Air valve with noise reduction function

Abstract

The air valve with the noise reduction function comprises a valve shell and is characterized in that an upper air chamber, a middle air chamber and a lower air chamber are arranged in the valve shell, the upper air chamber is communicated with the middle air chamber through a first valve port, and a normally-closed inflation one-way valve element assembly is arranged at the position of the first valve port; the middle air chamber is communicated with the lower air chamber through a second valve port and a silencing valve hole, a porous silencing part is arranged at the silencing valve hole, a valve which is normally open and can close the second valve port is arranged at the second valve port, and when the valve is in an open state, the middle air chamber is communicated with the lower air chamber through the second valve port and the porous silencing part. When the valve is in a closed state, the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber can only be communicated with each other through the porous silencing component. At the beginning stage of deflation, the internal air pressure of the inflatable product is large, the valve is forced to close the second valve port, at the moment, the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber can only communicate with each other through the porous silencing component, air is forced to pass through the porous silencing component, and noise is greatly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air valve used for equipment that needs to be inflated, such as an inflatable boat and a SUP, and in particular to an air valve with a silencing function suitable for being used on inflatable equipment with high inflation pressure. Background Art

[0002] There are many types of valves on the market that can inflate and exhaust air in inflatable equipment. Larger equipment that needs to be inflated, such as inflatable beds and inflatable boats, are equipped with inflation valves. Conventional inflation and exhaust valves include a shell, which has a working chamber connected to the working environment and an air intake chamber connected to the outside world. The working chamber and the air intake chamber are connected to each other through a valve port, and a valve core assembly is provided at the valve port.

[0003] For example, a Chinese utility model patent "A kind of inflatable valve" with patent number ZL201220406033.2 (publication number CN202746683U) discloses an inflatable valve that has not only the function of inflating but also the function of exhausting. When exhausting, the valve core assembly moves down and deflects under the action of external force to rest on the lower end surface of the rib to keep the valve port open. Another example is a Chinese utility model patent "A kind of air valve" with patent number ZL201420711166.X (publication number CN204358185U) that discloses an inflatable valve that has not only the function of inflating but also the function of exhausting. When exhausting, the valve core assembly moves down to the bottom under the action of external force, and there is a device similar to that in a ballpoint pen to keep the valve port open so that exhaust can be performed. These two valves or other similar valves are very effective in both inflating and exhausting, but they all have a big problem. If the pressure of the inflatable product is very high: when exhausting, the noise is very loud.

[0004] In fact, in the field of inflation, the inflation pressure is always relatively high. For example, in a SUP, the pressure exceeds 1 bar. When the inflated object deflates, it always makes a loud and annoying noise, annoying neighbors, especially animals. In some nature parks, if the item sold (SUP) does not have an external muffler available on the market, the exhaust noise is very loud when the pressure is high. For example, when the exhaust pressure is 15 psi, the exhaust noise can reach 110 db, and one may be driven out of the nature park. The external muffler must be connected to the inflation / deflation valve before deflation. It is an accessory and thus is easily lost or forgotten. The idea is to manufacture an inflation / deflation valve with a built-in automatic muffler, and the muffler is integrated into the lower cover of the valve. Unfortunately, simply placing a porous muffler in the lower cover of the valve is not enough, because in this way, the air flow channel space during inflation and exhaust will be choked, making inflation and exhaust very tiring. Actually, during inflation, the user needs to apply a great deal of force to inflate so that air can pass through the muffler. In the final stage of exhaust, when the inflated product has no pressure, the customer needs to bend the object to release air, but the air is discharged very slowly.

[0005] Therefore, how to design a gas valve that can reduce the noise generated during deflation without reducing the inflation and deflation efficiency is a technical problem that those skilled in the art urgently need to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a gas valve with a reasonable structure and a silencing function in view of the above-mentioned prior art status. While reducing the noise generated during deflation, the gas valve does not affect the inflation and deflation efficiency.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problem is as follows: A gas valve with a silencing function includes a valve housing, and is characterized in that: an upper air chamber, a middle air chamber and a lower air chamber are provided in the valve housing, the middle air chamber is located between the upper air chamber and the lower air chamber, the upper air chamber and the middle air chamber are interconnected through a first valve port, and a normally closed inflation check valve core assembly is provided at the position of the first valve port; the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber are interconnected through a second valve port and a silencing valve hole, a porous silencing component is provided at the position of the silencing valve hole, a valve that is normally open and can close the second valve port is provided at the position of the second valve port. In the state where the valve is opened, the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber are interconnected through the second valve port and the porous silencing component. In the state where the valve is closed, the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber can only be interconnected through the porous silencing component.

