CHECK VALVE WITH FLUID HAMMER RELIEF AND MONITORING FEATURES
First Claim
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1. A check valve module for controlling the flow of a fluid, said module comprising:
- an enclosure comprising a valve-input and a valve-output suitably configured so that fluid flows into said valve-input, through said enclosure, and then out said valve-output;
wherein said enclosure is further suitably configured to receive a check valve assembly between said valve-input and said valve-output;
a check valve assembly disposed between said valve-input and said valve-output, said check valve assembly comprising a valve section and a stem section;
wherein said valve section comprises a flapper associated with a spring configured to open and allow fluid flow through the enclosure when the pressure exerted by the fluid on the valve-input side of the flapper equals or exceeds a predefined open value;
wherein said flapper is further configured to close and prevent fluid flow through the enclosure when the pressure exerted by the fluid on the valve-input side of the flapper is below a predefined close value;
a check valve plate configured to detachably associate with said enclosure using only external fasteners to the enclosure, wherein said stem section extends from said valve section, through said check valve plate and to a point outside the enclosure thereby defining a stem section distal end;
wherein said check valve assembly may be removed from said enclosure by removing said external fasteners; and
a fluid hammer suppressor associated with said check valve plate so that said fluid hammer suppressor is in fluid communication with said valve-output.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for improved check valve technology used in flow meters, particularly compound/combo meters. The improved check valve technology may comprise a single piece module that (1) can easily be removed from the check valve chamber without disturbing the metering module, (2) comprises a seal as part of the check valve assembly simplifying seal inspection, seal removal and seal replacement; (3) is secured in its housing only external fasteners; and (4) comprises fluid hammer suppression and monitoring features.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A check valve module for controlling the flow of a fluid, said module comprising:
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an enclosure comprising a valve-input and a valve-output suitably configured so that fluid flows into said valve-input, through said enclosure, and then out said valve-output; wherein said enclosure is further suitably configured to receive a check valve assembly between said valve-input and said valve-output; a check valve assembly disposed between said valve-input and said valve-output, said check valve assembly comprising a valve section and a stem section; wherein said valve section comprises a flapper associated with a spring configured to open and allow fluid flow through the enclosure when the pressure exerted by the fluid on the valve-input side of the flapper equals or exceeds a predefined open value; wherein said flapper is further configured to close and prevent fluid flow through the enclosure when the pressure exerted by the fluid on the valve-input side of the flapper is below a predefined close value; a check valve plate configured to detachably associate with said enclosure using only external fasteners to the enclosure, wherein said stem section extends from said valve section, through said check valve plate and to a point outside the enclosure thereby defining a stem section distal end; wherein said check valve assembly may be removed from said enclosure by removing said external fasteners; and a fluid hammer suppressor associated with said check valve plate so that said fluid hammer suppressor is in fluid communication with said valve-output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A check valve assembly for flow meters, comprising:
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a valve housing defining a fluid-input and a fluid-output wherein said valve housing further defines a inter void between said fluid-input and said fluid-output; a check-valve disposed within said inter void and configured to allow fluid flow through the valve housing when the fluidic pressure at the fluid-input reaches a predefined pressure value; wherein said check-valve is further configured to prevent fluid flow through the valve housing when the fluidic pressure at the fluid-input is below a predefined pressure value; a housing plate configured to secure said check-valve within said void using only external fasteners; and a fluid hammer suppressor defining a suppressor-input, wherein said suppressor-input is associated with said check valve assembly so that fluid from said valve housing is in fluid communication with said suppressor-input thereby placing said fluid hammer suppressor in fluid communication with said valve housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of providing water hammer protection to a fluid delivery system, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a fluid hammer suppressor comprising a housing defining an internal void, said housing further defining a housing input at a first end and a plunger interface at a second end, and wherein said housing further defines a vent port between said housing input and said plunger interface; associating said housing input with said fluid delivery system so that said housing input is in fluid communication with the fluid in said fluid delivery system; disposing a plunger assembly at least partially within said internal void so that said plunger assembly is movably associated with said housing; configuring said plunger assembly to prevent fluid from flowing from said fluid delivery system and through said vent port when the fluidic pressure at said housing input is below a predefined value; and configuring said plunger assembly to allow fluid flow from said housing input and through said vent port when the fluidic pressure at the housing input reaches a predefined vent pressure. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification