US3008465A - Pulsating pneumatic body supporting device and pneumatic valve therefor - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 14, 1961 l A. GAL 3,008,465

PULSATING PNEUMATIC O Y SUPPORT DEVICE AND PNEUMATIC LVE THERE 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3

INV EN TOR.

Nov. 14, 1961 A. GAL. 3,008,465

PULSATING 'PNEUMATIC BODY SUPPORTING DEVICE AND PNEUMATIC VALVE THEREFOR Filed Oct. 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flc-3.10 f2 di f5 f2 /22 my BY i United States Patent Oiitice Patented Nov. 14,1961

PULSATING PNEUMATIC BODY SUPPORTING DEVISE AND PNEUMATIC VALVE THEREFOR Andrew Gal, 1816 Kane Place, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor of one-half to Ida Molner, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 766,433 19 Claims. (Cl. 128--33) The present invention relates to a body rest or support, such as a mattress or seat cushion, and, more particularly, to a pneumatic mattress or seat cushion, especially a vibratory mattress or seat cushion for use by persons who maintain their lying or sitting position `for prolonged periods of time, as invalids, for instance.

t is well known that the maintaining of a lying or sitting position by a person for a prolonged period of time generally has deleterious eects on such persons health because of insufficient or inadequate circulation of the blood. The maintaining of the same lying position for a prolonged period of time may also cause serious skin irritations, suc-h as bedsores, or the like.

Various ways of eliminating the diiculties attendant v upon maintaining prolonged sitting or lying positions have been attempted. One of the ways heretofore tried has been the provision of seat cushions or mattresses which provide a pulsating or vibration-like effects by successively changing their shape or thickness along alternate portions thereof, generally by pneumatic means. `However, such pneumatically vibrated seat cushions or mattresses, as heretofore made, attained pulsation generally over relatively large areas thereof, so that the stimulation to the circulating system and to the skin was rela-` tively slow and sparse and not adequate to attain the desired effect.

It is an object of the present invention to provide'a pneumatically-actuated mattress or seat cushion of the character described which provides surface variations or pulsations concentrated over relatively small, alternate areas thereof, to thereby provide more localized, and greater stimulation of the skin and blood circulating system, and to attain the desired eiect in a relatively much shorter period of time.

It is ano-ther object of the present invention to provide a pneumatically-actuated mattress or seat cushion of the character described which attains changes in level or pulsations more rapidly and over relatively small areas, to thereby approximate the effect of a body massage and -be more effective for its purposes.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a seat cushion or mattress of the character described in which surface level changes or pulsations are automatically effected.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seat cushion or mattress of the character described in `which the surface level changes are automatically effected in response to the internal air pressure within the pneumatic system of the device.

It is a still further object of the present invention to devise a multiple-way automatic valve that may automatically inflate and deate, in succession, a plurality of staggered groups of inflatable, balloon-like elements or chambers in response to air pressure within the pneumatic system.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the variable pneumatic seat cushions or mattresses of the present invention, and of the automatic control valve therefor, will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodimentshown in the accompanying drawings, and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the 2, principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and Without lany intent of limiting the invention to the specific details'therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is `a. fragmentary, more or less diagrammatic, transverse, horizontal sectional view through a body supporting or resting vdevice of the present invention having three separate sets of alternately inflatable units; shown with one of the sets inflated While the others are in deuated state, the body of the device not beingshown, for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical section through a seat cushion or mattress ofthe invention, showing two of the sets of the inatable units, with the units of one set inilated kand the units of the other set deated;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, With the inflated units of FIG. 2 shown as deflated and the deilated units of FIG. l2 shown as inflated;

FIG.V 4 is a more or less diagrammatic vertical section through one form of an inllatable 4unit or balloon and its connection to a compressed fluid conduit;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to that of FIG. 4, of a modified form of an inflatable unit;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a seat cushion, or the like, made according to the present invention, shown connected to a control valve;

FIG. 7'is a vertical sectional and partly elevational View throught an automatic, pneumatic control valve for the body supporting devices of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a section taken online 8 8 of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a'section taken on line 9 9 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary, elevational and partlysectional View of the valve of FIG. 7, with the section taken at right angles to the View of FIG. 7.