[0008] As a preferred layout setting of the second valve port and the silencing valve hole, the above-mentioned second valve port is located in the center, and there are multiple silencing valve holes, which are arranged at intervals along the circumference around and outside the second valve port. In this way, when the valve is closed, it can also well ensure that the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber are interconnected through the porous silencing component.

[0009] To facilitate the selection of materials for the second valve port and the silencing valve hole, a concentric inner ring, outer ring, and annular rib are provided inside the valve housing. The annular rib is formed on the inner hole wall of the valve housing. The inner ring, outer ring, and annular rib are connected together by multiple radial first connecting ribs. The outer ring is located between the inner ring and the annular rib. The second valve port is formed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and the silencing valve hole is formed between the outer ring and the annular rib. The valve is installed on the inner ring. In addition, the setting of the inner ring also provides a suitable installation position for the valve.

[0010] As an improvement, a connecting column extending upward is provided at the center of the valve. The connecting column passes upward through the installation hole formed in the inner ring and is hung on the inner ring by a retaining piece fixed to the top surface of the connecting column above the inner ring. The valve can move up and down relative to the inner ring. A first spring that keeps the valve in a downward movement trend to open the second valve port is sleeved on the connecting column. The setting of the first spring makes the valve keep a downward movement trend to open the second valve port, that is, the valve is normally open. Only when the internal air pressure of the inflated product is relatively large, the valve overcomes the elastic force of the first spring and moves upward to close the second valve port.

[0011] To facilitate the installation of the porous silencing component, an annular installation groove is provided below the silencing valve hole. The porous silencing component is annular and fixed in the installation groove to block the lower port of the silencing valve hole. The installation groove provides a suitable installation space for the porous silencing component and can restrain it. Just place it into the installation groove from the lower port of the valve housing and then bond and fix it.

[0012] Of course, the second valve port and the silencing valve hole can also be arranged in the reverse of the foregoing manner. For example, the silencing valve hole is located in the center, and the second valve port is arranged around and outside the silencing valve hole.

[0013] Specifically, a concentric inner ring, outer ring, and annular rib are provided inside the valve housing. The annular rib is formed on the inner hole wall of the valve housing. The inner ring, outer ring, and annular rib are connected together by multiple radial first connecting ribs. The outer ring is located between the inner ring and the annular rib. A silencing valve hole is formed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a second valve port is formed between the outer ring and the annular rib. The valve is installed on the inner ring, and a perforation communicating with the silencing valve hole is provided in the middle of the valve.

[0014] To facilitate the assembly of the upper air chamber, middle air chamber, and lower air chamber, the valve housing includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The inner housing is threadedly connected in the concave cavity of the outer housing. The first valve port and the upper air chamber are provided on the inner housing, and the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber are arranged inside the outer housing.

[0015] To prevent impurities from entering the valve housing when the air valve is in the non-inflated or exhaust state, a valve cover that can close the upper air chamber is detachably connected to the upper air chamber. The lower part of the valve cover has a downward-extending annular wall, and two clamping grooves are formed on the annular wall. In the state where the valve cover is inserted into the upper air chamber, the clamping grooves clamp the second connecting rib. This structure facilitates fixing the valve cover in the upper air chamber.

[0016] As an improvement, a covering with mesh holes is fixedly wrapped around the outer periphery of the outer shell. The covering is a nylon mesh made of flexible material, and the lower end opening of the valve housing is blocked by the covering. A covering with mesh holes is fixedly wrapped around the outer periphery of the outer shell. When impurities enter the lower air chamber, the bottom surface of the concave cavity will hold the impurities, playing a role in blocking the impurities and preventing them from entering the inflation device. In addition, for some special airbags, such as SUP boards, there are many thin lines inside. With this covering, these thin lines will not enter the lower air chamber from the lower port of the outer shell when the airbag is rolled up, eliminating the problem of air leakage of the air valve caused by the thin lines getting stuck in the air valve. The covering is pressed and fixed on the outer periphery of the outer shell through a plastic ring fixed on the outer periphery of the outer shell. This structure can fix the covering and the outer shell only through the plastic ring, with a simple structure and low cost. The plastic ring can be fixed to the outer periphery of the lower air chamber by welding, with firm fixation and the covering not easily falling off.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: In the initial stage of deflation, the internal air pressure of the inflatable product (SUP) is relatively large, and a large flow of air acts on the valve, forcing the valve to close the second valve port. At this time, only the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber are interconnected through the porous sound-absorbing component, and the air is forced to pass through the porous sound-absorbing component. After testing, when the exhaust pressure is 15 psi, the exhaust noise is only 80 db, greatly reducing the noise. After exhausting for a period of time, the exhaust pressure gradually decreases, the valve opens the second valve port, and the middle air chamber and the lower air chamber are also connected through the second valve port, and the gas can be quickly exhausted. Due to the decrease in exhaust pressure, even if the gas does not completely pass through the porous sound-absorbing component, the exhaust noise is relatively low. Furthermore, while reducing the noise generated during deflation, the air valve does not affect the deflation efficiency. During inflation, the external inflation pressure acts on the valve in the reverse direction, and the valve is always in the open position, and the gas can quickly enter the inflatable product from the upper air chamber and the middle air chamber through the second valve port, and the inflation efficiency is not affected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the first embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0019] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the first embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0020] Figure 3Partial exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 Cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention after removing the coating (in the state of silencing and deflating);

