초록 ▼

A check valve adapted for mounting between any flanges and specifically between sanitary flanges in a piping system, the check valve comprising a stationary portion and a flexible portion; the single-piece rigid stationary portion including and supporting a valve seat; the single-piece molded elasto

A check valve adapted for mounting between any flanges and specifically between sanitary flanges in a piping system, the check valve comprising a stationary portion and a flexible portion; the single-piece rigid stationary portion including and supporting a valve seat; the single-piece molded elastomeric flexible portion including a flange gasket, a valve plug, flexible retaining arms for guiding and securing the valve plug movement with respect to the valve seat, and a visual means to indicate that the check valve is installed, permits flow in the desired direction, and is drainable; the check valve being fully cleanable and sterilizable in situ by flow-through methods and having at least one embodiment that is fully drainable when mounted in any orientation.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A check valve device for mounting between a pair of flanges in a process piping system comprising: a rigid plate having a port extending therethrough; a plug adapted to seal said port; a gasket for sealing between the pair of flanges, said gasket having a groove for rec

The invention claimed is: 1. A check valve device for mounting between a pair of flanges in a process piping system comprising: a rigid plate having a port extending therethrough; a plug adapted to seal said port; a gasket for sealing between the pair of flanges, said gasket having a groove for receiving an outer edge of said rigid plate; and a flexible retaining means interconnecting between said gasket and said plug, said flexible retaining means guiding said plug between a position wherein said plug seals said port and a position wherein said plug allows flow through said port, said retaining means creating a plurality of flow paths between said gasket and said plug; wherein an edge of at least one flow path is coincident with and immediately adjacent to the inside wall of the piping system. 2. The check valve device of claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises at least three flexible arms and an equal number of said flow paths interposed between said arms. 3. The check valve device of claim 2, wherein said port is of ovalized shape having a minor axis smaller than, and a major axis equal to, the inside diameter of the piping system such that the vertices of the major axis of said port are aligned with the inside wall of the piping system. 4. The check valve device of claim 3, said gasket further comprising at least one orientation tab aligned with and disposed adjacent to one of the vertices of the major axis of said port. 5. The check valve device of claim 1, wherein said rigid plate is substantially planar, said rigid plate having at least one tapered face such that said rigid plate becomes gradually thinner from said gasket to said port. 6. The check valve device of claim 1, said gasket further comprising at least one orientation tab disposed adjacent to said at least one flow path having an edge coincident with and immediately adjacent to the inside wall of the piping system, said orientation tab extending outwardly between the flanges, said orientation tab further extending in a downstream direction. 7. The check valve device of claim 1, wherein said flanges are sanitary pipe flanges. 8. The check valve device of claim 1, wherein said flanges are flat faced pipe flanges. 9. A check valve device for mounting between a pair of flanges in a process piping system comprising: a rigid plate having a port extending therethrough; a plug adapted to seal said port; a gasket for sealing between the pair of flanges, said gasket having a groove for receiving an outer edge of said rigid plate; and a plurality of flexible arms interconnecting between said gasket and said plug and an equal number of flow paths bounded between said flexible arms, said gasket, and said plug, said flexible retaining arms guiding said plug between a position wherein said plug seals said port and a position wherein said plug allows flow through said port; wherein an edge of at least one flow path is coincident with and immediately adjacent to the inside wall of the piping system; and wherein said gasket further comprises at least one orientation tab disposed adjacent to said at least one flow path having an edge coincident with and immediately adjacent to the inside wall of the piping system, said orientation tab extending outwardly between the flanges, said orientation tab further extending in a downstream direction. 10. The check valve device of claim 9, wherein said rigid plate is substantially planar, said rigid plate having at least one tapered face such that said rigid plate becomes gradually thinner from said gasket to said port. 11. The check valve device of claim 9, wherein the port is smaller than the inside diameter of the piping system. 12. A check valve device for mounting between a pair of flanges in a process piping system comprising: a rigid plate having a port extending therethrough, said rigid plate being integral to one of the flanges; a plug adapted to seal said port; a gasket for sealing between the pair of flanges; and a flexible retaining means interconnecting between said gasket and said plug, said flexible retaining means guiding said plug between a position wherein said plug seals said port and a position wherein said plug allows flow through said port, said retaining means creating a plurality of flow paths between said gasket and said plug; wherein an edge of at least one flow path is coincident with and immediately adjacent to the inside wall of the piping system. 13. The check valve device of claim 12, wherein said retaining means comprises at least three flexible arms and an equal number of said flow paths interposed between said arms. 14. The check valve device of claim 12, wherein said rigid plate is substantially planar, said rigid plate having at least one tapered face such that said rigid plate becomes gradually thinner from said gasket to said port. 15. The check valve device of claim 12, said gasket further comprising at least one orientation tab disposed adjacent to said at least one flow path having an edge coincident with and immediately adjacent to the inside wall of the piping system, said orientation tab extending outwardly between the flanges, said orientation tab further extending in a downstream direction. 16. The check valve device of claim 15, wherein said port is smaller than the inside diameter of the piping system. 17. The check valve device of claim 15, wherein said port has a diameter equal to the inside diameter of the piping system. 18. The check valve device of claim 15, wherein said flanges are sanitary pipe flanges. 19. The check valve device of claim 12, wherein said port is of ovalized shape having a minor axis smaller than, and a major axis equal to, the inside diameter of the piping system such that the vertices of the major axis of said port are aligned with the inside wall of the piping system. 20. The check valve device of claim 19, said gasket further comprising at least one orientation tab aligned with and disposed adjacent to one of the vertices of the major axis of said port.