Referring now, in greater detail, to the accompanying drawings, the device therein illustrated com-prises a body, generally designated as 12, which may be of seat cushion or mattress size, or any other size7 as may be desired, and which may comprise a preferably flexible and resilient lower portion 14, which may be formed of rubber, or substitute thereof, orl the like, and a more resilient and more ilexible or pliable upper portion 16, which may comprise foam rubber or a foam rubber substitute, as plastic foam, or other pliable plasticv material, or cloth or the' like.

The lower portion 14 of the body 12 may have emv"bedded or otherwise disposed therein, in any suitable manner, a plurality of longitudinally extending series or sets of preferably flexible conduits or tubes, as of synthetic plastic material. These sets of conduits may all run in the same direction at the same or different levels, or may cross one another. In the embodiment illustratedV in FIG. 1, the conduits consist of three groups or sets, respectively designated as 18, 20 and 22; two of which, as 18 and 20, run in the same direction but at diiferent levels, and the third, 22,*runs at right Vangles to and at a different level from the first two. Each of the conduits is formed with a plurality of spaced,upright extensions 24 that may extend into the upper portion of the base portion 14, and open into its surface, and constitute nipples.

The upper layer 16 of the article 12 may be formed with a hollow center portion orportions 26, and with a plurality of openings 28, in its bottom, each registering with a conduity extension 24v in the base 14. Disposed withinthehollow center portions 26 are a plurality of -inilatable,normally collapsed, preferablyelastic bodies 30, each of which may be balloon-shaped and formedvwith aneck 32 that may pass through an opening 28 and engage i `r Thebase v14 may also have associatedtherewithrand preferably disposed therein trunk conduits, such as 34 and 36, one of which, as 34, may connect the conduits ofgroup 18, and the other of which, as 36, may connect the conduits ofgroup 20. Athird trunk conduit 38 may have abranch 40 which connects the third conduit group 22. The three trunk conduits, 34, 36 and 38, extend to the exterior of the body 12, where they may all be housed in a common covering tube 42, which extends to a threeway valve, generally designated as 44; as more or less diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6, to a part of which each of thetrunk conduits 34, 36 and 38 are individually connected, in a manner which will be hereafter more fully described.

lt may here be stated that the inilatable units or bal-y loons 30 may be soft, pliable and elastic throughout, as shown in FG. 4, or they may, if desired, be formed with a thickened and more or less rigid top 31, as shown in FIG. 5, to provide, upon inilation, more vigorous Contact against the human body reposing on the article 12, to exert massage-like action thereagainst.

Any suitable, multiple-port, three-way valve 44, either mechanical, electrical or pneumatic, connectable to a source of fluid under pressure, such as an air compressor or a compressed air tank, may be used for the successive inflation and dellation of the several groups of theballloons 30, associated with thetrunk conduits 34, 36 and 38. I prefer, however, to utilize the valve developed by me for the purpose of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 7-10, of the drawings, which is a pneumatically operated valve that is directly connected into and is actuated by the pneumatic system or circuit that inates theballoons 30, in response to the pneumatic pressure built up in the system.

The illustrated embodiment of the valve 44 comprises a preferably elongated,inner cylinder 46, preferably having externally reducedwall portions 48, at each end, and closed at both ends, as by cylinder heads 50. The valve also comprises anouter cylinder 52, shorter and preferably thicker-walled than thecylinder 46, and iitted centrally about the latter, intermediate its reducedends 48. Theinner cylinder 46 is externally threaded at each end of its thicker portion, as at 53, and acap 54 is engaged on each such threadedportion 53, over each reduced end portion of theinner cylinder 46;such caps 54 each fitting closely against an end of theouter cylinder 52 and being spaced from the contiguous reducedend portion 48 of theinner cylinder 46 and from its cylinder head 50 to provide a surroundingspace 56 around each end of theinner cylinder 46. Each of thecaps 54 is provided with an outlet opening 57, defined by a threadednipple 58, on which is engaged anadjustable petcock 60 having theoperating knob 62.

