Check valve

A valve for supplying fluid from a fluid source to a system, comprising:

• a housing having an axial conduit extending along a central axis from an inlet at one end for entry of fluid into the housing to an outlet at an opposite end for exit of fluid from the housing;
• a check valve body disposed within the axial conduit of the valve housing and coaxial with the housing;
• and
• a fluid flow path through which fluid flows from the inlet through the check valve body to the outlet, wherein fluid is retained within a portion of the fluid flow path to substantially surround the check valve body preventing gas and debris from the outlet from entering the check valve body and wherein the check valve body includes a first valve body section having a first end adjacent to the inlet of the housing and a distal end, and a second valve body section having a first end threaded into the distal end of the first valve body section forming a fluid seal and a second distal end adjacent to the outlet of the housing.

A method of manufacturing a valve structure, comprising:

• forming a housing having an axial conduit extending from a fluid inlet at a first end to a fluid outlet at a second end;
• forming a check valve body having a first valve body section and a second valve body section, the first valve body section having an inlet port to conduct fluid through the check valve body to an outlet port in the second valve body section or between the second valve body section and the housing;
• inserting into the first valve section a second ball, a second spring, a first ball, and then a first spring into the first valve body section, the second spring biasing the first and second ball;
• and
• positioning the check valve body within the axial conduit of the housing forming a fluid flow path that extends from the inlet through the check valve body to the outlet, wherein a portion of the fluid flow path is formed to retain fluid to surround the check valve body to prevent gas and debris from entering the check valve body.

A valve for supplying fluid from a fluid source to a system, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet at one end for entry of fluid into the housing and an outlet at an opposite end for exit of fluid from the housing;
• two check valves disposed within the housing;
• and
• a fluid flow path in which fluid flows from the inlet through the housing to the outlet, the fluid flow path including a barrier portion between the two check valves and the outlet wherein fluid is retained to substantially prevent gas and debris from fouling the check valve, the barrier portion providing a sufficiently small gap so that fluid is maintained in the barrier portion due to surface tension regardless of the orientation of the valve.