초록 ▼

A damping system, for a valve with a flapper movable between an open position and a closed position, comprises a main body and a piston. The main body has at least an inner wall that defines a chamber having fluid therein. The main body is coupled to the flapper, and is configured to move therewith.

A damping system, for a valve with a flapper movable between an open position and a closed position, comprises a main body and a piston. The main body has at least an inner wall that defines a chamber having fluid therein. The main body is coupled to the flapper, and is configured to move therewith. The piston is disposed at least partially within the chamber. The piston is configured to move within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body when the flapper approaches the open position or the closed position, to thereby compress the fluid in a section of the chamber and slow movement of the main body. Movement of the flapper is thereby slowed when approaching the open position or the closed position.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A check valve comprising: a valve body having an upstream side, a downstream side, and a valve flow channel that extends between the upstream and downstream sides; a flapper rotationally mounted on the valve body and movable between a closed position, in which the flapper at least subs

We claim: 1. A check valve comprising: a valve body having an upstream side, a downstream side, and a valve flow channel that extends between the upstream and downstream sides; a flapper rotationally mounted on the valve body and movable between a closed position, in which the flapper at least substantially seals the valve flow channel, and an open position, in which the flapper at least substantially unseals the valve flow channel; and a damping mechanism mounted on the flapper and configured to slow movement of the flapper when the flapper is approaching the open position and when the flapper is approaching the closed position, the damping mechanism comprising: a main body having at least an inner wall that defines a chamber having fluid therein, the main body coupled to the flapper and configured to move therewith; and a piston disposed at least partially within the chamber, the piston configured to move within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body when the flapper approaches the open position and when the flapper approaches the closed position, to thereby compress the fluid in a section of the chamber and slow movement of the main body and the flapper. 2. The check valve of claim 1, further comprising: one or more stops mounted on the valve body and configured to engage the piston, to thereby at least facilitate movement of the piston within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body and thereby slow movement of the flapper, when the flapper approaches the open position. 3. The check valve of claim 2, wherein the one or more stops comprise a stop tube. 4. The check valve of claim 1, wherein the valve body is configured to engage the piston, to thereby at least facilitate movement of the piston within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body and thereby slow movement of the flapper, when the flapper approaches the closed position. 5. The check valve of claim 1, wherein the fluid in the chamber at least partially egresses out of the section of the chamber when compressed by the piston. 6. The check valve of claim 1, wherein the inner wall defines a fluid path around at least a portion of the piston in the chamber, the fluid path configured to allow fluid to egress out of the section of the chamber when compressed by the piston. 7. The check valve of claim 1, further comprising: one or more seals disposed within the chamber to at least substantially prevent egress of the fluid out of the section except when compressed by the piston. 8. The check valve of claim 1, further comprising: a second flow channel that extends between the upstream and downstream sides; a second flapper rotationally mounted on the valve body and movable between a closed position, in which the second flapper at least substantially seals the second flow channel, and an open position, in which the second flapper unseals the flow channel; and a second damping mechanism mounted on the second flapper, the second damping mechanism comprising: a main body having at least an inner wall that defines a chamber having fluid therein, the main body coupled to the second flapper and configured to move therewith; and a piston disposed at least partially within the chamber, the piston configured to move within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body when the second flapper approaches the open position or the closed position, to thereby compress the fluid in a section of the chamber and slow movement of the main body, whereby movement of the second flapper is slowed when approaching the open position or the closed position. 9. The check valve of claim 8, further comprising: a first stop coupled to the second flapper, the first stop configured to engage the damping mechanism piston, to thereby at least facilitate movement of such piston within the damping mechanism chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the damping mechanism main body and thereby slow movement of the flapper, when the flapper approaches the open position; and a second stop coupled to the flapper, the second stop configured to engage the second damping mechanism piston, to thereby at least facilitate movement of such piston within the second damping mechanism chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second damping mechanism main body and thereby slow movement of the second flapper, when the second flapper approaches the open position. 10. A check valve comprising: a valve body having an upstream side, a downstream side, and a plurality of valve flow channels that extend between the upstream and downstream sides; a plurality of flappers rotationally mounted on the valve body, each flapper movable between a closed position, in which such flapper at least substantially seals a valve flow channel, and an open position, in which such flapper at least substantially unseals a valve flow channel; and a plurality of damping mechanisms, each damping mechanism mounted on a corresponding flapper and configured to slow movement of the corresponding flapper when the corresponding flapper is approaching the open position and when the corresponding flapper is approaching the closed position, each damping mechanism comprising: a main body having at least an inner wall that defines a chamber having fluid therein, the main body coupled to the corresponding flapper and configured to move therewith; and a piston disposed at least partially within the chamber, the piston configured to move within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body when the corresponding flapper approaches the open position and when the corresponding flapper approaches the closed position, to thereby compress the fluid in a section of the chamber and slow movement of the main body and the corresponding flapper. 11. The check valve of claim 10, further comprising: one or more stops mounted on the valve body and configured to engage each piston, to thereby at least facilitate movement of each piston within its respective chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the respective main body and thereby slow movement of the corresponding flapper, when the corresponding flapper approaches the open position. 12. The check valve of claim 10, further comprising: one more or more stops configured to engage the piston of at least one respective damping mechanism, thereby at least facilitating movement of such piston within its respective chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the respective main body when the corresponding flapper approaches the open position, the one or more stops disposed on a flapper other than the corresponding flapper. 13. The check valve of claim 10, wherein the valve body is configured to engage at least one piston, to thereby at least facilitate movement of the at least one piston within its respective chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the respective main body and thereby slow movement of the corresponding flapper, when the corresponding flapper approaches the closed position. 14. A damping system for a valve with a flapper movable between an open position and a closed position, the damping system comprising: a main body having at least an inner wall that defines a chamber having fluid therein, the main body coupled to the flapper and configured to move therewith; and a piston disposed at least partially within the chamber, and configured to slow movement of the flapper when the flapper approaches the open position and when the flapper approaches the closed position, the piston configured to move within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body when the flapper approaches the open position and when the flapper approaches the closed position, to thereby compress the fluid in a section of the chamber and slow movement of the main body and the flapper. 15. The damping system of claim 14, wherein the main body is configured to be mounted on the flapper. 16. The damping system of claim 14, further comprising: one or more stops configured to be mounted on the valve, the one or more stops further configured to engage the piston, to thereby at least facilitate movement of the piston within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body and thereby slow movement of the flapper, when the flapper approaches the open position. 17. The damping system of claim 14, wherein the valve body is configured to engage the piston, to thereby at least facilitate movement of the piston within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body and thereby slow movement of the flapper, when the flapper approaches the closed position. 18. The damping system of claim 14, wherein the fluid in the chamber at least partially egresses out of the section of the chamber when compressed by the piston. 19. The damping system of claim 14, wherein the inner wall defines a fluid path around at least a portion of the piston in the chamber, the fluid path configured to allow fluid to egress out of the section of the chamber when compressed by the piston. 20. The damping system of claim 14, further comprising: one or more seals disposed within the chamber to at least substantially prevent egress of the fluid out of the section except when compressed by the piston.