Patent ID: 8627852
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: B60P,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A flow control element for operatively cooperating with a housing having a seal surface around a flow passage, said flow control element comprising: (A) a peripheral attachment portion by which said flow control element may be attached to the housing; (B) a resilient, intermediate portion extending generally laterally inwardly from said peripheral attachment portion and defining at least one flow aperture; (C) an imperforate central portion extending generally laterally inwardly from said intermediate portion and including a seal for sealing against said housing seal surface around said housing flow passage with said flow control element in a normally closed position, and wherein said intermediate portion of said flow control element accommodates movement of said seal between the normally closed position and an open position away from said housing seal surface in response to said flow control element central portion being subjected to an opening force, thereby permitting flow of a fluent substance through said housing flow passage and through said at least one flow aperture of said flow control element intermediate portion; said seal has a generally annular configuration at a radially outward region of said central portion; said at least one flow aperture defined by said flow control element intermediate portion is one of a plurality of such flow apertures; and said intermediate portion includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient legs extending between said attachment portion and said seal.