Importance

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Abstract

An improvement in ball-type check valve arrangements including a valve body in which is formed a fluid passageway and a valve chamber communicating through a valve seat in the chamber, a ball in the chamber seated in the valve seat, and a reciprocal retaining member having a head engaging the ball in opposition to the valve seat and a stem extending from the head through the chamber wall opposite the valve seat, the ball and retaining member being reciprocably movable toward and away from the seat. The head includes a circular wall annularly engaging the ball, the stem being of a cross-sectional area smaller than both the area defined by the circular wall and the valve seat opening, providing a net surface area of the ball and retaining member equal to the difference of the valve seat opening area and the cross-sectional stem area against which chamber pressure applies valve closing force toward the seat, whereby reduced valve opening force, as compared to conventional ball valves, is required in opposition to the valve closing force and the ball and retaining member are maintained in contact. A longitudinal bore through the valve stem permits relief of pressurized fluid if any separation of the ball and retaining member occurs whereby chamber pressure cannot act in opposition to its valve closing force on the net surface area.

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First Claim