PANSEGROUW BESTER JACOBUS (ZA)
| US5111838A | 1992-05-12 | |||
| US5806572A | 1998-09-15 | |||
| US4927397A | 1990-05-22 | |||
| US7051753B1 | 2006-05-30 |
| PATENT CLAIMS
1. An inflation valve for inflating containers with non-rigid walls, includes
(a) a body including a passage and first tubular part with a first opening at one end leading into the passage and a second opening at its opposite end leading into the passage, the body being adapted to be secured to a container, e.g. with non-rigid walls;
(b) a cap removably fitted over the body for closing the first opening to the passage;
(c) a first sealing disc of plastics material, and being adapted to sealingly close off the second opening to the passage in the body, and being adapted to open the second opening mechanically when an inflation device is inserted into the second opening and thus gas is inserted into the container through the second opening into the passage and thereby moving away from the second opening;
(d) a guide member located within the first tubular part; and
(e) a spring associated with the first sealing disc and supported by the guide member, the spring being adapted to assist the first sealing disc to close off the second opening, the spring having an expanded height of between 20 to 30mm and a contracted height of between 2 to 10 mm .
2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, in which the cap is connected to the body by means of a connecting strip made of plastics material .
3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which includes deflating means.
4. A valve as claimed in claim 3, in which the deflating means includes a tubular part with a cap member.
5. A valve as claimed in claim 4, in which the deflating means includes at least one aperture in the tubular part and/or the cap member.
6. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, which is adapted to open the second opening mechanically when the deflating means is inserted into the second opening and thus gas may exit out of the container through the second opening.
7. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, in which the deflating means includes locking means.
8. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a handle for stabilising the valve whilst the container is being inflated.
9. A valve as claimed in claim 8, in which the handle is connected to the body by means of a connecting strip made of plastics material.
10. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, in which the cap and/or the handle and/or the body and/or the deflating means are integrally formed.
11. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10, in which the cap and the handle are integrally formed and include a ring member adapted to be removably located around the body.
12. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the spring is conically-shaped.
13. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the spring is made of metal and/or plastics material.
14. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide member is made of plastics material.
15. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the spring and/or the body and/or the guide member are integrally formed.
16. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the valve is used by venturi air flow guns and devices.
17. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the air entering the container through the inflation valve has an absolute pressure of about 9 bar.
18. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body is provided with a flange for securing the inflation valve to the container.
19. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the container is a dunnage bag, a sack and/or any other flexible container to be pressurized.
20. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body and the cap include cooperating threads and/or other formations.
21. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first tubular part is provided with an external thread and the cap with an associated internal thread.
22. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a filling nozzle having cooperating threads with the body.
23. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is provided with a second sealing disc located between the cap and the body and being adapted to close off the first opening .
24. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cap includes a tubular side wall .
25. A valve as claimed in claim 24, in which the tubular side wall is provided with an internal thread for cooperating with the external thread of the first tubular part.
26. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second tubular part converges towards the second opening.
27. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body is made of plastics and is injection moulded .
28. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cap is made of plastics and is injection moulded .
29. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing discs are made of polyethylene sheet material, resilient plastics or rubber or silicon.
30. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is a one-way or semi-one way valve.
31. An inflation valve for inflating containers with non-rigid walls, includes
(a) a body including a passage and first tubular part with a first opening at one end leading into the passage and a second opening at its opposite end leading into the passage, the body being adapted to be secured to a container, e.g. with non-rigid walls;
(b) a cap removably fitted over the body for closing the first opening to the passage;
(c) a first sealing disc of plastics material, and being adapted to sealingly close off the second opening to the passage in the body, and being adapted to open the second opening mechanically when an inflation device is inserted into the second opening and thus gas is inserted into the container through the second opening into the passage and thereby moving away from the second opening;
(d) a guide member located within the first tubular part;
(e) a spring associated with the first sealing disc and supported by the guide member, the spring being adapted to assist the first sealing disc to close off the second opening; and
(f) deflating means adapted to deflate the container.
