Fluid handling – Line condition change responsive valves – Direct response valves
Reissue Patent
1999-07-16
2001-08-14
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Line condition change responsive valves
Direct response valves
C137S533210, C137S543210
Reissue Patent
active
RE037322
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to check valves and particularly to poppet type check valves such as are typically employed in pneumatic brake control valve devices for railroad vehicles.
Poppet type check valves generally comprise a valve element that moves perpendicularly relative to a seat to open and close a fluid conducting passageway in which the valve element and seat are situated. When used as a backflow check, the valve element is arranged to disengage its valve seat in response to fluid flow in a desired direction and to engage its valve seat in response to fluid flow in the opposite direction. Alternatively, a piston actuator may be employed to operate the check valve element in a direction to engage or disengage its valve seat.
One such poppet type check valve known in the prior art is shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
of the drawings and is commonly employed in the aforementioned pneumatic brake control valve devices. The valve element A of such poppet type check valves is typically made from a rubber compound that is bonded during a molding process to a stamped metal insert B to form a unitary structure. The metal insert gives rigidity to the rubber valve element and provides a fluted guide C that is adapted to engage the passageway in which the check valve is disposed. The flutes are designed to permit fluid to pass around the solid molded structure and to maintain proper alignment of the valve element with its seat.
In the manufacture of these insert-molded, unitary poppet type check valves, difficulty is encountered not only in the molding process itself, but also in the after-molding process of removing flashing produced during the molding operation. In addition, such a unitary valve structure requires replacement of the entire check valve, including the metal insert, when the rubber valve element becomes worn.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new, poppet type check valve device that is simple to manufacture and low in cost.
It is an extension of the foregoing to provide a check valve device that requires no bonding of the rubber valve element to a metal insert or the like.
Another object of the invention is to provide a two-piece check valve that permits replacement of either piece independently of the other.
Still another object of the invention is to employ a plastic carrier with which the rubber valve seal element is arranged in a two-piece assembly.
These objectives are carried out by means of a two-piece, snap-together check valve device that permits individual molding of the separate check valve components, which makes a simpler, less costly molding operation, such as injection molding, possible. The rubber valve seal element is designed to be retained in a separate plastic carrier member so that it can be removed therefrom and replaced when worn. The carrier member has a through bore in which the rubber seal element is removably secured by engagement with an annular groove in the body of the seal element. The carrier member has a fluted periphery that guidably positions the check valve device in its passageway without cocking, in order to ensure the integrity of the check valve seal when engaged with its seat and to permit passage of fluid around the periphery of the check valve. The ability to individually mold the separate check valve components affords greater design latitude and consequently enhances the cost effectiveness of the check valve device according to the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 654552 (1900-07-01), Morris
patent: 718771 (1903-01-01), Kerfoot
patent: 1912786 (1933-06-01), Moe
patent: 1913664 (1933-06-01), Finger
patent: 3548868 (1970-12-01), Mullaney
patent: 4572233 (1986-02-01), Weeden
patent: 5275204 (1994-01-01), Rogers et al.
James Ray & Associates
Rivell John
Schoenfeld Meredith H
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
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