Valve assembly
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a pressure-responsive valve assembly which functions in the nature of a check valve to control fluid flow across the assembly. The assembly includes a valve body which defines first and second internal flow passages, and includes a valve seat through which at least one flow port extends for joining the first and second passages in fluid communication with each other. A flexible, resiliently deformable valve member is positioned in operative association with the valve seat, and can be deflected, in response to a sufficient pressure differential, to move out of sealing engagement with the valve seat, to thereby permit fluid flow through the valve assembly.
1. A valve assembly ( 20 , 120 ) for controlling flow of a substance within the assembly, said valve assembly ( 20 , 120 ) comprising:
a valve body defining first and second internal flow passages ( 32 , 132 , 34 , 134 ), said valve body including an internal valve seat ( 36 , 136 ) positioned between said first and second internal flow passages ( 32 , 132 , 34 , 134 ), said valve seat ( 36 , 136 ) defining at least one flow port ( 31 , 138 ) extending between said first and second flow passages ( 32 , 132 , 34 , 134 ) for joining said first and second flow passages ( 32 , 132 , 34 , 134 ) in fluid communication with each other; and
a flow-controlling valve member ( 28 , 128 ) positioned within said valve body generally adjacent to said valve seat ( 36 , 136 ) for controlling flow between said first and second flow passages ( 32 , 132 , 31 , 134 ) through said flow port ( 38 , 138 ),
said valve member ( 28 , 128 ) including a peripheral attachment portion ( 42 , 142 ) by which said valve member ( 28 , 128 ) can be attached to a dispensing valve body, a flexible, resilient, intermediate portion ( 44 , 144 ) extending from said peripheral attachment portion ( 42 , 142 ), and a central valve head ( 46 , 146 ) which (i) has a sleeve portion ( 52 , 152 ) defining a central flow orifice ( 50 , 150 ), and (ii) extends from said intermediate portion ( 44 , 144 ) for sealing engagement with said valve seat ( 36 , 136 ) of said dispensing valve body, at least part of said valve head ( 46 , 146 ) being outwardly deflectable to an open configuration of said valve member ( 28 , 128 ) when a sufficient pressure differential exists across said valve assembly ( 20 , 120 ) to permit flow from said first internal flow passage ( 32 , 132 ) through said flow port ( 38 , 138 ) and said central flow orifice ( 50 , 150 ) to said second internal flow passage ( 34 , 134 ) whereby the flow is in a direction from upstream of said valve member ( 28 , 128 ) to downstream of said valve member ( 28 , 128 ),
said valve seat ( 36 , 136 ) defining a compound sealing surface ( 62 , 162 , 64 , 164 ) for cooperative sealing engagement with the valve head ( 46 , 146 ) of said valve member ( 28 , 128 ), said compound sealing surface ( 62 , 162 , 64 , 164 ) including a first sealing surface ( 62 , 162 ) through which said at least one flow port ( 38 , 138 ) extends, and a second sealing surface ( 64 , 164 ), positioned inwardly of said first sealing surface ( 62 , 162 ), said valve head ( 46 , 146 ) being sealingly engageable with said first and second sealing surfaces ( 62 , 162 , 64 , 164 ) in a closed configuration of said valve member ( 28 , 128 ) for preventing flow from said second internal flow passage ( 34 , 134 ) through said flow port ( 38 , 138 ) to said first internal flow passage ( 32 , 132 ),
said valve body including (i) a valve housing ( 24 , 124 ) which includes said valve seat ( 36 , 136 ), and (ii) a valve retention member ( 26 , 126 ) having an annular valve retention portion, said valve member ( 28 , 128 ) being positioned generally within said second internal flow passage ( 34 , 134 ) in captive relationship between said valve housing ( 24 , 124 ) and said annular retention portion of said valve retention member ( 26 , 126 ),
said second sealing surface ( 64 , 164 ) including at least a portion having a frustoconical configuration tapering to a smaller diameter with increasing downstream distance from said first internal flow passage ( 32 , 132 ),
said retention member ( 26 , 126 ) being disposed within one of said first internal flow passage ( 132 ) and said second internal flow passage ( 34 ) of said valve body, and (ii) retained within said valve body,
said valve member ( 28 , 128 ) being positioned within said valve body housing to locate said valve member valve head ( 46 , 146 ) with said sleeve portion ( 52 , 152 ) projecting in the downstream direction from said valve seat ( 36 , 136 ) and to locate said valve member central flow orifice ( 50 , 150 ) downstream of said valve seat ( 36 , 136 ).
2. A valve assembly ( 20 , 120 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first sealing surface ( 62 , 162 ) has a generally arcuate cross-sectional configuration.
3. A valve assembly ( 20 , 120 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second sealing surface ( 64 , 164 ) has a frustoconical configuration.
4. A valve assembly ( 20 , 120 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said valve body includes an internal thread formation at said first internal flow passage 132 ).
5. A valve assembly ( 20 , 120 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said peripheral attachment portion ( 42 , 142 ) of said valve member ( 28 , 128 ) has a dove-tail cross-sectional configuration.
6. A valve assembly ( 20 , 120 ) in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valve body includes an external thread formation at said first internal flow passage ( 32 ).