Noise reducing poppet valve

Abstract

A personal valve apparatus may include a nozzle, a valve seat, and a moveable poppet valve. The nozzle may comprise an inner air-flow surface having a nozzle cavity extending through the inner air-flow surface. The valve seat may comprise a seat member disposed at an end of the inner-air-flow surface with the seat member disposed over the nozzle cavity. The moveable poppet valve may be disposed over the seat member and the nozzle cavity. The moveable poppet valve may comprise a convex surface. When the moveable poppet valve is in an open position, the convex surface may be disposed over and apart from the seat member to allow air to flow from the nozzle cavity, against the convex surface, between the seat member and the convex surface, and beyond the seat member. The convex surface of the poppet valve may reduce air turbulence, drag, flow separation, and/or noise within the valve apparatus.

1 . A personal valve apparatus, comprising:
 a nozzle comprising an inner airflow surface having a nozzle cavity extending through the inner airflow surface;   a valve seat comprising a seat member disposed at an end of the inner airflow surface, the seat member disposed adjacent the nozzle cavity; and   a moveable poppet valve disposed over the seat member and the nozzle cavity, the moveable poppet valve comprising a convex surface which in an open position is spaced apart from the seat member to allow air to flow from the nozzle cavity, against the convex surface, between the seat member and the convex surface, and beyond the seat member.   
     
     
         2 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a stop cage disposed over the moveable poppet valve, the seat member, and the nozzle cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an inner housing disposed around the nozzle and the valve seat, and an outer housing disposed around the inner housing, wherein in one position the stop cage is disposed apart from the outer housing allowing the nozzle, valve seat, moveable poppet valve, stop cage, and inner housing to at least one of rotate and tilt together within and relative to the outer housing, and in another position the stop cage is disposed against the outer housing substantially preventing the nozzle, valve seat, moveable poppet valve, stop cage, and inner housing from at least one of rotating and tilting together, in at least one direction, within and relative to the outer housing. 
     
     
         4 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when the moveable poppet valve is in a closed position, the convex surface is disposed against the seat member to allow air flowing within the nozzle cavity to flow against the convex surface, and to substantially prevent air from flowing between the seat member and the convex surface, and beyond the seat member. 
     
     
         5 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the moveable poppet valve further comprises a first mating portion for moveably mating with a second mating portion disposed within the nozzle cavity, wherein the first and second mating portions facilitate movement of the moveable poppet valve between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         6 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first mating portion and the second mating portion comprise mating male and female members. 
     
     
         7 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inner airflow surface is substantially straight. 
     
     
         8 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the valve apparatus comprises at least one of an airplane air outlet valve and a personal air outlet valve. 
     
     
         9 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the valve apparatus has a noise level substantially in a range of 51 to 52 dBA at an airflow through the nozzle cavity of 10 cubic feet per minute and 2 inches H 2 O. 
     
     
         10 . A personal valve apparatus, comprising:
 a nozzle comprising a substantially straight inner air-flow surface having a nozzle cavity extending through the substantially straight inner air-flow surface;   a valve seat comprising a seat member disposed at an end of the substantially straight inner air-flow surface with the seat member disposed adjacent the nozzle cavity;   a moveable poppet valve disposed over the seat member and the nozzle cavity, the moveable poppet valve comprising a convex surface which in an open position is spaced apart from the seat member to allow air to flow from the nozzle cavity, against the convex surface, between the seat member and the convex surface, and beyond the seat member, and in a closed position the convex surface is disposed against the seat member to allow air flowing within the nozzle cavity to flow against the convex surface, and substantially preventing air from flowing between the seat member and the convex surface, and beyond the seat member; and   a stop cage disposed over the moveable poppet valve, the seat member, and the nozzle cavity.   
     
     
         11 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising an inner housing disposed around the nozzle and the valve seat. 
     
     
         12 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising an outer housing disposed around the inner housing, wherein in one position the stop cage is disposed apart from the outer housing allowing the nozzle, valve seat, moveable poppet valve, stop cage, and inner housing to at least one of rotate and tilt together within and relative to the outer housing, and in another position the stop cage is disposed against the outer housing substantially preventing the nozzle, valve seat, moveable poppet valve, stop cage, and inner housing from at least one of rotating and tilting together, in at least one direction, within and relative to the outer housing. 
     
     
         13 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the moveable poppet valve further comprises a first mating portion for moveably mating with a second mating portion disposed within the nozzle cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first mating portion and the second mating portion facilitate movement of the moveable poppet valve between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         15 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first mating portion and the second mating portion comprise mating male and female members. 
     
     
         16 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the valve apparatus comprises at least one of an airplane air outlet valve and a personal air outlet valve. 
     
     
         17 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the valve apparatus has a noise level substantially in a range of 51 to 52 dBA at an airflow through the nozzle cavity of 10 cubic feet per minute and 2 inches H 2 O. 
     
     
         18 . A personal valve apparatus, comprising:
 a nozzle comprising a substantially straight inner air-flow surface having a nozzle cavity extending through the substantially straight inner air-flow surface;   a valve seat comprising a seat member disposed at an end of the substantially straight inner air-flow surface;   a moveable poppet valve disposed over the seat member and the nozzle cavity, the moveable poppet valve comprising:
 a convex surface which in an open position is spaced apart from the seat member to allow air to flow from the nozzle cavity, against the convex surface, between the seat member and the convex surface, and beyond the seat member, and in a closed position the convex surface is disposed against the seat member to allow air flowing within the nozzle cavity to flow against the convex surface, and substantially preventing air from flowing between the seat member and the convex surface, and beyond the seat member; 
 a first mating portion disposed within the nozzle cavity; and 
 a second mating portion for mating with the first mating portion, the second mating portion disposed within the nozzle cavity, the first mating portion and the second mating portion comprising mating male and female members; and 
   a stop cage disposed over the moveable poppet valve, the seat member, and the nozzle cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the valve apparatus comprises at least one of an airplane air outlet valve and a personal air outlet valve. 
     
     
         20 . The personal valve apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the valve apparatus has a noise level substantially in a range of 51 to 52 dBA at an airflow through the nozzle cavity of 10 cubic feet per minute and 2 inches H 2 O.