The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 03, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 25, 2000
Robert V. Funderburk, Salisbury, NC (US);
Conbraco Industries, Inc., Matthews, NC (US);
Abstract
A poppet-type check valve for controlling fluid flow including a valve housing having an interior and first and second ports therein communicating with the interior of said valve housing for permitting fluid flow from an upstream side to a downstream side thereof and at least one valve assembly disposed within the interior of the valve housing for controlling the fluid flow therethrough. The valve assembly includes a valve seat positioned in the interior of the valve housing, and a seal retainer positioned in the interior of the valve housing downstream from the valve seat and mounted on a stem. The seal retainer and the stem are axially moveable away from the valve seat in response to fluid flow in a downstream direction, axially moveable toward the valve seat in response to fluid flow in an upstream direction, and in sealing engagement against the valve seat in the absence of fluid flow. A plurality of springs are pivotally mounted in the interior of the valve housing interconnecting the valve housing and stem for normally maintaining the seal retainer in sealing engagement with the valve seat in the absence of fluid flow. The springs are positioned in radial opposition to one another and extend outwardly from the stem in the downstream direction to cause the seal retainer to move away from the valve seat in response to fluid flow in the downstream direction, thereby increasing the force of the stem on the springs and causing the springs to pivot and compress to produce a diminishing resultant spring load on the stem.