Free flow fitting

A fitting for establishing one-way fluid flow communication from a source of lubricant, bridging agents, or grease to a piece of equipment, said fitting comprising:

• a threaded inlet end for receiving a grease gun or similar injection apparatus, said inlet end comprising an inlet passageway;
• a threaded outlet end for mounting said fitting within said piece of equipment, said outlet end comprising an internally threaded outlet passageway;
• a valve seat disposed between said inlet passageway and said outlet passageway;
• a ball valve for selectively blocking said valve seat;
• a spring disposed within said outlet passageway for yieldably biasing said ball valve into blocking contact with said valve seat;
• rigid retainer means disposed within said outlet passageway for limiting travel of said valve element whereby to insure consistent flow through said fitting, said retainer means comprising a rigid block generally in the form of a parallelipiped threadably mounted within said outlet passageway and a rigid stem projecting from said block and coaxially penetrating said spring;
• whereby positive one-way flow is maintained through said fitting without flowing through the spring.

A high pressure check valve adapted to be at least temporarily disposed in fluid flow communication between a pair of external apparatuses for selectively establishing a one-way flow of substances therebetween at high pressures, said check valve comprising:

• an externally threaded inlet end comprising an inlet orifice for receiving injected substances;
• an externally threaded outlet end comprising an internally threaded outlet orifice for outputting injected substances;
• a valve seat disposed internally within said check valve between said inlet end and said outlet end;
• valve means disposed within said outlet end for selectively blocking said valve seat;
• spring means disposed within said outlet end for biasing said valve means against said valve seat;
• a rigid retainer for securing said spring, said retainer comprising:
• a rigid, generally rectangular, threaded block mounted within said outlet orifice to define dual flow paths through said outlet orifice, said retainer block comprising locking means for securing said block against rotation within said outlet orifice;
• and,
• a rigid stem projecting from said block for coaxially mounting said spring and for limiting downward travel of said valve means in response to inflow of injected substances;
• whereby positive one way flow is maintained through said valve seat and around said spring means.