Check valve having integrally formed seat and seal body

1. A valve assembly comprising:

a first conduit having a first flange;

a second conduit having a second flange abutting against the first flange;

a stopper; and

a valve body secured between the first and second flanges, the valve body including a circumferential notch that divides the body into first and second portions between the notch and respective first and second opposite ends of the body, a body bore extending through the valve body between the first and second ends, the body bore defining circular opening in the second end of the body, the body bore communicating between the first and second conduits;

wherein the notch substantially insulates the circular opening from distortion arising from securing the valve body between the first and second flanges;

wherein the stopper snuggly seats against the circular opening to prevent fluid flow through the body bore from the second end to the first end, and unseats from the circular opening to permit fluid flow through the body bore from the first end to the second end;

an o-ring around the first portion of the valve body;

wherein the first portion of the valve body includes a tapered surface that is of smaller diameter at the first end of the valve body and increases in diameter to the notch; and

wherein securing the valve body between the first and second flanges forces the tapered surface into the o-ring and energizes the o-ring to fluid-tightly seal between the valve body and the first and second flanges.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second flange includes first and second steps; wherein the o-ring is secured between the first step and the first flange; and wherein the valve body is secured between the second step and the first flange.

3. The valve assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the valve body abuts against the first flange and the second end of the valve body abuts against the second step.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve body includes an integrally-formed lip surrounding the circular opening and extending from the second end of the valve body into the second conduit; wherein the stopper is positioned within the second conduit; and wherein the lip provides a seating surface for the stopper to facilitate sealing therebetween.

5. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve body is constructed as one piece from a nonmetallic material.

6. A valve assembly comprising:

a first conduit having a first flange;

a second conduit having a second flange abutting against the first flange;

a stopper;

a valve body secured between the first and second flanges, the valve body including a circumferential notch that divides the body into first and second portions between the notch and respective first and second opposite ends of the body, a body bore extending though the valve body between the first and second end, the body bore defining a circular opening in the second end of the body, the body bore communicating between the first and second conduits;

an o-ring around the first portion of the valve body; and

wherein the notch substantially insulates the circular opening from distortion arising from securing the valve body between the first and second flanges;

wherein the stopper snuggly seats against the circular opening to prevent fluid flow through the body bore from the second end to the first end, and unseats from the circular opening to permit fluid flow through the body bore from the first end to the second end;

wherein the valve body includes an integrally-formed lip surrounding the circular opening and extending from the second end of the valve body into the second conduit; wherein the stopper is positioned within the second conduit; and wherein the lip provides a seating surface for the stopper to facilitate sealing therebetween;

wherein the seating surface of the lip is generally conical in shape; and wherein the notch insulates the lip from distortion arising from securing the valve body between the first and second flanges;

wherein the first portion of the valve body includes a tapered surface that is of smaller diameter at the first end of the valve body and increases in diameter to the notch; and

wherein securing the valve body between the first and second flanges forces the tapered surface into the o-ring and energizes the o-ring to fluid-tightly seal between the valve body and the first and second flanges.

7. A method for assembling a valve assembly for providing one-way flow from a reservoir to a receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first and second conduits having respective first and second flanges;

providing a stopper;

providing a valve body having first and second opposite ends and a body bore extending between the first and second ends, the body bore defining a circular opening in the second end;

forming a circumferential notch in the valve body to divide the body into first and second portions between the notch and the respective first and second ends;

securing the valve body between the first and second flanges with the first end abutting the first flange and the second end abutting the second flange, and with the body bore communicating between the first and second conduits;

accommodating distortion of the valve body with the notch to insulate the circular opening from distortion as the valve body is secured;

placing the stopper in the second conduit such that the stopper snuggly seats against the circular opening to prevent fluid flow through the body bore from the second end to the first end, and unseats from the circular opening to permit fluid flow through the body bore from the first end to the second end;

forming a tapered surface in the first portion of the valve body, the tapered surface having smaller diameter at the first end of the valve body and increasing in diameter to the notch;

positioning an o-ring around the tapered surface; and

forcing the tapered surface into the o-ring upon securing of the valve body between the first and second flanges to energize the o-ring to fluid-tightly seal between the valve body and the first and second flanges.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising forming first and second steps in the second flange; securing the o-ring between the first step and the first flange; and securing the valve body between the second step and the first flange.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising integrally forming a lip around the circular opening in the valve body; extending the lip into the second conduit; and providing a seating surface for the stopper with the lip.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein providing a valve body includes constructing the valve body as one piece from a nonmetallic material.

11. A method for assembling a valve assembly for providing one-way flow from a reservoir to a receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first and second conduits having respective first and second flanges;

providing a stopper;

providing a valve body having first and second opposite ends and a body bore extending between the first and second ends, the body bore defining a circular opening in the second end;

forming a circumferential notch in the valve body to divide the body into first and second portions between the notch and the respective first and second ends;

securing the valve body between the first and second flanges with the first end abutting the first flange and the second end abutting the second flange, and with the body bore communicating between the first and second conduits;

accommodating distortion of the valve body with the notch to insulate the circular opening from distortion as the valve body is secured;

placing the stopper in the second conduit such that the stopper snuggly seats against the circular opening to prevent fluid flow through the body bore from the second end to the first end, and unseats from the circular opening to permit fluid flow through the body bore from the first end to the second end;

integrally forming a lip around the circular opening in the valve body;

extending the lip into the second conduit; and

providing a seating surface for the stopper with the lip;

wherein providing a seating surface with the lip includes defining a generally conical seating surface with the lip;

insulating the lip from distortion arising from securing the valve body by accommodating distortion of the valve body with the notch;

forming a tapered surface in the first portion of the valve body, the tapered surface having smaller diameter at the first end of the valve body and increasing in diameter to the notch;

positioning an o-ring around the tapered surface; and

forcing the tapered surface into the o-ring upon securing of the valve body between the first and second flanges to energize the o-ring to fluid-tightly seal between the valve body and the first and second flanges.