A toy balloon is automatically filled with helium gas using a system responsive to gas pressure. A novel check valve in the neck of the balloon is automatically opened upon insertion of a filler element. The flow of gas to the filler element from a constant pressure source is initiated by operation of a pushbutton which opens a valve which is resettable as a result of subsequent pressure build-up in the system. Opening of this valve results in opening a pilot valve through which gas flows to the balloon. Opening of the pushbutton operated valve also applies pressure to an expansible chamber of a timer valve through conduit means and when the pressure in such conduit means and in said expansible chamber become sufficiently high after a predetermined time (established to some degree by conditions in the nozzle and check valve) the timer valve is operated to apply gas pressure to an expansible chamber of the pushbutton valve to return it to its closed position thereby interrupting all flow to the balloon. An auxiliary manually operated valve is incorporated in the system to control the flow of gas to a balloon without the necessity of initiating the automatic cycle described above.
This is a continuation of Ser. No. 679,475 filed Apr. 22, 1976, now abandoned, which was a division of Ser. No. 563,500 filed Mar. 31, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,324 granted Nov. 30, 1976.
The present invention relates to improved means for techniques useful in inflating toy balloons.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved toy balloon inflating system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved filling valve for a toy balloon, such valve being particularly useful in the improved inflating system mentioned above.
While mention is made herein of toy balloons, it will be appreciated that the invention in its broader aspects is applicable also to other inflatable articles.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved balloon inflating system which is responsive in its operation to pressure derived from the gas filling source and functions such that the necessity of auxiliary equipment, e.g. batteries is obviated.
Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved check valve insertable in the neck of the balloon and functioning to permit the flow of pressurized gas only into the balloon and requiring a manipulation to permit the exhaustion of the pressurized gas from the balloon.
Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved check valve insertable in the neck of the balloon with such valve functioning in a novel manner with respect to an insertable element of the filling apparatus.
Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved check valve of this character which is relatively simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and yet is capable of providing good sealing at those low pressure differentials which prevail between the inside and outside of the toy balloon.
A normally-closed valve that can be easily connected and disconnected. Disposed in the fluid passageway through the valve is a flexible, resilient disk and a pin mounted adjacent to the disk. The disk is mounted in a wide portion of the passageway and is held in place by the narrow portions of the passageway. The disk fits snugly into the passageway so that the edge of the disk forms a seal with the wall of the passageway. A nozzle is inserted into the passageway and urges the pin against the disk, causing the disk to deform. When the disk deforms, its effective diameter decreases, and its edge separates from the passageway wall, permitting fluid to flow through the valve. The narrow sections of the passageway wall have channels disposed therein for permitting flow when the disk is deformed. The pin also has channels on its surface to permit flow around it.
A system for automatically filling and launching balloons which may be used, for example, for cloud seeding. The system includes a balloon launching station frame, a nozzle mounted on the frame onto which the narrow end of a balloon can be attached so that gas can flow through the nozzle into the balloon, a conduit coupled to a source of gas and to the nozzle for delivering gas through the nozzle into the balloon, gas flow control apparatus responsive to first signals for controlling the flow of gas through the conduit, and a release mechanism responsive to second signals for disengaging the balloon from the nozzle to thereby release the balloon to the atmosphere. For launching a series of balloons, the system may include a plurality of nozzles, conduits, gas flow control mechanisms, and release mechanisms arranged so that after one balloon is filled and released, a second balloon may be filled and launched at a selectable time thereafter, etc. The filling and releasing of the balloons is controlled by an electronic control unit which automatically applies the first and second signals at appropriate times.
A system for automatically filling and launching balloons which may be used, for example, for cloud seeding. The system includes a balloon launching station frame, a nozzle mounted on the frame onto which the narrow end of a balloon can be attached so that gas can flow through the nozzle into the balloon, a conduit coupled to a source of gas and to the nozzle for delivering gas through the nozzle into the balloon, gas flow control apparatus responsive to first signals for controlling the flow of gas through the conduit, and a release mechanism responsive to second signals for disengaging the balloon from the nozzle to thereby release the balloon to the atmosphere. For launching a series of balloons, the system may include a plurality of nozzles, conduits, gas flow control mechanisms, and release mechanisms arranged so that after one balloon is filled and released, a second balloon may be filled and launched at a selectable time thereafter, etc. The filling and releasing of the balloons is controlled by an electronic control unit which automatically applies the first and second signals at appropriate times.
A water stop hose connector having a male member and a female member having an open end and an O-ring dimensioned to receive an inner end of the male member, and detent balls and groove to retain the male and female members together, a quick connect, axially movable cylindrical collar movable over the detent balls to lock them in the detent groove and movable away from the detent balls to release them from the detent groove, a spring biasing the collar over the detent balls, a valve body retained in the female member and having a head, a stem, and a stop shoulder on the stem, and movable between first and second positions, the stem having flow openings, an O-ring around the valve body head, the valve body openings in the second position being in flow communication with the female member and in the first position being out of flow communication with the female member to prevent flow, the valve body being engaged by the male member axially inner end face when the male and female members are coupled, causing the valve body to move to the second position, and movable to the first position by water pressure when the male and female members are uncoupled.
A limited restriction quick disconnect valve preferably for mounting between a container, like that involved in medical instrument sterilization system, and a transfer line for passing a sterilization agent thereto. The valve is for mounting at a bulk head female connector section into the container wall and includes a stem with side ports formed therein that intersect a passage that is open to within the container, the stem for receiving, as a closure device, a resilient sleeve fitted, in sealing arrangement, thereover. A closure ring section, that is connected to the transfer line, is provided for fitting onto a retaining ring of the bulk head female connector. The closure ring section includes a cylindrical shaft that is arranged axially therein that includes a forward end for engaging and compressing the resilient sleeve when the coupling ring is fitted onto the retaining ring, the resilient sleeve when compressed to bow outward around its mid portion, lifting the sleeve interior surface off from and opening the side ports, providing a passage from the container to the transfer line. For cleaning after use, the resilient sleeve can be pulled off the stem and replaced with another resilient sleeve and the interiors of the bulk head female connector and coupling ring section are open, have no moving parts, for facilitating cleaning.
