Inline, elastomeric one-way valve

A system comprising a check valve including:

• a stem configured to engage a bore having a predetermined internal diameter;
• an elastomeric sealing disk having a disk diameter greater than the predetermined internal diameter;
• and
• a neck interconnecting the elastomeric sealing disk with the stem;
• wherein at least a radially outer portion of the elastomeric sealing disk is biased or biasable in a selected direction away from a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stem such that an effective diameter of the radially outer portion is greater than or equal to the predetermined internal diameter, but less than the disk diameter, when the elastomeric sealing disk is so biased;
• wherein the stem defines at least one channel for fluid communication between the neck and an end of the stem opposite the neck such that a fluid may flow around the elastomeric sealing disk in the selected direction and through the channel, but is substantially prevented from flowing around the elastomeric sealing disk in a direction opposite to the selected direction, when the check valve is installed within the bore, wherein the stem includes a recess disposed in the end of the stem opposite the neck, the recess having a longitudinal extent and
• an installation tool having an end portion sized for insertion within the recess but with a length greater than the longitudinal extent of the recess.

A system comprising a check valve including:

• a resilient stem assembly configured to engage a bore having a predetermined internal diameter;
• and
• an elastomeric sealing disk having a disk diameter greater than the predetermined internal diameter;
• wherein at least a radially outer portion of the elastomeric sealing disk is biased or biasable in a selected direction away from a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stem assembly, such that an effective diameter of the radially outer portion is greater than or equal to the predetermined internal diameter, but less than the disk diameter, when the elastomeric sealing disk is so biased;
• wherein the stem assembly comprises an open framework connected to the elastomeric sealing disk, and is configured such that a fluid may pass around the elastomeric sealing disk in the selected direction and through the open framework, but is substantially prevented from passing around the elastomeric sealing disk in a direction opposite to the selected direction, when the check valve is installed within the bore, wherein the stem assembly includes a recess disposed in the end of the stem assembly opposite the elastomeric sealing disk, the recess having a longitudinal extent;
• and
• an insert having an outside diameter that is larger than the inside diameter of the recess, wherein the insert serves to expand the stem assembly surrounding the recess to produce a compression lock against the bore.

A system comprising a check valve including:

• a stem configured to engage a bore having a predetermined internal diameter;
• a longitudinal channel extending across an exterior surface of the stem;
• and
• an elastomeric sealing member connected to one end of the stem and configured to sealingly engage the bore;
• wherein a radially outer portion of the elastomeric sealing member is configured to be disposed across the channel and is biased in a direction toward the opposite end of the stem with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stem, such that the radially outer portion will seal against the bore when moved oppositely from the direction of the bias;
• wherein the valve is configured such that a fluid may flow around the elastomeric sealing member in the direction of the bias and through the channel, but is substantially prevented from flowing around the elastomeric sealing member in a direction opposite to the direction of the bias, when the check valve is installed within the bore, wherein the stem includes a recess disposed in the end of the stem opposite the elastomeric sealing member, the recess having a longitudinal extent;
• and
• an installation tool having a prong configured for insertion into the longitudinal channel, the prong having a length greater than a longitudinal extent of the channel.

A system comprising a check valve including:

• a stem configured to engage a bore having a predetermined internal diameter;
• an elastomeric sealing member coupled to the stem and having, when undeformed and not positioned in the bore, a diameter greater than the predetermined internal diameter;
• and
• wherein at least a radially outer portion of the elastomeric sealing member extends away, in a selected direction, from a plane that is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stem, and wherein the at least a radially outer portion is deformable such that when the check valve is positioned in the bore the elastomeric sealing member has a diameter matching the internal diameter of the bore;
• wherein the stem defines at least one channel providing fluid communication along the stem in an axial direction when the check valve is positioned in the bore;
• and
• wherein the sealing member is configured, when the check valve is positioned in the bore, to substantially prevent fluid from flowing past the sealing member in a direction opposite to the selected direction, and to more easily allow fluid to flow past the sealing member in the selected direction as compared to in the direction opposite to the selected direction, wherein the stem includes a recess disposed in the end of the stem opposite the elastomeric sealing member, the recess having a longitudinal extent;
• and
• an insert having an outside diameter that is larger than the inside diameter of the recess, wherein the insert serves to expand the stem surrounding the recess to produce a compression lock against the bore.