SEAT AND SEALING MEANS FOR CLAPPER-TYPE CHECK VALVE

• US 3,857,408 A
• Filed: 10/23/1973
• Issued: 12/31/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Allen F. Rhodes, Ruben G. Alaniz
• Inventors: Rhodes, Allen F., Alaniz, Ruben G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nilson, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US05/408,979
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 137/514,527,527.8 251/50,172,173,298,299,303
• US Class Current: 137/514
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/03 with a hinged closure member or with a pivoted closure member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/785 With retarder or dashpot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7898 Pivoted valves

Abstract

Seat and sealing means for a clapper-type check valve in which a movable seat ring for the clapper is hydraulically cushioned upon contact of the clapper with the seat ring. A fluid chamber cushions the movement of the seat ring and contains flowline fluid which is squeezed or metered from the chamber upon impact of the clapper with the seat. A sealing member on the seat ring extends into the fluid chamber but is inoperative when the valve member is out of contact with the seat ring to permit a continuous flow of flowline fluid through the chamber in the open position of the valve member. Sealing of the seat ring is effective only upon travel of the seat ring after contact by the valve member and a free lip portion on the sealing member provides a sealing pressure proportional to the flowline pressure.

Claims

1. A check valve structure comprising, a valve body having a conduit forming a flow passage with an end of the flow passage being recessed, a seat ring received within the recessed end of the conduit and mounted for movement axially of the conduit between an extended position and a retracted position, a clappertype valve member mounted for swinging movement within the body and adapted to contact and seat on said seat ring when in a closed position, a fluid chamber formed between opposed facing surfaces on said seat ring and said recessed end, first port means permitting a limited flow of fluid between the fluid chamber and the flow passage from one end of the seat ring, second port means permitting a limited flow of fluid between the fluid chamber and the flow passage from an opposed end of the seat ring, and a seal on said facing surface of said seat ring extending into said fluid chamber and being in spaced relation to the adjacent facing surface of said recessed end in an open position of the clapper-type valve member to permit a flow of flowline fluid through the fluid chamber from said first and second port means in the open position of the valve member, said seal upon movement of the seat ring toward a retracted position contacting said facing surface of the recessed end and effecting a tight sealing relation between the body and the seat ring to prevent a flow of flowline fluid through the fluid chamber, said fluid being metered from the fluid chamber through said first and second port means upon movement of said seat ring to a retracted position from extended position for hydraulically cushioning such movement.

2. A check valve structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seat ring and said recessed end have facing outer peripheral surfaces spaced from each other a predetermined distance to define said first port means.

3. A check valve structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said seat ring and said recessed end have facing intermediate peripheral surfaces of a lesser diameter than said outer peripheral surfaces and spaced from each other a predetermined distance to define said second port means.

4. A check valve structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opposed facing surface of said seat ring has an annular groove therein, said seal including a base mounted within said annular groove and a free lip portion extending from the base into said fluid chamber toward said opposed facing surface of said recessed end, said lip portion contacting said opposed facing surface of said recessed end only after movement of said seat ring toward a retracted position.

5. A check valve structure comprising, a valve body having a flow passage, a seat ring about the flow passage, a clapper-type valve member mounted for swinging movement within the body and adapted to contact and seat on said seat ring when in a closed position, said seat ring having an outer peripheral surface adjacent the valve member and an intermediate peripheral surface remote from the valve member, said valve body having outer and intermediate peripheral surfaces complementary to the outer and intermediate peripheral surfaces of said seat ring and spaced therefrom a predetermined amount to provide a clearance, said intermediate and outer peripheral surfaces of said seat ring being connected by an annular ledge facing in a direction axially of the flow passage, said intermediate and outer peripheral surfaces of said valve body being connected by a complementary annular ledge spaced from the annular ledge of the seat ring to form an annular fluid chamber therebetween, an annular groove in the annular ledge of the seat ring, and a seal mounted in said annular groove and spaced from the adjacent valve body annular ledge in an extended position of the seat ring but contacting said valve body annular ledge in a retracted position of the seat ring.

6. A check valve structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said seal includes a base portion mounted in said annular groove and a free lip portion extending from the base into the fluid chamber toward the annular ledge of said body, said lip portion contacting said body annular ledge only after movement of said seat ring toward a retracted position.

7. A check valve structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said free lip portion has a width less than the width of said base portion, and a pocket is formed between the free lip portion and the base portion in the extended position of the seat ring, said free lip portion in the retracted position of the seat ring fitting within the pocket.