Reed valve mechanism and method for constructing same
AssigneePerformance Industries, Inc.
InventorsEyvind Boyesen, Robert E. Rarick, II, Ragnar Boyesen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved apparatus and method of construction of a reed valve mechanism having a cushioned reed valve seat is disclosed. The present invention provides a smooth resilient overlay plate which is attached around ports in a reed cage. The benefits of conventional rubber coated reed cages is supplied without the expenses inherent in previous construction methods. Various mechanical mounting means are disclosed for ease in construction and improved reed valve performance.
Claims36
A reed valve mechanism positioned in a fluid passage for use to control fluid flow through the fluid passage, which mechanism comprises:
- a reed cage having at least one side wall and at least one port in the side wall to allow passage of fluid through the reed valve mechanism;
- a reed valve member attached to the reed cage to control the flow of fluid through the port by alternating between open and closed positions;
- a recessed area on the side wall surrounding the port;
- an overlay adapted to mount within the recessed area on the side wall to provide a cushioned surface for the reed valve to contact in a closed position;
- wherein the overlay is a separate plate attached to the reed cage, and comprises a substrate and a resilient coating affixed to the substrate.
A method of construction of a reed valve mechanism to control fluid flow through a fluid passage, the reed valve mechanism including a reed cage, at least one side wall on the reed cage, at least one reed cage port in the side wall, and a reed valve member attaching to the reed cage to cover the reed cage port, the reed valve member oscillating between open and closed positions to control the flow of fluid through the reed cage port, which method comprises:
- forming multiple overlays from a sheet of substrate to which a resilient coating is affixed, each overlay adapted to be attached to a reed cage to provide a cushioned seat surrounding each reed cage port and supporting the reed valve when it is in a closed position;
- providing an overlay port in each of overlays corresponding to each reed cage port;
- and
- employing mechanical mounting means to attach each overlay to the reed cage to provide for fluid flow through the overlay port and the reed cage port when the reed valve is in an open position.
A reed valve mechanism positioned in a fluid passage for use to control fluid flow through the fluid passage, which mechanism comprises:
- a reed cage having at least one side wall and at least one port in the side wall to allow passage of fluid through the reed valve mechanism;
- a reed valve member attached to the reed cage to control the flow of fluid through the port by alternating between open and closed positions;
- an overlay adapted to cover the side wall of the reed cage to provide a cushioned surface for the reed valve to contact in a closed position, the overlay comprising a separate plate which is attached to the reed cage;
- the mechanism comprises a V-shaped reed cage with its apex presented downstream of the direction of fluid flow through the passage, and the reed cage includes converging side walls meeting at the apex and at least one port in each of the side walls;
- the side wall of the reed cage is recessed in an area surrounding each port, the recess extending over the apex of the reed cage;
- and
- the overlay comprises a V-shaped unit corresponding to the shape of the reed cage, having ports formed therein, each port in the overlay corresponding with each of the ports in the reed cage, the V-shaped unit being adapted to seat within the recessed area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.