Clapper check valve with a valve seat seal member

Abstract

A valve assembly includes a valve body that defines an internal flow passageway between an inlet and an outlet, and a valve seat disposed in the valve body with a sealing surface perpendicular to the flow passageway. The valve assembly further includes a clapper pivotally correlated to the valve seat having a closed configuration extending across the valve seat configured to substantially close off the flow passageway, and an open configuration configured to substantially allow fluid flow in the flow passageway from the inlet to the outlet through the valve body. An annular valve seat seal is disposed within an annular groove formed in a surface of the valve seat, where the annular valve seat seal is disposed at an interface between the valve seat and the clapper when the clapper is in the closed configuration.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A valve assembly, comprising:
 a valve body defining an internal flow passageway between an inlet and an outlet,   a valve seat disposed in the valve body, the valve seat including:
 a sealing surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal flow passageway, the sealing surface having an annular groove defined therein,
 wherein the annular groove includes an asymmetrical dovetail feature having a triangular shaped extension only in a radially outward direction, in relation to the longitudinal axis; 
 
   a clapper disposed in the valve body, the clapper being pivotable, in relation to the valve seat, between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and   an annular valve seat seal disposed in the annular groove,
 wherein the annular valve seat seal contacts the clapper when the clapper is in the closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         22 . The valve assembly of  claim 21 ,
 wherein the valve body further defines an access port,   wherein the access port defines an opening to the internal flow passageway, and   wherein the opening has a first inner diameter corresponding to a maximum size of the opening.   
     
     
         23 . The valve assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a cover coupled to the valve body and disposed over the access port,
 wherein a portion of the cover has a first outer diameter corresponding to the first inner diameter of the opening. 
   
     
     
         24 . The valve assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the valve seat further comprises:
 an annular surface facing away from the sealing surface; and   an inner surface extending, parallel to the longitudinal axis, from the sealing surface to the annular surface and having a constant second inner diameter corresponding to a constant third inner diameter of the inlet and the outlet.   
     
     
         25 . The valve assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the valve seat further comprises:
 an outer surface extending from the sealing surface to the annular surface and having a stepped profile, the stepped profile defining:
 a second outer diameter portion extending, parallel to the longitudinal axis, from the sealing surface; and 
 a third outer diameter portion extending, parallel to the longitudinal axis, between the second outer diameter portion and the annular surface,
 wherein the third outer diameter portion includes a thread profile, and 
 wherein the third outer diameter, adjacent to the thread profile, is less than the second outer diameter. 
 
   
     
     
         26 . The valve assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the valve seat further comprises:
 a shoulder extending, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, from the second outer diameter portion to the third outer diameter portion,
 wherein the shoulder is disposed, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, towards the inlet, beyond a corresponding offset location, measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of the maximum size of the opening. 
   
     
     
         27 . The valve assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the annular valve seat seal is an O-ring seal. 
     
     
         28 . The valve assembly of  claim 21 ,
 wherein, when the clapper is in the closed configuration, the clapper extends across the valve seat and is configured to substantially close off the internal flow passageway, and   wherein, when the clapper is in the open configuration, the clapper is configured to substantially allow fluid flow in the internal flow passageway from the inlet to the outlet through the valve body.   
     
     
         29 . The valve assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the annular valve seat seal comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a deformable thermoplastic material, a polyurethane material, a fiber-reinforced material, carbon, glass, cotton, wire fibers, and cloth. 
     
     
         30 . The valve assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the sealing surface of the valve seat faces away from the inlet of the valve body. 
     
     
         31 . A valve seat for a clapper check valve, the valve seat comprising:
 a body defining an internal flow passageway; and   a sealing surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal flow passageway, the sealing surface having an annular groove defined therein,
 wherein the annular groove includes an asymmetrical dovetail feature. 
   
     
     
         32 . The valve seat of  claim 31 , wherein the asymmetrical dovetail feature has a triangular shaped extension. 
     
     
         33 . The valve seat of  claim 32 , wherein the asymmetrical dovetail feature extends only in a single radial direction, in relation to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         34 . The valve seat of  claim 33 , wherein the asymmetrical dovetail feature extends only in a radially outward direction, in relation to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         35 . The valve seat of  claim 31 , wherein the annular groove comprises:
 an inner sidewall parallel to the longitudinal axis;   an outer sidewall spaced in a radially outward direction, in relation to the inner sidewall,
 wherein the asymmetrical dovetail feature is defined in the outer sidewall, and 
 wherein the outer sidewall extends at a non-parallel angle, in relation to the inner sidewall; and 
   a bottom wall extending, parallel to the sealing surface, from the inner sidewall to the outer sidewall.   
     
     
         36 . The valve seat of  claim 35 , wherein the extension, at the non-parallel angle, of the outer sidewall, in combination with the bottom wall, defines a triangular shaped extension of the asymmetrical dovetail feature. 
     
     
         37 . The valve seat of  claim 31 , further comprising an annular valve seat seal disposed in the annular groove. 
     
     
         38 . A valve seat, comprising:
 a body defining an internal flow passageway; and   a sealing surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the internal flow passageway, the sealing surface having an annular groove defined therein,
 wherein the annular groove includes an asymmetrical dovetail feature having a triangular shaped extension only in a radially outward direction, in relation to the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         39 . The valve seat of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 an annular surface facing away from the sealing surface; and   an inner surface extending, parallel to the longitudinal axis, from the sealing surface to the annular surface and having a constant inner diameter.   
     
     
         40 . The valve seat of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 an outer surface extending from the sealing surface to the annular surface and having a stepped profile, the stepped profile defining:
 a first outer diameter portion extending, parallel to the longitudinal axis, from the sealing surface; and 
 a second outer diameter portion extending, parallel to the longitudinal axis, between the first outer diameter portion and the annular surface,
 wherein the second outer diameter portion includes a thread profile, and 
 wherein the second outer diameter, adjacent to the thread profile, is less than the first outer diameter.