Check valve cartridges with controlled pressure sealing

Abstract

A check valve cartridge insertable into a valve housing which is adapted to couple to a pump fluid head. The check valve cartridge has a fluid pathway therethrough with a desired direction for fluid flow. The cartridge utilizes a ball-seat assembly to control the direction of fluid flowing through the cartridge to the desired direction. The ball-seat assembly includes a rigid seat which is compliantly supported within the cartridge by thin compliant spacers. The check valve cartridge further has deformable seals which partially fit within the opposed ends of a cartridge body and are adapted to cold flow and seal to a surface when subjected to a force. One of the deformable seals is adapted to seal against a surface of the pump fluid head and has slidably mounted over its end a rigid ring which constrains the cold flow of the end of the seal that seals to the pump fluid head. The check valve cartridge may be designed to be used for inlet and outlet check valves.