Check valve

An unloader check valve to be installed between a compressor and an air receiver comprising:

• an elongated valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hole extending therethrough from said inlet end to said outlet end, said hole including a tapered portion including at least a first inner diameter and at least a second inner diameter that is larger than said first inner diameter, said first inner diameter of said tapered portion being closer to said inlet end of said valve body than said second inner diameter of said tapered portion;
• a piston assembly mounted within said hole of said valve body, said piston assembly including a piston, a piston spring and a check valve seal, said piston spring normally biasing said piston toward said inlet end of said valve body to a first piston location;
• a check valve seat being positioned in said hole of said valve body between said inlet end and said tapered position of said hole, said check valve seal being positioned so as to contact said check valve seat when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said piston being movable from the first piston location to a plurality of downstream piston locations within said tapered portion of said hole when the compressor forces air from the air compressor through said inlet end of said valve body toward the air receiver, each of the downstream piston locations being further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first piston location;
• said piston assembly removing said check valve seal from contact with said check valve seat when said piston moves toward one of the downstream piston locations, thereby permitting air to move from the compressor through said inlet end of said valve body toward said outlet end of said valve body;
• a first clearance space existing between said check valve seal and said tapered portion of said valve body when said piston moves to a first of the downstream piston locations, said first clearance space permitting a first level of air flow;
• a second clearance space existing between said check valve seal and said tapered portion of said valve body when said piston moves to a second of the downstream piston locations, the second of the downstream piston locations being further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first of the downstream piston locations, said second clearance space permitting a second level of air flow;
• said second clearance space being greater than said first clearance space, the second level of air flow being greater than the first level of air flow.

An unloader check valve to be installed between a compressor and an air receiver comprising:

• an elongated valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hole extending therethrough from said inlet end to said outlet end, said hole having an inside diameter;
• a piston assembly mounted within said hole of said valve body, said piston assembly including a check valve seal, a piston, a first bumper, a dampener seal, and a piston spring, said first bumper and said dampener seal comprising rings extending around said piston assembly, said piston spring normally biasing said piston toward said inlet end of said valve body to a first piston location;
• a dampener cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an inside diameter, said first end of said dampener cylinder being positioned at the outlet end of said body, said second end of said dampener cylinder having a dampener orifice therethrough, said piston assembly extending into said dampener cylinder when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said first bumper being positioned so as to remain inside said hole of said valve body during operation of said unloader check valve, said dampener seal being positioned so as to remain inside said inside diameter of said dampener cylinder during operation of said unloader check valve.

An unloader check valve to be installed between a compressor and an air receiver comprising:

• an elongated valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hole extending therethrough from said inlet end to said outlet end;
• an air bleed aperture extending through said valve body from a location in said hole;
• an unloader valve seal reciprocally mounted within said hole;
• a valve seat assembly installed within said hole between said unloader valve seal and said outlet end of said valve body, said valve seat assembly having a circumference and a groove around said circumference, said groove of said valve seat assembly being adjacent said air bleed aperture when said valve seat assembly is installed in said valve body;
• said valve seat assembly having a plurality of raised unloader seating elements extending toward said inlet end of said valve body and in the path of said unloader valve seal, said unloader seating elements having at least a passage leading from said groove toward said inlet end of said valve body;
• said valve seat assembly having a check valve seat;
• a piston assembly mounted within said hole of said valve body, said piston assembly including a piston, a piston spring and a check valve seal, said piston spring normally biasing said piston toward said inlet end of said valve body to a first piston location when the compressor is turned off;
• said hole extending through said valve body and having a plurality of inside diameters, each of said inside diameters being at one of a plurality of downstream piston locations that are downstream of said valve seat assembly, said inside diameters being smaller at the downstream piston locations that are immediately downstream of said valve seat assembly than at the piston locations that are further downstream from said valve seat assembly;
• said piston assembly having a size and being located at a position within the hole which enables it to force said unloader valve seal away from said seating elements when said piston is at the first piston location, said check valve seal being positioned to seal against one of said inside diameters of said hole of said valve body when said piston is at the first piston location, said check valve seal being further positioned so as to not seal against one of said inside diameters of said hole of said valve body when said piston is at at least one of the downstream piston locations;
• said unloader check valve permitting air to flow from between said unloader valve seal and said valve seat assembly through said at least a passage of said unloader seating elements to said groove of said valve seat assembly and permitting air to exit said unloader check valve through said air bleed aperture when said piston assembly holds said unloader valve seal away from said unloader seating elements;
• said piston being movable from the first piston location toward one of the downstream piston locations that is further away from said inlet end of said valve body than said first piston location when the compressor is turned on to increase pressure within the air receiver;
• said piston being movable toward the first piston location by said piston spring when said air compressor forces decreasing amounts of air from the air compressor toward the air receiver;
• said piston assembly permitting said unloader valve seal to move toward and contact said unloader seating elements when said piston moves to one of the downstream piston locations, thereby preventing air from passing from said inlet end of said body to said air bleed aperture when said piston is in one of the downstream piston locations;
• said piston being movable toward the first piston location by said biasing spring when said air compressor forces decreasing amounts of air from the air compressor toward the air receiver;
• a dampener connected to said valve body, said dampener being configured to dampen movement of said piston.