A relativelyshort piston 64 is snugly fitted `in theinner cylinder 46, for longitudinal reciprocation therewithin, and divides the cylinder interior to provide spaces, 66 and 68, at its respective ends. Thepiston 64 may be keyed on thecylinder 46 against rotational movement, in any desired suitable manner, such as shown at 70.

Theouter cylinder 52 is formed with alongitudinal channel 72 on its interior, extending substantially its entire height, which channel is provided, preferably, at its center, with aninlet 74 which may be defined by a nipple integral with the cylinder wall. Theouter cylinder 52 is also provided with a longitudinalinterior channel 76 extending approximately half the height thereof, preferably at a distance of about one quarter of the circumference away from thechannel 72, and having an outlet opening 78.

The inner cylinder is formed withports 80 and 82 connecting the opposed ends of thechannel 72 with thespaces 66 and 68, respectively, andalsowith ports 84 and 86 outwardly ofports 80 and 82, respectively, and respectively connecting thespaces 66 and 68 of the cylinder interior with thespaces 56 in thecontiguous caps 54 around the ends .48 of theinner cylinder 46.

A pair of slide rings, 88 'and 90, are closely and slid- 4 ably fitted within theinner cylinder 46, one in each of thespaces 66 and 68, respectively, and are each resiliently connected to thepiston 64, for delayed movement therewith, to selectively open and close theports 80, 84 and 82, 86, as the case may be. The resilient connection between the piston- 64 and the two slide rings, 88 and 90, may be effected by the provision of a centralcylindrical stud 92 on each end of thepiston 64, preferably formed with a reducedcylindrical end 94, `and by providing each of the rings, 88 and 90, with aweb 96, radiating from ahub 97, formed with an inwardly extendingcylindrical stud 98, having a reducedcylindrical end portion 100. Thestuds 92 and 98 of the piston and rings, respectively, and of their lrespective reduced end portions, 94 and 100, are externally threaded and zare interconnected by the outer and inner coiled springs, 182 and 104, which are engaged, respectively, bly their terminal coils, on the threads of said studs and their reduced ends. It will be apparent that thesprings 102 and 104- rnay be adjusted on their holding threads, to vary the space between thepiston 64 and therings 88 and 90 as well Ias the resilience of the interconnection between them. n

Theinner cylinder 46 is formed with a longitudinally extending, centrally disposedslot 106, :facing the channel '72 of 4theouter cylinder 52 and preferably extending t0 each side of itsoutlet 74. Thecylinder 46 is also provided, opposite theslot 106, with three spaced openings or ports, 108, 110i and 112, formed through the wall thereof, which register with corresponding ports, 114, 116 and 118, formed through the wall of theouter cylinder 52, each of which is preferably defined by an outwardly extending nipple adapted to connect with one of the trunk conduits of the seat cushion or mattress 12.

Theinner cylinder 46 is also provided, `at a point about removed from theslot 106, with a second, longitudinally extendingslot 120, which is in register with the upper portion of thechannel 76 formed in theouter cylinder 52.

Thepiston 64 is formed with a preferably central, diametricallydisposed inlet passageway 122, which extends from theslot 106 in the wall ofcylinder 46 to the row ofports 108, and 112 formed in said cylinder wall, diametrically opposite theslot 106;such passageway 122 being vertically displaceable, upon reciprocation 0f thepiston 64, from one end ofslot 106 to the other, and from registry withport 108 toport 112. Thepiston 64 is further provided withoutlet passageways 126 and 128 that may preferably extend from -the center of the piston in the direction of the row of outlet ports 10S-112, preferably parallel to and, respectively, one above and one below the adjacent portion of theinlet passageway 122. The outlet passageways 126 and 128 are spaced from inlet passageway 122 a distance to bring them, respectively, into register withports 108 and 112 wheninlet passageway 122 is in register with thecentral port 110. As shown in FiG. 10,outlet passageways 126 and 128, at their inner ends, continue at right angles to their outer ends, convergently, to ajunction 130, which is in register with the slot in thecylinder 46;such junction 130 being vertically displaceable, upon reciprocation of thepiston 64, the length of theslot 120.

