CA1146439A - Check valve assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A reversible check valve particularly adapted to be used in combination with a self-inflating oil containment boom to allow for inflation and deflation thereof while at the same time preventing the ingestion of water into the inflated boom.
The boom consists of an inflated upper section having internal bulkheads segregating adjacent airtight compartments, with a reversible check valve affixed to the upper portion of each compartment. The check valve comprises a tubular housing securely fitted within a flexible base structure affixed to the boom. To prevent ingestion of water during inflation, a caplike member fits over the tubular housing with a series of vertically oriented convolutions providing radially outwardly oriented secondary passageways for inflow and outflow of air.
To prevent reverse flow, there is a perforated base plate at the lower end of the tubular housing and a flexible flap member affixed thereto.

Description

~146439 Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a check valve par-ticu]arly adapted for use in a self-inflating oil containment boom.

Brief Description of the Prior Art One method of containing oil spills on bodies of water is to deploy self-inflating oil containment booms around the area of the spill. These booms usually have an upper inflatable tubular floating member and a depending skirt. The-floating mem-ber is inflated by internal members which mechanically expand an internal inflatable chamber to draw in ambient air through check valves. After inflation of the tubular member, the check valves maintain the tubular member in its inflated position by preven-ting outflow of air.
For speed of operation, quite often the self-inflating oil containment boom is deployed directly into the water in a deflated or partially inflated condition. In such cases, when the boom is subjected to intense wave action and the wake of the vessel deploying the boom, there is the possibility that water or contaminating liquids may splash against the valve through which the inflating air is being drawn into the inflatable member, with the water or other liquid being drawn lnto the interior of the inflatable member, thereby reducing its bouyancy and causing dif-ficulties in retrieval, deflation, and storage of the boom.

~46439 Therefore a check valve is needed which will permit the self-inflation and maintenence of inflation of such a boom or other inflatable structure, while at the same time preventing the entry of water or other fluids into the inflated structure. Also, for convenient deflation of the boom it is desirable that the check valve can be easily reversed to permit an outflow of air from the interior of the inflatable chamber. To the best knowledge of the applicants herein, check valves presently available do not satisfy these requirements.
There are in the prior art a number of valve assemblies designed to give reversible one-way flow characteristics. These devices allow the flow of fluids through the valve in one direc-tion and prevent flow in the opposite direction, unless the valve assembly is reversed.
U.S. Patent No. 1,605,332, Dunlap, shows a valve in which a turning plug containing a check valve is fitted into an outer casing, the valve being secured in place by a screw cap in the top of the plug. The reversible nature of the valve is ac-complished by rotating the valve on its longitudinal axis, thereby realigning the entry and exit ports in the turning plug and outer casing in an opposite direction.
U.S. Patent No. 2,908,283, Kiffer et al, shows a rever-sible one-way valve in which a pair of identical symmetrical cap members of elongate tubular form, each having a wide-mouthed cylindical internally threaded inner end portion, are engaged with a cylindrical tubular member having external reversed threads on its opposite end portions. A plate with an annular series of apertures around a solid center portion is integrally secured to 11~6~39 e end of the central tubular member, and a resilient valve disk of rubber-type material is positioned against the plate.
Undirectional flow is acheived through either cap member by removing the central tubular member with the associated valve disk and screwing it back into the two cap members in the opposite direction.
A reversible cartridge speed control valve is described in U.S. Patent No. 2,922,432, Huntington, et al, which permits the direction of the restricted and unrestricted flows to be reversed by reversing the cartridge containing the check valve. The speed of directional movement of an internal piston can be regulated by removing the cartridge, reversing it end for end, and reinserting it in the surrounding housing. In this manner, slow downward movement and rapid upward movement of the piston can be changed to a rapid downward and slow upward movement by reversing the cartridge.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a check valve assembly particularly adapted for use in an oil containment boom as described above.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly to the present invention, there is disclosed in combination with an inflatable floating member, such as a self-inflating oil containment boom, having a base structure defining therein a base opening communicating with an inflatable chamber in said inflatable member~

the improvement being a reversible check valve assembly adapted to be mounted to said base structure in a first position to permit inflation of said inflatable member while inhibiting passage of water therein, and also adpated to be mounted to said base structure in a second reverse position to permit deflation of said inflatable floating member, said check valve cornprising:

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a. a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an interior longitudinally extending main passageway having a lower outflow end and an upper intake end, said outflow and communicating with said inflatable chamber with said valve in its first position, and said intake end communicating with an interior of said inflatable chamber when said valve is in its second position, b. a check valve element mounted to said housing to permit flow in said main passageway only from the intake end through the outflow end, and c. wall means enclosing the intake end of the main passageway and positioned adjacent to said housing to define secondary passageway means having a first upwardly position out]et end communicating with the intake end of the main passageway, and a downwardly positioned intake end having intake opening means located downwardly from the inflow end of said main passageway and communicating with an area located exteriorly of said tubular housing, whereby, with the valve element in its first positiion, ambient air is able to pass through the intake opening means, through said secondary passageway means and then through the main passageway and check valve element to inflate said inflatable member, while inhibiting passage of water therein, and with the valve in its second position, air inside the inflatable member is enabled to pass through the secondary passageway means and then through the main passageway and check valve element to ambient atmosphere.

~4643~

Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an inflatable oil containment boom with which the reversible check valve of the present invention is used, FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the oil containment boom being deployed from its deflated stowed condition to its inflated position;
FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the complete check valve assembly;
FIG.4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reversible check valve in the deflating position mounted in the base structure;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 8;
~ IG. 6 is an isometric view of the reversible check valve in the inflating position mounted in its base structure;

1146~39 FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rever-sible check valve in the inflating position showing the method of air movement into the check valve assembly.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The applicants believe that a clearer understanding of the present invention may be gained through a brief description of the environment in which the check valve assemblies of the present invention will be utilized. As shown in Figure l, there is a floating oll containment boom 10 as it would appear in its deployed position in a body of water surrounding an oil type spillage. Floatation is provided by an upper inflated tubular member 12, constructed of a water and air impervious material, and made up of a series of individual compartments separated by in-ternal bulkheads. Separate compartments are utilized so that in the event of a puncture or other deflating event, only that com-partment so affected will deflate, leaving the remainder of the boom lO inflated and operational. There are a plurality of longi-tudinally spaced rigid, hoop-like members 14 fixedly secured in the tubular member 12, each in a transverse position.
The valve assemblies 16 of the present invention are mounted on the upper side of the tubular member 12, one check valve assembly 16 being provided for each individual segregated compartment of the tubular member 12 to provide a means of air inflow and outflow necessary for inflation and deflation of each compartment. There is a skirt 18 depending from the lower surface 1~46~39 of the tubular member 12, the skirt 18 being weighted on the bottom 20 to maintain the skirt 18 in its vertical depending position, and also to maintain the check valve assemblies 16 in a position on the top side of the tubular member 12.
The boom 10 is illustrated in its stowed position in Figure 2, where there are shown a plurality of deflated boom segments 22 in storage racks 24. To deploy the deflated boom segment 22, a nose cone 26 is connected to one end of the boom segment 22 and is then towed off the storage rack 24 by a cable 27 which is pulled either manually or by a towing vehicle. As each deflated boom segment 22 is pulled into the deployed posi-tion, air enters through the check valve assemblies 16. The expansion of the tubular member 12, caused by the elongation of the boom 10 in combination with rigid internal hoops 14, causes the tubular member 12 to expand to its inflated position. The ends of the boom sections are secured to one another as the boom 10 is being deployed into the body of water.
The construction of the check valve assemblies 16 may be seen more clearly from an examination of the exploded view of Figure 3, where the valve assembly 15 is shown as eight separate components, namely: a base member 28, a first lower housing sec-tion 29, a second upper housing section 30, a cap member 31, a flap member 32, a retaining strap 33, and a pair of retaining pins 34. As actually contructed, the base member 28 is a separate member and is fixedly mounted to the tubular member 12. The first housing section 29, the second housing section 30, and the cap member 31 are for convenience of manufacture initially made as separate elements, but in the final valve configuration these are ~46439 fixedly bonded -to one another to form a unitary valve member 35.
The flap member 32 is connected to one end of the valve member 35.