[0022] Figure 5 Cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention after removing the coating (in the state of large-area exhaust or inflation);

[0023] Figure 6 Stereo schematic diagram of the inner shell in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 Stereo schematic of the outer shell in the first embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 8 Stereo schematic of the outer shell in the first embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0026] Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention (in the state of large-area exhaust or inflation). Detailed implementation manners

[0027] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0028] As Figures 1 to 8 shown, it is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] A gas valve with a silencing function, comprising a valve housing 1. Inside the valve housing 1, there are an upper air chamber A, a middle air chamber B, and a lower air chamber C arranged from top to bottom. The middle air chamber B is located between the upper air chamber A and the lower air chamber C. The upper air chamber A and the middle air chamber B are interconnected through a first valve port F1. At the position of the first valve port F1, there is a normally closed inflation check valve core assembly; the valve housing 1 includes an outer shell 11 and an inner shell 12. The inner shell 11 is threadedly connected in the concave cavity of the outer shell 12. The first valve port F1 and the upper air chamber A are arranged on the inner shell 12, and the middle air chamber B and the lower air chamber C are arranged inside the outer shell 11.

[0030] The middle air chamber B and the lower air chamber C are interconnected through a second valve port F2 and a silencing valve hole K. At the silencing valve hole K, there is a porous silencing component 2. At the position of the second valve port F2, there is a valve 3 that is normally open and can close the second valve port F2. In the state where the valve 3 is open, the middle air chamber B and the lower air chamber C are interconnected through the second valve port F2 and the porous silencing component 2. In the state where the valve 3 is closed, the middle air chamber B and the lower air chamber C can only be interconnected through the porous silencing component 2.

[0031] The second valve port F2 is located at the center, and there are multiple silencing valve holes K, which are arranged circumferentially around and outside the second valve port F2 at intervals. A concentric inner ring 111, outer ring 112, and annular rib 113 are provided inside the valve housing 1. The annular rib 113 is formed on the inner hole wall of the valve housing 1. The inner ring 111, outer ring 112, and annular rib 113 are connected together by multiple radial first connecting ribs 114. The outer ring 112 is located between the inner ring 111 and the annular rib 113. A second valve port F2 is formed between the inner ring 111 and the outer ring 112, and a silencing valve hole K is formed between the outer ring 112 and the annular rib 113. The valve 3 is installed on the inner ring 111.

[0032] A connecting column 31 extending upward is provided at the center of the valve 3. The connecting column 31 passes upward through the mounting hole formed in the inner ring 111 and is hung on the inner ring 111 by a retaining piece 32 fixed to the top surface of the connecting column 31 by a screw 34 above the inner ring 111. The valve 3 can move up and down relative to the inner ring 111. A first spring 33 that keeps the valve 3 in a downward movement trend to open the second valve port F2 is sleeved on the connecting column 31. The screw 34 and the retaining piece 32 on the top surface of the connecting column 31 can be replaced by a screw with a large head or a pin with a large head and fixed to the connecting column 31 by means of adhesion, pressing down forcefully, or snap-fitting.

[0033] An annular mounting groove 115 is provided below the silencing valve hole K. The porous silencing component 2 is annular and fixed in the mounting groove 115 and seals the lower port of the silencing valve hole K.

[0034] The inflatable one-way valve core 5 can refer to the background patent. The inflatable one-way valve core 5 remains normally closed under the action of the second spring 4. The inflatable one-way valve core 5 can be a ballpoint pen structure or the most conventional one-way valve core structure of the press-and-rotate type.

[0035] A valve cover 8 that can close the upper air chamber A is detachably connected inside the upper air chamber A. The lower part of the valve cover 8 has a downward-extending annular wall 81, and two card slots 82 are formed on the annular wall 81. In the state where the valve cover 8 is inserted into the upper air chamber A, the card slots 82 catch the second connecting rib 10.