The inner and outer cylinders, 46 and 52, may be provided, opposite each of theports 80 and 82 of the inner cylinder, with anaperture 132 andrecess 134, respectively, such `aperture and recess being in register with one another and housing a spring-urgeddetent 136 that partly projects, throughlaperture 132, into the interior ofIthe cylinder 46 and is depressible by theadjacent slide ring 88 or 90, as it moves past the same, and is engageable in adetent depression 138 formed for the purpose in the outer face of each such slide ring, when the latter is in position of closing the diametrically opposed port, 80 or 82, as the case may be, to thereby resist the shifting of the sli-de ring out of such port closing position.

Having thus described the construction and arrangement of par-ts of the valve 44, its operation, particularly in connection with a pneumatic body supporting device, such as 12, will now be explained.

Assuming that each ofports 114, 116 and 118 ofouter cylinder 52 is connected respectively, to thetrunk conduits 34, 36 and 38 of the device 12, and that the nipple of theinlet port 74 is connected to a source of uid under pressure, as compressed air, from `a tank or compressor (not thought necessary to be specifically illustrated), the operation of the valve 44 is as follows:

In lthe position of the valve shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, thepiston 64 is off center within thecylinder 46, being closer topont 80. Itsinlet passageway 122 is disposed between the upper end ofinlet slot 106 andoutlet ports 168 and 114, of the inner and outer cylinders, respectively. In this position, theinlet passageway 122 connectssuch inlet port 74 with the registeringoutlet ports 108 and 114 and with trunk conduit 34, to inate the group ofballoons 30 connected -to the latter throughconduits 18. I-n this position of the valve, the slide ring 8S has been moved by thepiston 64, through the connectingsprings 102 and 164, into its outermost position within thespace 66 ofcylinder 46, to open theport 80 and close the ports S4, to thereby also admit air under pressure into thespace 66. The other slide ring 9G' is in its innermost position, within space 68 ofcylinder 46, closing port 82 and openingports 86, and with its detent recess 13S engaged over the spring-urgeddetent 136. In this position reg'steringports 112 and 113 are blocked off by thepiston 64, while registeringports 110 and 116, connected totrunk conduit 36, are in communication withpassageway 128,junction 130,slot 126,channel 76 andoutlet 78, for the escape of air from the bailoons'30 connected to thetrunk conduit 36, throughconduits 26 and thepassageway 126 is inoperative, being blocked by the wall ofcylinder 46.

It will be noted that, in the position of the valve illustrated in FIG. 7, the space 68, at the other end of the cylinder is in communciation with the valve exterior through theports 86,space 56, andadjacent petcock 60, and that the air enclosed within said space 68 as well as thedetent 136, will resist, through the agency of theadjacent springs 100 and 192, the movement of thepiston 64 in the direction of space 68. Such resistance will persist until suiicient air pressure is built up inspace 66 and sucient air escapes from space 68, through adjacent petcock 69, to overcome the same. AS pressure builds up inspace 66, it will move thepiston 64 toward space 63, against the pull and push of thesprings 102 and 164, initially without displacement of therings 38 and 9i) that are held in piace by thedetents 136 which engage their inner edge anddetent depression 138, respectively. This initial movement ofpiston 64 will movepassageway 122 out of register withports 19S, 114 and into register withports 110, 116, and will simultaneously bringports 16S, 114 into register withoutlet passageway 126, andports 112, V11d into register withoutlet passageway 128. This will bring about the inflation of the group ofballoons 36 associated withtrunk conduit 36 and the deflation of theballoons 36 associated withtrunk conduits 34 and 38.

As pressure continues to build up inspace 66,piston 64 will shift further toward space 68, to its other eX- treme position within thecylinder 46, to bringpassageway 122 into register withports 112, 118, to inate the balloons fed bytrunk conduit 38.Outlet passageway 126 will move into register withports 110, 116, to deflate balloons fed bytrunk conduit 36; whereasoutlet passageway 128 will be moved into inoperative position andports 108, 114 will be blocked to maintain their preceding state. r

The additional movement ofpiston 64, under increased pressure, will also shift therings 88 and 9G; the former moving inwardly, to close offinlet port 80 and openoutlet ports 34; the latter moving outwardly to open 6 inlet portp82 andclose outlet ports 86, thereby completing a cycle and starting a reverse cycle. y

It may here be pointed out that, since the movement of 4thepiston 64, in either direction, is directly affected both, by the tension ofsprings 102 and 103 and by theV tion, by reason of the provision of a large number of relatively small inflatable and interspersed elements, alternately changes the device surface over small, interspersed areas, to provide most effective stimulation to the skin and to the circulation of blood therethrough.

