Valve for rapid inflation and deflation

摘要

A valve for selectively sealing and unsealing an opening in a bladder is disclosed. The valve includes a flange for mounting the valve around the opening in the bladder, a valve seat supported on the flange, and an air passageway. A spring plate is supported on the flange and spaced from the valve seat. A floating valve disk is provided between the valve seat and the spring plate for movement towards and away from the valve seat to seal and unseal the opening in the bladder. A spring is provided to bias the floating valve disk towards the valve seat. Deflation lugs are provided to hold the floating valve disk away from the valve seat against the force of the spring. The floating valve disk is free to pivot but is prevented from pivoting to such an extent that movement of the floating valve disk is impeded as by binding.

主权项

1. A valve for selectively sealing and unsealing an opening in a bladder, said valve comprising
a mounting flange for securing the valve to the bladder around the opening, said mounting flange having an air passageway extending therethrough, a valve seat supported on said mounting flange, a spring plate connected to said mounting flange and supported so that it is spaced a given distance from said valve seat, posts extending between said mounting flange and said spring plate, a floating valve disk having a central portion and a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from said central portion, said valve disk being positioned between said spring plate and said valve seat and supported for movement between a closed position where it is adjacent to said valve seat and an open position where it is spaced from said valve seat, a spring positioned between said valve disk and said spring plate and operable to bias said valve disk towards said valve seat, and deflation lugs extending from said valve seat, wherein said floating valve disk is supported for rotational movement between a first position and a second position, wherein said floating valve disk tabs engage said deflation lugs when said floating valve disk is in said first rotational position and do not engage said deflation lugs when said floating valve disk is in said second rotational position, and wherein, when said deflation lugs engage said floating valve disk tabs, said deflation lugs are operable to support said floating valve disk in the open position against the force of said spring.