Patent ID: 7392823

Claim:
A combination valve including a check valve and a pressure relief valve for regulating fluid flow pressure and direction between a first fluid conduit and second fluid conduit, adapted for mounting within a hydraulic circuit, said improved combination valve comprising: an apertured and internally-threaded relief valve spring cap movably positioned within said hydraulic circuit; a valve stem, having an externally-threaded portion, engaged with said spring cap; a check valve compression spring having one end thereof abutting said spring cap; a valve seat, having a central axial aperture, carried by said valve stem; and a relief valve compression spring interposed between said valve seat and said spring cap, wherein the improvement comprises: said spring cap including four successively adjoining axial portions of differing outer diameters; a first one of said axial portions taking the shape of a tubular protrusion that serves to pilot, locate and center one end portion of said relief valve compression spring; a second one of said axial portions having the largest outer diameter of said four axial portions; a third one of said axial portions having a reduced radial wall thickness to permit ready crimping of said third portion relative to an adjoining corresponding externally-threaded portion of said valve stem; and a fourth one of said axial portions having a coaxial recess in one end thereof, said recess serving to pilot, hold and physically retain one end portion of said check valve compression spring.