VEHICLE PNEUMATIC SEAT ROLLOVER SAFETY VENT VALVE

摘要

A rollover vent valve (10) for use in a pneumatic seat (12) moutned in a vehicle. The rollover vent valve (10) allows air to vent from the air bag(s) (18) in the pneumatic seat (12) in the event the vehicle in which the seat is mounted is severely tilted or overturned. The rollover vent valve (10) includes a housing (30) enclosing a pressure chamber (60) and a valve member (38). The interior of the pressure chamber (60) is in fluid connection with the air bag(s) (18). The rollover vent valve (10) also includes a vent port (64) that connects the interior of the chamber to the ambient environment. In one embodiment, the valve member (38) is located within the pressure chamber (60) above the vent port (64) and forms a seal with the vent port (64) when the pneumatic seat in which the valve is mounted is in an upright position. The valve member (38) includes a weight cage (40) in which a spherical weight (48) is movably mounted. One end of the weight cage (40) includes a valve seal (42) that forms a seal on the valve seat (68) of the vent port. When the pneumatic seat in which the valve is mounted is located in an upright position, the weight (48) provides a biasing force to maintain the valve member (38) and valve seal (42) in a normally closed and sealed position. When the valve is tilted or overturned, the spherical weight (48) moves within the weight cage (40) to move the valve member and valve seat (68) off of the vent port (64), thus opening the vent port. Opening the vent port (64) connects the interior of the air bag(s) (18) with the ambient environment thus allowing the air bag(s) to deflate.