CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY HAVING A CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY UNION FORMED BETWEEN A CHECK VALVE HOUSING, A CHECK VALVE BODY ADAPTER AND A LOCKING RING

Abstract

A check valve assembly includes multiple components. for coupling together first and second pipes, and has multiple components, including a check valve, a check valve housing, a check valve body adapter and a locking ring. A mating surface coupling between a check valve body adapter inlet mating surface and a check valve housing outlet mating surface together with a flange coupling between a check valve body adapter inlet coupling flange and a locking ring inwardly extending and circumferentially extending flange combines to form a check valve assembly union U that allows the multiple components of the check valve assembly to freely orient and align when the check valve assembly is threaded and coupled to the first and second pipes.

Claims

1. A check valve assembly having multiple components for coupling first and second pipes together, comprising: a check valve having a check valve inlet, a check valve outlet and a check valve body and configured to allow a fluid to flow in only one direction from the check valve inlet, through the check valve body, and from the check valve outlet; a check valve housing having a check valve housing inlet with check valve housing inlet threads to thread the check valve assembly to a first pipe, having a check valve housing outlet with a check valve housing outlet mating surface and check valve housing outlet threads, and having a check valve housing inner passageway that has a check valve housing inner circumferential rim configured to receive the check valve inlet of the check valve in a sealing manner and that allows the fluid to flow from the check valve housing inlet, through the check valve, and from the check valve housing outlet; a check valve body adapter having a check valve body adapter inlet with a check valve body adapter inlet mating surface configured to couple to the check valve housing outlet mating surface in a sealing manner to form a mating surface coupling when the check valve body adapter is coupled to the check valve housing, with a check valve body adapter opening configured to allow the fluid to flow from the check valve housing outlet to the check valve body adapter, and with a check valve body adapter inlet coupling flange, having a check valve body adapter outlet with outlet threads to thread the check valve assembly to a second pipe, and having a check valve body adapter inner passageway configured to allow the fluid to flow from the check valve body adapter opening, through the check valve body adapter and to the second pipe; and a locking ring having a locking ring inwardly and circumferentially extending flange configured to couple to the check valve body adapter inlet coupling flange to form a flange coupling to mate and seal the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface and the check valve housing outlet mating surface when the locking ring is coupled to the check valve housing, and having a locking ring portion with locking ring threads configured to thread to the check valve housing outlet threads and couple the locking ring to the check valve housing; the mating surface coupling together with the flange coupling combining to form a check valve assembly union that allows the multiple components of the check valve assembly to freely orient and align when the check valve assembly is threaded to the first and second pipes.

2. A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve assembly comprises an O-ring configured to provide an O-ring seal between the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface and the check valve housing outlet mating surface.

3. A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve assembly comprises at least one O-ring configured to provide an O-ring seal between the check valve inlet and the check valve housing inner passageway.

4. A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking ring portion is configured to extend perpendicular to the locking ring inwardly and circumferentially extending flange.

5. A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is made from Neoperl.

6. A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is a swing check valve or a duckbill check valve.

7. A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve housing outlet with the check valve housing outlet threads and the check valve body adapter outlet with the outlet threads are dimensioned and adapted to thread to different sized first and second pipes.

8. A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve adapter opening is dimensioned and configured to receive at least some part of the check valve outlet.

9. A check valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface is formed with a check valve body adapter inlet circumferential groove or channel configured to receive the O-ring.

10. A check valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface and the check valve housing outlet mating surface are configured as corresponding flat mating surfaces.

