Vent Valve For A Fluid Container Apparatus
A fluid storage and delivery apparatus may include a fluid container and a vent valve for releasing fluid from the fluid container. The vent valve may include a vent valve body formed from a single piece, and a vent valve inlet and vent valve outlet coupled to the single-piece vent valve body. The apparatus may also include one or more coupling members at least partially defining a fluid passageway between the vent valve and the fluid container.
1 . A fluid storage and delivery apparatus, comprising:
a fluid container;
a vent valve for releasing fluid from the fluid container, the vent valve including a vent valve body formed from a single piece;
a vent valve inlet and a vent valve outlet coupled to the single-piece vent valve body; and
one or more coupling members at least partially defining a fluid passageway between the vent valve and the fluid container.
2 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid container is configured for storing liquid oxygen and delivering gaseous oxygen and the vent valve is configured for releasing oxygen from the fluid container.
3 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vent valve inlet defines a first axis and the vent valve outlet defines a second axis, the first and second axes being located in the same plane.
4 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vent valve inlet defines a first axis and the vent valve outlet defines a second axis, the first and second axes being located in parallel planes.
5 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
one or more coupling members include tubing connected at a first end to the container and at a second end to the vent valve inlet; and
the vent valve inlet is configured to receive a ferrule nut for securing the second end of the tubing to the vent valve inlet.
6 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vent valve includes a lever configured for manual actuation for controlling whether the vent valve is in an open valve state or a closed valve state.
7 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing including one or more support members coupled to the housing and configured to secure the vent valve physically separate from the fluid container, the first apparatus component being indirectly coupled to the fluid container by the one or more coupling members.
8 . An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
the vent valve includes one or more pegs extending from the vent valve body; and
the one or more support members define one or more openings to receive the one or more pegs to align the vent valve relative to the housing.
9 . An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the support members is formed integrally with the housing.
10 . An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the support members is shaped to match a contour of the vent valve.
11 . An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the support members comprise one or more ribs.
12 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more coupling members are flexible to provide dampening between the vent valve and the fluid container.
13 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vent valve outlet is formed integrally with the vent valve body.
14 . A vent valve for releasing fluid from a fluid container, comprising:
a vent valve body formed from a single piece; and
a vent valve inlet and a vent valve outlet coupled to the single-piece vent valve body, the vent valve inlet configured to be coupled to a coupling member at least partially defining a fluid passageway between the vent valve and the fluid container.
15 . A vent valve according to claim 14 , wherein the vent valve inlet defines a first axis and the vent valve outlet defines a second axis, the first and second axes being located in the same plane.
16 . A vent valve according to claim 14 , wherein the vent valve inlet defines a first axis and the vent valve outlet defines a second axis, the first and second axes being located in parallel planes.
17 . A vent valve according to claim 14 , wherein:
the coupling member comprises a tubing; and
the vent valve inlet is configured to receive a ferrule nut for securing an end of the tubing to the vent valve inlet.
18 . A vent valve according to claim 14 , further comprising a lever configured for manual actuation for controlling whether the vent valve is in an open valve state or a closed valve state.
19 . A vent valve according to claim 14 , wherein the coupling member is flexible to provide dampening between the vent valve and the fluid container.
20 . A vent valve according to claim 14 , wherein the vent valve is secure physically separate from the fluid container by one or more support members coupled to a housing.
21 . A vent valve according to claim 20 , further comprising one or more pegs extending from the vent valve body, the one or more pegs configured to be received in one or more openings defined by the one or more support members.
22 . A vent valve according to claim 14 , wherein the vent valve outlet is formed integrally with the vent valve body.
23 . A fluid storage and delivery apparatus, comprising:
means for storing a fluid;
vent valve means for releasing fluid from the fluid storage means, the valve means including a vent valve body formed from a single piece;
vent valve inlet means and vent valve outlet means coupled to the single-piece vent valve body; and
coupling means at least partially defining a fluid passageway between the vent valve means and the fluid storage means.