[0036] A covering 6 with mesh holes 61 is fixedly wrapped around the outer periphery of the housing 11. The covering 6 is a flexible mesh (such as a nylon mesh), and the lower end opening of the valve housing 11 is blocked by the covering 6. The covering 6 is pressed and fixed to the outer periphery of the housing 11 by a plastic ring 7 fixed to the outer periphery of the housing 11.

[0037] In use, the complete outer shell 11 is placed inside the inflatable product, and the complete inner shell 12 is placed outside the inflatable product. The inner shell 12 is screwed tightly inside the outer shell 11. In this way, the product to be inflated around the inflation port can be pressed tightly between the outer step surfaces of the outer shell 12 and the inner shell 11. In the normal state, the inflation check valve core 5 is kept closed at the first valve port F1 under the action of the second spring 4 to prevent air leakage.

[0038] During inflation, connect the inflation nozzle of the inflator to the outer periphery of the upper air chamber A. The inflation nozzle will push open the inflation check valve core assembly to open the first valve port F1. The valve 3 is always in the position of opening the second valve port F2 under the action of the first spring 33 and the inflation air pressure. As Figure 5 shown, the gas can quickly enter the inflatable product from the upper air chamber A and the middle air chamber B through the second valve port F2, and the inflation efficiency is not affected.

[0039] During exhaust, open the inflation check valve core 5, that is, the first valve port F1 is in the normally open position. At the beginning stage of deflation, the internal air pressure of the inflatable product is relatively large. As Figure 4 shown, the large-flow air acts on the valve 3, forcing the valve 3 to overcome the elastic force of the first spring 33 to close the second valve port F2. At this time, only the porous sound-absorbing component 2 can communicate between the middle air chamber B and the lower air chamber C. The air is forced to pass through the porous sound-absorbing component 2. For example, after testing, when the exhaust pressure is 15 psi, the exhaust noise is only 80 db, greatly reducing the noise. After exhausting for a period of time, as Figure 5 shown, the exhaust pressure gradually decreases. At a certain point, the force of the first spring 33 exceeds the exhaust pressure, and the valve 3 opens the second valve port F2. The middle air chamber B and the lower air chamber C are also connected through the second valve port F2, and the gas can be quickly discharged. Because the exhaust pressure decreases, even if the gas does not completely pass through the porous sound-absorbing component, the exhaust noise is also relatively low. Furthermore, the air valve can reduce the noise generated during deflation without affecting the deflation efficiency.

[0040] After deflation ends, the inflation check valve core 5 is kept closed at the first valve port F1 under the action of the second spring 4.

[0041] As Figure 9 shown, this is the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that: the sound-absorbing valve hole K is located in the center, and the second valve port F2 is arranged around and outside the sound-absorbing valve hole K.

[0043] The functions are exactly the same as those of the first preferred embodiment. When inflating or when the pressure of the inflated product is low and exhausting air, the valve 3 is opened due to the force of the spring 33, so the air flow passes through the through hole 35, the second valve port F2, and the porous sound-absorbing member 2 and can reach the middle air chamber B from the lower air chamber C. When the inflated product exhausts air under high pressure, the valve 3 closes and blocks the second valve port F2, so the air has to pass through the passage 35 and the porous sound-absorbing member 2.

[0044] There can also be a third preferred embodiment. The positions of the porous sound-absorbing member 2 and the through hole 35 are reversed, so the muffler is arranged on the valve 3 to block the through hole 35. The through hole 35 is equivalent to the sound-absorbing valve hole K.

[0045] A concentric inner ring 111, outer ring 112, and annular rib 113 are provided inside the valve housing 1. The annular rib 113 is formed on the inner hole wall of the valve housing 1. The inner ring 111, outer ring 112, and annular rib 113 are connected together by a plurality of radial first connecting ribs 114. The outer ring 112 is located between the inner ring 111 and the annular rib 113. The sound-absorbing valve hole K is formed between the inner ring 111 and the outer ring 112, and the second valve port F2 is formed between the outer ring 112 and the annular rib 113. The valve 3 is installed on the inner ring 111, and a through hole 35 communicating with the sound-absorbing valve hole K is provided in the middle of the valve 3.

[0046] The working principle of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment.

