SELF CLEANING CHECK VALVE

• US 3,865,133 A
• Filed: 10/31/1973
• Issued: 02/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James W. Alford
• Original Assignee: James W. Alford
• Inventors: Alford, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cline, William R.
• Application Number:
  US05/411,280
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 137/512,525,512.15,604,606
• US Class Current: 137/512
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/1402 having an integral flexible member cooperating with a plurality of seating surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/145 the closure elements being shaped as a solids of revolution, e.g. cylindrical or conical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7838 Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/784 Integral resilient member forms plural valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7889 Sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet

Abstract

A self-cleaning check valve comprising a valve stem having a central bore and outlets, and a flexible sleeve of elastomeric material covering the stem and outlets. Material is pumped through said bore and said outlets deforming the sleeve and flowing outward. When no material is being pumped through said bore the sleeve returns to its undeformed shape covering the discharge opening thereby closing the valve and preventing foreign material from entering the discharge opening.

Claims

1. A mixing chamber suitable for mixing a plurality of materials comprising:

a housing having a mixing chamber with inlets and an outlet; and

check valves securely mounted in said inlets, said valves comprising a valve stem projecting into said chamber and having a central bore terminating with a closed end wall, a discharge opening in said stem adjacent said end wall, an inlet end opposite said end wall and a flexible sleeve of elastomeric material covering said stem, one end of said sleeve covering said discharge opening and the other end of said sleeve, opposite said discharge opening, being firmly secured to said stem, said valves having axes which are in an angular relationship to each other whereby when material is pumped in said inlet end through said bore and out said discharge opening, said sleeve expands allowing material to flow into said mixing chamber where the materials impinge causing mixing and when no material is being pumped through said bore, said sleeve contracts covering said discharge opening and preventing material from said mixing chamber from entering said discharge opening.

2. The check valve of claim 1, where said sleeve is polychloroprene.

3. The check valve of claim 1 where said sleeve is silicone rubber.

4. The check valve of claim 1, where said sleeve has a Shore A durometer of about 30 to about 80.