CHECK VALVE WITH MODULATION AND/OR ANTI-OSCILLATION FEATURE

• US 20100224258A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oetiker Ny, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jiffy-tite Company Inc.
• Inventors: Messecar, James, Zillig, Steven, Caroll, James, Murray, Arthur, Steveley, Kip R., Lenartowicz, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,115,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/044 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/023 for preventing water-hammer, e.g. damping of the valve movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0379 By fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7928 With follower
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7936 Spring guides valve head

Abstract

A check valve includes a modulation and/or anti-oscillation feature which, in one aspect, modulates the position of the check valve ball relative to the valve seat to maintain the ball in a continuous flow position allowing pressurized fluid flow past the ball while preventing contact between the ball and the valve seat. In another aspect, an increased mass is selectively coupled to or forms a part of the movable valve member to dampen oscillations of the movable valve member in an open fluid flow position without contact with the valve seat.

Claims

1. A check valve adapted to be disposed in a fluid flow bore for allowing fluid flow through the bore in only one direction, the check valve comprising:

a valve seat formed in the bore;

a movable member disposed in the bore;

a biasing member engaged with the movable member and acting to normally bias the movable member into engagement with the valve seat; and

an oscillation dampening construction acting to dampen oscillation of the movable member when the movable member is in a fluid flow allowing position relative to the valve seat.

2. The check valve of claim 1 wherein the oscillation dampening construction comprises:

a bore having a diameter substantially the same as an outer diameter of the movable body extending from the valve seat for a first distance defining a first zone for movement of the body away from the valve seat without substantial fluid flow through the first distance past the movable body; and

a second modulation zone extending from the end of the first distance for a second distance defining a modulated flow zone for the movable body where the movable body is biased away from contact with the valve seat by a volume of fluid flowing through the first distance and into the second distance past the movable body.

3. The check valve of claim 2 wherein:

at least a portion of the second modulation zone has a larger diameter than a diameter of the first no-leak zone.

4. The check valve of claim 2 wherein:

the second modulation zone includes at least one fluid flow passageway portion having a larger diameter than a fluid flow bore extending through the second modulation zone.

5. The check valve of claim 2 wherein:

the second modulation zone has at least one flow passage of increasing diameter through the second distance.

6. The check valve of claim 2 further comprising:

the second modulation zone defined by a flow path extending from the passageway to an outlet.

7. The check valve of claim 2 wherein:

the first zone has a substantially constant diameter through at least the first distance.

8. The check valve of claim 1 wherein the check valve comprises:

an insert adapted to be mounted in the passageway, the insert carrying the movable body, the spring, and the oscillation dampening construction.

9. The check valve of claim 8 wherein:

the valve seat integrally carried in the insert.

10. The check valve of claim 1 wherein:

the oscillation dampening construction is carried in a housing which carries the valve seat, the removable body, the biasing member and the fluid flow passage.

11. The check valve of claim 1 further comprising:

the oscillation dampening construction including a rod movably disposed within the bore for axial movement, the rod coupled to the movable member.

12. The check valve assembly of claim 11 wherein the oscillation dampening construction further comprises:

an enlarged head coupled to the rod;

the biasing member acting on the head to urge the head toward the movable valve member to move the movable valve member into engagement with the valve seat in a normally closed fluid blocking position, the movable member and the head formed as separate members.

13. The check valve assembly of claim 12 further comprising:

the head having a surface configured to capture a portion of the movable member to cause axial movement of the movable valve member, the piston and the stem as a unitary mass within the bore.

14. The check valve assembly of claim 11 wherein the movable valve member further comprises:

a head joined to the rod, the head having a surface engageable with the valve seat.

15. The check valve of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to a structure having a fluid which needs to be cooled, the housing having inlet and outlet ports, the housing further being provided with first and second passageways in communication with the inlet and outlet ports, and a transverse passageway extending between the first and second passageways, the first passageway extending from the inlet port to an outlet port remote from the housing, and the second passageway extending towards the outlet port from an inlet port remote from the housing;

the check valve in transverse passageway to insure one way flow of fluid through the transverse passageway between the first and second passageways;

a valve disposed in one of the first and second passageways; and

a thermal actuator engageable with the valve to move the valve to a position blocking fluid flow through the one of the first and second passageways until sensing a predetermined fluid temperature.

16. A check valve for controlling fluid flow through a bore in only one direction, the check valve comprising:

means for providing a valve seat in the bore;

means for providing a movable body in the bore;

means for providing a biasing member engaged with the movable body and acting to normally bias the body into engagement with the valve seat; and

providing an oscillation dampening construction in the bore acting to dampen oscillation of the movable member when the movable member is in a fluid flow allowing position relative to the valve seat.

17. A method of controlling fluid flow through a bore in only one direction comprising the steps of:

providing a valve seat in the bore;

providing a movable body in the bore;

providing a biasing member engaged with the movable body and acting to normally bias the body into engagement with the valve seat; and

providing an oscillation dampening construction in the bore acting to dampen oscillation of the movable member when the movable member is in a fluid flow allowing position relative to the valve seat.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of providing an oscillation dampening construction comprises the steps of:

defining a first zone in the bore for movement of the movable body away from the valve seat without substantial fluid flow through the no-leak zone, the zone extending from the valve seat for a first distance.