Aspirator apparatus for bag inflation systems

Claim 2

An aspirating device of the type disclosed comprising: means forming a generally cylindrical body member which is intended to be mounted substantially external of an inflatable device, said body member having external openings passing through the sides thereof for admitting atmospheric air into said body member; flow diverting means disposed axially concentric with said body member and forming the inner wall of an annular flow path for atmospheric gases entering said external openings, said annular flow path being generally concentric with said body member; high-pressure jet means passing through said flow diverting means for directing a plurality of streams of high-pressure gas into said annular flow path in a direction generally parallel to the axis of said body member; closure means normally closing said external openings, said closure means being opened by closure opening means outside of said atmospheric flow path and in response to the application of said high-pressure gas flow to the aspirating device; and valve means responsive to the pressure produced in said inflatable device for interrupting the high-pressure gas flow to said closure opening means so as to cause said closure means to return to its normally closed position.

Claim 3

An aspirating device as recited in claim 1 wherein said closure opening means is a pneumatic means responsive to said high-pressure gas flow and is formed in said flow directing means outside of said annular flow path, said pneumatic means opening said closure means in response to the application of said high-pressure gas to said aspirating device.

Claim 4

An aspirating device as recited in claim 2 wherein said valve means includes a displaceable spool member which upon being displaced to a predetermined position causes said high-pressure gas flow to said pneumatic means to be interrupted disabling said pneumatic means.

Claim 5

An aspirating device as recited in claim 3 wherein said spool means is attached to a piston means having a force applying surface which is subjected to the fluid pressure within said inflatable device, said pressure being communicated through a fluid conduit which is provided between said force applying surface and said inflatable device.

Claim 6

An aspirating device as recited in claim 1 wherein said closure means is an open cylinder one end of which has an outwardly turned flange, the flanged end of said cylinder being telescopically received within said body member and forming the outer wall of said annular flow path, said flanged end being adapted to sealingly engage the lower side of said flow diverting means when displaced to one extreme closing said annular flow path, said flanged end providing a venturi action within said flow path when axially displaced from said sealing engagement.

Claim 7

An aspirating device as recited in claim 5 wherein spring means are provided for maintaining said closure means in its closed position when said aspirating device is not subjected to a high-pressure flow of gas and for causing said closure to be returned to its closed position in response to the actuation of said valve means.

Claim 8

An aspirating device as recited in claim 6 wherein said closure opening means is a pneumatic means responsive to said high-pressure gas flow and is formed in said flow directing means outside of said annular flow path, said pneumatic means opening said closure means in response to the application of said high-pressure gas to said aspirating device.

Claim 9

An aspirating device as recited in claim 7 wherein said valve means includes a displaceable spool member which upon being displaced to a predetermined position causes said high-pressure gas flow to said pneumatic means to be interrupted disabling said pneumatic means.

Claim 10

An aspirating device as recited in claim 8 wherein said spool means is attached to a piston means having a receiving surface which is subjected to the fluid pressure within said inflatable device, said pressure being communicated through a fluid conduit which is provided between said force applying surface and said inflatable device.

Claim 11

In an inflation system for inflating an inflatable device including a source of compressed gas, means for regulating the flow of compressed gas caused to flow into said inflatable device, and an aspirating means for increasing the quantity of gas forced into said inflatable device beyond that contained within said source of compressed gas, an improved aspirator means comprising: a generally cylindrical housing means mounted substantially external of said inflatable device and having openings in the sides thereof for communicating atmospheric air into said housing means; Flow-directing means disposed within said housing means and defining a generally cylindrically shaped flow path between said openings and said inflatable device; jet means for introducing into said flow path in a direction generally parallel with the axis of said housing means a plurality of streams of said compressed gas; closure means for closing said openings; and pneumatic mans for openings said closure means when said aspirator device is subjected to said compressed gas and causing said closure means to be closed when the pressure in said inflatable device reaches a predetermined level, said pneumatic means including a piston means coupled to said closure means for opening said closure means when said pneumatic means is subjected to said compressed gas and a valve means responsive to the pressure in said inflatable device for interrupting the flow of compressed gas to said pneumatic means when the pressure in said inflatable device reaches said predetermined level.

Claim 12

In an inflation system for inflating an inflatable device including a source of compressed gas, means for regulating the flow of compressed gas caused to flow into said inflatable device, and an aspirating means for increasing the quantity of gas forced into said inflatable device beyond that contained within said source of compressed gas, an improved aspirator means comprising: a generally cylindrical housing means mounted substantially external of said inflatable device and having openings in the sides thereof for communicating atmospheric air into said housing means; Flow-directing means disposed within said housing means and defining a generally cylindrically shaped flow path between said openings and said inflatable device; jet means for introducing into said flow path in a direction generally parallel with the axis of said housing means a plurality of streams of said compressed gas; closure means for closing said openings; and pneumatic mans for openings said closure means when said aspirator device is subjected to said compressed gas and causing said closure means to be closed when the pressure in said inflatable device reaches a predetermined level, said pneumatic means including a piston means coupled to said closure means for opening said closure means when said pneumatic means is subjected to said compressed gas and a valve means responsive to the pressure in said inflatable device for interrupting the flow of compressed gas to said pneumatic means when the pressure in said inflatable device reaches said predetermined level.

Claim 13

In an inflation system as recited in claim 10 wherein said valve means includes a displaceable spool member which upon being displaced to a predetermined position causes the flow of said compressed gas to said piston means to be interrupted to disable said piston means.

Claim 14

In an inflation system as recited in claim 11 wherein said closure means is an open cylinder one end of which is telescopically received within said housing means and adapted to sealingly engage said flow directing means in one position to close said atmospheric openings and to form a venturi restriction in said flow path when in another position.

Claim 15

In an inflation system as recited in claim 12 wherein resilient biasing means are provided for biasing said closure means into its closed position when the flow of compressed gas to said aspirator means is interrupted in response to the actuation of said valve means by said predetermined level of pressure in said inflatable device.