The base member 28 is made of a moderately flexible material and is attached to the upper side of the tubular member 12 by a suitable bonding process. The base structure 28 consists of a lower planar skirt 36 which is affixed to the tubular member 12 of the oil containment boom 10 and completely surrounds a hole fitted therein to allow inflow and outflow of air. The base structure 28 further comprises an upright tubular portion 37 made integral with the skirt 36 and extending upwardly -therefrom.

The skirt has a bottom interior hore portion 37.1 with a larger diameter than upper bore portion 37.2.
There are two pairsof ears 38 protruding from opposite sides of the base member 28 with holes 40 through each pair to accept the pins 34. The retaining s~rap 33 has holes 41 at the ends thereof, and each end thereof is fitted between a related pair of ears 38.
Each of the pins 34 is inserted through a related set of holes 40 and 41 to secure the retaining strap 33 to the base member 28.
In describing the reversible valve member 35, the desig-nation "up" or "top" will denote proximity to that portion of the check valve member 35 which is positioned furthest upwardly when the valve member 35 is in its inflating position as shown in Figures 6 and 8 and the designation "down" or "bottom" will refer to the opposite location.
In the inflating position of the valve member 35, this member 35 has an upper intake end 44 and a lower outlet end 46, 1~46439 and defines a through passageway 48, extending between the ends 44 and 46, and through which inflating air Elows downwardly.
For deflation, as shown in Figure 4, the valve element 35 is turned upside down in the upright tubular portion 37 of the base portion 28, and air flows from the interior of the tubular member 12 through the valve passageway 48 in an upward direction, and out to ambient atmosphere.
As seen in the exploded view in Figure 3, the two housing sections 29 and 30 can be initially manufactured as two separate pieces, but in the end configuration these are fixedly connected to one another as one integral housing 50. The lower section 29 consists of a cylindrical portion 54, a perforated plate 56 connected to and extending across the lower end of the tubular portion 54, and a circumferential flange 58 protruding radially outwardly from the upper circumferential edge of the lower section 29. The cylindrical portion 54 has a lower part 54.1 with a greater diameter than central part 54.2.
The lower part 54.1 interlocks within bore portion 37.1 of base structure 28 to secure valve me~ber 35 to the base member 28 in the inflating position as shown in Figure 8.
There is an ear 60 protruding from the peripher21 edge of the flange 58 with a hole 62 therethrough, through which passes the retaining strap 33. The flap me~ber 32 is attached to the lower surface of the perforated plate 56 by means of a tapered figner 66 which fits through a central hole in the plate 56. This flap member 32 functions as a check valve element to permit only one way flow through the plate 56.
The upper section 30 of the cylindrical housing 50 is constructed in a stepped design, with a lower portion 68 of greater diameter and an upper portion 70 of less diameter. An annular shoulder 72 connects the two portions 68 and 70 at the lower circumferential edge of the upper portion 70 and at the '~'3 ,i;