11. A check valve assembly having multiple components for coupling first and second pipes together, comprising: a check valve having a check valve inlet, a check valve outlet and a check valve body and configured to allow a fluid to flow in only one direction from the check valve inlet, through the check valve body, and from the check valve outlet; a check valve housing having a check valve housing inlet, having a check valve housing outlet with a check valve housing outlet mating surface and check valve housing outlet threads, and having a check valve housing inner passageway that has a check valve housing inner circumferential rim configured to receive the check valve inlet of the check valve and that allows the fluid to flow from the check valve housing inlet, through the check valve, and from the check valve housing outlet; a check valve body adapter having a check valve body adapter inlet with a check valve body adapter inlet mating surface configured to couple to the check valve housing outlet mating surface in a sealing manner to form a mating surface coupling when the check valve body adapter is coupled to the check valve housing, with a check valve body adapter opening configured to allow the fluid to flow from the check valve housing outlet to the check valve body adapter, and with a check valve body adapter inlet coupling flange, having a check valve body adapter outlet, and having a check valve body adapter inner passageway configured to allow the fluid to flow from the check valve body adapter opening to the check valve body adapter outlet and to a second pipe; a locking ring having a locking ring inwardly and circumferentially extending flange configured to couple to the check valve body adapter inlet coupling flange to form a flange coupling to mate and seal the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface and the check valve housing outlet mating surface when the locking ring is coupled to the check valve housing, and having a locking ring portion with locking ring threads configured to thread to the check valve housing outlet threads and couple the locking ring to the check valve housing; the mating surface coupling together with the flange coupling combining to form a check valve assembly union that allows the multiple components of the check valve assembly to freely orient and align when the check valve assembly is threaded to the first and second pipes.

12. A check valve according claim 11, wherein the check valve housing inlet comprises check valve housing inlet threads configured to thread the check valve assembly to corresponding threads of a first pipe.

13. A check valve according claim 11, wherein the check valve body adapter outlet comprises outlet threads configured to thread the check valve assembly to corresponding threads of a second pipe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0025] The drawing, which is not necessarily drawn to scale, includes the following Figures:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a check valve assembly, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the check valve assembly in FIG. 1 when assembled.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the check valve assembly according to the present invention coupled to first and second pipes or piping P1, P2.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a pumping system having a drive and pump/motor system assembly coupled by a check valve assembly according to the present invention.

[0030] Similar parts or components in Figures are labeled with similar reference numerals and labels for consistency. Every lead line and associated reference label for every element is not included in every Figure of the drawing to reduce clutter in the drawing as a whole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a check valve assembly (CVA) generally indicated as 10, which includes multiple components, e.g., for coupling together first and second pipes or piping P1, P2 (FIG. 3). By way of example, the multiple components may include a check valve 20, a check valve housing 40, a check valve body adapter 60 and a locking ring 80.

The Check Valve 20

[0032] The check valve 20 may include a check valve inlet 22, a check valve outlet 24 and a check valve body 26 and be configured to allow a fluid to flow in only one direction from the check valve inlet 22, through the check valve body 24, and from the check valve outlet 26. By way of example, the check valve 20 may be made from Neoperl, and may be a swing check valve or a duckbill check valve. Check valves like element 20 are known in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future.

The Check Valve Housing 40

[0033] By way of example, the check valve housing 40 may include a check valve housing inlet 42, a check valve housing outlet 44 and a check valve housing inner passageway 46. However, the scope of the invention is intended to include, and embodiments are envisioned in which, other types or kinds of couplings between the check valve housing inlet 42 and the first pipe P1, e.g., that are either now known or later developed in the future.

[0034] According to some embodiments, the check valve housing inlet 42 may include check valve housing inlet threads 42a configured to thread the check valve assembly 10 to a first pipe P1 (FIG. 3).

[0035] The check valve housing outlet 44 may include a check valve housing outlet mating surface 44a and check valve housing outlet threads 44b.

[0036] The check valve housing inner passageway 46 may include a check valve housing inner circumferential rim 46a configured to receive and seat the check valve inlet 22 of the check valve 20 in a sealing manner. The check valve housing inner passageway 46 allows the fluid to flow from the check valve housing inlet 42, through the check valve 20, and from the check valve housing outlet 44.

[0037] The check valve housing outlet 44 may include check valve housing outlet threads 44b, which may be dimensioned and adapted to thread to corresponding threads of the first pipe P1.

The Check Valve Body Adapter 60

[0038] The check valve body adapter 60 may include a check valve body adapter inlet 62, a check valve body adapter outlet 64 and a check valve body adapter inner passageway 66.