It will also be apparent that the pneumatic valve of the invention is highly effective, for the purpose of successively inating the several groups of interspersed balloons of the body supporting device and that, because it is responsive to the same air pressure that inates the balloons, renders the combination highly simplified, effective and economical and eliminates separate valve actuating means or electric circuits.

t will be further apparent that numerous modifications and variations in the device of the present invention and in the valve for use in connection with the same may be made by any one skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth, and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such modications and variations that may be made within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of theclaims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

l. A pulsating, body supporting device, comprising a Y body having a hollow central portion and a flexible top, a plurality of rows of normally deflated, inatable elements disposed within said hollow central portion in closely spaced relation and in position to contact said flexible body top upon inflation, a plurality of conduits provided in said body, each Vrow of inflatable elements connected to a conduit other than the elements of an adjacent row, a plurality of trunk conduits, each extending on the exterior of the body, the conduits of adjacent rows of inflatable elements each connected to a different trunk conduit, and a multiple port valve, connectable t0 a source of uid under pressure, each of said trunk conduits connected to one port of said valve, said valve automatically pneumatically operated from sai-d source of compressed air to successively direct fluid under pressure to each of said trunk conduits while discharging fluid from another thereof, said valve comprising a cylinder closed at each end, said cylinder having formed in the wall thereof escape ports at each end thereof, a Huid inlet slot intermediate said inlet ports, fluid outlet ports, one for each of said conduit trunks arranged in longitudinally spaced relation to one another and in spaced relation to said inlet slot, and an escape slot in spaced relation to said inlet slot, a piston longitudinally reciprocable within said cylinder and dividing the same into two compartments, a transversely disposed uid conduit passageway formed in said piston, one end thereof registering with said inlet slot and the other with said row of outlet ports, at least one iluid escape passageway formed in said piston with one end thereof registering with said row of outletl ports and spaced from the adjacent end of said conduit passageway a distance equal to the space between outlet ports, and its-other end regstering with said escape port, an air tight chamber on said cylinder said chamber having an inlet port and connecting with each of said cylinder inlet ports and said inlet slot, and a valve in each of said compartments connected to the adjacent end of said piston to move therewith for alternately closing and opening the adjacent of said escape ports while simultaneously opening and closing the adjacent inlet port.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said escape ports are each provided with means for regulating the outow therefrom.

3. The device of cla'nn 1, wherein said device is provided with three trun.; conduits and said valve is formed with three outlet ports each `connected to one of said trunk conduits, and said piston is formed with a pair of escape passages, one to each s-ide of said conduit passageway, said escape passageways merging to a common outlet registering with said escape slot.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a cap is secured in air tight relation over each end of said cylinder in spaced relation thereto and encompassing said escape ports, said caps each having an outlet opening and means for regulating lluid escape through said opening.