1~46~3~

uppe~r circumferential edge of the lower portion 68. The lower portion 68 of the upper sec-tion 30 fits within and is bonded to the cylindrical portion 54 of the lower section 29, thereby forming the unitary stepped cylindrical housing 50 which defines the aforementioned centrally located through passageway 48.
The cap like member 31 is of particular significance in the present invention, and its operation and function will be described in greater detail later herein. The cap member 31 con-sists of a closed upper end wall 74, and a convoluted side wall 75 made up of a plurality of radially outwardly positioned con-volutions or leg portions 76, and radially inwardly positioned wall portions 78 positioned alternately between the leg portions 76. The cap member 31 has a lower circumferential edge portion 80 which fits around and is bonded to the upper part of the lower portion 68 of the upper housing section 30. The radially inwardly positioned wall portions78 of the cap member 31 are in contact with the outer surface of the upper portion 70 of the upper housing section 30, so that each leg portion 76 forms a related secondary inlet passageway 82 leading to the inlet end 44 of the housing section 50.
Air enters the secondary passageways 82 through a plurality of air intake ports 84, formed as cut-outs in the lower portion of the side wall 75 of the cap member 31. Each leg portion can be considered as being made up of an outer wall portion 86 and two side wall portions 88. The cut-outs or inlet ports 84 are formed in the lower end of the leg side wall por-tions 88, so that each leg position has two laterally facing ports 84 separated by a lower outer wall portion 90. As will ~46439 be disclosed later herein, this lower outer wall portion 90 functions as a barrier or shield against water which may splash against the valve assembly 16, and inhibit water from entering the secondary passageways 82.
Air flow into and out of the inflated upper tubular members 12 through the valve assemblies 16 is caused by a pressure differential between the interior of the tubular member 12 and ambient atmosphere. As the boom segments 10 are being deployed from a deflated condition, the rapid expansion of the interior volume of the boom tubular portion 12 results in a lower air pressure within the boom tubular portion 12, which results in an inrush of air through the intake ports 84, up the secondary air passageways 82, and then down the through passageway 48.
Since the flexible flap member 32 is attached to the lower side of the perforated plate 56, it permits the inflow of air during inflation since it is readily deflected from the perforated plate 56 by the inflow of air. The path of air flowing through the valve assembly 16 is indicated in Figures 6 and 8 by the letters "A" through "G".
The flap member 32 functions as a check valve element to prevent an outflow of air once the pressure has stabilized between the ambient air and the air inside the upper tubular member 12. Thus, while the valve assembly 16 remains in the upright inflating position, air is prevented from pushing back out through the perforations 92 in the perforated plate 56 since an outward movement of air would press the flap member 32 against the lower side of the perforate plate 56, thus sealing the holes 92 therein.
As mentioned previously, the configuration of the cap member 31 is of critical importance to the operation of the 11464~9 present invention. Since part of the inflation of the tubular member 12 takes place after that portion of the boom 10 has been deployed in a body of water, the valve assembly 16 has been de-signed to permit inflow of air to effect inflation of the boom member 10, while at the same time inhibiting the inflow of water into the upper tubular member 12. This inflow of water could occur, for example, by waves splashing against the valve assemblies 16 and being ingested into the intake passageways 84.
To illustrate how this ingestion of water is largely inhibited by the present invention, in Figure 5, letters "a"
through "d" represent the direction of possible wave movement as waves may ~ontact the outer surface of the valve assembly 16.
Water may splash against the exposed portion of the housing portion 70, located between a pair of intake ports 84, on a line perpendicular to the surface area at the point of contact, indicated by letter "a". This water would be directed laterally around the wall portion 70 to pass out the ports 84. The water could aIso strike the valve assembly 16 as indicated by the letter "b" at an oblique angle to the exposed wall area 70 and thereafter exit through an adjacent port 84 without entering the through passageway 48. A third possibility indicated at "c"
is that water would enter an intake port 84 at an angle such that it would pass through the adjacent port 84 while passing generally parallel to the adjacent wall portion 70. Water could also strike the leg portion 76 at an angle perpendicular to the sur-face at the point of contact as at "d" and thereafter be directed laterally around the leg portion without entering into the ports 84. It can be seen that the arrangement of the ports 84 and the ~4~4:~;9 passageways 82 is such to inhibit splashing of water upwardly through the passageways 82.
Thus, the effectiveness of the present invention is to a large extent due to its ability to inhibit the inflow of water through the valve assembly 16 and into the inflated upper tubular member 12, due to the circuitous route, shown in Figures 6 through 8, that incoming water would have to follow in order to pass through the valve assembly 16. In order for water to enter the valve assembly 16 it must first enter through one or more of the intake ports 84 to be positioned beneath one or more of the secondary air passageways 82, and then pass up through one or more of the air passageways 82. Also since the separate secondary passageways 82 are separated from one another by the wall portions 78, even though water may splash against one side of the valve assembly 16 to block some of the ports 84, those ports 84 on the opposite side of the valve assembly 16 would be open so that inflating air could travel therethrough and thus alleviate any tendency for water to be drawn into the valve assembly during inflation.
When it is desired to remove the oil containment boom 10 from the water surface, the boom member 10 can be conveniently deflated and stored as in Figure 2. In order to deflate the boom segments 10, as these are pulled onto the deck of a ship, the valve member 35 of each of the check valve assemblies 16 i5 pulled out of its related base member 28 and reversed on its lon-gitudinal axis and replaced in the base member 28 to be in the position shown in Figure 4. To prevent the loss of the valve members 3S during the boom retrieval process, the retaining 1~46~39 straps 33 are provided. Each strap passes through a hole 62 in the ear 60 of its related valve member 35, so that the valve member 35 can be moved upwardly along the strap 33 and then be reversed to be replaced in the base member 28 in an inverted deflating position. The cap member 31 is especially constructed so that upon its placement in the base member 28 in the deflating mode, the air contained within the boom segment 10 is able to flow from the inlet end 44 to the outlet end 46 when the boom 10 is compressed and the air contained therein is expelled.
When the check valve assemly 16 is in the deflating mode as shown in Figure 4, both air and water are prevented from entering into the tubular member 12. If for some reason during deflation the outflow of air from the tubular member 12 were halted, air is prevented from entering the tubular member 10 and thereby re-inflating the tubular member 10 because of the action of the flap member 32. Also water would be prevented from en-tering the upper tubular member 12 for the same reason.

