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AssigneesLeica Camera AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsLothar Koelsch, Hans-Gerhard Kogler, Gerhard Kranz, Christoph Metz, Frank Schroeter, Hans-Joachim Faulstroh
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A switchable flap valve having at least one valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) disposed for pivoting about a longitudinal axis in a housing part (1) for opening or closing a valve opening (11) provided in the housing part (1) in which a strip element (4, 4a, 4b) is formed on the upper side of the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve plate. The surface of the strip element (4, 4a) is inclined toward an adjacent housing wall (20) or toward a second strip (4b) and forms a hollow channel with the housing wall (20) or with the strip (4b). The free longitudinal edge (18) of the strip (4, 4a, 4b) is held in a latch mechanism (7, 8) to maintain the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) in the closed position. In the housing part (1) at least one opening (13) communicating with one end of the hollow channel is provided, which also is in communication with a pressure generator (14) whose actuation introduces pressure into the hollow channel and elastically deforms the strip elements (4, 4a, 4b) to release the strip elements from the holders or latches (7, 8) so that the valve plate (2, 2a, 2b) can pivot to the open position.
A switchable flap valve comprising at least one valve plate pivotably mounted in a housing part so that the valve plate can pivot about a longitudinal axis to open or close a valve opening in said housing part, wherein each valve plate carries a resiliently deformable strip element aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve plate on one side thereof, said strip element having a lateral face which faces an adjacent housing wall or a similar face of a strip element on a second valve plate, and said strip element forming a hollow channel with the adjacent housing wall or strip element face, a latch mechanism which holds the lateral face of said strip element such that the valve plate is secured in a position in which the valve opening is closed, a pressure generator in communication with at least one end of said hollow channel such that actuation of said pressure generator releases a pressure wave into said hollow channel which deforms the strip element and releases the strip element from the latch mechanism so that the at least one valve plate can pivot to a position in which the valve opening is open.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.