Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
An exhalation valve comprising a valve housing (46) forming an inlet (28) and an outlet (34), a valve seat (38) formed in said housing (46), and a flexible diaphragm (42) adapted to have one face thereof move against and away from said valve seat (38) to, respectively, close and open said exhalation valve, characterised by said housing (46) further forming a closed control chamber (48) acting upon the other face of said flexible diaphragm (42), port means (32) in said housing (46) for effecting a control pressure to said closed control chamber (48) for controlling the movement of said flexible diaphragm (42), said flexible diaphragm (42) having a fairly rigid plunger (56) adapted to interfit within an opening (60) in said valve housing (46), and move therein as said flexible diaphragm (42) moves, said rigid plunger (56) and said opening (60) being constructed to restrain movement of said flexible diaphragm (42) to a stable path with respect to said valve seat (38).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
An exhalation valve comprising a valve housing (46) forming an inlet (28) and an outlet (34), a valve seat (38) formed in said housing (46), and a flexible diaphragm (42) adapted to have one face thereof move against and away from said valve seat (38) to, respectively, close and open said exhalation valve, characterised by said housing (46) further forming a closed control chamber (48) acting upon the other face of said flexible diaphragm (42), port means (32) in said housing (46) for effecting a control pressure to said closed control chamber (48) for controlling the movement of said flexible diaphragm (42), said flexible diaphragm (42) having a fairly rigid plunger (56) adapted to interfit within an opening (60) in said valve housing (46), and move therein as said flexible diaphragm (42) moves, said rigid plunger (56) and said opening (60) being constructed to restrain movement of said flexible diaphragm (42) to a stable path with respect to said valve seat (38).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An exhalation valve as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said fairly rigid plunger (56) is an insert that is fitted into said flexible diaphragm (42).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An exhalation valve as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said housing (46) comprises a main body and a cap (57) fitted thereto and said opening (60) comprises a recess formed in said cap (57).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An exhalation valve as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that said flexible diaphragm (42) is retained in position by its periphery held between said cap (57) and said main body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An exhalation valve as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that said flexible diaphragm (42) has at least a pair of moulded hinges (52,54) to provide flexibility.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
An exhalation valve as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterised in that said insert is a disc having a projection (58), said disc being fitted into said diaphragm (42), the projection (58) being adapted to move within and be constrained by an opening (60) in said valve housing (46) to limit the movement of said diaphragm (42) substantially along the main axis of said projection (58).