Fluid valves

Claim 2

A valve comprising: housing means having an inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet and a hollow interior cavity: resilient diaphragm means extending across said cavity; means placing said inlet in fluid communication with one side of said diaphragm means; means defining a central passageway through said diaphragm; means defining a first circular valve surface on the other side of said diaphragm means generally concentric with said passageway therethrough; a movable valve element having a second circular valve surface adapted to sealingly engage said first valve surface; a third circular valve surface disposed on said valve element within said second valve surface and facing said other side of said diaphragm means; means defining a passageway from said firsit outlet through said valve element, said third valve surface surrounding said last-named passageway; a fixed valve member disposed between said diaphragm means and said valve element and having a fourth circular valve surface adapted to sealingly engage said third valve surface; means placing said second outlet in fluid communication with said first and second valve surfaces; and spring means biasing said valve element towards said diaphragm means and said valve member whereby said first valve surface normally engages said second valve surface and said third valve surface normally engages said fourth valve surface; and stop means for limiting movement of said diaphragm means in a direction towards said valve element.

Claim 3

A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said diaphragm means includes a resilient annular bead about the periphery thereof and wherein said housing comprises two separate parts having complementary assembly flanges, one of which is adapted to be inserted within the other, said annular bead being disposed between said flanges upon assembly to hold the latter together and seal the opposite sides of said diaphragm means from one another and the atmosphere at the juncture of said parts.

Claim 4

A valve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means on said housing defining a projection having an annular recess therearound, said projection being adapted to be inserted within a grommet disposed in an opening in a supporting member with said recess engaging said grommet.

Claim 5

A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means defining a passageway from said first outlet through said valve element comprising: means defining a first generally cylindrical surface on said valve element around said passageway therethrough and a second generally cylindrical surface on said housing surrounding said first outlet, the axes of said cylindrical surfaces being generally parallel to one another and said surfaces being generally in alignment with one another; a resilient tubular device having a resilient annular bead disposed at each end thereof, said beads being disposed over said cylindrical surfaces, respectively; and a relatively stiff annular holding element overlying each of said beads, each of said elements having a conical surface engaging the bead it overlaps; said spring means extending between said elements for the additional function of biasing them toward the respective beads to cause said conical surfaces to urge said beads into sealing engagement with said cylindrical surfaces.

Claim 6

A fluid valve comprising: housing means defining a passageway therethrough; a valve seat in said passageway; a valve element in said passageway movable toward and away from said valve seat, into and out of sealing engagement therewith; first spring means biasing said valve element toward said seat into sealing engagement therewith; and diaphram means having an opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening and being movable into and out of sealing engagement with said valve element, said diaphragm means and valve element being normally disposed in a sealing relationship with one another with the resulting seal surrounding said opening, whereby said valve element and valve seat together normally block the flow of fluid through said opening, said valve element being movable away from said valve seat to permit the flow of fluid through said opening when the pressure at one end of said passageway exceeds the pressure at the other end of said passageway by a predetermined amount, said diaphragm means being movable away from said valve element to permit the flow of fluid in the opposite direction through said opening when the pressure in said one end is less than the pressure at said other end.

Claim 7

A fluid valve comprising: housing means defining a passageway therethrough; a valve seat in said passageway; a valve element in said passageway movable toward and away from said valve seat, into and out of sealing engagement therewith; first spring means biasing said valve element toward said seat into sealing engagement therewith; and diaphram means having an opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening and being movable into and out of sealing engagement with said valve element, said diaphragm means and valve element being normally disposed in a sealing relationship with one another with the resulting seal surrounding said opening, whereby said valve element and valve seat together normally block the flow of fluid through said opening, said valve element being movable away from said valve seat to permit the flow of fluid through said opening when the pressure at one end of said passageway exceeds the pressure at the other end of said passageway by a predetermined amount, said diaphragm means being movable away from said valve element to permit the flow of fluid in the opposite direction through said opening when the pressure in said one end is less than the pressure at said other end.