An unloader check valve to be installed between a compressor and an air receiver comprising:

• an elongated valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hole extending therethrough from said inlet end to said outlet end;
• an air bleed aperture extending through said valve body from a location in said hole;
• an unloader valve seal reciprocally mounted within said hole;
• a valve seat assembly installed within said hole between said unloader valve seal and said outlet end of said valve body, said valve seat assembly having a circumference and a groove around said circumference, said groove of said valve seat assembly being adjacent said air bleed aperture when said valve seat assembly is installed in said valve body;
• said valve seat assembly having a plurality of raised unloader seating elements extending toward said inlet end of said valve body and in the path of said unloader valve seal, said unloader seating elements having at least a passage leading from said groove toward said inlet end of said valve body;
• said valve seat assembly having a check valve seat;
• a piston assembly mounted within said hole of said valve body, said piston assembly including a piston, a piston spring and a check valve seal, said piston spring normally biasing said piston toward said inlet end of said valve body to a first piston location when the compressor is turned off;
• said piston assembly having a size and being located at a position within the hole which enables it to force said unloader valve seal away from said seating elements when said piston is at the first piston location, said check valve seal being positioned so as to contact said valve body when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said unloader check valve permitting air to flow from between said unloader valve seal and said valve seat assembly through said at least a passage of said unloader seating elements to said groove of said valve seat assembly and permitting air to exit said unloader check valve through said air bleed aperture when said piston assembly holds said unloader valve seal away from said unloader seating elements;
• said piston being movable from the first piston location toward a plurality of downstream piston locations further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first piston location when the compressor is turned on to increase pressure within the air receiver;
• said piston assembly permitting said unloader valve seal to move toward and contact said unloader seating elements when said piston moves toward one of the downstream piston locations, thereby preventing air from passing from said inlet end of said body to said air bleed aperture when said piston is in one of the downstream piston locations;
• said piston being movable toward the first piston location by said biasing spring when said air compressor forces decreasing amounts of air from the air compressor toward the air receiver;
• a dampener connected to said piston, said dampener being configured to dampen movement of said piston.

An unloader check valve to be installed between a compressor and an air receiver comprising:

• an elongated valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hole extending therethrough from said inlet end to said outlet end,
• an air bleed aperture extending through said valve body from a location in said hole;
• an unloader valve seal reciprocally mounted to move along a path within said hole;
• a valve seat assembly installed within said hole between said unloader valve seal and said outlet end of said valve body, said valve seat assembly having a circumference and a groove around said circumference, said groove of said valve seat assembly being adjacent said air bleed aperture when said valve seat assembly is installed in said valve body;
• said valve seat assembly having a plurality of raised unloader seating elements extending toward said inlet end of said valve body and in the path of said unloader valve seal, said unloader seating elements having at least a passage leading from said groove toward said inlet end of said valve body;
• said valve seat assembly having a check valve seat;
• a piston assembly mounted within said hole of said valve body, said piston assembly including a piston, a piston spring and a check valve seal, said piston spring normally biasing said piston toward said inlet end of said valve body to a first piston location when the compressor is turned off;
• said piston assembly having a size and being located at a position within the hole which enables it to force said unloader valve seal away from said seating elements when said piston is at the first piston location, said check valve seal being positioned so as to contact said check valve seat when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said unloader check valve permitting air to flow from between said unloader valve seal and valve seat through said at least a passage of said unloader seating elements to said groove of said valve seat assembly and permitting air to exit said unloader check valve through said air bleed aperture when said piston assembly holds said unloader valve seal away from said unloader seating elements;
• said piston being movable from the first piston location toward a plurality of downstream piston locations that are further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first piston location when the compressor is turned on to increase pressure within the air receiver;
• said piston assembly permitting said unloader valve seal to move toward and contact said unloader seating elements when said piston moves toward one of the downstream piston locations, thereby preventing air from passing from said inlet end of said body to said air bleed aperture when said piston is in one of the downstream piston locations;
• said piston being movable toward the first piston location by said piston spring when said air compressor forces decreasing amounts of air from the air compressor toward the air receiver;
• said hole of said valve body including a tapered portion including a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter that is larger than said first inner diameter, said first inner diameter of said tapered portion being closer to said inlet end of said valve body than said second inner diameter of said tapered portion;
• said check valve seat being positioned to contact said check valve seat when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said piston assembly removing said check valve seal from contact with said check valve seat when said piston moves toward one of the downstream piston locations, thereby permitting air to move from the compressor through said inlet end of said valve body past said check valve seal and toward said outlet end of said valve body;
• a first clearance space existing between said check valve seal and said tapered portion of said valve body when said piston moves to a first of the downstream piston locations, said first clearance space permitting a first level of air flow;
• a second clearance space existing between said check valve seal and said tapered portion of said valve body when said piston moves to a second of the downstream piston locations, the second of the downstream piston locations being further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first of the downstream piston locations, said second clearance space permitting a second level of air flow;
• said second clearance space being greater than said first clearance space, the second level of air flow being greater than the first level of air flow;
• a dampener connected to said piston, said dampener being configured to dampen movement of said piston, said dampener including a dampener cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an inside diameter, said first end of said dampener cylinder being positioned at the outlet end of said valve body, said second end of said dampener cylinder having a dampener orifice therethrough, said piston assembly extending into said dampener cylinder when said piston is at the first piston location.

An unloader check valve to be installed between a compressor and an air receiver comprising:

• a valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hole extending therethrough from said inlet end to said outlet end;
• an air bleed aperture extending through said valve body from a location in said hole;
• an unloader valve seal reciprocally mounted to move along a path within said hole;
• a valve seat assembly installed within said hole between said unloader valve seal and said outlet end of said valve body, said valve seat assembly having a circumference and a groove around said circumference, said groove of said valve seat assembly being adjacent said air bleed aperture when said valve seat assembly is installed in said valve body;
• said valve seat assembly having a plurality of raised unloader seating elements extending toward said inlet end of said valve body and in the path of said unloader valve seal, said unloader seating elements having at least a passage leading from said groove toward said inlet end of said valve body;
• a piston assembly mounted within said hole of said valve body, said piston assembly having a piston restricting movement of said unloader valve seal;
• located at a position which enables said piston assembly to hold said unloader valve seal away from said seating elements when said piston is at a first piston location;
• said unloader check valve permitting air to flow from between said unloader valve seal and said valve seat assembly through said at least a passage of said unloader seating elements to said groove of said valve seat assembly and permitting air to exit said unloader check valve through said air bleed aperture when said piston assembly holds said unloader valve seal away from said unloader seating elements;
• said piston being movable from said first piston location toward at least one downstream piston location, said piston assembly permitting said unloader valve seal to move toward and contact said unloader seating elements when said piston moves toward one of the at least one downstream piston locations, thereby preventing air from passing from said inlet end of said body to said air bleed aperture when said piston is in one of the at least one downstream piston locations.

