Fluid handling – Processes – Cleaning – repairing – or assembling
Reissue Patent
1998-07-09
2001-06-05
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Processes
Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
C251S359000
Reissue Patent
active
RE037202
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
If Any: None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the art of poppet seats and more particularly to poppet seats useful in air regulating devices. In its most preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to an improved poppet seat in which synthetic or natural rubber seat material is molded around and through an annular carrier. The invention also relates to a method for making a poppet seat of this type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of air regulating devices, such as those used in underwater diving equipment (more commonly known as scuba equipment) breathable air is provided to the diver from a pressurized air source, e.g. a compressed air cylinder, a surface supply hose, etc.
In most equipment a primary regulator is employed to reduce the air pressure available to the diver from the pressurized source, such as a pressurized air tank, and a demand regulator functions to supply air in accordance with the diver's breathing pattern. In current demand regulators, poppet seats have been commonly manufactured by providing a carrier base made out of plastic or metal material and having a groove about its center. Pliable seat material has been added to the groove and has been held in place by friction and/or by adhesive bonding. In one prior art device, such seats were exposed to pressures in the range of 120-150 pounds/in
2
and made spring loaded contact with a coned orifice member to provide a complete seat of the pressure. Such poppet seats are subjected to widely varying environmental conditions and cyclic use since each time a breath is taken, a spring is relieved thereby allowing movement of the coned orifice member toward and away from the seal and permitting the bypass of breathable air to the scuba diver.
Such poppets have proved to be highly effective over extended periods of time, but several design aspects of the current system make it possible for small leakage to occur. For example, the coned orifice can become damaged or the seating surface itself may be contaminated or deformed. These occurrences are especially likely in situations where the regulator is not maintained properly, e.g. if it is not reused as recommended by most manufacturers. Leakage could also occur if the seat material becomes delaminated from the substrate carrier base, as could happen for example if the adhesive or frictional forces became weakened. If any of these occurrences would take place while the diver was below water, normal emergency procedures, such as the use of a back-up regulator, would be employed to allow a divers safe return to the surface. Repair of this regulator would then be required.
While the first two problems mentioned above may be readily cured by proper maintenance, the later problem is less easy to observe, as it can occur over time. An improvement in design would be desirable to make sure the air supply is not bypassed due to inappropriate separation of the seat material from the carrier component.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features a seat for use in air regulating devices, such as second stage regulators in diving equipment, in which pliable material is applied through holes in the carrier to provide a mechanical securing of the seat material to its substrate. In accordance with another feature, the present invention employs such mechanical attachment in combination with chemical bonding to increase, even further, the adherence of the seat material to its substrate.
More specifically, the present invention features a technique for encapsulating a substrate base and anchoring seat material therethrough by means of through-hole molding using holes which are geometrically reversed when compared to the direction from which delamination forces would be most likely to occur.
Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide an encapsulated substrate, wherein the encapsulating seat material forms a seating member that also flows into a v-groove surrounding the periphery of the substrate to enhance attachment thereto. In still another modification of the later feature, the v-groove intersects a plurality of through holes to further enhance the security of the seat and substrate.
The invention also features a method for manufacturing a valve seat of the type including an annular base and an elastomeric seating material affixed to the base. The method includes the steps of forming an annular groove in the base and securing the seating material to the base such that the seating material contacts at least a portion of the groove generally in opposing relation with respect to an upper surface of the base.
How these and other features of the present invention are accomplished will be described in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawings. Generally, however, they are accomplished by using a synthetic or natural rubber seat material and molding it with a substrate which is preferably of annular form. In the most preferred embodiment, the substrate includes a v-groove around its periphery and a plurality of holes so that the molding material passes through the holes and around the v-groove, most preferably encapsulating the entire periphery of the carrier. In the most preferred embodiment, the holes of the substrate are geometrically reversed to increase the seats ability to withstand any delamination forces. Other ways in which the objects of the invention are accomplished will become apparent from the following detailed description after it is read and understood by those knowledgeable in the art. Such other ways are also deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3407838 (1968-10-01), Boteler
patent: 3791767 (1974-02-01), Shill
patent: 3825030 (1974-07-01), Kalsi
patent: 111910 (1984-06-01), None
patent: 1217697 (1970-12-01), None
Chambers A. Michael
Foley & Lardner
Johnson Outdoors Inc.
LandOfFree
Poppet seat for air regulating devices does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Poppet seat for air regulating devices, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Poppet seat for air regulating devices will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2546105