Valve assemblies for reciprocating downhole pumps are provided. The valve assembly may comprise: a flow cage comprising a housing and a tubular insert; an annular valve seat positioned below the tubular insert; and an elongated sealing member positioned above the annular valve seat and at least partially received into the tubular insert. In some embodiments, the elongated sealing member may be more stable and may more securely engage the valve seat compared to spherical valve balls. Related methods are also provided.

A pump assembly is disclosed. The pump assembly including an outer casing having a first end, an opposing second end, and a cavity therein; a discharge tube positioned in the cavity and exiting the first end of the outer casing; a check valve positioned in the cavity and operably connected to the discharge tube by a coupling; and a multi-float control assembly positioned in the cavity, the multi float control assembly including a bottom float check valve operably connected to the discharge tube by the coupling and an upper float check valve connected to a vent exiting the first end of the outer casing.

An oven includes a cooking chamber, a cabinet at least partially surrounding the cooking chamber, and a water reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet. The oven further includes a water fill assembly including an opening, a water-receiving cavity and a fill outlet from the water-receiving cavity, the water fill assembly defining a fluid flow path in from the opening and out through the fill outlet, a check valve in fluid communication with the fill outlet downstream of the fluid flow path defined by the water fill assembly, the check valve configured in a closed state under a force of gravity on at least a portion thereof and opening by a flow force of fluid out of the fill outlet and through the check valve, and a conduit connecting the check valve with the water reservoir inlet downstream of the fill outlet.

According to an aspect, an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold fluid, an inflatable member, and a pump assembly configured to transfer the fluid between the fluid reservoir and the inflatable member. The pump assembly includes a valve body, a pump bulb, and a deflation mode actuator. The valve body includes a bi-directional valve configured to move from an inflation position to a deflation position in response to an activation of the deflation mode actuator. The bi-directional valve in the inflation position is configured to open a fluid passageway in the valve body to transfer fluid from the pump bulb to the inflatable member. The bi-directional valve in the deflation position is configured to open a fluid passageway in the valve body to transfer fluid from the inflatable member to the fluid reservoir that bypasses the pump bulb.

According to an aspect, an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold fluid, an inflatable member, and a pump assembly configured to transfer the fluid between the fluid reservoir and the inflatable member. The pump assembly includes a valve body, a pump bulb, and a deflation mode actuator. The valve body includes a bi-directional valve configured to move from an inflation position to a deflation position in response to an activation of the deflation mode actuator. The bi-directional valve in the inflation position is configured to open a fluid passageway in the valve body to transfer fluid from the pump bulb to the inflatable member. The bi-directional valve in the deflation position is configured to open a fluid passageway in the valve body to transfer fluid from the inflatable member to the fluid reservoir that bypasses the pump bulb.

A dense phase pump has two housings that are attached together using a single releasable fastener. The fastener can be released to allow the two housings to be separated thereby providing access to replaceable components. The replaceable components may include one or more pinch valves or one or more barrier elements. A pinch valve for a dense phase pump has a shape or profile for aligning the pinch valve when the pinch valve is installed in a pinch valve body. The pinch valve optionally has two end flanges, with each end flange having a shaped periphery. The two end flanges may have the same size and shape so that the pinch valve can be installed in either of two orientations that are inverse. A dense phase pump has a pump chamber that can be purged by purge gas that enters the pump off-axis from a purge path axis.

The present invention relates to a check valve, and to a device having a check valve, and to a method of cleaning a check valve. In order to provide a check valve or a device having a check valve or a method of cleaning a check valve, in which sufficient cleaning of the non-flow-facing regions of the valve closing body is also ensured, it is proposed according to the invention that an element reducing the flow cross-section is provided in a region of the opening stop in addition to the opening stop so that, when the valve closing body is in the open position and the fluid flows through the check valve counter to the blocking direction, a non-flow-facing region of the surface of the valve closing body has at least an average wall shear stress of 50% compared to an average wall shear stress of a flow-facing region of the surface of the valve closing body.

The present invention relates to a check valve, and to a device having a check valve, and to a method of cleaning a check valve. In order to provide a check valve or a device having a check valve or a method of cleaning a check valve, in which sufficient cleaning of the non-flow-facing regions of the valve closing body is also ensured, it is proposed according to the invention that an element reducing the flow cross-section is provided in a region of the opening stop in addition to the opening stop so that, when the valve closing body is in the open position and the fluid flows through the check valve counter to the blocking direction, a non-flow-facing region of the surface of the valve closing body has at least an average wall shear stress of 50% compared to an average wall shear stress of a flow-facing region of the surface of the valve closing body.

A system includes a sliding sleeve, a ball landing seat, a plurality of microchips, a hydraulic piston, and a ball catcher. The sliding sleeve is made of a body with a plurality of holes and is installed within a tubular body having an exit groove. The ball landing seat is formed by the sliding sleeve. The plurality of microchips are housed in a microchip ring installed within the sliding sleeve. The hydraulic piston is installed within the microchip ring and is triggered by reception of a ball in the ball landing seat. The ball reduces a cross sectional area of a flow path when in the ball landing seat. The hydraulic piston releases the plurality of microchips through the exit groove and into the well to gather data. The ball catcher is configured to receive and hold the ball after the plurality of microchips are released into the well.

A system includes a sliding sleeve, a ball landing seat, a plurality of microchips, a hydraulic piston, and a ball catcher. The sliding sleeve is made of a body with a plurality of holes and is installed within a tubular body having an exit groove. The ball landing seat is formed by the sliding sleeve. The plurality of microchips are housed in a microchip ring installed within the sliding sleeve. The hydraulic piston is installed within the microchip ring and is triggered by reception of a ball in the ball landing seat. The ball reduces a cross sectional area of a flow path when in the ball landing seat. The hydraulic piston releases the plurality of microchips through the exit groove and into the well to gather data. The ball catcher is configured to receive and hold the ball after the plurality of microchips are released into the well.