Patent ID: 6988510

Claim:
A valve for controlling the flow of a fluid through a fluid passage such that a fluid flow in the fluid passage is permitted in a first direction and restricted in a second direction, said valve comprising: a valve body having an internal fluid chamber with internal side walls; a valve member contained in the internal fluid chamber, said valve member comprising a disc-shaped check valve having a first diameter, said disc-shaped check valve comprising a first side and a second side, said first side including a truncated torroidal shaped portion having a second outer diameter and a first length, said second outer diameter being appreciably less than said first diameter; and an array of finger-shaped projections having a base portion connected to the valve body and a finger-tip portion for centering the valve member when fluid is flowing through the valve in the first direction and when restricted in the second direction, said finger-shaped projections including a second length appreciably greater than said first length such that when said truncated torroidal shaped portion moves in said first direction said finger-shaped projections receive said truncated torroidal shaped portion of said disc-shaped check valve and fluid is allowed to flow between said finger-shaped projections and then over said truncated torroidal shaped portion.