Patent Application
20080173835
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a gas flow regulating mechanism and, more particularly, to a regulator on a valve mechanism for the controlled released of pressurized gas from a hand held container.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Contained sources of various gases are typically found in large metal bottles or tanks that require attachment of a hose and a regulator in order to control the rate of release of the pressurized contents in the metal bottle. The size and weight of bottles filled with pressurized gas makes them difficult to transport. For instance, conventional metal bottles containing a pressurized supply of oxygen are not practical for carrying when performing outdoor activities such as jogging, biking, skiing or other sports activities. For most individuals, a small, handheld container filled with a pressurized supply of oxygen can be convenient for providing oxygen during physical activities, or simply when atmospheric oxygen levels are below normal, such as at higher altitudes or cities with high levels of pollution (smog). However, releasing a pressurized supply of oxygen from a small, handheld container, under a controlled rate of flow can be problematic. While gas mixtures are normally released from small containers with the assistance of a chemical propellant, the use of such propellants is not suited for inhalation. Regulating the rate of release of the pressurized charge of oxygen from a small handheld container is essential to provide a useful supply of contained oxygen that can be easily carried and which is adapted to provide multiple releases of oxygen throughout a physical activity.
The present invention is directed to a flow regulator on a valve mechanism for controlled release of pressurized gas from a container. The valve mechanism includes a valve body mounted within a top of the container, a reciprocating core, a return spring, and a resilient sealing gasket. A tubular stem extends upwardly from the core and through an opening in the top of the container. The gasket maintains an airtight seal between a gas flow passage in the valve body and the stem, thereby preventing release of the gas from the container while the spring holds the valve body in a normally closed position in sealed engagement with the gasket. Forced movement of the stem (e.g. downward or tilt movement of the stem), against the spring, allows passage of the pressurized gas into an axial bore of the stem for release out from a nozzle tip of a cap fitted to the stem. A flow regulator is fitted to the lower end of the valve body and provides a pin hole opening sized according to the desired gas release flow rate. The pin hole opening restricts gas flow through the valve mechanism, thereby substantially reducing the rate of gas discharge from the nozzle tip when the valve mechanism is open.
Considering the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a gas flow regulator on a valve mechanism of a container filled with pressurized gas in order to control the release of gas from the container according to a desired flow rate.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flow regulator on a valve mechanism of a handheld container filled with a charge of pressurized gas for controlling the release of gas from the container according to a desired flow rate and without the use of chemical propellants.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a flow regulator on a container filled with a change of pressurized oxygen for controlling the release of oxygen from the container at a suitable flow rate that enables comfortable inhalation of the oxygen by a user, and further allowing for multiple releases of oxygen at separate times as desired by the user.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Referring to
The gasket 20 is pressed over the stem 16 of the core 14 until it is engaged on the shoulder 44 of the core. The return spring 18 is then pressed onto the bottom projecting portion 15 of the core 14. The inside diameter of the spring 18 is sized to provide a tight engaging fit on the bottom projecting portion 15 of the core 14. Because the gasket 20 is thicker than the height of the reduced diameter section 42 of the tubular stem 16, the gasket 20 is caused to be pressed into sealed engagement with the tapered section 40 when compressed. The gasket 20, when compressed, also seals a transverse, cross axial inlet passage 50 which extends through the reduced diameter section 42 of the tubular stem 16 and into an interior longitudinal axial bore 52 that extends through the interior of the tubular stem 16 to an open top end 54.
The core 14 and attached spring 18 are received within the valve body 12 so that the spring 18 becomes seated against a shoulder within the valve body. The assembly with the core 14, spring 18 and valve body 12 are then pressed into the central portion 24 on the underside of the container top 22 until the top edge of the valve body 12 is pressed firmly against the gasket 20. An annular crimp 25 is impressed into an annular groove 13 of the valve body 12 in order to secure the valve body 12 to the central portion 24 of the container top 22. A downwardly depending stub member 60 on the bottom of the valve body 12 is provided with an axial longitudinal bore 62 that communicates with an open top 64 of the valve body 12, thereby allowing flow of gas (e.g., oxygen) therethrough and around the core 14 that is received within the interior of the valve body (see
The flow regulator 70 for restricting the gas release rate through the valve mechanism 10 includes a needle 72. The needle 72 has a hub 74 with an inner annular surface 75 that is sized for snug fitted receipt of the stub portion 60 of the valve body 12 to effectively secure the needle 72 and hub 74 to the bottom side of the valve body 12. The needle 72 has a longitudinal axial bore 76 that communicates with the axial bore 62 formed through the stub member 60, thereby permitting gas to flow through the bottom opening 78 of the needle 72 and upwardly through the valve body 12. A protective cap 80 may be fitted over the hub 74 to conceal the needle 72. While not essential, the protective cap 80 may allow for easier assembly and avoid puncture injury by the needle tip 77. A pinhole 82 in the bottom of the protective cap 80 allows gas flow communication between an interior chamber 9 of the container 8 and the open bottom end 78 of the needle 72 so that pressurized gas contents within the container are able to flow thorough the pinhole 82 of the protective cab 80, upwardly through the needle 72 and up through the valve body 12. The reduced size of the longitudinal axial bore passage 76 through the needle 72 restricts flow of pressurized gas into the valve body 12, thereby providing a flow regulator. Thus, the needle 72 provides the function of limiting the gas (e.g., oxygen) flow rate by reducing the volume of gas per unit of time that can freely flow through the valve body 12 when the valve mechanism is open.
As seen in
When downward pressure on the actuator lever 32 is released, the spring urges the core 14 and tubular stem 16 upwardly within the central portion 24 of the container top 22, causing the gasket 20 to return to its relaxed state, as seen in
When the valve mechanism 10 is operated to the open position, as seen in
While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention.
