Check valves
A check valve comprises a valve housing defining a valve opening and a pair of flapper elements pivotably mounted to the valve housing for rotation relative to the housing between an open position in which they permit fluid flow through the valve opening and a closed position in which they prevent fluid flow through the valve opening. Each flapper element comprises at least one bumper element arranged to engage a stop when in the open position, the bumper element comprising an elastically deformable tongue extending from an upper surface of the flapper element.
1. A check valve comprising:
a valve housing defining a valve opening; and
a pair of flapper elements pivotably mounted to the valve housing for rotation relative to the housing between an open position in which they permit fluid flow through the valve opening and a closed position in which they prevent fluid flow through the valve opening; wherein
each flapper element comprises at least one bumper element arranged to engage a stop when in the open position, the bumper element comprising an elastically deformable tongue extending from an upper surface of the flapper element;
wherein the elastically deformable tongue comprises a convex upper surface for engaging the stop.
2. The check valve of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of mounting posts arranged on opposed sides of the valve opening and a hinge pin mounted between the mounting posts, said at least one bumper element being arranged at a side region of the flapper element for engagement with a stop provided on a mounting post.
3. The check valve of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of mounting posts arranged on opposed sides of the valve opening and a hinge pin mounted between the mounting posts, and a stop post extending away from the opening between the mounting posts, the bumper element be positioned intermediate the sides of the flapper element, for example generally centrally thereof, for engagement with said stop post.
4. The check valve of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of mounting posts arranged on opposed sides of the valve opening and a hinge pin mounted between the mounting posts, and a stop pin extending between the mounting posts above the hinge pin, one or more bumper elements being provided on the flapper element to engage the stop pin.
5. The check valve of claim 2 , comprising a pair of bumper elements arranged at opposite side regions of the flapper element.
6. The check valve claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tongue is machined into the flapper element.
7. The check valve of claim 1 , wherein the flapper element is generally D-shaped.
8. The check valve of claim 7 , wherein the upper surface of the deformable tongue is smoothly curved or facetted.
9. The check valve claim 1 , wherein the flapper element comprises nickel steel or an aluminium alloy.
10. The check valve of claim 1 , wherein the upper surface is smoothly curved or facetted.
11. A check valve comprising:
a valve housing defining a valve opening;
a pair of flapper elements pivotably mounted to the valve housing for rotation relative to the housing between an open position in which they permit fluid flow through the valve opening and a closed position in which they prevent fluid flow through the valve opening; wherein
each flapper element comprises at least one bumper element arranged to engage a stop when in the open position, the bumper element comprising an elastically deformable tongue extending from an upper surface of the flapper element; and
a groove formed between the elastically deformable tongue and said the surface of the flapper element.
12. A flapper element for a check valve, the flapper element comprising a bumper element for engagement with a stop provided on the check valve, the bumper element being an elastically deformable tongue extending from a surface of the flapper element and a groove formed between the elastically deformable tongue and said the surface of the flapper element.
13. The flapper element of claim 12 , comprising a pair of bumper elements arranged at opposite side regions of the flapper element.
14. The flapper element of claim 12 , wherein the elastically deformable tongue comprises a convex upper surface for engaging the stop.
15. The flapper element of claim 12 , wherein the groove diverges from a proximal end to a distal end.
16. The flapper element of claim 15 , wherein the proximal end of the groove is rounded.
17. The flapper element of claim 12 , wherein the flapper element is generally D-shaped.
18. The flapper element of claim 12 , wherein the flapper element comprises nickel steel or an aluminium alloy.