Claim 8

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 5, further comprising second spring means biasing said diaphragm means toward said valve element.

Claim 9

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein said valve element is generally annular in configuration and the inner periphery thereof is adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat to prevent the flow of fluid through said valve element, and wherein said seal between said diaphragm means and said valve element is disposed radially outwardly from said inner peripheral portion.

Claim 10

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein fluid flows from said other end of said passageway to said one end thereof when said diaphragm means moves away from said valve element.

Claim 11

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a second passageway communicating with the valve defined by said valve seat and said valve element, whereby when the pressure at said one end of said first recited passageway exceeds the pressure at said other end thereof by a first predetermined amount fluid will flow through said opening into said second passageway, said second passageway being independent of said first recited passageway.

Claim 12

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 9, wherein said fluid will flow through said opening into both said second passageway and said one end of said first-recited passageway when said pressure difference exceeds a greater second predetermined amount.

Claim 13

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein said flow into both said passageway is caused by said valve element moving away from said valve seat and said diaphragm means.

Claim 14

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fluid flows through said opening from said one end of said passageway to said other end thereof when the pressure at said one end thereof exceeds the pressure at said other end thereof by said predetermined amount.

Claim 15

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein said flow is solely to said other end of said passageway.

Claim 16

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein all flow through the valve is through said passageway.

Claim 17

A fluid valve comprising: housing means defining a passageway therethrough; a first valve seat in said passageway; an annular valve element in said passageway movable toward and away from said first valve seat, into and out of sealing engagement therewith; diaphragm means having an opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening, said diaphragm supporting said valve element with said valve element surrounding said opening; generally flat, washer-type spring means biasing said diaphragm and valve element against said first valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said valve element and diaphragm being movable away from said first valve seat to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway to the other end thereof when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure of said other end; and a second valve seat, said first valve seat normally sealingly engaging said second valve seat and being movable out of said sealing engagement when the pressure at said other end exceeds the pressure at said one end by a predetermined amount.

Claim 18

A fluid valve comprising: housing means defining a passageway therethrough; a first valve seat in said passageway; an annular valve element in said passageway movable toward and away from said first valve seat, into and out of sealing engagement therewith; diaphragm means having an opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening, said diaphragm supporting said valve element with said valve element surrounding said opening; generally flat, washer-type spring means biasing said diaphragm and valve element against said first valve seat into sealing engagement therewith, said valve element and diaphragm being movable away from said first valve seat to permit the flow of fluid from one end of said passageway to the other end thereof when the pressure at said one end exceeds the pressure of said other end; and a second valve seat, said first valve seat normally sealingly engaging said second valve seat and being movable out of said sealing engagement when the pressure at said other end exceeds the pressure at said one end by a predetermined amount.

Claim 19

A fluid valve comprising: housing means defining a passageway therethrough; an annular valve seat in said passageway; means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said valve seat; a valve element in said passageway having an aperture, said valve element being movable toward and away from said valve seat into and out of sealing engagement therewith, said valve element normally sealingly engaging said valve seat with the resulting seal surrounding said aperture to prevent fluid flow through said aperture; and diaphragm means having an opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening and being movable into and out of sealing engagement with said valve element, said diaphragm means and valve element being normally disposed in a sealing relationship with one another with the resulting seal surrounding said opening whereby said valve element and said valve seat together normally block the flow of fluid through said opening, said valve element being movable away from said valve seat to permit the flow of fluid through said opening and aperture when the pressure at one end of said passageway exceeds the pressure at the other end of said passageway by a first predetermined amount, said valve element being movable away from said diaphragm means to permit the flow of fluid through said oepning and between said valve element and said diaphragm means when the pressure in said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end by a second predetermined amount which is greater than said first predetermined amount.

