Valve member and assembly with inlet and outlet pressure relief grooves

A valve member for selectively closing a fluid passage including inlet and outlet portions in a valve assembly having a valve seat, which comprises:

• (a) said valve member comprising an annular plate valve member with annular inner and outer margins;
• (b) said valve member in its closed position defining inner and outer contact areas with said valve seat adjacent said inner and outer margins respectively, each said contact area including inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
• (c) inner and outer inlet pressure relief grooves extending along said valve member face from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
• (d) inner and outer outlet pressure relief grooves extending along said valve member face from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
• (e) inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively and communicating with said inner and outer inlet relief grooves respectively;
• (f) inner and outer intermediate grooves extending along said valve member face in spaced relation from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively and said inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves respectively, said inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves communicating with said inner and outer outlet relief grooves respectively;
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• (g) said inner and outer contact areas including respective inner and outer sealing portions whereat said valve seat and said valve member face are in engagement for preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.

A valve assembly, which comprises:

• (a) a fluid passage having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
• (b) a valve seat;
• (c) a valve member having a valve member face adapted for selectively engaging said valve seat to define a contact area therebetween when said valve member is in a closed position;
• (d) said contact area having inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
• (e) an inlet pressure relief groove extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from said inlet peripheral edge to an interior portion of said contact area;
• (f) an outlet pressure relief groove extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from said outlet peripheral edge to said contact area interior portion;
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• (g) said contact area including a sealing portion whereat said valve member face and said valve seat are in engagement for substantially preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.

A plate valve assembly, which comprises:

• (a) a fluid passage having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
• (b) a valve seat;
• (c) an annular plate valve member with annular inner and outer margins;
• (d) said valve member in its closed position defining inner and outer contact areas with said valve seat adjacent said inner and outer margins respectively, each said contact area including inlet and outlet peripheral edges at said passage inlet and outlet portions respectively;
• (e) inner and outer inlet pressure relief grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
• (f) inner and outer outlet pressure relief grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member face from one of said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively to interior portions of said inner and outer contact areas respectively;
• (g) inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves extending along one of said valve seat and said valve member faces in spaced relation from said inner and outer inlet peripheral edges respectively and communicating with said inner and outer inlet relief grooves respectively;
• (h) inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves extending along one of said valve seat and one said valve member face and positioned in spaced relation from said inner and outer outlet peripheral edges respectively and said inner and outer inlet intermediate grooves respectively, said inner and outer outlet intermediate grooves communicating with said inner and outer outlet relief grooves respectively;
• and
• (i) said inner and outer contact areas including respective inner and outer sealing portions whereat said valve seat and said valve member face are in engagement for substantially preventing the flow of fluid between said passage inlet and outlet portions.