[0039] The check valve body adapter inlet 62 may include a check valve body adapter inlet mating surface 62a, a check valve body adapter opening 62b and a check valve body adapter inlet coupling flange 62c. The check valve body adapter inlet mating surface 62a may be configured to couple to the check valve housing outlet mating surface 44a in a sealing manner to form a mating surface coupling when the check valve body adapter 60 is coupled to the check valve housing 40. By way of example, the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface 62a and the check valve housing outlet mating surface 44a may be configured as corresponding flat mating surfaces, e.g., consistent with that shown in FIG. 1. The check valve body adapter opening 62b may be configured to allow the fluid to flow from the check valve housing outlet 44 to the check valve body adapter 60.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the check valve body adapter outlet 64 may include outlet threads 64a configured to thread the check valve assembly 10 to corresponding threads of a second pipe P2 (FIG. 3). However, the scope of the invention is intended to include, and embodiments are envisioned in which, other types or kinds of couplings between the check valve body adapter outlet 64 and the second pipe P2, e.g., that are either now known or later developed in the future.

[0041] The check valve body adapter inner passageway 66 may be configured to allow the fluid to flow from the check valve body adapter opening 62b, through the check valve body adapter 60 and to the second pipe P2.

[0042] The check valve body adapter opening 62b may be dimensioned and configured to receive at least some part of the check valve outlet 24.

[0043] The check valve body adapter inlet mating surface 62a may be formed with a check valve body adapter inlet circumferential groove or channel 62a′ configured to receive the O-ring 90.

The Locking Ring 80

[0044] The locking ring 80 may include a locking ring inwardly and circumferentially extending flange 82 and a locking ring portion 84.

[0045] The locking ring inwardly and circumferentially extending flange 82 may be configured to couple to the check valve body adapter inlet coupling flange 62c to form a flange coupling to mate and seal the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface 62a and the check valve housing outlet mating surface 44a when the locking ring 80 is coupled to the check valve housing 40.

[0046] The locking ring portion 84 may include locking ring threads 84a configured to thread to the check valve housing outlet threads 44b and couple the locking ring 80 to the check valve housing 40.

[0047] The locking ring portion 84 may be configured to extend perpendicular to the locking ring inwardly and circumferentially extending flange 82, e.g., consistent with that shown in FIG. 1.

The Check Valve Assembly Union U

[0048] The mating surface coupling between the check valve housing outlet mating surface 44a and the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface 62a together with the flange coupling between the check valve body adapter inlet coupling flange 62c and the locking ring inwardly extending and circumferentially extending flange 82 combine to form a check valve assembly union generally indicated as U that allows the multiple components of the check valve assembly 10 to freely orient and align when the check valve assembly 10 is threaded to the first and second pipes P1, P2. In other words, the check valve assembly union U allows the multiple components of the check valve assembly and the pipes P1, P2 the freedom to axially align with one another so that the multiple components may form a sealing relationship with one another.

The O-Rings 90, 92

[0049] The check valve assembly 10 may include one or more O-rings to seal the multiple components in relation to one another.

[0050] For example, check valve assembly 10 may include an O-ring 90 configured to provide an O-ring seal between the check valve body adapter inlet mating surface 62a and the check valve housing outlet mating surface 44a, e.g., when forming the check valve assembly union U.

[0051] The check valve assembly 10 may also include at least one O-ring 92 configured to provide an O-ring seal between the check valve inlet 22 and a circumferential wall of the check valve housing inner passageway 46, e.g., when forming the check valve assembly union U.

FIG. 4

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a pumping system having a drive 100 and a pump/motor system assembly 110 coupled to associated piping by a check valve assembly 10 according to the present invention. One skilled in the art would appreciate the ability of the check valve assembly 10 to orient and align its multiple components, e.g., when used in a coupling manner like that shown in FIG. 4 where the drive and the pump/motor assembly need to be in line.

Possible Applications

[0053] The present invention can be used in any applications, e.g., where pipes or piping are threaded and coupled together by a check valve assembly including multiple components with a check valve therein.

The Scope of the Invention

[0054] The embodiments shown and described in detail herein are provided by way of example only; and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular configurations, dimensionalities, and/or design details of these parts or elements included herein. In other words, one skilled in the art would appreciate that design changes to these embodiments may be made and such that the resulting embodiments would be different than the embodiments disclosed herein, but would still be within the overall spirit of the present invention.

[0055] It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein.

[0056] Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.