Fluid valves

Claim 2

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; and means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening and an attaching portion adjacent the outer periphery of said diaphragm means, the entire intermediate portion of said diaphragm means disposed between said bead and said attaching portion being relatively thin and flexible as compared to said bead, said attaching portion being fixed with respect to said housing means, the upstream portion of said bead being generally circular in cross-section in a relaxed state and adapted to normally sealingly engage said valve seat, said intermediate portion of said diaphragm means joining said bead on the opposite side of a plane disposed parallel to said valve seat and spaced therefrom in the downstream direction, said bead being movable away from said valve seat to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 3

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve seat is fixed in location with respect to said housing means.

Claim 4

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve seat is movable with respect to said housing means.

Claim 5

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising spring means normally biasing said upstream portion of said bead into sealing engagement with said valve seat.

Claim 6

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a first bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening and a second bead of increased thickness about the outer periphery of said diaphragm means, the entire portion of said diaphragm means disposed between said two beads being relatively thin and flexible as compared to said beads, said first bead having an upstream portion which is generally circular in cross-section in a relaxed state; and spring means biasing said upstream portion of said first bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means being relatively flat when in a relaxed state and including a plurality of resilient fingers the free ends of which provide a substantially continuous annular surface bearing on said first bead, said diaphragm means and first bead being movable away from said valve seat against the bias of said spring means to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 7

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a first bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening and a second bead of increased thickness about the outer periphery of said diaphragm means, the entire portion of said diaphragm means disposed between said two beads being relatively thin and flexible as compared to said beads, said first bead having an upstream portion which is generally circular in cross-section in a relaxed state; and spring means biasing said upstream portion of said first bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means being relatively flat when in a relaxed state and including a plurality of resilient fingers the free ends of which provide a substantially continuous annular surface bearing on said first bead, said diaphragm means and first bead being movable away from said valve seat against the bias of said spring means to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 8

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening, said bead having an upstream portion which is generally circular in cross-section in a relaxed state; and spring means biasing said upstream portion of said bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means being relatively flat when in a relaxed state and including a plurality of resilient fingers the free ends of which provide a substantially continuous annular surface bearing on said bead, said diaphragm means and bead being movable away from said valve seat against the bias of said spring means to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 9

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening, said bead having an upstream portion which is generally circular in cross-section in a relaxed state; and spring means biasing said upstream portion of said bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means being relatively flat when in a relaxed state and including a plurality of resilient fingers the free ends of which provide a substantially continuous annular surface bearing on said bead, said diaphragm means and bead being movable away from said valve seat against the bias of said spring means to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 10

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 6, wherein said valve seat is generally flat.

Claim 11

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 6, wherein said valve seat is fixed in location with respect to said housing means.

Claim 12

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat disposed in said passageway and supported in position by a support element extending therefrom to said housing means, said element having a plurality of openings therethrough to permit fluid to flow therethrough, and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening; and spring means biasing said bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means being relatively flat when in a relaxed state, said diaphragm means and bead being movable in a downstream direction away from said valve seat against the bias of said spring means to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said onE end exceeds the pressure at said other end, said element having downstream surface means for preventing said diaphragm means from moving excessively far in an upstream direction when the pressure at said other end exceeds the pressure at said one end.

Claim 13

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat disposed in said passageway and supported in position by a support element extending therefrom to said housing means, said element having a plurality of openings therethrough to permit fluid to flow therethrough, and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening; and spring means biasing said bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means being relatively flat when in a relaxed state, said diaphragm means and bead being movable in a downstream direction away from said valve seat against the bias of said spring means to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said onE end exceeds the pressure at said other end, said element having downstream surface means for preventing said diaphragm means from moving excessively far in an upstream direction when the pressure at said other end exceeds the pressure at said one end.