Claims (27)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are detailed as follows:

1. In combination with an inflatable floating member, such as a self-inflating oil containment boom, having a base struc-ture defining therein a base opening communicating with an inflatable chamber in said inflatable member, the improvement being a reversible check valve adapted to be mounted to said base structure in a first position to permit inflation of said inflatable member while inhibiting pas-sage of water therein, and also adapted to be mounted to said base structure in a second reverse position to permit deflation of said inflatable floating member, said check valve comprising:
a. a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and de-fining an interior longitudinally extending main pas-sageway having a lower outflow end and an upper in-take end, said outflow end communicating with said inflatable chamber with said valve in its first posi-tion, and said intake end communicating with the in-terior of said inflatable chamber when said valve is in its second position, b. a check valve element mounted to said housing to per-mit flow in said main passageway only from the intake end through the outflow end, and c. wall means enclosing the intake end of the main pas-sageway and positioned adjacent to said housing to define a plurality of vertically extending secondary passageways spaced circumferentially around the housing, each of the secondary passageways having a first upwardly positioned outlet end communicating with the intake end of the main passageway, and a downwardly positioned intake end having an inlet port located downwardly from the intake end of said main passage-way and communicating with an area located exteriorly of said tubular housing, whereby with the valve element in its first position, ambient air is able to pass through the inlet ports, through said secondary passageways and then through the main passageway and check valve element to inflate said inflatable member, while inhibiting passage of water therein, such that if water closes off some of the inlet ports, other said inlet ports are able to draw in ambient air and with the valve in its second position, air inside the inflatable member is enabled to pass through the secondary passageway means and then through the main passageway and check valve element to ambient atmosphere.

2. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said wall means defines for each of said secondary passageways a pair of intake ports communicating with each other to permit relatively free flow of water therebetween, whereby with said floating member deployed in water, water which tends to wash against said check valve tends to pass through pairs of communicating ports rather than tra-vel upwardly in said secondary passageways.

3. The improvement as recited in claim 2 wherein said wall means provides barrier means positioned outwardly of said ports, whereby water which tends to wash against said check valve has its impact dissipated by said barrier means before entering said ports.

4. The improvement as recited in claim 4, wherein said wall means comprises a cap-like member positioned over the intake end of said housing, said cap-like member having a plurality of down-wardly extending leg portions, each defining therein a related one of said secondary passageways.

5. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said wall means comprises a cap-like member fitting over the intake end of said housing, said cap-like member having a plurality of down-wardly extending leg portions spaced circumferentially around said housing, and each defining therein a related secondary passageway, each of said leg portions having at its lower end a related inlet port leading to its related secondary passageway.

6. The improvement as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said leg portions comprises an outer wall portion spaced out-wardly from said tubular housing, and two connecting side wall por-tions, said two side wall portions having lower ends thereof formed with through ports communicating with one another to permit an in-flow of air into its related secondary passageway, while permitting through-flow of water into one port and out the other.

7. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein the the wall means comprises a cap-like member fitting over said intake housing, said cap-like member having an upper closed end and a depending side wall enclosing the inflow end of said housing, said side wall being formed wi?
generally vertically extending convolutions, said convolutions having radially outwardly positioned portions which define therein re-lated secondary passageways, and radially inwardly positioned por-tions positioned adjacent said housing to separate said secondary passageways from one another.

8. The improvement as recited in claim 7, wherein said convolutions are formed with cut-outs at bottom portions thereof to provide lower ports for inflow of air therein.

9. The improvements as recited in claim 7, wherein said convolutions are provided with laterally facing ports communi-cating with said secondary passageways and communicating with one another to permit flow of water therethrough.

10. The improvement as recited in claim 7, wherein said valve is provided with a circumferential mounting portion positioned below said cap-like member and adapted to interfit with said base structure to securely mount said valve to said base structure, said mounting portion being constructed and arranged so that said valve can be mounted in its first position with said cap-like member ex-tending upwardly and communicating with ambient atmosphere, and said valve can also be mounted in its second reversed position with said cap-like member communicating with the inflatable chamber.

11. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein a. said tubular housing has a generally cylindrical configuration, with said check valve element extending across the outflow end thereof, b. said tubular housing having a cylindrical mounting surface adapted to fit in said first position in a matching cylindrical opening in said base structure, and a cap member adapted to fit in an inverted posi-tion in said cylindrical opening in said base structure, c. The wall means comprising a cap-like member fitting over said tubular housing, said cap-like member having an upper closed end and a depending side wall enclosing the intake end of said housing, said side wall being formed with generally vertically extending convolutions, said convolutions having radially outwardly positioned portions which provide related secondary passageways, and radially inwardly positioned portions positioned adjacent said housing to separate said secondary pas-sageways from one another, d. said convolutions being provided with laterally facing ports communicating with said secondary passageways and communicating with one another to permit flow of water therethrough.

12. For use with an inflatable floating member, such as a self-inflating oil containment boom, having a base struc-ture defining therein a base opening communicating with an inflatable chamber in said inflatable member, a reversible check valve adapted -to be mounted to said base structure in a first position to permit inflation of said inflatable member while inhibiting passage of water therein, and also adapted to be mounted to the base structure in a second position to permit deflation of said inflatable floating member, said check valve comprising:
a. a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and de-fining an interior longitudinally extending main pas-sageway having a lower outflow end and an upper in-take end, said outflow end communicating with said inflatable chamber with said valve in its first posi-tion, and said intake end communicating with the in-terior of said inflatable chamber when said valve is in its second position, b. a cheek valve element mounted to said housing to per-mit flow in said main passageway only from the intake end through the outflow end, c. said valve further comprising a cap-like member over said intake housing, said cap-like member having an upper closed end and a depending side wall enclosing the inflow end of said housing, said side wall being formed with generally ver-tically extending convolutions, said convolutions having radially outwardly positioned portions which define therein related secondary passageways, each said passageway having an inlet port positioned downwardly from the intake end of the main passageway and radially inwardly positioned portions positioned adjacent said housing to separate said secondary passageways from one another, whereby, with the valve in its first position, ambient air is able to pass through the inlet ports, through said secondary passageways and then through the main passageway and check valve element to inflate said inflatable member, while inhibiting passage of water therein, and with the valve in its second position, air inside the inflatable member is enabled to pass through the secondary passageways and then through the main passageway and check valve element to ambient atmosphere.

13. A check valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein said convolutions are formed with cut-outs at bottom portions thereof to provide lower ports for inflow of air therein.

14. A check valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein said convolutions are provided with laterally facing ports com-municating with said secondary passageways and communicating with one another to permit flow of water therethrough.