[0047] It should be noted that in the description of this embodiment, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "front, back", "left, right", "inner, outer", "upper, lower", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention. The terms "installation", "connection", and "coupling" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal communication of two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

Claims

1. A pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function, comprising a valve housing (1), characterized in that: The valve housing (1) has an upper air chamber (A), a middle air chamber (B), and a lower air chamber (C) therein. The middle air chamber (B) is located between the upper air chamber (A) and the lower air chamber (C). The upper air chamber (A) and the middle air chamber (B) are interconnected through a first valve port (F1). A normally closed inflation check valve core (5) is provided at the position of the first valve port (F1). The middle air chamber (B) and the lower air chamber (C) are interconnected through a second valve port (F2) and a silencing valve hole (K). A porous silencing component (2) is provided at the silencing valve hole (K). A valve (3) that is normally open and can close the second valve port (F2) is provided at the position of the second valve port (F2). In the state where the valve (3) is open, the middle air chamber (B) and the lower air chamber (C) are interconnected through the second valve port (F2) and the porous silencing component (2). In the state where the valve (3) is closed, the middle air chamber (B) and the lower air chamber (C) can only be interconnected through the porous silencing component (2).

2. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second valve port (F2) is located at the center, and there are multiple silencing valve holes (K) arranged at intervals along the circumference around and outside the second valve port (F2).

3. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to claim 2, characterized in that: A concentric inner ring (111), outer ring (112), and annular rib (113) are provided inside the valve housing (1). The annular rib (113) is formed on the inner hole wall of the valve housing (1). The inner ring (111), outer ring (112), and annular rib (113) are connected together by multiple radial first connecting ribs (114). The outer ring (112) is located between the inner ring (111) and the annular rib (113). The second valve port (F2) is formed between the inner ring (111) and the outer ring (112). The silencing valve hole (K) is formed between the outer ring (112) and the annular rib (113). The valve (3) is installed on the inner ring (111).

4. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to claim 3, characterized in that: The center of the valve (3) has an upwardly extending connecting column (31). The connecting column (31) passes upward through the mounting hole formed in the inner ring (111) and is hung on the inner ring (111) above the inner ring (111) by a retaining piece (32) fixed to the top surface of the connecting column (31). The valve (3) can move up and down relative to the inner ring (111). A first spring (33) that keeps the valve (3) in a downward moving trend to open the second valve port (F2) is sleeved on the connecting column (31).

5. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to claim 3, characterized in that: An annular mounting groove (115) is provided below the silencing valve hole (K). The porous silencing component (2) is annular and fixed in the mounting groove (115) and seals the lower port of the silencing valve hole (K).

6. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The silencing valve hole (K) is located at the center, and the second valve port (F2) is arranged around and outside the silencing valve hole (K).

7. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to claim 6, characterized in that: Inside the valve housing (1), there are concentric inner ring (111), outer ring (112) and annular rib (113). The annular rib (113) is formed on the inner hole wall of the valve housing (1). The inner ring (111), outer ring (112) and annular rib (113) are connected together by multiple radial first connecting ribs (114). The outer ring (112) is located between the inner ring (111) and the annular rib (113). The silencing valve hole (K) is formed between the inner ring (111) and the outer ring (112). The second valve port (F2) is formed between the outer ring (112) and the annular rib (113). The valve (3) is installed on the inner ring (111), and a perforation (35) communicating with the silencing valve hole (K) is provided in the middle of the valve (3).

8. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to claim 7, characterized in that: The center of the valve (3) has an upwardly extending connecting column (31). The connecting column (31) extends upward through the mounting hole formed in the inner ring (111) and is hung on the inner ring (111) by a retaining piece (32) fixed to the top surface of the connecting column (31) above the inner ring (111). The valve (3) can move up and down relative to the inner ring (111). A first spring (33) that keeps the valve (3) in a downward moving state to open the second valve port (F2) is sleeved on the connecting column (31).

9. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The valve housing (1) includes an outer housing (11) and an inner housing (12). The inner housing (11) is threadedly connected in the concave cavity of the outer housing (12). The first valve port (F1) and the upper air chamber (A) are provided on the inner housing (12). The middle air chamber (B) and the lower air chamber (C) are provided inside the outer housing (11).

10. The pneumatic valve with a sound - silencing function according to claim 9, characterized in that: In the upper air chamber (A), a valve cover (8) that can detachably connect to close the upper air chamber (A) is also connected. The lower part of the valve cover (8) has a downwardly extending annular wall (81). Two clamping grooves (82) are formed on the annular wall (81). In the state where the valve cover (3) is inserted into the upper air chamber (A), the clamping grooves (82) clamp the second connecting rib (10). The outer periphery of the outer housing (11) is covered and fixed with a covering (6) having mesh holes (61). The covering (6) is a nylon mesh made of flexible material. The lower end opening of the valve housing (11) is blocked by the covering (6). The covering (6) is pressed and fixed on the outer periphery of the outer housing (11) by a plastic ring (7) fixed on the outer periphery of the outer housing (11).

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