GB1600614A

GB1600614A - Methods of mounting valves

Info

Publication number: GB1600614A
Application number: GB4347177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MULTIFABS Ltd
Current assignee: MULTIFABS Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-22
Filing date: 1978-05-22
Publication date: 1981-10-21

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO METHODS OF MOUNTING VALVES (71) We MULTIFABS LIMITED, a British Company of Osmation Works, Osmaston Road, Derby DE3 8LF, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patient may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the follow invention statement:- The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to valves and to methods of mounting said valves in a watertight manner to a waterproof material.

One known method of mounting a valve or similar device in a watertight manner in an opening in a waterproof material including a fabric component involves manufacturing the valve from two interfitting parts and arranging the parts on each side of the material over the opening. The two valve parts are clamped together with the material sandwiched therebetween. In use this has resulted in water penetration into the valve due to the capilliary action of the material interposed between the two valve halves.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a valve mounted in an opening in a waterproof fabric and including two interfitting parts each part having a portion sealingly engaged with a corresponding portion of the other part when the valve is assembled and defining a peripheral recess adapted to receive the edge around said opening in the fabric said portions being fused together and to the fabric on assembly to prevent leakage into the valve.

Preferably said valve is manufactured from a thermoplastic material and said corresponding portions are fused together on assembly although alternatively they may be attached by adhesive.

Preferably where the waterproof fabric incorporates a plastics material coating the valve portions in the region of the peripheral recess are fused to said coating and when the fabric does not incorporate such a coating the material of the valve portions in said regions is caused to flow into interstices in the material.

Preferably the valve is a non-return valve of the diaphragm type.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan of a non-return valve; and Fig. 2 shows a sectional elevation of the valve.

The valve of the embodiment, which is a non-return valve intended for mounting in an article of clothing comprises first and second parts 10 and 12 each part having a domed central region 14, 16 respectively and a rim portion 18, 20 both domed portions 14, 16 having circular passages 22, 24 formed therethrough.

The rim 20 of a valve part 12 is stepped to provide two flat regions 26, 28 while the rim 18 of the other valve part 14, has one flat region 30 whereby an interfitting valve parts with the region 30 resting against the region 26 a peripheral recess 32 is defined between the region 28 and the outer annular area of region 30. To assist in the location of the parts the lower part 12 is provided with a raised rim 34 at the inner periphery of the region 26.

The valve parts 10, 12 are both internally dished and both have central internal columns 36, 38, the column 36 of valve part 10 having a greater external diameter than the column 38 of the valve part 12 and having also a cylindrical recess 40 formed in its lower end into which the column 38 projects on interfitment of the valve parts. An annular rubber diaphragm 42 is interposed between the valve parts and has its inner rim sandwiched between the floor of valve part 12 and the base af column 36, its outer rim being free but normally resting on the dished base of the valve part 12.

To fit the valve to a piece of waterproof material a circular hole is cut in the material, the diameter of the hole being equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the step between the regions 26 and 28 of the rim 20 of valve part 12. The valve part 12 is then fitted into this hole such that the material lies on the region 28 of the rim 20 thereof.

Thereafter the valve part 10 is interfitted with the valve part 12 so that the material is accommodated in the peripheral recess 12 against the regions 28, 30 of the rims 20, 18 respectively.

As the valve parts are manufactured from thermoplastics material, when heat is applied to the rims thereof they fuse together over the regions of contact 26, 30 to provide a watertight seal. Furthermore, if the watertight material has a thermoplastics coating the coating also melts to fuse together with the material of the rims 18, 20. Alternatively, if the material does not have a thermoplastics coating the material of the rims, on heating flows into the interstices of the material.

Thus the valve is permanently attached in the opening in the material and in view of the fact that the contact surfaces 26, 30 fuse together there is no path for moisture to penetrate into the valve interior except through passages 22.

An improved attachment of the valve parts to the material can be arranged by additionally compressing a circular area of the periphery of the valve parts during the fusing process. This ensures the fusing of the valve parts at the periphery and the fusing of the said parts wit;l the material.

The non-return valve functions in a normal manner, the diaphragm preventing passage of water from the passages 22 through the passages 24 but allowing the passage of gas trom the passages 24 through the valve interior and the passages 22.

Various modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the valve can take any suitable form provided that the rim portions and the peripheral recess are provided. If it is not desired to fuse the parts together by a welding technique a suitable adhesive can be applied to the regions 26, 28, 30.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A valve mounted in an opening in a waterproof fabric and including two interfitting parts each part having a portion sealingly engaged with a corresponding portion of the other part when the valve is assembled and defining a peripheral recess adapted to receive the edge around said opening in the fabric, said portions being fused together and to the fabric or assembly to prevent leakage into the valve.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, which is a non-return valve of the diaphragm type.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, manufactured from a thermoplastics material such that said portions thereof are fuseable together by heating.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said corresponding portions are attached together by adhesive.

5. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which where the waterproof fabric incorporates a plastics material coating, the valve portions in the region of the peripheral recess are fused to said coating.

6. A valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which when the fabric is uncoated the material of the valve portions in said regions is caused to flow into interstices in the material.

7. A valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. An article of waterproof clothing including a valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

9. A piece of waterproof fabric provided with a valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. lies on the region 28 of the rim 20 thereof. Thereafter the valve part 10 is interfitted with the valve part 12 so that the material is accommodated in the peripheral recess 12 against the regions 28, 30 of the rims 20, 18 respectively. As the valve parts are manufactured from thermoplastics material, when heat is applied to the rims thereof they fuse together over the regions of contact 26, 30 to provide a watertight seal. Furthermore, if the watertight material has a thermoplastics coating the coating also melts to fuse together with the material of the rims 18, 20. Alternatively, if the material does not have a thermoplastics coating the material of the rims, on heating flows into the interstices of the material. Thus the valve is permanently attached in the opening in the material and in view of the fact that the contact surfaces 26, 30 fuse together there is no path for moisture to penetrate into the valve interior except through passages 22. An improved attachment of the valve parts to the material can be arranged by additionally compressing a circular area of the periphery of the valve parts during the fusing process. This ensures the fusing of the valve parts at the periphery and the fusing of the said parts wit;l the material. The non-return valve functions in a normal manner, the diaphragm preventing passage of water from the passages 22 through the passages 24 but allowing the passage of gas trom the passages 24 through the valve interior and the passages 22. Various modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the valve can take any suitable form provided that the rim portions and the peripheral recess are provided. If it is not desired to fuse the parts together by a welding technique a suitable adhesive can be applied to the regions 26, 28, 30. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A valve mounted in an opening in a waterproof fabric and including two interfitting parts each part having a portion sealingly engaged with a corresponding portion of the other part when the valve is assembled and defining a peripheral recess adapted to receive the edge around said opening in the fabric, said portions being fused together and to the fabric or assembly to prevent leakage into the valve.