Patent ID: 8302617

Claim:
A system including a source of pressurized gas, an anti-G garment and a gas control valve for controlling inflation of said anti-G garment with pressurized gas in response to experienced G forces, said valve including a body with an elongate chamber in which an elongate valve member is moveable axially, the chamber having first and second axial end chamber parts and an intermediate chamber part, an inlet opening in a chamber wall of the intermediate part which provides for the inflow of pressurized gas into the chamber, and an outlet from the chamber at the second axial end of the chamber where a valve edge is provided, the valve member including a first portion which at least substantially closes the first axial end of the chamber and is moveable in a first part of the chamber between the inlet opening and the first axial end of the chamber, an intermediate portion which is moveable in the intermediate chamber part and has a cross sectional area less than that of the intermediate chamber part thus to permit the inflow of pressurized gas from the inlet opening, and a second portion which includes a flow control device which co-operates with the valve edge to control gas flow depending upon the axial position of the valve member in the chamber, and wherein the second portion of the valve member, including the entire flow control device, is receivable in the second axial end of the chamber, and wherein the second portion of the valve member is slidable in and out of the second axial end of the chamber without the flow control device making physical contact with the valve edge.