Polymer bellows spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9599240-B2
Application number	US-201313926569-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2013
Priority date	Jun 28, 2012
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A spring for use in a check valve is formed from a single piece of a polymeric material and includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a body positioned between the proximal end and the distal end. The body includes a wall, a proximal opening on the wall and a distal opening on the wall, and a bellows between the proximal opening and the distal opening. Further included is a process of forming the spring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spring for use in a check valve, wherein the spring is formed from a single piece of a polymeric material and wherein the spring comprises:
a proximal end;
a distal end positioned opposite to the proximal end; and
a body positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the body comprises a wall, wherein the body comprises a proximal opening on a portion of the wall adjacent to the proximal end and a distal opening on a portion of the wall adjacent to the distal end, wherein the body further comprises a bellows between the proximal opening and the distal opening, and wherein the bellows is spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end.

2. The spring of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is a fluoropolymer.

3. The spring of claim 2 , wherein the polymeric material is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

4. The spring of claim 1 , wherein the spring further comprises a lumen within the body and wherein the proximal opening and the distal opening provide fluid communication to the lumen.

5. The spring of claim 1 , wherein the wall has an average thickness of between about 0.01 inches and about 0.02 inches.

6. The spring of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a sealing lip configured to engage and disengage with a housing of a check valve.

7. The spring of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a guide to stabilize the spring in a housing of a check valve.

8. A check valve comprising:
a housing; and
a spring contained within the housing, wherein the spring is formed from a single piece of a polymeric material, wherein the spring comprises a proximal end; a distal end positioned opposite to the proximal end; and a body positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the body comprises a wall, wherein the body comprises a proximal opening on a portion of the wall adjacent to the proximal end and a distal opening on a portion of the wall adjacent to the distal end, wherein the body further comprises a bellows between the proximal opening and the distal opening, and wherein the bellows is spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end.

9. The check valve of claim 8 , wherein the check valve has a size of about 1 inch to about 5 inches.

10. The check valve of claim 8 , wherein the check valve comprises a cracking pressure range between about 0.5 psig and about 1.0 psig.

11. The check valve of claim 8 , wherein the polymeric material is a fluoropolymer.

12. The check valve of claim 11 , wherein the polymeric material is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

13. The check valve of claim 8 , wherein the spring further comprises a lumen within the body and wherein the proximal opening and the distal opening provide fluid communication to the lumen.

14. The check valve of claim 8 , wherein the check valve comprises a flow coefficient value of at least 35.

15. A process for forming a spring for use in a check valve, comprising:
providing a polymeric material; and
forming the polymeric material into the spring, wherein the spring comprises
a proximal end;
a distal end positioned opposite to the proximal end; and
a body positioned between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the body comprises a wall, wherein the body comprises a proximal opening on a portion of the wall adjacent to the proximal end and a distal opening on a portion of the wall adjacent to the distal end, wherein the body further comprises a bellows between the proximal opening and the distal opening, and wherein the bellows is spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the polymeric material is a fluoropolymer.

17. The process of claim 15 , wherein the spring further comprises a lumen within the body and wherein the proximal opening and the distal opening provide fluid communication to the lumen.

18. The process of claim 15 , wherein forming the polymeric material includes machining the polymeric material.

19. The process of claim 15 , wherein forming the polymeric material includes any forming options.

Assignees

• Nguyen Hy B
• Dinh Thuan An
• Arellano Carlos E
• Saint Gobain Performance Plastics Corp

Inventors

• Nguyen Hy B
• Dinh Thuan An
• Arellano Carlos E

Classifications

• F16K15/025 Primary

  the valve being loaded by a spring (F16K15/03 - F16K15/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16K15/028

  the valve member consisting only of a predominantly disc-shaped flat element · CPC title

• F16F1/3732 Primary

  having an annular or the like shape, e.g. grommet-type resilient mountings · CPC title

• Y10T137/7837

  Direct response valves [i.e., check valve type] · CPC title

• F16K15/021

  the valve member being a movable body around which the medium flows when the valve is open (F16K15/025 - F16K15/12 take precedence) · CPC title