Claim 14

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening; and spring means biasing said bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means comprising in an unstressed state a relatively flat disc of resilient material having a central hole and a plurality of radially outwardly extending slits extending therefrom to points spaced from the outer periphery of said disc to thereby define a plurality of resilient fingers the free ends of which provide a substantially continuous annular surface bearing on said bead, said diaphragm means and bead being movable away from said valve seat against the bias of said spring means to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening when the pressure at said one exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 15

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening; and spring means biasing said bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means comprising in an unstressed state a relatively flat disc of resilient material having a central hole and a plurality of radially outwardly extending slits extending therefrom to points spaced from the outer periphery of said disc to thereby define a plurality of resilient fingers the free ends of which provide a substantially continuous annular surface bearing on said bead, said diaphragm means and bead being movable away from said valve seat against the bias of said spring means to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening when the pressure at said one exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 16

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 9, wherein said support element comprises a spoke-like member having spaced-apart spokes extending between said valve seat and said housing means.

Claim 17

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein said slits are provided with cut-out portions to increase the flexibility of said fingers.

Claim 18

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; resilient diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening, means defining a first bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening and a second bead of increased thickness about the outer periphery of said diaphragm means, the entire intermediate portion of said diaphragm means disposed between said two beads being relatively thin and flexible compared to said beads; and spring means biasing the upstream portion of said first bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means being relatively flat when in a relaxed state and being disposed transversely to the flow of fluid through the valve, said spring means having substantially the entirety of its upstream face disposed against the downstream face of said intermediate portion of said diaphragm means and including a plurality of resilient fingers the free ends of which provide a substantially continuous annular surface bearing on the downstream portion of said first bead, said diaphragm means and first bead being movable away from said valve seat against the bias of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 19

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; resilient diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening, means defining a first bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening and a second bead of increased thickness about the outer periphery of said diaphragm means, the entire intermediate portion of said diaphragm means disposed between said two beads being relatively thin and flexible compared to said beads; and spring means biasing the upstream portion of said first bead against said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said spring means being relatively flat when in a relaxed state and being disposed transversely to the flow of fluid through the valve, said spring means having substantially the entirety of its upstream face disposed against the downstream face of said intermediate portion of said diaphragm means and including a plurality of resilient fingers the free ends of which provide a substantially continuous annular surface bearing on the downstream portion of said first bead, said diaphragm means and first bead being movable away from said valve seat against the bias of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end.

Claim 20

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein said upstream portion of said first bead is rounded in cross-section so that it can roll on said valve seat and wherein clearance is provided between said valve seat and the juncture of said first bead and intermediate portion whereby increased closing pressures acting on said intermediate portion will cause said first bead to roll outwardly.

Claim 21

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragM means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening and an attaching portion adjacent the outer periphery of said diaphragm means, the entire intermediate portion of said diaphragm means disposed between said bead and said attaching portion being relatively thin and flexible as compared to said bead, said attaching portion being fixed with respect to said housing means, said bead having a first annular surface normally sealingly engaging a second annular surface on said valve seat, one of said first or second annular surfaces being generally flat and the other being generally circular in cross-section, said bead being movable away from said valve seat to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at one end exceeds the pressure at said other end; and support means for supporting said valve seat means with respect to said housing means, said support means having a downstream face entirely spaced from the upstream face of said intermediate portion of said diaphragm means when the latter is in a relaxed state whereby a rolling action will occur between said valve seat and bead when the pressure at said other end exceeds the pressure at said one end by an amount sufficient to cause said intermediate portion to move towards said downstream face of said support means.

Claim 22

A fluid valve comprising: housing means having a passageway therethrough; valve seat means including an annular valve seat in said passageway and means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said seat; elastomeric diaphragm means having a central opening therethrough, said diaphragM means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening; means defining a bead of increased thickness about the periphery of said opening and an attaching portion adjacent the outer periphery of said diaphragm means, the entire intermediate portion of said diaphragm means disposed between said bead and said attaching portion being relatively thin and flexible as compared to said bead, said attaching portion being fixed with respect to said housing means, said bead having a first annular surface normally sealingly engaging a second annular surface on said valve seat, one of said first or second annular surfaces being generally flat and the other being generally circular in cross-section, said bead being movable away from said valve seat to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway through said opening in a downstream direction when the pressure at one end exceeds the pressure at said other end; and support means for supporting said valve seat means with respect to said housing means, said support means having a downstream face entirely spaced from the upstream face of said intermediate portion of said diaphragm means when the latter is in a relaxed state whereby a rolling action will occur between said valve seat and bead when the pressure at said other end exceeds the pressure at said one end by an amount sufficient to cause said intermediate portion to move towards said downstream face of said support means.