Valve with electromechanical device for actuating the valve

摘要

The invention relates to an assembly comprising an electromechanical device and a self-sealing valve, and in particular, to any inflatable device that includes the assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a valve housing defining an opening through which fluid can be provided to the inflatable device, a flexible diaphragm assembly that is configured to self-seal the opening with sufficient fluid pressure in the inflatable device and to open under sufficient fluid pressure from a fluid moving device, to provide fluid through the opening to and seal the inflatable device. The assembly further comprises an electromechanical device including an actuating arm, having a first position in which the actuating arm urges open the self-sealing valve and a second position in which the actuating arm does not act upon the self-sealing valve, so as to regulate an amount of fluid within the inflatable device. With this arrangement, a small, low power, low duty cycle electromechanical device can be used.

主权项

1. A fluid controller, comprising:
a plurality of self-sealing valves; a housing common to each of the plurality of self-sealing valves having a wall defining a first opening through which fluid is provided and also defining a first valve seat and defining a second opening through which fluid is provided and also defining a second valve seat; a first self-sealing valve of the plurality of self-sealing valves comprising a first flexible diaphragm that is positioned adjacent the first opening and the first valve seat, that is configured to move at least a portion of the first flexible diaphragm at least partially away from the first valve seat under bias of fluid provided on a first side of the first flexible diaphragm, and that is configured to close the first self-sealing valve and maintain a self-seal with the first flexible diaphragm against the first valve seat in the absence of a bias of fluid provided on the first side of the first flexible diaphragm; a second self-sealing vale of the plurality of self-sealing valves comprising a second flexible diaphragm that is positioned adjacent the second opening and the second valve seat, that is configured to move at least a portion of the second flexible diaphragm at least partially away from the second valve seat under bias of fluid provided on a first side of the second flexible diaphragm, and that is configured to close the second self-sealing valve and maintain a self-seal with the second flexible diaphragm against the second valve seat in the absence of bias of a fluid provided on the first side of the second flexible diaphragm; and an electromechanical device comprising an actuator arm, the actuator arm having a first position in which the actuator arm acts on the first flexible diaphragm to urge the at least the portion of the first flexible diaphragm at least partially away from the first valve seat so as to open the first self-sealing valve, having a second position in which the actuator arm acts on the second flexible diaphragm to urge the at least, the portion of the second flexible diaphragm at least partially away from the second valve seat so as to open the second self-sealing valve, and having a third position in which the actuator arm does not act upon either the first flexible diaphragm or the second flexible diaphragm.