# US 2021/0278002 A1 · Check valve system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0278002 A1 - Document ID: US20210278002A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/059,627 - Filed: 2019-06-27 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-29 - Assignees: Sulzer Mixpac AG - Applicants: Sulzer Mixpac AG - Inventors: Hayden TURNER; Garrett FAINO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278002A1 ## CPC - F16K 15/026: {the valve member being a movable body around which the medium flows when the valve is open} - F16K 27/0209: {Check valves or pivoted valves} - B05C 11/1028: {Lift valves} - B05C 17/00566: {with a dynamic mixer in the nozzle} - F16K 15/00: Check valves (valves specially adapted for inflatable balls A63B41/00) - 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)} - B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08) ## Abstract A check valve system includes a housing, a blocking element, and a biasing member. The housing has a passageway therethrough, the passageway including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the second portion so as to form a stepped portion. The blocking element is disposed within the second portion of the passageway. The biasing member is disposed within the second portion of the passageway and configured to maintain the blocking element in contact with the stepped portion when under compression. The housing, the blocking element and the biasing member being obtainable by substantially simultaneously 3D printing, so as to be formed from one or more 3D printable materials. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A check valve system, comprising: a housing having a passageway therethrough, the passageway including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the second portion so as to form a stepped portion; a blocking element disposed within the second portion of the passageway; and a biasing member disposed within the second portion of the passageway and configured to maintain the blocking element in contact with the stepped portion when under compression, the housing, the blocking element and the biasing member being obtainable by substantially simultaneously 3D printing, so as to be formed from one or more 3D printable materials. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The check valve system according to claim 1, wherein the housing, the blocking element and the biasing member are formed from the same material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The check valve system according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a spring formed under zero stress. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The check valve system according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a spring that is configured to be initially compressed when a dispensing device is at least partially disposed in the second portion of the passageway. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The check valve system according to claim 1, wherein the passageway includes retention clips on an internal surface thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The check valve system according to claim 5, wherein the retention clips are configured to retain the biasing member in a partially compressed state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The check valve system according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is configured to be compressed when the dispensing device is coupled with the check valve system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The check valve system according to claim 1, wherein the housing, the blocking element and the biasing member are formed from at least one of PA12, polypropylene, glass filled polyamide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The check valve system according to claim 1, wherein the passageway is a first passageway and the housing includes a second passageway, the blocking element is a first blocking element and a second blocking element is disposed in the second passageway, and the biasing member is a first biasing member and a second biasing member is disposed in the second passageway, the first and second passageways being substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 10 A method of forming a check valve system, the method comprising: substantially simultaneously 3D printing a housing having a passageway therethrough, the passageway including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the second portion so as to form a stepped portion, a blocking element disposed within the second portion of the passageway, and a biasing member disposed within the second portion of the passageway and configured to maintain the blocking element in contact with the stepped portion when under compression. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the biasing member is a spring formed under zero stress. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising initially compressing the biasing member when a dispensing device is at least partially disposed in the second portion of the passageway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising forming retention clips on an internal surface of the passageway during the 3D printing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising retaining the biasing member in a partially compressed state with the retention clips. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising compressing the biasing member when the dispensing device is coupled to the check valve system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising forming the housing, the blocking element and the biasing member from at least one of PA12 polypropylene, glass filled polyamide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the passageway is a first passageway, the blocking element is a first blocking element, and the biasing member is a first biasing member, and the substantially simultaneously 3D printing including printing a second passageway, a second blocking element disposed in the second passageway, and a second biasing member disposed in the second passageway, the first and second passageways being substantially parallel to each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A dispenser for dispensing a compound, the dispenser comprising: a storage device for the compound; an outlet for dispensing the compound; and the check valve system of claim 1 disposed between the storage device and the outlet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The dispenser of claim 18, further comprising a plunger system to dispense the compound, the force of the compound being pushed through the check valve system causing the blocking element to open. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method comprising: operating the dispenser of claim 18, in at least one of a marine, a pipeline, a bridge, a tank, wind, rail and a confined space application.