32. A method of inflating containers with non-rigid walls, includes the steps
(a) of inserting air and/or gas into a container with non-rigid walls through a body including a passage and a first tubular part with a first opening at one end leading into the passage and a second opening at its opposite end leading into the passage, the body being adapted to be secured to the container;
(b) of mechanically opening the second opening by means of a first sealing disc of plastics material when an inflation device is inserted into the second opening and thus gas is inserted into the container through the second opening into the passage and thereby moving away from the second opening;
(c) of sealingly closing off the second opening by means of the first sealing disc of plastics material, the first sealing disc being operated by means of a spring and supported by a guide member located within the first tubular part, the spring being adapted to assist the first sealing disc to close off the second opening, the spring having an expanded height of between 20 to 30mm and a contracted height of between 2 to 10 mm; and
(d) of fitting a cap over the body for closing the first opening to the passage.
33. A method as claimed in claim 32, which includes the step of deflating the container by means of deflating means associated with the valve.
34. A container with non-rigid walls provided with an inflation valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31.
35. An inflation valve for inflating containers with non-rigid walls substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
36. A method of inflating containers with non-rigid walls substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
37. A container with non-rigid walls substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
INFLATION VALVE
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to inflation valves.
More particularly, the invention relates to inflation valves for inflating containers with non-rigid-walls, such as dunnage bags.
BACKGROUND TO INVENTION
Inflatable dunnage bags are commonly used for cushioning loads shipped in trucks, trailers and containers transported by ships, trucks or rail. This is often the case when the cargo only partially fills the container and there exists the possibility of shifting during transport that could cause damage. Typically known dunnage bags are constructed of one or more layers of paper surrounding a plastic lining. The paper protects the bags from tearing - thus more layers are used in applications where the risk of damage to the dunnage bag is greater. Furthermore, for inflating and deflating the dunnage bag, a valve is attached by way of a hole cut in the bag during manufacture.
The dunnage bags are shipped flat from the manufacturer, and are inflated by packing and loading personnel as the containers are loaded with cargo. The bag is firstly placed in the space that it will occupy as cargo is loaded into a container, secondly the inflation device is attached to valve of the dunnage bag and subsequently the dunnage bag is filled with air until an appropriate air pressure within the bag is achieved. Often this occurs within a few seconds.
Unfortunately the known type of inflation valves are difficult to operate and not flexible in operation and thus suffer from important limitations.
It is an object of the invention to suggest an inflation device which will assist in overcoming the aforesaid problems.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the invention, an inflation valve for inflating containers with non- rigid walls, includes
(a) a body including a passage and first tubular part with a first opening at one end leading into the passage and a second opening at its opposite end leading into the passage, the body being adapted to be secured to a container, e.g. with non-rigid walls;
(b) a cap removably fitted over the body for closing the first opening to the passage;
(c) a first sealing disc of plastics material, and being adapted to sealingly close off the second opening to the passage in the body, and being adapted to open the second opening mechanically when an inflation device is inserted into the second opening and thus gas is inserted into the container through the second opening into the passage and thereby moving away from the second opening;
(d) a guide member located within the first tubular part; and
(e) a spring associated with the first sealing disc and supported by the guide member, the spring being adapted to assist the first sealing disc to close off the second opening, the spring having an expanded height of between 20 to 30mm and a contracted height of between 2 to 10 mm .
Also according to the invention, a method of inflating containers with non-rigid walls, includes the steps
(a) of inserting air and/or gas into a container with non-rigid walls through a body including a passage and a first tubular part with a first opening at one end leading into the passage and a second opening at its opposite end leading into the passage, the body being adapted to be secured to the container;
(b) of mechanically opening the second opening by means of a first sealing disc of plasties material when an inflation device is inserted into the second opening and thus gas is inserted into the container through the second opening into the passage and thereby moving away from the second opening;
(c) of sealingly closing off the second opening by means of the first sealing disc of plastics material, the first sealing disc being operated by means of a spring and supported by a guide member located within the first tubular part, the spring being adapted to assist the first sealing disc to close off the second opening, the spring having an expanded height of between 20 to 30mm and a contracted height of between 2 to 10 mm; and
(d) of fitting a cap over the body for closing the first opening to the passage.
