Patent ID: 8327869

Claim:
A check ball valve assembly for use in a hydraulic control unit of a vehicle powertrain, comprising: a valve housing including a spacer plate operatively secured to a valve upper body to define a valve chamber therebetween, said spacer plate defining first and second circular inlet openings laterally spaced from one another such that respective centers thereof are a seat-to-seat length apart, said valve upper body defining a discharge port in selective fluid communication with said first and second inlet openings; a fluid distribution control element arranged substantially inside said valve chamber to transition between said first and second openings along a substantially linear path of displacement, said fluid distribution control element including: a first substantially spherical member dimensioned to fluidly seal said first inlet opening when seated therein; a second substantially spherical member dimensioned to fluidly seal said second inlet opening when seated therein; and a web portion having a web length, said web portion attaching said first and second substantially spherical members; wherein said web length is configured such that a center-to-center length between respective centers of said first and second spherical members is less than said seat-to-seat length; and wherein said fluid distribution control element is characterized by a lack of a continuous connection to said valve housing.