Fluid pressure control apparatus

Claim 2

An exhaust valve for a diver''s underwater breathing system wherein the diver breathes a pressurized gas comprising: A. a valve housing for connection to a pressurized portion of said system; B. a movable flexible diaphragm means forming a chamber with said valve housing; C. exit means responsive to a predetermined movement of said flexible diaphragm means for allowing escape of gas from said chamber; D. spring means positioned for opposing movement of said flexible diaphragm means; E. weighting means attached to said flexible diaphragm means for aiding or opposing said spring means in accordance with the positional orientation of said valve; F. said weighting means including two sections, a first of said sections being on one side of said flexible diaphragm means, the second of said sections being on the other side of said flexible diaphragm means; G. said second section including projections which dig into the flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 3

An exhaust valve for a diver''s underwater breathing system wherein the diver breathes a pressurized gas comprising: A. a valve housing for connection to a pressurized portion of said system; B. a movable flexible diaphragm means including an aperture and forming a chamber with said valve housing; C. exit means responsive to a predetermined movement of said flexible diaphragm means for allowing escape of gas from said chamber; D. spring means positioned for opposing movement of said flexible diaphragm means; E. weighting means for aiding or opposing said spring means in accordance with the positional orientation of said valve; F. said valve housing including a valve seating means for contact with said flexible diaphragm means and disposed adjacent said aperture and being of a size to seal said aperture when in contact with said flexible diaphragm means; G. said exit means including said aperture and said seating means; H. said weighting means being in two sections, a first of said sections including an aperture surrounding the aperture in said flexible diaphragm means on one side thereof, the second of said sections including an aperture surrounding the aperture in said flexible diaphragm means on the other side thereof.

Claim 4

An exhaust valve for a diver''s underwater breathing system wherein the diver breathes a pressurized gas comprising: A. a valve housing for connection to a pressurized portion of said system; B. a movable flexible diaphragm means including an aperture and forming a chamber with said valve housing; C. exit means responsive to a predetermined movement of said flexible diaphragm means for allowing escape of gas from said chamber; D. spring means positioned for opposing movement of said flexible diaphragm means; E. weighting means for aiding or opposing said spring means in accordance with the positional orientation of said valve; F. said valve housing including a valve seating means for contact with said flexible diaphragm means and disposed adjacent said aperture and being of a size to seal said aperture when in contact with said flexible diaphragm means; G. said exit means including said aperture and said seating means; H. said weighting means being in two sections, a first of said sections including an aperture surrounding the aperture in said flexible diaphragm means on one side thereof, the second of said sections including an aperture surrounding the aperture in said flexible diaphragm means on the other side thereof.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: A. the flexible diaphragm means includes a flange portion surrounding its aperture; B. the first section includes at the lower part of its aperture, a flange portion which engages said flange portion of the flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein: A. the spring means is a coil spring and which includes; B. a spring retainer for receiving one end of said coil spring; C. the other end of said coil spring being inserted in the aperture of the first section and bearing against the flange portion therein.

Claim 7

An exhaust valve for a diver''s underwater breathing system wherein the diver breathes a pressurized gas comprising: A. a valve housing for connection to a pressurized portion of said system; B. a movable flexible diaphragm means including an aperture and forming a chamber with said valve housing; C. exit means responsive to a predetermined movement of said flexible diaphragm means for allowing escape of gas from said chamber; D. spring means positioned for opposing movement of said flexible diaphragm means; E. weighting means for aiding or opposing said spring means in accordance with the positional orientation of said valve; F. said valve housing including a valve seating means for contact with said flexible diaphragm means and disposed adjacent said aperture and being of a size to seal said aperture when in contact with said flexible diaphragm means; G. said exit means including said aperture and said seating means; H. said valve seating means including a pivot rod connected to said valve housing, a conical head on the end of said pivot rod, a valve seat having a conical undersurface for placement on said conical head, the slope of said conical head being greater than the slope of said conical undersurface to allow limited pivotal movement of said valve seat.

Claim 8

An exhaust valve for a diver''s underwater breathing system wherein the diver breathes a pressurized gas comprising: A. a valve housing for connection to a pressurized portion of said system; B. a movable flexible diaphragm means including an aperture and forming a chamber with said valve housing; C. exit means responsive to a predetermined movement of said flexible diaphragm means for allowing escape of gas from said chamber; D. spring means positioned for opposing movement of said flexible diaphragm means; E. weighting means for aiding or opposing said spring means in accordance with the positional orientation of said valve; F. said valve housing including a valve seating means for contact with said flexible diaphragm means and disposed adjacent said aperture and being of a size to seal said aperture when in contact with said flexible diaphragm means; G. said exit means including said aperture and said seating means; H. said valve seating means including a pivot rod connected to said valve housing, a conical head on the end of said pivot rod, a valve seat having a conical undersurface for placement on said conical head, the slope of said conical head being greater than the slope of said conical undersurface to allow limited pivotal movement of said valve seat.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: A. the valve seat includes a sealing edge which contacts the flexible diaphragm means and B. the apex of the conical head of the end of the pivot rod lies in the plane of the sealing edge.

Claim 10

An exhaust valve for a diver''s underwater breathing system wherein the diver breathes a pressurized gas, comprising: A. a valve housing for connection to a pressurized portion of said system; B. a movable flexible diaphragm means forming a chamber with said valve housing; C. exit means responsive to a predetermined movement of said flexible diaphragm means for allowing escape of gas from said chamber; D. spring means positioned for opposing movement of said flexible diaphragm means; E. weighting means for aiding or opposing said spring means in accordance with positional orientation of said valve; F. the ratio of the closing pressure contributed by said spring means to the pressure contributed by said weighting means being approximately 55:45.

Claim 11

An exhaust valve for a diver''s underwater breathing system wherein the diver breathes a pressurized gas, comprising: A. a valve housing for connection to a pressurized portion of said system; B. a movable flexible diaphragm means forming a chamber with said valve housing; C. exit means responsive to a predetermined movement of said flexible diaphragm means for allowing escape of gas from said chamber; D. spring means positioned for opposing movement of said flexible diaphragm means; E. weighting means for aiding or opposing said spring means in accordance with positional orientation of said valve; F. the ratio of the closing pressure contributed by said spring means to the pressure contributed by said weighting means being approximately 55:45.