The invention also extends to a container with non-rigid walls provided with an inflation valve as set out herein.
The valve may include deflating means.
The deflating means may include a tubular part with a cap member.
The deflating means may include at least one aperture in the tubular part and/or the cap member.
The deflating means may be adapted to open the second opening mechanically when the deflating means is inserted into the second opening and thus gas may exit out of the container through the second opening.
The deflating means may include locking means for locking the deflating means to assist in the deflating of the container.
The cap may be connected to the body by means of a connecting strip made of plastics material.
The valve may include a handle for stabilising the valve whilst the container is being inflated.
The handle may be connected to the body by means of a connecting strip made of plastics material.
The cap and/or the handle and/or the body and/or the deflating means may be integrally formed.
The cap and the handle may be integrally formed and include a ring member adapted to be removably located around the body.
The spring may be conically-shaped.
The spring may be made of metal.
The spring may be made of plastics material.
The guide member may be made of plastics material.
The spring and/or the body and/or the guide member may be integrally formed.
The valve may be used by venturi air flow guns and devices.
The air entering the container through the inflation valve may have an absolute pressure of about 9 bar.
The body may be provided with a flange for securing the inflation valve to the container.
The container may be a dunnage bag, a sack and/or any other flexible container to be pressurized.
The body and the cap may include cooperating threads and/or other formations.
The first tubular part may be provided with an external thread and the cap with an associated internal thread.
The inflation device may include a filling nozzle having cooperating threads with the body.
The valve may be provided with a second sealing disc located between the cap and the body and being adapted to close off the first opening.
The cap may include a tubular side wall.
The tubular side wall may be provided with an internal thread for cooperating with the external thread of the first tubular part.
The second tubular part may converge towards the second opening.
The body may be made of plastics and may be injection moulded.
The cap may be made of plastics and may be injection moulded.
The sealing discs may be made of polyethylene sheet material, resilient plastics or rubber or silicon.
The valve may be a one-way or semi-one way valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.
In the drawings there is shown in :
Figure 1 : a perspective view of an inflation valve in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2: a top view of the inflation valve as seen along arrow II in Figure 1;
Figure 3 : a side view of the inflation valve as seen along arrow III in Figure 2;
Figure 4: a front view of the inflation valve as seen along arrow IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5: a perspective view of an inflation valve in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, including deflating means; and
Figure 6: a perspective view of an inflation valve in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, including deflating means but excluding a cap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Referring to Figures 1 to 7, an inflation valve in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. In Figure 6, the inflation valve in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, is indicated by reference numeral 40. In Figure 7, the inflation valve in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, is indicated by reference numeral 50.
The inflation valve 10 (or 40 or 50) for inflating containers with non-rigid walls, includes
(a) a body 12 including a passage 13 and first tubular part 14 with a first opening 16 at one end leading into the passage 13 and a second opening 18 at its opposite end leading into the passage 13, the body 12 being adapted to be secured to a container with non-rigid walls;
(b) a cap 20 removably fitted over the body 12 for closing the first opening 16 to the passage 13;
(c) a first sealing disc 22 of plastics material, and being adapted to sealingly close off the second opening 18 to the passage 13 of the body 12, and being adapted to open the second opening 18 mechanically when an inflation device is inserted into the second opening 18 and thus gas is inserted into the container through the second opening 18 into the passage 13 and thereby moving away from the second opening 18;
(d) a guide member 24 located within the first tubular part 14; and
(e) a spring 26 associated with the first sealing disc 22 and supported by the guide member 24, the spring 26 being adapted to assist the first sealing disc 22 to close off the second opening 18, the spring 26
having an expanded height of between 20 to 30mm and a contracted height of between 2 to 10 mm.
