Check valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11293558-B2
Application number	US-201716313987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2017
Priority date	Jul 20, 2016
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A check valve assembly for a compressor or a vacuum pump includes a valve body adapted to receive a valve plate pivoting between a first open position and a second closed position. The valve body is connected to a discharge port of a compressor unit or to the intake port of a vacuum pump. A second fluid conduit is attachable to the valve body and is connected to an external network. The assembly includes a shaft and at least one bearing for connecting the valve plate to the valve body. The valve plate includes an elongated area having a hollow tube through which the shaft is inserted for rotatably mounting the valve plate. At least one bearing is positioned on the shaft within the hollow tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A check valve assembly configured to be mounted at the interface between a compressor unit or a vacuum pump and an external network, for preventing a fluid flow in the upstream direction, the check valve assembly comprising:
a valve body comprising a through bore provided only along a top portion of a periphery of the valve body;
a valve plate connected eccentrically to the valve body, said valve plate configured in a way such that the valve plate pivots between a first open position in which fluid is able to flow through said check valve assembly and a second closed position in which fluid cannot flow through said check valve assembly;
said valve body being adapted to be connected to a discharge port of the compressor unit or to an intake port of the vacuum pump through a first fluid conduit;
a second fluid conduit attachable to the valve body, said second fluid conduit being adapted to be connected to the external network;
a shaft and at least one bearing provided in the through bore of the valve plate; and
an orifice provided through a lateral wall along a periphery of the top portion of the valve body,
wherein the valve plate comprises an elongated area having a hollow tube,
wherein the shaft is slid through the orifice and completely inserted in the hollow tube of the valve plate and the through bore of the valve body for rotatably mounting said valve plate in the valve body,
wherein said at least one bearing is positioned on said shaft and within said hollow tube, and said at least one bearing is in direct contact with said valve body,
wherein said valve body further comprises a seat that receives said valve plate, said seat having a near seat portion in the vicinity where said elongated area is mounted, and a far seat portion on the opposite side from where said elongated area is mounted,
wherein a sealing plug is attached in the orifice, and
wherein a locking pin is positioned between the shaft and the sealing plug, and the locking pin is not coaxial with the shaft.

2. The check valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the check valve assembly comprises two bearings mounted within the hollow tube, spaced apart from one another.

3. The check valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said two bearings are mounted at ends of the hollow tube.

4. The check valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve plate is adapted to be received on said seat under an angle with respect to a vertical plane, said angle being created due to the difference between the far seat portion and the near seat portion.

5. The check valve assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said angle is of at least 5 degrees.

6. The check valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body comprises a recess that corresponds to the elongated area and receives the elongated area therein.

7. The check valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the locking pin is mounted through the valve body.

8. The check valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body further comprises a channel provided along an exterior surface for locking said valve body within the first fluid conduit.

9. The check valve assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a magnet mounted on the seat or a recess in the seat.

10. A compressor unit comprising a check valve assembly according to claim 1 attached to a discharge port of the compressor unit.

11. A check valve assembly comprising
a valve body comprising a through bore provided only along a top portion of a periphery of the valve body,
a valve plate mounted eccentrically in the valve body by a shaft that extends through said bore, wherein each end of the shaft extends into the valve body, and
two bearings on said shaft, and at least one of said two bearings is in direct contact with said valve body,
wherein said check valve assembly is configured to be mounted at interface between a compressor unit or a vacuum pump and an external network, for preventing fluid flow in an upstream direction, and
wherein an orifice provided through a lateral wall along the top portion of the periphery of the valve body, and a sealing plug is attached in the orifice, and
wherein a locking pin is positioned between the shaft and the sealing plug, and the locking pin is not coaxial with the shaft.

12. The check valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the valve plate is adapted to be received on a seat under an angle with respect to a vertical plane, said angle being created due to the difference between a far seat portion and a near seat portion.

13. The check valve assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said angle is between 5 degrees and 10 degrees.

14. The check valve assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising a magnet that is configured to be electrically charged whereby said magnet holds the check valve in a closed position.

15. A check valve assembly configured to be mounted at the interface between a compressor unit or a vacuum pump and an external network, for preventing a fluid flow in the upstream direction, the check valve assembly comprising:
a valve body comprising a through bore provided only along a top portion of a periphery of the valve body;
a valve plate connected eccentrically to the valve body, said valve plate configured in a way such that the valve plate pivots between a first open position in which fluid is able to flow through said check valve assembly and a second closed position in which fluid cannot flow through said check valve assembly;
said valve body being adapted to be connected to a discharge port of the compressor unit or to an intake port of the vacuum pump through a first fluid conduit;
a second fluid conduit attachable to the valve body, said second fluid conduit being adapted to be connected to the external network;
a shaft and at least one bearing provided in the through bore of the valve plate; and
an orifice provided through a lateral wall along a periphery of the top portion of the valve body,
wherein the valve plate comprises an elongated area having a hollow tube,
wherein the shaft is slid through the orifice and completely inserted in the hollow tube of the valve plate and the through bore of the valve body for rotatably mounting said valve plate in the valve body,
wherein said at least one bearing is positioned on said shaft and within said hollow tube, and said at least one bearing is in direct contact with said valve body,
wherein said valve body further comprises a seat that receives said valve plate, said seat having a near seat portion in the vicinity where said elongated area is mounted, and a far seat portion on the opposite side from where said elongated area is mounted,
further comprising a magnet mounted on the seat or a recess in the seat,
wherein the magnet is connected to an electrical circuit, wherein when the compressor unit or the vacuum pump is switched off, the magnet is charged by the electrical circuit such that the check valve assembly is maintained in a closed position, and when the compressor unit or the vacuum pump is switched on, the magnet is de-energized such that the check valve assembly is able to pivot based on the fluid flow,
wherein a sealing plug is attached in the orifice, and
wherein a locking pin is positioned between the shaft and the sealing plug, and the locking pin is not coaxial with the shaft.

Assignees

• Atlas Copco Airpower Nv

Inventors

• Claes Erwin Louis Annie

Classifications

• F16K15/03 Primary

  with a hinged closure member {or with a pivoted closure member} · CPC title

• F04B39/10

  Adaptations or arrangements of distribution members · CPC title

• F04B53/104

  the closure member being a rigid element oscillating around a fixed point · CPC title

• F04C29/126

  of the non-return type · CPC title

• Y10T137/7898

  Pivoted valves · CPC title