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US 10,428,964 B2Granted
Spherical automatic flow emergency restrictor (S.A.F.E.R.) valve
AssigneeMikron Valve & Manufacturer, Inc.
InventorsPatrick D. Smith, Paul R. Ostand, Joseph Caccavo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball check valve controls the flow of fluid with a sphere. A body has a fluid path and a recess for receiving the sphere in alignment with the fluid path. The sphere has a retainer which secures a ball check within it. When the valve is in a “Run” position and the rate of fluid flow increases excessively, the ball check seats in a narrow opening of the sphere, thus restricting the flow of fluid.
Claims8
A ball check valve, comprising:
- a sphere, the sphere having a flow passage therethrough;
- a ball check contained within the flow passage;
- a stem mated to the sphere and oriented to rotate about an axis perpendicular t the flow passage, a flat on a first end of said stem;
- and
- a handle with a flat cavity that mates in proper orientation with the flat on said stem, said handle rotating both of said stem and said sphere in common about said axis such that each one of a plurality of different orientations of said handle corresponds to a different respective orientation of said sphere, the ball check valve having a respectively different mode of operation for at least three of said plurality of different orientations,
- said stem has a tab which mates with a slot on the top of said sphere, said tab and said slot being offset from the common axis of said stem and sphere, said offset insures that said sphere, stem and handle can only be installed into said valve in one, correct, orientation,
- wherein the valve further comprises a locking plate, the locking plate defining at least three different positions for the valve, wherein the locking plate can only be installed on the valve in one, correct, orientation.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.