the suit, said valve comprising:
- a substantially hollow valve body having defined therein a first cavity in communication with said layer of air in said suit;
- a second cavity defined in said valve body;
- a first interior wall extending transversely of said valve body between said first and second cavities, said wall having first means for flow of air from said first cavity to said second cavity;
- a resiliently flexible first check valve element, cooperative with said first passage means, for permitting fluid flow from said first cavity to said second cavity and for preventing fluid flow from said second cavity to said first cavity;
- a second interior wall extending transversely of said valve body in spaced relation to said first interior wall with said second cavity therebetween, said second interior wall having second passage means for flow of air from said second cavity;
- a second check valve element, cooperative with said second passage means, for permitting fluid flow from said second cavity through said second passage means to an ambient fluid zone and for preventing fluid flow into said second cavity through said second passage means;
- and
- a sealing plate disposed between said first and second interior walls and movable into and out of confining relation with said first check valve element, whereby when in said confining relation said first check valve seals said first passage means against fluid flow therethrough into or out of said first cavity.
A diver's suit exhaust valve comprising:
- a valve body;
- an inlet cavity defined in said valve body and adapted to communicate with the interior of a diver's suit;
- first and second valve elements housed in spaced, series relation in said body;
- a first outlet cavity defined in said valve body between said first and second check valve elements;
- first outlet port means defined in said body for communication between said first outlet cavity and the exterior of said body;
- a knob member mounted on said valve body for movement between at least first and second operative positions and through an intermediate position, said knob member defining with said valve body a second outlet cavity;
- second outlet port means defined in said knob member for communication between said second outlet cavity and the exterior of said valve;
- third outlet port means defined in said knob member and movable into and out of registration with said first outlet port means in accordance with said first and second operative positions of said knob member;
- and
- a check valve sealing member disposed in said first oulet cavity and movable into and out of confining relation with said first check valve element in response to movement of said knob member between said first and second operative positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.