Method for manufacturing a check valve contained within a tube

Abstract

A check valve integral with the tube and the method of manufacturing a check valve are disclosed. The ball or poppet of the check valve is maintained in position via a magnetic mandrel while the tube is crimped at both sides of the poppet. The tube is inwardly crimped to prevent the poppet from being displaced in either direction and simultaneously to allow flow to bypass the poppet in the desired flow direction. Thereafter the poppet is physically displaced against one of the crimped indentations to coin a seat such that the poppet and the seat coact to prevent flow of fluid in the undesired direction. In this manner, a check valve is formed integrally with a tube without requiring any additional components.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.