Patent ID: 6709246
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
An inflation/deflation device for use with an inflatable bladder having an inlet, the inflation/deflation device comprising:a housing defining a coupling device and a vent, the coupling device located on a coupling side of the housing and extending from the housing and being adapted to couple the inflation/deflation device to the inlet in a fluid tight manner, the vent located in a vent side of the housing away from the coupling device and being adapted to vent the inflation/deflation device; a reversible motor contained within the housing, the motor being adapted to operate in a primary direction, to operate in a second opposite direction, and to not operate; an impeller attached to the reversible motor, the impeller being adapted to move air through the housing from the vent through the coupling device when the reversible motor operates in the primary direction, the impeller being further adapted to move air through the housing from the coupling device through the vent when the reversible motor operates in the second opposite direction; a valve having a volcano plug, a valve seat, a spring seat and a spring, the valve contained within the housing and located between the vent and the coupling device, the volcano plug and the valve seat being adapted to form a seal between the vent side of the housing and the coupling side of the housing as the volcano plug engages the valve seat, the spring being adapted to place the plug in engagement with the valve seat; a solenoid operatively connected to the valve, the solenoid being attached to the housing and being adapted to change from a first state in which the volcano plug is in engagement with the valve seat to a second state in which the volcano plug is not in engagement with the valve seat; and a controller having an off position, an inflate position, a valve open position, and a deflate position, the controller being adapted to control the motor and the solenoid such that; when in the off position the motor does not operate and the solenoid is in the first state, when in the inflate position the motor operates in the primary direction and the solenoid is in the second state, when in the valve open position the motor does not operate and the solenoid is in the second state, and when in the deflate position the motor operates in the second opposite direction and the solenoid is in the second state.