The valve 10 includes a handle 30 for stabilising the valve 10 whilst the container is being inflated.
The cap 18 is connected to the body by means of a first connecting strip 28 made of plastics material.
The valve 10 includes a handle 30 for stabilising the valve 10 whilst the container is being inflated. The handle 30 may be connected to the body 12 by means of a second connecting strip 32 made of plastics material.
The cap 18 and the handle 30 are integrally formed and include a ring member 34 adapted to be removably located around the body 12.
The spring 26 is conically-shaped and is made of metal, but can also be made of plastics material. The spring 26 and the body 12 can be integrally formed.
The valve 10 is generally used by venturi air flow guns and devices or other inflation devices. The inflation devices generally include a filling nozzle having cooperating threads with the body 12.
Air entering the container through the inflation valve 10 generally has an absolute pressure of about 9 bar.
The body 12 can also be provided with a flange for securing the inflation valve 10 to the container. The container is a dunnage bag, a sack or any other flexible container to be pressurized.
The body 12 and the cap 20 include cooperating threads or other formations. The first tubular part 14 is provided with an external thread and the cap 20 with an associated internal thread.
The body 10 is made of plastics material and is injection moulded.
The cap 10 is made of plastics material and is injection moulded.
The sealing discs 22 is made of polyethylene sheet material, resilient plastics or rubber or silicon.
The valve 10 is thus a one-way or semi-one way valve.
The inflation valve 10 includes deflating means 36. The deflating means 36 includes a tubular part with a cap member and at least one aperture in the tubular part and the cap member. The deflating means 26 is adapted to open the second opening mechanically when the deflating means 36 is inserted into the second opening 18 and thus gas may exit out of the container through the second opening 18. The deflating means 36 includes locking means for locking the deflating means 36 to assist in the deflating of the container.
Thus in accordance with the invention, containers with non-rigid walls such as dunnage bags can be inflated by means of inflation devices by means of the following steps:
(a) of inserting air and/or gas into a container with non-rigid walls through a body 12 including a passage 13 and a first tubular part 14 with a first opening 16 at one end leading into the passage 13 and a second opening 18 at its opposite end leading into the passage 13, the body 12 being adapted to be secured to the container;
(b) of mechanically opening the second opening 18 by means of a first sealing disc 20 of plastics material when an inflation device is inserted into the second opening 18 and thus gas is inserted into the container through the second opening 18 into the passage 13 and thereby moving away from the second opening 18;
(c) of sealingly closing off the second opening 18 by means of the first sealing disc 22 of plastics material, the first sealing disc 22 being operated by means of a spring 26 and supported by a guide member 24 located within the first tubular part 14, the spring 26 being adapted to assist the first sealing disc 22 to close off the second opening 18, the spring 26 having an expanded height of between 20 to 30mm and a contracted height of between 2 to 10 mm; and
(d) of fitting a cap 20 over the body for closing the first opening 16 to the passage 13.
In use the inflation valve 10 is secured to a container, such as a dunnage bag, a sack or other containers with non-rigid walls.
When filling the container, a gas filling nozzle of an inflation device is connected by means of an adapter to the inflation valve 10. The gas inserted pushes the first sealing disc 22 away from the body 12 and thus the gas can enter the container through the opening 18. Thereby, the inflation valve 10 is opened and allows inflation of the container. When removing the gas filling nozzle, the first sealing disc 22 moves to its original position as a result of the action of the spring and sealingly fits over the opening 18. The pressure of gas inside the container facilitates the sealing of the opening 18 by means of the sealing disc 22.
Furthermore, in order to ensure that the gas filling nozzle is locked once inserted in the opening 16, the gas filling nozzle is provided with an internal thread which cooperates with an external thread of the body 12.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 inflation valve
12 body
13 passage
14 first tubular part
16 first opening
18 second opening
20 cap
22 first sealing disc
24 guide member
26 spring
28 handle
30 first connecting strip
32 second connecting strip
34 ring member
36 deflating means
40 inflation valve
50 inflation valve
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