Diaphragm valve for a respirator

A diaphragm valve for a respirator, the diaphragm valve comprising:

• a valve housing with a valve chamber having a valve seat;
• a gas feed line leading in said valve housing;
• a gas outlet line leading out of said valve chamber;
• a valve body disposed to close said valve seat and interrupt the flow of gas from the gas feed line into the gas outlet line, said valve body and at least a portion of said valve housing defining a control chamber within said valve housing, separated from said valve chamber;
• a closing cover closing a cylindrical control chamber end of said valve housing, said closing cover having a cylindrical wall section;
• a sealing washer connected with said valve housing in one piece, said sealing washer being provided at a control chamber end of said valve housing, said cylindrical wall section of said closing cover being inserted into said sealing washer and held in place thereat;
• and
• a snap-in connection fixing said closing cover at said sealing washer, said snap-in connection comprising a bead-like locking cam at the valve housing and a locking ring at the closing cover, said locking ring being held by said locking cam.

A process for forming a diaphragm valve for a respirator, the process comprising:

• providing a valve housing with a valve chamber ending in a valve seat, a gas feed line leading in said valve housing, a gas outlet line leading out of said valve chamber;
• forming the provided valve housing in one piece with a cylindrical flexible sealing washer at a control chamber end of said valve housing;
• positioning a valve body spanning over said valve chamber and disposed to close said valve seat and interrupt the flow of gas from the gas feed line into the gas outlet line, said valve body forming a control chamber within said valve housing, separated from said valve chamber;
• providing a closing cover closing a cylindrical control chamber end of said valve housing, said closing cover having a cylindrical wall section;
• and
• inserting said cylindrical wall section of said closing cover into said sealing washer and retaining said cylindrical wall section in contact with an inner surface of said sealing washer, said cylindrical wall section being retained in contact with the inner surface of said sealing washer with a press fit of said cylindrical wall section with the inner surface, said press fit being facilitated by a snap-in connection retaining said cylindrical wall section in position relative to said sealing washer, said snap-in connection comprising a bead-like locking cam at the valve housing and a locking ring at the closing cover, said locking ring being held by said locking cam.