Patent ID: 7441563
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: F16K,F25B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve for controlling bidirectional flow of fluid, comprising: a valve body having an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, a side chamber, and a passageway between the inlet chamber and side chamber, the passageway being entirely disposed within the valve body; a cover secured over the side chamber in the valve body, said cover including a flat surface that is spaced apart from the second valve opening and spans across the entire opening area of the second valve opening; a first valve opening disposed between the inlet chamber and outlet chamber; a second valve opening disposed between the side chamber and outlet chamber; a control valve element movable relative to the first valve opening to regulate fluid flow from the inlet through the outlet when fluid flow is in the inlet-to-outlet direction, the control valve element being movable to sealingly engage the first valve opening when fluid flow is in the outlet-to-inlet direction; a check valve member disposed in the recess adjacent the second valve opening, the check valve member having a generally flat portion defining a first side that faces the second valve opening, a second side having a raised portion, and at least one generally flat aligning member depending from a peripheral edge of the flat portion, said at least one aligning member projecting generally orthogonally from the flat portion side that faces the second valve opening, and extending in a direction parallel with the direction of movement of the check valve member, the at least one aligning member being slidably disposed within a slot positioned outside the opening area of the second valve opening in the valve body, the check valve member being movable relative to the second valve opening in response to fluid pressure acting against the flat portion, said check valve member being movable to permit the generally flat portion side facing the second valve opening to engage the second valve opening to restrict fluid flow through the second valve opening when fluid flow is in the inlet-to-outlet direction, and movable away from the second valve opening to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening to the inlet chamber when fluid flow is in the outlet-to-inlet direction, wherein the at least one aligning member is configured to slide within the at least one slot to guide the movement of the check valve member relative to the second valve opening, and the raised portion is sized such that when the check valve member is moved away from the second valve opening, the raised portion engages the flat surface of said cover before the alignment member slides out of said slot, to thereby prevent said alignment member from sliding out of said slot.