Fluid Check Valve
AssigneeUtex Industries, Inc.
InventorPaul Crawford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention comprises a flapper check valve assembly in which a flapper coated with an elastomeric seal is pivotably attached to a swing arm, and further in which the swing arm is pivotably attached to a retainer ring permitting two degrees of freedom of motion. The retainer ring is mounted in a check valve body. A novel mounting of the flapper to the swing arm ensures the flapper seals the pipeline against backflow.
Claims18
A flapper assembly for a fluid check valve comprising a generally conical flapper, an L-shaped swing arm having a first end and a second end, two pivot pins, an elastomeric seal and a retaining ring in which:
- the generally conical flapper is pivotably attached to the second end of the L-shaped swing arm,
- the first end of the L-shaped swing arm is pivotably attached to the retaining ring and
- the elastomeric seal is disposed over the flat bottom of the generally conical flapper. over the conical side of the generally conical flapper and further disposed over at least part of the second end of the L-shaped swing arm in order to seal the connection between the generally conical flapper and the second end of the L-shaped swing arm.
A mounting for the generally conical flapper of a flapper assembly for a fluid check valve comprising:
- a generally cylindrical mounting element of the mounting end of the generally conical flapper in which the generally cylindrical mounting element, further comprises a generally spherical bulge disposed circumferentially around the generally cylindrical mounting element
- a shaped end of a swing arm into which the generally cylindrical mounting element and generally spherical bulge of the generally conical flapper fit
- a pivot pin and pivot pin hole suitable to connect the flapper to the second end of the swing arm
- and an elastomeric seal covering the generally conical body of the flapper and extending to cover at least part of the second end of the swing arm in order to seal the connection between the generally conical flapper and the second end of the swing arm.
A flapper assembly for a fluid check valve in which the flapper assembly provides two degrees of freedom of motion, specifically:
- a first pivot point between the retaining ring of the flapper assembly and the first end of the swing arm in which the first pivot point permits pivotal motion of at least 90 degrees
- and a second pivot point between the second end of the swing arm and the mount of the flapper in which the second pivot point permits pivotal motion of at least 3 degrees and less than or equal to 7 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.