Valve assemblies and related systems and methods
Check valve assemblies and related methods are described. A valve assembly comprises a housing having at least a first inlet passage and an outlet passage. A flow channel is disposed within the housing, with at least a portion thereof extending inward from the first inlet passage. A first check member is disposed within the first inlet passage and is movable along the flow channel between a closed position in which the first check member is disposed against a first valve seat and an open position in which the first check member is spaced from the first valve seat. In varying examples, movement of the first check member from the closed position to the open position is unopposed. Optionally, the housing can include at least a second inlet passage wherein a second check member is disposed. In an example, the second check member is continuously biased toward a closed position.
1. A valve assembly and a cooking oil handling system comprising:
a housing including a first inlet passage and a second inlet passage and an outlet passage;
a first flow channel disposed within the housing, at least a portion of the first flow channel extending inward from the first inlet passage to the outlet passage, and a second flow channel disposed within the housing, at least a portion of the second flow channel extending inward from the second inlet passage to the outlet passage;
a first check member disposed within the first inlet passage, the first check member movable along the first flow channel between a closed position in which the first check member is disposed against a first valve seat and an open position in which the first check member is spaced from the first valve seat, wherein movement of the first check member from the closed position to the open position is unopposed;
a second check member disposed within the second inlet passage, the second check member movable along the second flow channel between a closed position in which the second check member is disposed against a second valve seat and an open position in which the second check member is spaced from the second valve seat;
a resilient member operably engaged with the second check member to bias the second check member against the second valve seat;
a cooking oil frying station operably coupled to the outlet passage of the housing;
a cooking oil filter station operably coupled to an outlet of the cooking oil frying station and operably coupled to the first inlet passage of the housing; and
a cooking oil supply station operably coupled to the second inlet passage of the housing.
2. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 1 , wherein the second inlet passage operably coupled to the cooking oil supply station operates at a relatively higher pressure and the first inlet passage operably coupled to the cooking oil filter station operates at a relatively lower pressure.
3. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is disposed about a common axis of the first and second valve seats.
4. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 3 , wherein the resilient member includes a resilient coil spring; and
wherein an inner diameter of the resilient coil spring is greater than the diameter of the first check member and less than the diameter of the second check member.
5. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 4 , wherein the first check member is configured to move unopposed from the closed position to the open position within a lumen of the resilient coil spring.
6. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 1 , wherein a cracking pressure of the first check member is less than a cracking pressure of the second check member.
7. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the first check member is less than a diameter of the second check member.
8. A valve assembly and a cooking oil handling system comprising:
a housing having at least a first inlet passage and a second inlet passage and an outlet passage, the inlet passages partially defining a flow channel within the housing;
a first check member disposed in the first inlet passage, the first check member movable unopposed along the flow channel toward and away from a first valve seat;
a second check member disposed in the second inlet passage, the second check member movable along the flow channel toward and away from a second valve seat;
a resilient member operably engaged with the second check member thereby urging the same against the second valve seat;
a cooking oil frying station operably coupled to the outlet passage of the housing;
a cooking oil filter station operably coupled to an outlet of the cooking oil frying station and operably coupled to the first inlet passage of the housing; and
a cooking oil supply station operably coupled to the second inlet passage of the housing.
9. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 8 , wherein the second inlet passage operably coupled to the cooking oil supply station operates at a relatively higher pressure and the first inlet passage operably coupled to the cooking oil filter station operates at a relatively lower pressure.
10. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 8 , wherein the first and second valve seats surround a common axis of the flow channel.
11. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first inlet passage, the second inlet passage, and the outlet passage include threads therewithin.
12. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second check members includes a spherical shape.
13. The valve assembly and oil handling system of claim 8 , wherein the first check member is movable within a lumen of the resilient member.
14. The valve assembly of claim 8 , wherein a cracking pressure of the first check member is less than a cracking pressure of the second check member.
15. A method comprising:
flowing filtered cooking oil from a cooking oil filtering station in a first direction through a first inlet passage of a valve housing, including moving a first check member disposed in the first inlet passage away from a first valve seat in a substantially unopposed manner, the filtered cooking oil flowing out of an outlet passage of the valve housing to a cooking oil frying station;
checking the filtered cooking oil in a second direction opposite the first direction at the first inlet passage; and
flowing cooking oil from a cooking oil supply station in a third direction through a second inlet passage of the housing, including moving a second check member disposed in the second inlet passage away from a second valve seat, the second check member movable toward and away from the second valve seat using a resilient member operably engaged with the second check member thereby urging the second check member against the second valve seat.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second inlet passage coupled to the cooking oil supply station operates at a relatively higher pressure and the first inlet passage coupled to the cooking oil filter station operates at a relatively lower pressure.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the second check member away from the second valve seat includes compressing at least a portion of the resilient member biased in opposition to such movement.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein flowing filtered cooking oil through the first inlet passage includes flowing filtered cooking oil at a first fluid pressure, and flowing cooking oil through the second inlet passage includes flowing cooking oil at a second fluid pressure greater than the first fluid pressure.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein moving the first check member away from the first valve seat in the substantially unopposed manner includes moving the first check member within a lumen of the resilient member.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein a cracking pressure of the first check member is less than a cracking pressure of the second check member.