Patent Application
20100282340
The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to check valve assemblies. More specifically, this disclosure relates to petal stops for check valve assemblies.
Check valves are common mechanisms that allow flow in one direction therethrough and prevent flow in the opposite direction. Check valves commonly include one or more petals located at an opening in a housing. The positions of the petals are hinged such that the petals are biased in a closed position across the opening. When the pressure of a fluid (gas or liquid) upstream of the check valve reaches a cracking pressure, the petals open as a result of a change in a differential between pressure upstream and downstream of the check valve and allow the fluid to flow through the valve.
Typical check valves often have one or more physical stops, which are features which limit the angle to which the petals open. When the petals move from the closed to open position, the petals hit the stop (or stops) which prevents the petals from opening further. In some operating conditions, when the petal dynamically impacts the stop and becomes overstressed, a fracture can be initiated in the petal. After which, further impacts to the stop can further propagate the fracture and lead to failure of the petal and check valve. The art would well receive a check valve including an open position stop which reduces the potential for fractures in the petals and thereby lengthens the life of the check valve relative to a typical check valve.
According to one aspect of the invention a check valve includes a valve housing having at least one valve opening. At least one petal is located in the valve housing and is configured to substantially cover the at least one valve opening when the at least one petal is in a closed position. The at least one petal can rotate about a hinge axis toward an open position thereby allowing fluid to flow through the at least one valve opening. The check valve includes at least one compliant petal stop to prevent rotation of the at least one petal beyond the open position and prevent an overstressed condition.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Illustrated in
Each petal 12 includes one or more hinge loops 18 or ears that extend from a petal downstream surface 20. In some embodiments, the hinge loops 18 of the petals 12 may mesh as shown in
In some embodiments, extending around the stop pin 34 is at least one stop pin collar 36. A single stop pin collar 36 is shown in
Referring now to
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