15. A check valve, being adapted to be mounted to an inflatable floating member, such as a self-inflating oil containment boom, to permit inflation of said inflatable member while inhibiting passage of water therein, said check valve com-prising:
a. a tubular housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an interior longitudinally extending main passageway having a lower outflow end and an upper intake end, said outflow end being adapted to com-municate with said inflatable chamber, b. a check valve element mounted to said housing to permit flow in said main passageway only from the intake end through the outflow end, and c. wall means enclosing the intake end of the main passageway and positioned adjacent to said housing to define a plurality of vertically extending second-ary passageways spaced circumferentially around the housing, each of the secondary passageways having a first upwardly positioned outlet end communicating with the intake end of the main passageway, and a downwardly positioned intake end having an inlet port located downwardly from the intake end of the said main passageway and communicating with an area located exteriorly of said tubular housing, whereby, with the valve element mounted to said inflatable struc-ture, ambient air is able to pass through the inlet ports through said secondary passageways and then through the main passageway and check valve element to inflate said inflatable member, while inhibiting passage of water therein such that if water closes off some of the inlet ports, other said inlet ports are able to draw in ambient air.

16. A check valve as claimed in claim 15, wherein said wall means defines for each of said secondary passageways a pair of intake ports communicating with each other to permit rela-tively free flow of water therebetween, whereby with said floating member deployed in water, water which tends to wash against said check valve tends to pass through pairs of communicating ports rather than travel upwardly in said secondary passageways.

17. A check valve as claimed in claim 16, wherein said wall means provides barrier means positioned outwardly of said ports, whereby water which tends to wash against said check valve has its impact dissipated by said barrier means before entering said ports.

18. A check valve as claimed in claim 17, wherein wall means comprises a cap-like member positioned over the intake end of said housing, said cap-like member having a plurality of down-wardly extending leg portions, each defining therein a related one of said secondary passageways.

19. A check valve as claimed in claim 15, wherein said wall means comprises a cap-like member fitting over the intake end of said housing, said cap-like member having a plurality of down-wardly extending leg portions spaced circumferentially around said housing, and each defining therein a related secondary passageway, each of said leg portions having at its lower end a related inlet port leading to its related secondary passageway.

20. A check valve as claimed in claim 19, wherein of said leg portions comprises an outer wall portion spaced out-wardly from said tubular housing, and two connecting side wall por-tions, said two side wall portions having lower ends thereof formed with through ports communicating with one another to permit an in-flow of air into its related secondary passageway, while permitting through-flow of water into one port and out the other.

21. A check valve as claimed in claim 15, wherein there is a cap-like member fitting over said intake housing, said cap-like member having an upper closed end and a depending side wall enclosing the inflow end of said housing, said side wall being formed with generally vertically aligned convolutions, said convolutions having radially outwardly positioned portions which define therein related secondary passageways, and radially inwardly positioned por-tions positioned adjacent said housing to separate said secondary passageways from one another.

22. A check valve as claimed in claim 21, wherein said convolutions are formed with cut-outs at bottom portions thereof to provide lower ports for inflow of air therein.

23. A check valve as claimed in claim 21, wherein said convolutions are provided with laterally facing ports communi-cating with said secondary passageways and communicating with one another to permit flow of water therethrough.

24. A check valve as claimed in claim 21, wherein said valve is provided with a circumferential mounting portion posi-tioned below said cap-like member and adapted to interfit with a base structure defining therein a base opening communicating with an inflatable chamber in said inflatable member, to securely mount said valve to said base structure.

25. A check valve as claimed in claim 15, wherein a. said tubular housing has a generally cylindrical configuration, with said check valve element extending across the outflow end thereof, b. said tubular housing having a cylindrical mounting surface adapted to fit in a matching cylindrical opening in a base structure, c. said wall means comprising a cap-like member fitting over said tubular housing, said cap like member having an upper closed end and a depending side wall enclosing the intake end of said housing, said side wall being formed with generally vertically extending convolutions, said convolutions having radially outwardly positioned portions which provide related secondary passageways, and radially inwardly positioned portions positioned adjacent said housing to separate said secondary pas-sageways from one another, d. said convolutions being provided with laterally facing ports communicating with said secondary passageways and communicating with one another to permit flow of water therethrough.

26. A check valve as claimed in claim 15, wherein said check valve comprises a plate-like member extending across said main passageway, said plate-like member having hole means therein, and said check valve further comprising a flap-element mounted against said plate-like member.

27. A check valve as claimed in claim 15, wherein said check valve has a laterally extending ear member with an aperture therein, and there is further a flexible retaining member extending from a base structure through the aperture in said ear.