Diaphragm valves

Claim 1

A PRESSURE OPERATED DIAPHRAGM VALVE INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM DIVIDING THE VALVE INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS, THE FIRST COMPARTMENT HAVING A WALL PORTION AND BEING CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF PRESSURE FLUID AND THE SECOND COMPARTMENT INCLUDING CONCENTRIC INNER AND OUTER PASSAGES, SAID INNER PASSAGE HAVING A RIM, THE DIAPHRAGM BEING MOVABLE, AS A RESULT OF DIFFERENCE IN PRESSURE IN THE FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS, BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION IN WHICH IT NESTS IN SAID WALL PORTION OF THE FIRST COMPARTMENT AND A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH IT RESTS ON SAID RIM OF THE INNER CONCENTRIC PASSAGE, A TAPERED VANED DIAPHRAGM-SUPPORTING ELEMENT LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY ON THE SIDE OF THE DIAPHRAGM FACING THE SECOND COMPARTMENT AND CONNECTED TO SAID DIAPHRAGM, A COLUMN ATTACHED TO THE SUPPORTING ELEMENT AND PASSING THROUGH THE DIAPHRAGM AND BEING SLIDABLE IN SAID WALL PORTION OF THE FIRST COMPARTMENT, A SHOULDER ON SAID COLUMN AND A STOP ON SAID WALL PORTION, THE SHOULDER ABUTTING THE STOP WHEN THE DIAPHRAGM IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION, THE DIAPHRAGM-SUPPORTING ELEMENT BEING DIMENSIONED TO FIT INTO THE INNER CONCENTRIC PASSAGE WHEN THE DIAPHRAGM IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION TO SUPPORT THAT AREA OF THE DIAPHRAGM COVERING THE INNER CONCENTRIC PASSAGE AGAINST DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE BETWEEN THE FIRST COMPARTMENT AND THE INNER CONCENTRIC PASSAGE, WHEN THE INNER CONCENTRIC PASSAGE IS THE OUTLET.