Back to results
US 5,203,831 AGranted
Topping and dumping valve for inflatable structures
AssigneeSurvival Engineering, Inc.
InventorsJohn R. Lind, Robert L. Swanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeSurvival Engineering, Inc.
InventorsJohn R. Lind, Robert L. Swanson
Estimating the term…
A topping and dumping valve is provided for inflating and deflating inflatable structures, such as life rafts and military assault boats. The valve includes a first cylindrical body mounted in the inflatable structure, and a second cylindrical body threadably mounted in the first body for movement between first and second positions. In the first position, air is directed through a passageway in the second body and through inflation ports in the first body so as to move a normally closed flapper seal out of sealing engagement with the inflation ports, thereby inflating the buoyancy chamber of the structure. When the second body is in the second position, deflation ports in the first body allow air from the buoyancy chamber to escape through the deflation ports and the passageway in the second body to the atmosphere. A protective cap is provided for closing the passageway in the second body when the valve is not being used during inflation and deflation of the inflatable structure.
A valve for inflating and deflating inflatable devices, comprising:
A topping and dumping valve for inflatable devices, comprising:
A method of inflating and deflating an inflatable device using a valve comprising a first body extending into the inflatable device and having inflation and deflation ports therein providing selective communication with a buoyancy chamber of the device, a second body movably mounted in the first body, and seal means normally biased for sealing the inflation port, the method comprising:
A valve for inflating and deflating an inflatable structure, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.