A check valve to be installed between a compressor and an air receiver comprising:

• an elongated valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hole extending therethrough from said inlet end to said outlet end, said hole including a tapered portion including at least a first inner diameter and at least a second inner diameter that is larger than said first inner diameter, said first inner diameter of said tapered portion being closer to said inlet end of said valve body than said second inner diameter of said tapered portion;
• a piston assembly mounted within said hole of said valve body, said piston assembly including a check valve seal, a piston, a first bumper, a dampener seal, and a piston spring, said piston spring normally biasing said piston toward said inlet end of said valve body to a first piston location;
• a check valve seat being positioned in said hole of said valve body between said inlet end and said tapered position of said hole, said check valve seal being positioned so as to contact said check valve seat when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said piston being movable from the first piston location to a plurality of downstream piston locations within said tapered portion of said hole when the compressor forces air from the air compressor through said inlet end of said valve body toward the air receiver, each of the downstream piston locations being further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first piston location;
• said piston assembly removing said check valve seal from contact with said check valve seat when said piston moves toward one of the downstream piston locations, thereby permitting air to move from the compressor through said inlet end of said valve body toward said outlet end of said valve body;
• a first clearance space existing between said check valve seal and said tapered portion of said valve body when said piston moves to a first of the downstream piston locations, said first clearance space permitting a first level of air flow;
• a second clearance space existing between said check valve seal and said tapered portion of said valve body when said piston moves to a second of the downstream piston locations, the second of the downstream piston locations being further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first of the downstream piston locations, said second clearance space permitting a second level of air flow;
• said second clearance space being greater than said first clearance space, the second level of air flow being greater than the first level of air flow;
• a dampener cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an inside diameter, said first end of said dampener cylinder being positioned at the outlet end of said body, said second end of said dampener cylinder having a dampener orifice therethrough, said piston assembly extending into said dampener cylinder when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said first bumper being positioned within said piston assembly so as to remain inside said hole of said valve body during operation of said check valve, said dampener seal being positioned within said pistion assembly so as to remain inside said inside diameter of said dampener cylinder during operation of said check valve.

A check valve to be installed between a compressor and an air receiver comprising:

• an elongated valve body having an inlet end and an outlet end and a hole extending therethrough from said inlet end to said outlet end, said hole including a tapered portion including at least a first inner diameter and at least a second inner diameter that is larger than said first inner diameter, said first inner diameter of said tapered portion being closer to said inlet end of said valve body than said second inner diameter of said tapered portion;
• a piston assembly mounted within said hole of said valve body, said piston assembly including a check valve seal, a piston, a first bumper, a dampener seal, and a piston spring, said piston spring normally biasing said piston toward said inlet end of said valve body to a first piston location;
• said check valve seal being positioned so as to contact said valve body when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said piston being movable from the first piston location to a plurality of downstream piston locations within said tapered portion of said hole when the compressor forces air from the air compressor through said inlet end of said valve body toward the air receiver, each of the downstream piston locations being further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first piston location;
• said piston assembly removing said check valve seal from contact with said valve body when said piston moves toward one of the downstream piston locations, thereby permitting air to move from the compressor through said inlet end of said valve body toward said outlet end of said valve body;
• a first clearance space existing between said check valve seal and said tapered portion of said valve body when said piston moves to a first of the downstream piston locations, said first clearance space permitting a first level of air flow;
• a second clearance space existing between said check valve seal and said tapered portion of said valve body when said piston moves to a second of the downstream piston locations, the second of the downstream piston locations being further away from said inlet end of said valve body than the first of the downstream piston locations, said second clearance space permitting a second level of air flow;
• said second clearance space being greater than said first clearance space, the second level of air flow being greater than the first level of air flow;
• a dampener cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an inside diameter, said first end of said dampener cylinder being positioned at the outlet end of said body, said second end of said dampener cylinder having a dampener orifice therethrough, said piston assembly extending into said dampener cylinder when said piston is at the first piston location;
• said first bumper being positioned within said piston assembly so as to remain inside said hole of said valve body during operation of said check valve, said dampener seal being positioned within said piston assembly so as to remain inside said inside diameter of said dampener cylinder during operation of said check valve.