Rod-mounted buffer to cushion check valve closure

A check valve for a fluid system, the check valve comprising:

• a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and an interior cavity;
• a closing member positioned inside the interior cavity, the closing member movable between an open position, providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, and a closed position, isolating the inlet from the outlet;
• and
• a buffer comprising:
• a rod positioned at least partially inside the valve body and comprising a first end proximate to the closing member and a second end distal from the first end, an axially outermost portion of the first end of the rod relative to an axis defined by the rod facing an upstream surface of the closing member and defining an inner chamber;
• and
• a body mounted inside the first end of the rod, a one of the rod and the body defining a slot extending in a transverse direction across the one of the rod and the body, the slot configured to permit movement of the body with respect to the rod in a direction parallel to the axis of the rod, the buffer configured to hold a portion of fluid in the fluid system and cushion movement of the closing member from the open position to the closed position.

A method of using a check valve in a fluid system comprising a fluid, the method comprising:

• moving a closing member positioned inside an interior cavity of the check valve toward an open position, the open position providing fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet of the check valve, the check valve comprising a valve body defining the inlet, the outlet, and the interior cavity;
• moving the closing member of the check valve toward a closed position;
• and
• stopping movement of the closing member when the closing member is in a position proximate to the closed position with a buffer configured to hold a portion of the fluid, the buffer comprising:
• a rod defining an inner chamber in a first end and defining a second end distal from the first end;
• and
• a body received within the inner chamber, the buffer further defining a one of an entrance bore in the body of the buffer and a clearance gap between the body of the buffer and the rod, the buffer configured to cushion movement of the closing member from the open position to the closed position when the closing member is proximate to the closed position, the inner chamber in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the valve body via the one of the entrance bore and the clearance gap.