Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A flap valve type closure comprising, a housing having a vertical first axis and a top wall defining a circular material-inlet orifice symmetrical about said first axis, an annular valve seat in said housing contiguous to, below and coaxial with said orifice, said orifice having a radius less than that of said seat, a control shaft journaled in said housing for pivoting about a second axis normal to and offset from said first axis, an arm fixed at one end to said shaft and pivotable therewith from a first position wherein its distal end lies on said first axis, to a second position wherein said distal end is offset from said first axis, a flap valve carried by the distal end of said arm and having a surface formed as a portion of the surface of a sphere engageable with said seat in sealing relation therewith, said surface having a geometrical center essentially on said first axis when said arm is in its said first position, and a rod connected at its upper and lower ends to said flap valve and arm, respectively, and mounting said valve for limited universal pivoting about said geometrical center, said arm in its said second position moving said valve to position laterally offset from said first axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A flap valve type closure comprising, a housing having a vertical first axis and a top wall defining a circular material-inlet orifice symmetrical about said first axis, an annular valve seat in said housing contiguous to, below and coaxial with said orifice, said orifice having a radius less than that of said seat, a control shaft journaled in said housing for pivoting about a second axis normal to and offset from said first axis, an arm fixed at one end to said shaft and pivotable therewith from a first position wherein its distal end lies on said first axis, to a second position wherein said distal end is offset from said first axis, a flap valve carried by the distal end of said arm and having a surface formed as a portion of the surface of a sphere engageable with said seat in sealing relation therewith, said surface having a geometrical center essentially on said first axis when said arm is in its said first position, and a rod connected at its upper and lower ends to said flap valve and arm, respectively, and mounting said valve for limited universal pivoting about said geometrical center, said arm in its said second position moving said valve to position laterally offset from said first axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The closure of claim 1, the lower end of said rod being connected to the distal end of said arm, for limited universal pivoting about a point spaced a fixed distance from and below said geometrical center.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The closure of claim 2, the ends of said rod being generally spherical, with centers spaced by said fixed distance, each engaging and fitting respective cavities in said valve and arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The closure of claim 3, the cavity in said valve being hemispherical, and a plate secured to the lower surface of said valve and having a central aperture forming a smooth continuation of the surface of said hemispherical cavity, to thus retain said valve to said rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The closure of claim 2, the ends of said rod being conical with equal first apex angles, and engageable in respective first and second conical cavities in said valve and arm, each of said first and second cavities having an apex angle greater than said first apex angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
The closure of claim 5, there being a plurality of holes in said arm and equiangularly spaced about and parallel with said first axis when said arm is in its said first position, a plurality of pins each slidably fitting a respective one of said holes, each of said pins being connected at its upper end to said valve for universal limited pivoting, and spring means carried by said rod and yieldingly urging each said pin in parallel with said first axis to thereby urge said valve to position seated on the upper end of said rod.