Abstract:
Breather valve assemblies featuring resilient, deformable members that buckle when a pressure-moveable member is actuated by pressure, such as when a sealed container is exposed to changes in atmospheric pressure. One way and two way breather valves allow air flow in either one or two desired directions according to resilient, deformable member and pressure movable member of each respective direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The embodiments described herein relate to improved one-way and two-way breather valve assemblies especially useful in venting containers and the like. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Breather valves, also known as pressure relief valves, prevent excessive pressure or vacuum buildup in sealed containers, which reduces container weight, cube, and cost. A variety of breather valves have been developed over the years, including valves that keep dust, water, and blowing sand from entering containers. 
         [0005]    In some applications, the pressure or vacuum differential versus flow rate profile of a breather valve can be a critical factor in whether a sealed container will deform (or even explode). In other words, if a breather valve cannot expel or intake air fast enough, damage to the container and contents can result. 
         [0006]    In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to create breather valve assemblies with improved flow rate characteristics. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention generally relates to improved breather valve assemblies that feature a resilient, deformable member coupled between a stationary member and a pressure-moveable member such that pressure on the moveable member buckles the deformable member. The result of these improved designs is that flow rates can be increased. 
         [0008]    In one aspect, embodiments pertain to one-way breather valves having a valve housing enclosing a hollow interior portion and containing a stationary member coupled with and disposed proximally to a first end of the housing and configured such that it provides an opening to the atmosphere. The hollow interior further includes a pressure-movable member disposed in sealing arrangement proximally to a second end of the housing and a resilient, deformable member coupled between the stationary member and the pressure-moveable member. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the deformable member is substantially centrally disposed in relation to the stationary and pressure-moveable members such that the deformable member bends toward an interior sidewall of the valve housing upon movement by the pressure-moveable member. Such a design has been found to improve flow rate characteristics over previous designs. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, embodiments pertain to two-way breather valves featuring an outer valve housing having a hollow interior portion containing a first member having an opening and disposed in sealing arrangement proximally to a top outer circumference of the housing, a second member disposed above the first member and coupled with the housing, and a resilient, deformable member coupled to the first and second members. The resilient, deformable member is substantially centrally disposed in relation to the first and second members such that it bends radially (buckles) upon movement by the first member. Furthermore, there is an inner valve housing disposed coaxially within the outer valve housing, with the inner valve housing having a hollow interior portion containing a third member disposed below the first member and in sealing arrangement with the first member, and a fourth member coupled with and disposed proximally to the bottom of the inner housing, with the forth member having an opening. A second resilient, deformable member is coupled to the third and fourth members such that it is substantially centrally disposed in relation to the third and fourth members and therefore bends toward a sidewall of the inner valve housing upon movement by the third member. 
         [0011]    Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention includes the features hereinafter fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such description discloses only some of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts in a cut-away view a one-way breather valve embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a two-way breather valve embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cut-away view of the valve in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates the valve of  FIG. 3  in a closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows the valve of  FIG. 3  in an open (vacuum direction) position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows the valve of  FIG. 3  in an open (pressure direction) position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a graphical representation of the flow rate characteristics of the “New” valve in  FIG. 1  versus a prior design (“Standard”) utilizing a compression-only resilient member to provide pressure venting. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , a one-way breather valve  2  is shown that includes a valve housing  4  enclosing a hollow interior portion  6  that contains a stationary member  8  coupled with and disposed proximally to a first end  10  of the housing and configured to provide an opening  12  to the atmosphere. A pressure-movable member  14  is disposed in sealing arrangement (for example, by virtue of having sealing ring  16 ) proximally to a second end  18  of the housing  4 , and a resilient, deformable member  20  is coupled between the stationary member  8  and the pressure-moveable member  14 . 
         [0020]    The resilient, deformable member  20  is substantially centrally disposed in relation to the stationary and pressure-moveable members such that it bends toward an interior sidewall  22  of valve housing  4  upon movement by the pressure-moveable member  14 . 
         [0021]    As shown in this one preferred embodiment, the valve housing  4  is cylindrical and contains a threaded portion  24  along the hollow interior portion  6 . Thus, the stationary member  8  can threadedly engage the threaded portion  24 , thereby making stationary member adjustable such that a tension on the resilient, deformable member  20  is adjustable. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the valve housing and stationary/movable members are made of plastic. However, any suitable material may be used. Moreover, preferably the resilient, deformable member is a spring. 
         [0023]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , a two-way embodiment for a breather valve  30  having a top  32  and a bottom  34  is shown. As seen in  FIGS. 3-6 , the valve  30  includes an outer valve housing  38  having a hollow interior portion  40  containing a first member  42  having an opening  44  and disposed in sealing arrangement proximally to a top outer circumference of said housing, a second member  46  disposed above the first member and coupled with the housing  38 , and a resilient, deformable member  50  coupled to the first and second members. 
         [0024]    The resilient, deformable member  50  is substantially centrally disposed in relation to the first and second members such that it bends radially (buckles) upon movement by the first member, thereby moving sealing ring  60  to an unsealed or open position when pressure is coming from inside a container to the exterior of the valve as in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0025]    Also included in this embodiment is an inner valve housing  54  disposed coaxially within the outer valve housing  38 , with inner valve housing having a hollow interior portion  56  containing a third member  58  disposed below the first member  42  and in sealing arrangement with said first member (for example, through sealing ring  52 ). A fourth member  62  is coupled with and disposed proximally to the bottom  66  of the inner housing, with the fourth member having an opening  68 , and a second resilient, deformable member  70  coupled to the third and fourth members such that it is substantially centrally disposed in relation to the third and fourth members and bends toward a sidewall  72  of the inner valve housing upon movement by the third member. 
         [0026]    Thus, when both directions of this two-way valve embodiment are in a closed position, the valve is as shown in  FIG. 4 . However, when the valve is caused to be open in the vacuum direction ( FIG. 5 ) such that pressure (e.g. air  90 ) enters from an exterior of the valve, deformable member  70  buckles towards sidewall  72  and thereby unseals sealing ring  52  of pressure moveable member  58 . The position of deformable, resilient member  70  adjusts with air  90  until it returns member  58  to a closed position when exterior and interior pressure are approximately at equilibrium. 
         [0027]    Conversely, when the valve is caused to be open in the pressure direction ( FIG. 6 ) such that pressure (e.g. air  96 ) exits from an exterior of the valve, deformable member  50  buckles towards a sidewall and thereby unseals sealing ring  60  of pressure moveable member  42 . The position of deformable, resilient member  50  also adjusts with air  96  until it returns member  42  to a closed position when exterior and interior pressure are approximately at equilibrium. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the new and inventive breather valve has improved flow dynamics such that large changes in pressure can be accommodated in relatively small amounts of time. 
         [0029]    Various changes in the details and components that have been described may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention herein described in the specification and defined in the appended claims. Therefore, while the present invention has been shown and described herein in what is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures can be made there from within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent processes and products. All references cited in this application are hereby incorporated by reference herein.