Claim 20

A fluid valve comprising: housing means defining a passageway therethrough; an annular valve seat in said passageway; means preventing fluid flow through the area defined by said valve seat; a valve element in said passageway having an aperture, said valve element being movable toward and away from said valve seat into and out of sealing engagement therewith, said valve element normally sealingly engaging said valve seat with the resulting seal surrounding said aperture to prevent fluid flow through said aperture; and diaphragm means having an opening therethrough, said diaphragm means preventing the flow of fluid through said passageway except through said opening and being movable into and out of sealing engagement with said valve element, said diaphragm means and valve element being normally disposed in a sealing relationship with one another with the resulting seal surrounding said opening whereby said valve element and said valve seat together normally block the flow of fluid through said opening, said valve element being movable away from said valve seat to permit the flow of fluid through said opening and aperture when the pressure at one end of said passageway exceeds the pressure at the other end of said passageway by a first predetermined amount, said valve element being movable away from said diaphragm means to permit the flow of fluid through said oepning and between said valve element and said diaphragm means when the pressure in said one end exceeds the pressure at said other end by a second predetermined amount which is greater than said first predetermined amount.

Claim 21

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 16, further comprising spring means biasing said valve element toward said valve seat into sealing engagement therewith.

Claim 22

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 16, further comprising spring means biasing said diaphragm means toward said valve element into sealing engagement therewith.

Claim 23

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 16, wherein said valve seat and said preventing means are fixed with respect to the fluid valve.

Claim 24

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 16, wherein said diaphragm means is movable away from said valve element to permit the flow of fluid in the opposite direction through said opening when the pressure in said one end is less than the pressure at said other end.

Claim 25

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 16, further comprising stop means for limiting movement of said diaphragm means in a direction towards said valve element.

Claim 26

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 16, wherein said diaphragm means moves said valve element away from said valve seat to permit fluid flow through said aperture.

Claim 27

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 22, further comprising stop means for limiting movement of said diaphragm means in a direction towards said valve element.

Claim 28

A fluid valve as claimed in claim 23, wherein said stop means has passageways permitting fluid flow therethrough when engaging said diaphragm means.

Claim 29

A fluid valve comprising: an annular valve seat fixed with respect to the fluid valve; an annular diaphragm disposed on one side of said valve seat and having an opening therethrough, said diaphragm being movable toward and away from said valve seat; a valve element disposed on the opposite side of said valve seat, said valve element having an aperture therethrough and a first valve surface around the periphery of said aperture, said valve element being movable toward and away from said valve seat with said first valve surface normally sealingly engaging said valve seat, said valve element having a second annular valve surface disposed outwardly from said first valve surface normally sealingly engaging said diaphragm, whereby fluid pressure of a first magnitude acting on the side of said diaphragm away from said valve seat will cause said diaphragm to move said valve element away from said valve seat to permit fluid flow through said opening and said aperture, and whereby an increase in said fluid pressure will cause said valve element to move away from said diaphragm to permit the flow of fluid through said opening and between said diaphragm and valve element.

Claim 30

A fluid valve comprising: an annular valve seat fixed with respect to the fluid valve; an annular diaphragm disposed on one side of said valve seat and having an opening therethrough, said diaphragm being movable toward and away from said valve seat; a valve element disposed on the opposite side of said valve seat, said valve element having an aperture therethrough and a first valve surface around the periphery of said aperture, said valve element being movable toward and away from said valve seat with said first valve surface normally sealingly engaging said valve seat, said valve element having a second annular valve surface disposed outwardly from said first valve surface normally sealingly engaging said diaphragm, whereby fluid pressure of a first magnitude acting on the side of said diaphragm away from said valve seat will cause said diaphragm to move said valve element away from said valve seat to permit fluid flow through said opening and said aperture, and whereby an increase in said fluid pressure will cause said valve element to move away from said diaphragm to permit the flow of fluid through said opening and between said diaphragm and valve element.