초록

A double check valve that generally includes a modular fluid casing having a main housing, a one-piece modular cage, and at least one in-line check valve removably housed in the modular cage.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A modular fluid casing, comprising: a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a flow channel therebetween formed by sidewalls and a bottom wall of the housing, the flow channel in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end; a modular

The invention claimed is: 1. A modular fluid casing, comprising: a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a flow channel therebetween formed by sidewalls and a bottom wall of the housing, the flow channel in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end; a modular cage removably secured to said housing, said modular cage having a first open end and a second open end and defining an interior cavity, said modular cage received within the flow channel of said housing, wherein the interior cavity of said modular cage is in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end and said flow channel of said housing, and wherein said modular cage is a one-piece non-movable construction prior to and after placement within said housing; and wherein at least one check valve is seated within the interior cavity of said modular cage. 2. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one check valve is removably seated within the interior cavity of said modular cage, wherein said check valve is in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end of said housing. 3. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said modular cage is tubular shaped. 4. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second open end of said modular cage is capable of receiving said check valve. 5. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one fluid seal is positioned between said housing and said modular cage for fluidly sealing said modular cage within the flow channel of said housing. 6. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said modular cage comprises a first gasket positioned adjacent said first open end and a second gasket positioned adjacent said second open end of said modular cage for fluidly sealing said modular cage within the flow channel of said housing. 7. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said modular cage further comprises at least one tap in fluid communication with the interior cavity. 8. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing defines at least one lug extending outwardly from an outer surface of said housing, said lug defining an orifice adapted to receive a fastener. 9. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a fastener, wherein said modular cage defines at least one protrusion extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said modular cage, said protrusion having a slot aligned with the orifice of said lug of said housing, whereby said fastener passes through the orifice and the slot for securing said modular cage to said housing. 10. The modular fluid casing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said modular cage is removably secured to said housing via a retainer attached to an external clamp. 11. A check valve arrangement, comprising: a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a flow channel therebetween formed by sidewalls and a bottom wall of the housing, the flow channel in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end; a modular cage removably secured to said housing, said modular cage having a first open end and a second open end removably seated within the flow channel of said housing, said modular cage defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity defining a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, and wherein the interior cavity of said modular cage is in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end and said flow channel of said housing, and wherein said modular cage is a one-piece non-movable construction prior to and after placement within said housing; and a plurality of check valves removably seated within the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the interior cavity of said modular cage, wherein said check valves are in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end of said housing. 12. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein a lip separates the first diameter portion from the second diameter portion of the interior cavity. 13. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the interior cavity of said modular cage have the same diameter. 14. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first diameter portion has a diameter less than a diameter of the second diameter portion of the interior cavity of said modular cage. 15. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first diameter portion of the interior cavity holds one of said check valves in place within said modular cage. 16. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one fluid seal is positioned between said housing and said modular cage for fluidly sealing said modular cage within said flow channel of said housing. 17. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a first gasket positioned adjacent said first open end of said modular cage and a second gasket positioned adjacent said second open end of said modular cage, wherein said gaskets provide a fluid seal between the interior cavity of said modular cage and said inlet end and said outlet end of said housing. 18. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a valve gasket positioned between an outer surface of each of said check valves and the interior cavity of said modular cage. 19. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said modular cage comprises at least one tap in fluid communication with the interior cavity. 20. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said modular cage comprises a tap for each check valve seated within the interior cavity of said modular cage. 21. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said modular cage is removably secured to said housing via a retainer attached to an external clamp. 22. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a fastener removably securing said housing to said modular cage. 23. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said housing defines at least one lug extending outwardly from an outer surface of said housing, said lug having an orifice adapted to receive a fastener. 24. The check valve arrangement as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a fastener, wherein said modular cage defines at least one protrusion extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said modular cage, said protrusion having a slot aligned with the orifice of said lug of said housing, whereby said fastener passes through the orifice and the slot for securing said modular cage to said housing. 25. A modular fluid casing, comprising: a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a flow channel therebetween, the flow channel in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end; and a modular cage removably secured to said housing, said modular cage having a first open end and a second open end and defining an interior cavity, said modular cage received within the flow channel of said housing, wherein the interior cavity of said modular cage is in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end of said housing, wherein the interior cavity of said modular cage is adapted to receive at least one check valve, and wherein a wedged arrangement is formed between said second open end of said modular cage and an inner surface defined within the flow channel adjacent said outlet end of said housing, thus sealing said modular cage within the flow channel of said housing. 26. A check valve arrangement, comprising: a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a flow channel therebetween formed by sidewalls and a bottom wall of the housing, the flow channel in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end; a modular cage removably secured to said housing, said modular cage having a first open end and a second open end removably seated within the flow channel of said housing, said modular cage defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity defining a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, and wherein the interior cavity of said modular cage is in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end and said flow channel of said housing; and a plurality of check valves removably seated within the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the interior cavity of said modular cage, wherein said check valves are in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end of said housing, and wherein a wedged arrangement is formed between said second open end of said modular cage and an inner surface defined within the flow channel adjacent said outlet end of said housing, thus sealing said modular cage within the flow channel of said housing. 27. A modular fluid casing, comprising: a receiving member having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a modular cage receiving area therebetween; and a modular cage removably secured to said receiving member and received by the modular cage receiving area, said modular cage having a first open end and a second open end and defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity of said modular cage is in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end of said receiving member, wherein the interior cavity of said modular cage is adapted to receive at least one check valve, and wherein a wedged arrangement is formed between said second open end of said modular cage and an inner surface defined within the modular cage receiving area adjacent said outlet end of said receiving member, thus sealing said modular cage within the modular cage receiving area of said receiving member. 28. A check valve arrangement, comprising: a receiving member having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a modular cage receiving area therebetween; a modular cage removably secured to said receiving member and received by the modular cage receiving area, said modular cage having a first open end and a second open end and defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity defining a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, wherein a wedged arrangement is formed between said second open end of said modular cage and an inner surface defined within the modular cage receiving area adjacent said outlet end of said receiving member, thus sealing said modular cage within the modular cage receiving area of said receiving member; and a plurality of check valves removably seated within the first diameter portion and the second diameter portion of the interior cavity of said modular cage, wherein said check valves are in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end of said receiving member. 29. A method of installing check valves in line with respect to a fluid conduit using a modular fluid casing, the modular fluid casing includes a receiving member having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a modular cage receiving area therebetween, and a modular cage having a first open end and a second open end and defining an interior cavity, wherein a wedged arrangement is formed between the second open end of the modular cage and an inner surface defined within the modular cage receiving area adjacent the outlet end of the receiving member, the method comprising: a. inserting at least one check valve into the interior cavity of the modular cage; b. inserting the modular cage into the modular cage receiving area of the receiving member; c. securing the modular cage to the receiving member; and d. installing the modular fluid casing in line with respect to a fluid conduit. 30. A method of installing check valves in line with respect to a fluid conduit using a modular fluid casing, the modular fluid casing includes a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a flow channel therebetween formed by sidewalls and a bottom wall of the housing, and a modular cage having a first open end and a second open end and defining an interior cavity, the method comprising: a. inserting at least one check valve into the interior cavity of the modular cage; b. inserting the modular cage into the flow channel of the housing whereby the interior cavity of said modular cage is in fluid communication with said inlet end and said outlet end and said flow channel of said housing; c. securing the modular cage to the housing; and d. installing the modular fluid casing in line with respect to a fluid conduit, wherein a wedged arrangement is formed between the second open end of the modular cage and an inner surface defined within the flow channel adjacent the outlet end of the housing, thus sealing the modular cage within the flow channel of the housing.