Check valve construction
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorTheodore C. Brandt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A one-way ball check valve arranged in a tube so that minimum point contact is maintained between the moving ball valve member and the surrounding stationary portions of the valve so as to prevent malfunction of the valve due to surface tension therebetween. The ball valve is contained in an enclosure having relatively flat guide portions that permits minimum contact with the ball valve surface during movement between its closed and open position. The closed end portion of the enclosure is provided with a dimple that affords minimum point contact with the ball valve when it is in the open position.
Claims5
A one-way ball check valve arranged in a refrigerant carrying tube member comprising:
- a substantially cylindrical body member positioned in said tube member having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said tube member;
- a centrally arranged passageway extending axially through said body member;
- a valve seat arranged on one end of said axial passageway;
- a first and second annular groove in said body member;
- an annular sealing means arranged in said first groove engaging the inner wall of said tube to prevent refrigerant from leaking past said body member;
- a valve cage in said tube member including circumferentially spaced axially extending guide members connected together at one end to form a cap portion;
- a contact portion formed integral with said cap portion and projecting axially toward said valve seat;
- tab portions extending radially inwardly from the other end of said guide members;
- tab receiving means arranged in said body member for receiving said tab portions for holding said cage and said body member and for positioning said end cap portion relative to said valve seat;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced holding means formed in said tube member projecting radially inwardly into engagement with said second groove in said body member for preventing movement of said body member relative to said tube member;
- and
- a valve member arranged in said valve cage being operable under action of said refrigerant between a closed position on said valve seat and an open position in point contact against said contact portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.