Two-piece check valve assembly

Abstract

A two-piece check valve device comprising a rubber sealing element and a plastic carrier member. A through bore in the plastic carrier member receives the sealing element, which is formed with an annular groove in which the carrier member is removably secured. The through bore and annular groove may be correspondingly tapered to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the check valve device.

I claim:  
     
       1. For a poppet valve assembly including a valve seat in a fluid pressure passageway, a check valve device cooperatively arranged relative to said valve seat for establishing and interrupting flow of fluid under pressure in said passageway, said check valve device comprising: 
       a) an annular carrier member having opposing upper and lower surfaces and a through bore extending therebetween; and  
       b) an elastomeric seal element comprising a body having an annular shoulder extending laterally therefrom at one end of said body, a flexure portion at the other end of said body and an annular groove in the periphery of said body between an underside of said shoulder and a confronting surface of said flexure portion, said upper surface of said carrier member engaging said underside of said shoulder and said lower surface of said carrier member engaging said confronting surface of said flexure portion, said shoulder having an upper surface with which said valve seat is engageable in a seal area having generally opposed relationship with said upper surface of said carrier member.  
     
     
       2. A check valve device as recited in claim  1 , further characterized in that the periphery of said body is tapered. 
     
     
       3. A check valve device as recited in claim  2 , wherein the diameter of the tapered periphery of said body decreases in a direction from said shoulder to said flexure portion. 
     
     
       4. A check valve device as recited in claim  3 , further characterized in that said body further includes an opening in said other end extending into said body at least a distance corresponding to the distance between said other end and said confronting surface of said flexure portion. 
     
     
       5. A check valve device as recited in claim  1 , further characterized in that the periphery of said carrier member is fluted. 
     
     
       6. A check valve device as recited in claim  1 , wherein said carrier member is plastic. 
     
     
       7. A check valve device as recited in claim  2 , wherein the tapered periphery of said body includes said groove. 
     
     
       8. A check valve device as recited in claim  7 , wherein said through bore in said carrier member is formed with a taper corresponding to the tapered periphery of said groove. 
     
     
       9. A check valve device as recited in claim  8 , further characterized in that said through bore is contiguous with said tapered periphery of said body within said groove. 
     
     
       10. A check valve device as recited in claim  9 , wherein said through bore comprises a bore and a counterbore between which is formed said lower surface of said carrier member. 
     
     
       11. A check valve device as recited in claim  10 , wherein said flexure portion is formed with a bulbous end in surrounding relationship with said opening, said bulbous end providing said confronting surface of said flexure portion and extending laterally into said counterbore to provide said engagement of said confronting face  surface with said lower surface of said carrier member. 
     
     
       12. A check valve device as recited in claim  1 , wherein said carrier member comprises a recess in the upper surface thereof having an annular sidewall, the periphery of said annular shoulder being contiguous with said annular sidewall of said recess. 
     
     
       13. A check valve device as recited in claim  12 , wherein the periphery of said carrier member is arcuate. 
     
     
       14. A check valve device as recited in claim  2 , wherein the periphery of said body is tapered between said groove and said flexure portion. 
     
     
       15. A check valve device as recited in claim  14 , wherein the periphery of said body is non-tapered within said groove. 
     
     
       16. A check valve device for a poppet valve assembly including a valve seat disposed in a fluid pressure passageway, said check valve device being cooperatively arrangeable relative to such valve seat for establishing and interrupting a flow of fluid under pressure in such passageway, said check valve device comprising: 
         a )  an annular carrier member having opposing upper and lower surfaces and a through bore extending therebetween; and    
         b )  an elastomeric seal element including a body portion having an annular shoulder extending laterally therefrom intermediate a first end and a second end of said body portion, a flexure portion disposed at said second end of said body portion and an annular groove formed in a periphery of said body portion between an underside of said annular shoulder and a confronting surface of said flexure portion, said upper surface of said annular carrier member engaging said underside of said annular shoulder and said lower surface of said annular carrier member engaging said confronting surface of said flexure portion, said annular shoulder having at least one of an upper surface and an arcuate surface with which such valve seat is engageable in a seal area having a generally opposed relationship with at least one of said said upper surface and said arcuate surface of said annular shoulder.   
     
     
       17. A check valve device for a poppet valve assembly, according to claim  16 , wherein said arcuate surface is engageable with such valve seat in a seal area having a generally opposed relationship with said arcuate surface of said annular shoulder. 
     
     
       18. A check valve device for a poppet valve assembly including a valve seat disposed in a fluid pressure passageway, said check valve device being cooperatively arrangeable relative to such valve seat for establishing and interrupting a flow of fluid under pressure in such passageway, said check valve device comprising: 
         a )  an annular carrier member having opposing upper and lower surfaces and a through bore extending therebetween; and    
         b )  an elastomeric seal element including a body portion having an annular shoulder extending laterally therefrom adjacent a first end, a flexure portion adjacent a second end of said body portion and an annular groove in a periphery of said body portion between an underside of said annular shoulder and a confronting surface of said flexure portion, said upper surface of said carrier member engaging said underside of said annular shoulder and said lower surface of said carrier member engaging said confronting surface of said flexure portion, said annular shoulder having an upper surface with which such valve seat is engageable in a seal area having a generally opposed relationship with said said upper surface and said carrier member.