5. A pulsating, body supporting device, comprising, in combination, a body having a central hollow portion and a flexible top, a plurality of closely spaced, normally deflated, inilatable elements, and means for successively inflating and deflating different groups of said elements comprising a plurality of conduits provided in said body and extending to the exterior thereof, each connected to a separate group of said inflatable elements within the body, and a multiple port pneumatic valve connectable to a source of tluid under pressure, each of said conduits connected to one port of said pneumatic valve, said valve including a cylinder closed at each end, said cylinder having a piston longitudinally reciprocable therein and dividing the same into two compartments, one to each end of said piston, each of said compartments having uid escape ports at the outer end thereof and a uid inlet port inwardly of said escape ports, said cylinder having a fluid inlet slot and a plurality of outlet ports, one for each said conduits, opposite said piston, in spaced relation to said inlet slot, and an escape slot opposite said piston, in spaced relation to said outlet ports and said inlet slot, an air tight chamber on said cylinder, opening into said inlet ports and said inlet slot and having a iiuid inlet thereinto, said piston having a lluid passageway transversely disposed therethrough to have one end thereof in register with said inlet slot and the other end thereof in register with said outlet ports, said piston having escape passageways therethrough, each having one end in register with said outlet slot, and a member in each of said compartments movable with said piston, to each alternately close and open said escape ports therefrom and simultaneously open and close the linlet port thereinto.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said members within said compartments are each resiliently connected to the adjacent end of said piston.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said members within said compartments are each adjustably resiliently connected to the adjacent end of said piston.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said members within said compartments each comprises a ring slidable against the inner wall of said cylinder, and the means connecting said ring to said piston comprises a threaded stud on the adjacent piston end, a web having an externally threaded stud at the hub thereof directed toward said piston and a coil spring threaded by its end coils on said studs.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein said members within said compartments are each resiliently connected to the adjacent piston end and wherein means are associated with each said escape port for regulating the escape of fluid therethrough.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein said members within said compartments are each resiliently connected to the said piston and wherein means are associated with each said escape port for regulating the escape of fluid therethrough, said means comprising -a cap secured over each end of said cylinder in spaced relation thereto and encompassing said escape ports, said cap having an outlet opening and means regulating the liow of fluid through said outlet opening.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein said members within said compartments are each resiliently connected lto said piston and wherein cooperating, spring-tensioned detent means are provided on each said valve means and said cylinder for resisting the movement of each said valve means out of inlet port `closing position.

12. A multiple port pneumatic valve connectable to a source of Enid under pressure and responsive to the pressure of said fluid, including a cylinder closed at each end, said cylinder having a piston longitudinally reciprocable therein and dividing lthe same into two compartments, one to each end of said piston, each of said compartments having lluid escape ports at the outer end thereof and a fluid inlet port inwardly of said escape ports, said cylinder having a fluid inlet slot and a plu-v rality of outlet ports, opposite said piston, in spaced relation to said inlet slot, and an escape slot opposite said piston, in sparc-ed relation to said outlet ports and said inlet slot, an air tight chamber on said cylinder, opening into said inlet ports and said inlet slot and having a fluid inlet thereinto, said piston having a fluid passageway transversely disposed therethrough to have one end thereof in register with said inlet slot and the other end thereof movable into register with each Isaid outlet ports, said piston having escape passagewaysy therethrough, each having one end in register with said row of outlet ports and its other end in register with said outlet slot, and a member in each of said compartments movable with said piston, to each alternately close and open said escape ports therefrom and simultaneously open and close the inlet port thereinto.

13. The valve of claim 12, wherein said members within said compartments are each resiliently connected to the adjacent end of said piston.

14. The valve of claim 12, wherein said members within said compartments are each adjustably resiliently connected to the adjacent end of said piston.

15. The valve of claim 12, wherein said members within said compartments each comprises a ring slidable against the inner wall of said cylinder, and the means connecting said ring to said piston comprises a threaded stud on the adjacent piston end, a web having an externally threaded stud at the hub thereof directed toward said piston and a coil spring threaded by its end coils on said studs.

16. The valve of claim 12, wherein said members within said compartments are each resiliently connected to the adjacent piston end and wherein means are associated with each said escape port for regulating the escape of iluid therethrough.

17. The valve of claim 12, wherein said members within said compartments are each resiliently connected to the said piston and wherein means are associated with each said escape port for regulating the escape of iiuid therethrough, said means comprising a cap secured over each end of said cylinder in spaced relation thereto and encompassing said escape ports, said cap having an outlet opening and means regulating the iiow offluid through said outlet opening.

18. "the valve of claim 12, wherein said members within said compartments are each resiliently connected to said piston and wherein cooperating, spring-tensioned detent means are provided on each said valve means and said cylinder for resisting the movement of each said valve means out of inlet port closing position.

19. The valve of claim 12, wherein an outer sleeve is litted about the central portion of said cylinder, and said air-tight chamber is formed on the inner surface 0f References Cited in the file of thisV patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hart Aug. 5, 1930 Rossett Oct. 24, 1944 10 Sellmeyer July 3, 1945 Summerville Ian. 25, 1949 Kain Jan. 1, 1952 Swindler July 29, 1952 Summerville July 27, 1954 Morrison Ian. 14, 1958 Knapp Oct. 14,1958

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