# US 2018/0023724 A1 · Elastomeric In-Line Tide Gate Valve

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- Number: US 2018/0023724 A1
- Document ID: US20180023724A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/656,412
- Filed: 2017-07-21
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21
- Assignees: Red Valve Company, Inc.
- Applicants: Red Valve Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael J. Duer; Chris Raftis; Andre Thomas Abromaitis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023724A1

## CPC

- F16K 31/12: actuated by fluid ({fluid-actuated lift valves F16K1/126} ; fluid-actuated check valves F16K15/00; fluid-actuated safety valves F16K17/00)
- E03F 7/04: Valves for preventing return flow {(in gullies, drains or the like E03F5/042)}
- F16K 15/023: {the valve member consisting only of a predominantly disc-shaped flat element}
- F16K 15/144: {the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery}
- F16K 15/147: {the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form}
- F16K 27/0209: {Check valves or pivoted valves}
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS

## Abstract

A check valve includes a tubular sleeve bounding a longitudinally-extending flow-through passage for fluids, a disc having a first material affixed along a first portion of its periphery to a flexible hinge member, and a bill affixed at a first end to one or more of the sleeve, the flexible hinge member, and the disc. The check valve also includes one or more of the following of (i), (ii), and (iii): (i) at least one groove, rib, insert, or combination thereof that extends longitudinally along a length of the disc, the bill, or both the disc and the bill; (ii) at least one groove, notch, rib, insert, or combination thereof that extends laterally along a width of the bill; and (iii) at least one ripple that extends longitudinally along a length of the bill and, optionally, longitudinally along a length of the disc.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A check valve comprising:
(a) a tubular sleeve bounding a longitudinally-extending flow-through passage for fluids, said sleeve having an upstream fluid inlet end region and a downstream fluid outlet region, wherein the upstream fluid inlet end region and/or the downstream fluid outlet region is adapted to be affixed to a conduit;
(b) the downstream fluid outlet region of said sleeve being integrally formed with a longitudinally-extending trough, said trough having a bottom wall and a pair of side walls integral with said bottom wall, said trough formed with said downstream fluid outlet region of said sleeve so as to provide a flow-through passage for said fluids;
(c) a disc comprising a first material affixed along a first portion of its periphery to a flexible hinge member, said flexible hinge member affixed to and interposed between said disc and said downstream fluid outlet region of said sleeve, said flexible hinge member comprising a second material which is more flexible than the first material of said disc, and wherein a second portion of the periphery of said disc opposite said first portion rests within said trough on said bottom wall of said trough when said valve is in a closed position, wherein said disc opens said valve in response to positive differential pressure within said valve;
(d) a bill affixed at a first end to one or more of the group consisting of the sleeve, the flexible hinge member, and the disc, said bill extending longitudinally downstream along said longitudinal axis of said trough, said bill being integrally formed with said side walls of said trough, said bill being formed of a flexible material and forming an opening for discharge of fluid in response to a positive differential pressure within said valve from said fluid, and said bill forming a seal to prevent backflow of said fluid through said valve when no differential pressure or negative differential pressure is present; and
(e) one or more of the following (i), (ii), and (iii):
(i) at least one groove, rib, insert, or combination thereof that extends longitudinally along a length of the disc, the bill, or both the disc and the bill;
(ii) at least one groove, notch, rib, insert, or combination thereof that extends laterally along a width of the bill; and
(iii) at least one ripple that extends longitudinally along a length of the bill and, optionally, longitudinally along a length of the disc.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove, rib, or insert of (i) extends continuously along the length of the disc, the bill, or both the disc and the bill.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove, rib, or insert of (i) extends intermittently along the length of the disc, the bill, or both the disc and the bill.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove, rib, or insert of (i) extends along the length of the disc, the bill, or both the disc and the bill at an angle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove, rib, or insert of (i) are tapered.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the check valve comprises two or more grooves, ribs, or inserts of (i), and wherein at least two of the grooves, ribs, or inserts are interconnected.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove, rib, or insert of (i) are formed along at least a downstream side of the disc.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove, rib, or insert of (i) are formed along at least an upstream side of the disc.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one groove or rib of (i) and (ii) are round shaped, trapezoidal shaped, rectangular and/or square shaped, V shaped grooves, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert of (i) and (ii) are circular shaped, hexagonal shaped, rectangular and/or square shaped, form long wide strips, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the check valve comprises both (e)(i) and (e)(ii).

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the check valve comprises (e)(iii) and at least one of (e)(i) and (e)(ii).

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the check valve has a shape selected from rectangular, elliptical, oval, and hexagonal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein the disc has a width that is coextensive with said pair of side walls of said trough, said disc forming a seal with said side walls when said valve is in a closed position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The check valve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve, said trough, said flexible hinge member, said disc and said bill are each formed of one or more plies of an elastomeric material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A check valve assembly comprising:
(a) a check valve according to claim 1; and
(b) a tubular body,
wherein the check valve is integrally formed within the tubular body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16, wherein a downstream region of the tubular body is affixed to an interior portion of a conduit.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16, wherein an entire lower portion of the check valve below a plane of a horizontal centerline of the check valve is vulcanized to the tubular body.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The assembly of claim 18, wherein portions of the check valve above the plane of the horizontal centerline of the valve that are in contact with the tubular body when the check valve is fully closed are vulcanized to the tubular body.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The assembly of claim 19, wherein the bill and disc of the check valve are separated from the interior portions of the tubular body.