Clog-proof check valve
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorHarold R. Haines
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Drain/check valve of soft elastomer for floor of vehicle, resembles a musom. Top surface of mushroom head has radial grooves. Central passage through head terminates in a tapered flat edge of mushroom stem which is normally closed. Head is peripherally grooved in grommet-like fashion to yieldably accept edges of hole-defining floor surface or similar panel. With valve in place, elastomer between radial grooves extends radially inward beyond walls of passage below head, thus forming narrowest part of passageway. Passage diverges downward, when wide open, and passage in its preformed state is progressively larger in overall perimeter and towards the terminal lower end thereof.
Claims7
A clog-resistant drain valve of soft elastomeric material formed integrally with a stem and an enlarged head in a shape resembling a mushroom;
- a. the stem of the valve in its elastomeric free state tapering at a lower end to an elongated flat edge;
- b. the head of the valve having a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edges of an opening in a surface to be drained by the valve;
- c. a substantially vertical drain passage centered and originating in the head in substantially circular cross-sectional form, and in the free state terminating at the tapered lower end in a generally flat edge;
- said drain passage in said preformed free state being progressively larger in overall perimeter commencing from the beginning of the taper and going towards said terminal lower flat edge;
- d. the elastomeric material being sufficiently soft to permit opening of the tapered edge for ready passage of entrained solids which would otherwise clog the drain;
- and
- e. the tapered portion of said passage when open having a preformed cross-section which progressively increases without circumferential stretching as drained refuse moves toward and passes through the extreme lower edge.
A clog-resistant drain valve of soft elastomeric material formed integrally with a stem and an enlarged head in a shape resembling a mushroom:
- a. the stem of the valve in its elastomeric free state having a portion tapering at a lower end to an elongated flat edge;
- b. a substantially vertical drain passage centered and originating in the head, and in said free state terminating at said tapered lower flat edge;
- c. the head of said valve having a plurality of radially oriented horizontal drain grooves connecting with said centered vertical drain passage, and also having a peripheral groove adapted to receive the edges of an opening in a surface to be drained by the valve;
- d. the elastomeric material being sufficiently soft to permit opening of the tapered edge for ready passage of entrained solids which would otherwise clog the drain;
- e. the tapered portion of said passage when open having a preformed cross section which progressively increases as drained refuse moves toward the extreme lower edge;
- and
- f. wherein for a valve installed in-place, the elastomeric material at the upper surface of the head above and between the horizontal drain grooves extends radially inward beyond the wall of that portion of the vertical passage which is immediately below said horizontal drain grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.