Title of Invention

A STEAM PRESSURE REGULATING DEVICE FOR A PRESSURE COOKER

Abstract

A steam pressure regulating device for a pressure cooker comprises a valve housing made of a flexible material for insertion into, and engagement with the rim of, an aperture in the lid of the cooker, the housing having a passage with a mouth at the first end thereof and an opening at its second end. There is at least one lateral hole running through the wall of the passage, connecting the passage to atmosphere; a valve stem having a plug at its first end and a collar at its second end, the circumference of the plug and that of the collar being larger than that of the mouth and that of the opening,' but smaller than that of the passage. The arrangement is such that the collar is forcibly insertable through the mouth and passage, and thence through the opening, to emerge thereat, the stem being thus located within the passage, leaving the plug and collar outside the passage.

Full Text

This invention relates to a steam pressure regulating device for a pressure cooker. An objective of the device proposed herein is to close ah aperture in the lid of the pressure cooker, to enable normal steam pressure build-up at the start of the cooking operation. In the event of subsequent excessive build-up of steam pressure within the pressure cooker, the known dead weight pressure release valve opens to let out steam| however, if this valve malfunctions, the said device operates to let out steam and thus relieve the cooker of excessive pressure. .» On the other hand, should a negative pressure be created within the cooker, the said device permits air from atmosphere to enter the cooker and thus equalize the pressure. Thus, the said device regulates the pressure within the cooker in conditions of excessive positive or negative pressure. The device proposed herein is simple in its construction yet quick and efficient in operation. Various other advantages of this invention wil 1 be apparent from th£ following description. The steam pressure regulating device, according to thin invention, comprise® a valve housing made of ft flexible material for insertion into, and engagement with the rim of, an aperture in the lid of the cooker, the housing having a passage with a mouth it the first end thereof and An opening at its second ehd) at least one lateral hole running through the wall of the passage, connecting the passage to atmosphere) & valve stem having a plug at its first end and a collar at its second end, the circumference of the plug and that of the collar being larger than that of thfc mouth end that of the opening, but smaller than that of the passage, such that the collar is forcibly insertable through the mouth and passage, and thence through the opening, to emerge thereat, the stem being thus located within the passage, leaving the plug and collar outside the passage* This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example* and not by way of limitation, on* of various possible embodiments of the device proposed herein, Fig. 1 illustrating a view of the embodiment alone with the plug of the valve stem closing the mouth of the passage Fig. 2 illustrating a view of the embodiment alone with the plug of the valve stem opening the mouth of the passage Fig. 3 illustrating a sectional view of the vi*w in Fig.l Fig. 4 illustrating a sectional view of the view in Fig. 2. Fig. S illustrating a sectional view of the housing engaged with the aperture in the lid of the pressure cooker, a circumferential groove on the periphery of the housing engaging with the rim of the aperture, with the plug closing the mouth of the passage Fig. 6 illustrating a sectional viiw of the housing engaged with the aperture in the lid of tht pressure cooker, a circumferential groove on the periphery of the housing engaging with the rim of the aperture, with the plug opening the mouth of the passage Fig. 7 illustrating a separate sectional view of the housing and passage (without the stem) and Fig. 8 illustrating a separate view of the ' stem. The valve housing H is made of flexible material such as si 1 icon rubber, which does not harden during use, that is » to say, which exhibits the same or substantially the same properties even after constant use. The housing H is intended for insertion into, and engagement with, the aperture A in the lid L of th# pressure cooker. The insertion is made from beneath the the lid L of the pressure cooker. The housing has a peripheral groove S which engages with the rim R of the aperture A. The housing H hate a passage P with i mouth H at its first end and an opening 0 At its second end With one or more lateral holes B running through the Wil1 W of the passage, connecting the passage to atmosphere. The holes are, preferably, disposed at a downward angle * such that escape of steam thereat is directed downwardly, thus avoiding any possibility of scalding the user. A valve stem V, has a plug T at its first end J and a collar C at its second end F, the circumference of the plug and that of the collar being larger than that of .» the mouth M and that of the opening 0, but smal ler than that of the passage P. The collar is forcibly thrust through the mouth and passage, and thence through the opening, to emerge thereat. The stem is thus located within the passage, leaving the plug and collar outside the passage at either end thereof. Although the circumference of the collar C is larger than that of the mouth M and that of the opening 0, the collar can still be made to enter the mouth M by forcibly thrusting the former into the 1&tter9 the entry being rendered possible by reason of the flexibility of the material of which the housing is made. Similarly, the collar can also be further thrust through the opening 0 to emerge at the said opening, that is to say, to come out of the passage. Such location of the stem in the passage serves to achieve free and guided movement of the stem. With the lid L of the pressure cooker closed and the cooker in operation, the normal build-up of steam in the cooker causes the plug T (which is outside the passage P and exposed to the interior of the cooker) to push the plug against the mouth M to close the said mouth. Consequently, no steam can enter the passage P and the pressure build-up of steam within the cooker continues to take place in the normal way. In the event of excessive build-up of pressure, whin the known dead weight pressure release valve fails to operate, such pressure pushes the plug T forcibly through the mouth M into the passige P, although the circumference of the plug is larger thmn that Of trie mouth. This is rendered possible by reason of the flexibility of the material of which the housing is made. Once the plug enters the passage P, the gap between the plug and the wall W of the passage causes steam, from the cooker, to enter the passage and escape through the holes B to atmosphere, thus relieving the cooker of excessive pressure. The plug T has a tapered periphery at fc to facilitate the creation of the gap between the plug and the wall of the passage, immediately the plug enters the passage. Once the excessive pressure has been released and the pressure drops to Ambient in the cooker the plug can be > pushed back to its original position and re-set for further use. On the other hand, if there is negative pressure created within the cooker such as by rapid cooling, th# ambient air, which has direct access to the passage P through the holes B, pushis the plug T (which in it* normal position closes the mouth li) away from the mouth Mf to open it, and thus enter the cooker* to equalize the pressure therein, thus preventing an implosion. The terms and expressions in this specification are of description, as such term© and expressions do not exclude any equivalents of the features i1lustrated and described, but it is understood that various other embodiments of the device proposed herein Are possible without departing from the scope and ambit of this invention- We Claims i. A steam pressure regulating device tor a pressure cooker comprising a valve housing made of a flexible material for insertion into, and engagement with the rim of, an aperture in the lid of the cooker, the housing having a passage with a mouth at the first end thereof and an opening it its second end? at least one lateral holt running through the wall of the passage, connecting the passage to atmosphere! a valve stem having a plug at its first end and a collar at its second end, the circumference of the plug and that of the collar being larger than that of the mouth and that of the opening, but smaller than that of the passage, such that the collar is forcibly insertable through the mouth and passage, and thence through the opening, to emerge thereat, the stem being thus located within the passage, leaving the plug and collar outside the passage• 2. A device for a pressure cooker as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the housing has a peripheral groove around its external periphery engaging with the rim of the aperture. 3. A device a* claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the hole in the wall of the passage ha* a downward inclination. 4. A device am claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the plug has a tapered periphery. 5. A steam pressure regulating device for a pressure cooker substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

824-mas-2001-abstract.pdf

824-mas-2001-claims duplicate.pdf

824-mas-2001-claims original.pdf

824-mas-2001-correspondance others.pdf

824-mas-2001-correspondance po.pdf

824-mas-2001-description complete duplicate.pdf

824-mas-2001-description complete original.pdf

824-mas-2001-drawings.pdf

824-mas-2001-form 1.pdf

824-mas-2001-form 19.pdf

824-mas-2001-form 26.pdf