Patent ID: 6286880
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve assembly for admitting liquid fluid into the hollow interior of a bailer as liquid fluid flows into said bailer and for retaining liquid fluid within said hollow interior when said liquid fluid is not flowing into said bailer, comprising:a support means that spans a hollow interior of said bailer;a central bore formed in said support means, said central bore having an axis of symmetry that is substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said bailer;said bailer including frusto-conical sidewalls at a lower end thereof;a valve stem slideably mounted in said central bore;a hemispherical valve body secured to a lowermost end of said valve stem;said hemispherical valve body rising as liquid fluid flows into said hollow interior of said bailer, and said hemispherical valve body sinking when liquid fluid is not flowing into said bailer, said valve stem and said central bore cooperating to maintain said hemispherical valve body in substantial coincidence with said longitudinal axis of symmetry of said bailer as said hemispherical valve body rises and sinks;a layer of cushioned material of predetermined thickness disposed in overlying relation to substantially all of said hemispherical valve body;an annular concavity formed in an interior surface of said frusto-conical sidewalls, said annular concavity having a contour that conforms to substantially all of the curved surface of said hemispherical valve body to provide a valve seat for said hemispherical valve body that abuttingly engages substantially all of the surface area of said cushioned material when said hemispherical valve body is seated in said valve seat so that substantially no leakage of liquid fluid from said hollow interior of said bailer occurs when said hemispherical valve body is seated against said annular concavity;particulate matter deposited between said hemispherical valve body and said valve seat adapted to form a depression in said cushioned material when said hemispherical valve body is seated in said valve seat;said cushioned material adapted to seal around the peripheral edge of said depression to prevent flow of liquid fluid past said cushioned material; andsaid cushioned material providing a seal between said hemispherical valve body and said valve seat even if said hemispherical valve body and said valve seat do not perfectly conform to one another in size and shape.