Convertible check valve

A convertible check valve comprising:

• a first valve body section having a first passageway extending therethrough, said first passageway having a first longitudinal axis, said first body section including a first flange at one end thereof, said first flange having a first end surface extending at an angle of 45 degrees to said first longitudinal axis and at which said first passageway terminates, whereupon a shape of said first passageway at said first end surface is elliptical to establish a first elliptical shaped flow port thereat;
• a second valve body section having a second passageway extending therethrough, said second passageway having a second longitudinal axis, said second body section including a second flange at one end thereof, said second flange having a second end surface extending at an angle of 45 degrees to said second longitudinal axis and at which said second passageway terminates, whereupon a shape of said second passageway at said second end surface is elliptical to establish a second elliptical shaped flow port thereat, said second end surface of said second flange being configured to be connected to said first end surface of said first flange in either an aligned configuration or an angled configuration, wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are collinear when in said aligned configuration and are perpendicular to each other when in said angled configuration;
• a flapper valve member configured to be moved between a closed state and an opened state, and vice versa, said flapper valve member being configured to close said elliptical flow ports and thereby isolate said second passageway from said first passageway when said flapper valve member is in said closed state, said flapper valve member being configured to open said elliptical flow ports to enable fluid communication between said second passageway and said first passageway through said elliptical flow ports when in said opened state,
• wherein said flapper valve member includes an engagement portion located adjacent a periphery of said flapper valve member, and wherein said engagement portion is configured to engage a portion of said first valve body section immediately adjacent said first end surface to close said ports when said flapper member is in said closed state,
• wherein said flapper valve member further includes a main section, said main section being of elliptical peripheral shape having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, with said longitudinal axis of said main section being longer than said transverse axis of said main section, and wherein said engagement portion of said flapper valve member is located adjacent a periphery of said main section;
• and
• a pressure relief assembly, said pressure relief assembly comprising an elongated member having a free end in communication with said first passageway and configured to be extended to engage said flapper valve member at an intersection of said longitudinal and transverse axes of said flapper valve member to cause said engagement portion of said flapper valve member to be moved out of engagement with said portion of said first valve body section immediately adjacent said first end surface to thereby enable some fluid communication between said first and second passageways.

A convertible check valve comprising:

• a first valve body section having a first passageway extending therethrough, said first passageway having a first longitudinal axis, said first body section including a first flange at one end thereof, said first flange having a first end surface extending at an angle of 45 degrees to said first longitudinal axis and at which said first passageway terminates, whereupon a shape of said first passageway at said first end surface is elliptical to establish a first elliptical shaped flow port thereat;
• a second valve body section having a second passageway extending therethrough, said second passageway having a second longitudinal axis, said second body section including a second flange at one end thereof, said second flange having a second end surface extending at an angle of 45 degrees to said second longitudinal axis and at which said second passageway terminates, whereupon a shape of said second passageway at said second end surface is elliptical to establish a second elliptical shaped flow port thereat, said second end surface of said second flange being configured to be connected to said first end surface of said first flange in either an aligned configuration or an angled configuration, wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are collinear when in said aligned configuration and are perpendicular to each other when in said angled configuration;
• and
• a flapper valve member configured to be moved between a closed state and an opened state, and vice versa, said flapper valve member being configured to close said elliptical flow ports and thereby isolate said second passageway from said first passageway when said flapper valve member is in said closed state, said flapper valve member being configured to open said elliptical flow ports to enable fluid communication between said second passageway and said first passageway through said elliptical flow ports when in said opened state,
• wherein said flapper valve member includes an engagement portion located adjacent a periphery of said flapper valve member, and wherein said engagement portion is configured to engage a portion of said first valve body section immediately adjacent said first end surface to close said ports when said flapper member is in said closed state,
• wherein said flapper valve member further includes a main section, said main section being of elliptical peripheral shape having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, with said longitudinal axis of said main section being longer than said transverse axis of said main section, and wherein said engagement portion of said flapper valve member is located adjacent a periphery of said main section,
• wherein said flapper valve member is formed of a flexible material and additionally comprises a mounting section, said mounting section projecting outward from said main section at a portion of the periphery of said main section on said longitudinal axis of said main section, wherein said mounting section is configured to be releasably secured to a portion of said first flange, and wherein said main section of said flapper valve member can be flexed with respect to said mounting section when said mounting section is secured to said portion of said first flange to enable said main section to be moved from said closed state to said opened state and vice versa,
• wherein said flapper valve member is reinforced at an interface between said mounting section and said main section.