Check valve assembly for corrosive fluids

Abstract

A high pressure check valve assembly includes a ceramic cage loosely fitted into the bore of a body so as to leave at least a partial clearance between the cage and the body. A passage through the cage includes a retaining section adjacent a fluid inlet end for loosely containing a ball and an irregular cross-section adjacent the retaining section so as to obstruct the ball without hindering fluid flow forwardly through the passage. The cage further has a lateral bleed hole between the passage and the clearance to equalize fluid pressure. An outlet-end sealing member is press fitted into the bore against the outlet end of the cage. An oversized resilient washer-shaped inlet-end sealing member is press fitted into the bore against the inlet end of the cage to seal and retain the assembly. This member has a central aperture with a washer shaped seat member fitted therein, the seat member functioning with the ball as the check valve.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.