Valve construction

Claim 2

A valve comprising: housing means defining a fluid passage; a movable valve member disposed within said housing means and having a first position within said fluid passage for permitting relatively free fluid flow in a first direction; a resilient seal means including a pliable lip portion extending into said fluid passage operatively disposed between and effectively fixed to one of said valve member and said housing means, said movable valve member being responsive to a relatively low urging force in a second direction for movement to a second position within said fluid passage for effecting a low pressure seal of said seal means lip portion with the other of said valve member and said housing means to prevent fluid flow through said passage in said second direction; and a resiliently deformable seal backup means juxtaposed to said seal means, said pliable lip portion being responsive to the uRging of said valve member at a relatively higher urging force in said second direction for deflecting into engagement with said seal backup means, said seal means and said seal backup means being cooperatively deformable for maintaining said seal against relatively higher pressure in said second direction.

Claim 3

A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid passage defines an air vent communicating with a liquid conduit defined by said housing means and having an inlet and an outlet separate from said fluid passage whereby said valve is operable as a vacuum breaker device.

Claim 4

A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid passage conducts liquid through the passage in one direction and wherein said valve member is responsive to a liquid back pressure in said fluid passage for moving to the seal position for preventing flow of liquid through said passage whereby said valve is operable as a check valve.

Claim 5

A valve comprising: housing means defining a fluid passage; a resilient and pliable valve seat effectively fixed to said housing means and including a lip portion extending into said fluid passage; a resiliently deformable valve seat backup means effectively fixed to said housing means and juxtaposed above said valve seat within said fluid passage; and a movable valve member having a first lower position within said housing means permitting relatively free fluid flow in a downward direction and movable upwardly responsive to a low urging force to a second position of sealing engagement with said valve seat lip portion for preventing low pressure fluid flow through said fluid passage in an upward backflow direction, said valve seat being responsive to a higher urging force on said valve member in said second direction for deflecting into engagement with said valve seat backup means, said valve seat and said valve seat backup means being cooperatively deformable to maintain said seal for preventing relatively higher pressure fluid flow through said fluid passage in said backflow direction.

Claim 6

A valve comprising: housing means defining a fluid passage; a resilient and pliable valve seat effectively fixed to said housing means and including a lip portion extending into said fluid passage; a resiliently deformable valve seat backup means effectively fixed to said housing means and juxtaposed above said valve seat within said fluid passage; and a movable valve member having a first lower position within said housing means permitting relatively free fluid flow in a downward direction and movable upwardly responsive to a low urging force to a second position of sealing engagement with said valve seat lip portion for preventing low pressure fluid flow through said fluid passage in an upward backflow direction, said valve seat being responsive to a higher urging force on said valve member in said second direction for deflecting into engagement with said valve seat backup means, said valve seat and said valve seat backup means being cooperatively deformable to maintain said seal for preventing relatively higher pressure fluid flow through said fluid passage in said backflow direction.

Claim 7

A check valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said valve member is loosely retained within said housing means for movement to said first lower position under the forces of gravity and wherein said housing means defines support means for locating said valve member in said first lower position to permit said relatively free fluid flow in said first direction.

Claim 8

A check valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said valve member is buoyant and includes means to retain the valve member in a predetermined orientation within said housing means for sealing engagement with said valve seat.

Claim 9

A check valve as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve seat backup means is formed of an elastomeric material integrally with an axially extending tubular portion comprising means for connecting said housing means to a fluid conduit.

Claim 10

A check valve comprising: housing means defining a generally vertical liquid passage; a resilient valve seat including a thin pliable lip portion extending into said passage and effectively fixed to said housing means; a resiliently deformable valve seat backup means of relatively lower resiliency and juxtaposed above said valve seat within said passage and effectively fixed to said housing means; a vertically movable buoyant valve member having a first position within said housing means spaced below said valve seat for permitting relatively free liquid flow in a first downward direction and buoyantly movable upwardly into sealing engagement with said valve seat lip portion responsive to a relatively low pressure in a second upward direction upon a liquid rise in said passage to prevent low pressure liquid flow through said passage in said second upward direction, said valve seat being responsive to the urging of said valve member at a relatively higher pressure in said second upward direction for deflecting into engagement with said valve seat backup means, said valve seat and said valve seat backup means being cooperatively deformable to effect a relatively higher pressure seal for preventing higher pressure flow through said passage in said second direction.

Claim 11

A check valve comprising: housing means defining a generally vertical liquid passage; a resilient valve seat including a thin pliable lip portion extending into said passage and effectively fixed to said housing means; a resiliently deformable valve seat backup means of relatively lower resiliency and juxtaposed above said valve seat within said passage and effectively fixed to said housing means; a vertically movable buoyant valve member having a first position within said housing means spaced below said valve seat for permitting relatively free liquid flow in a first downward direction and buoyantly movable upwardly into sealing engagement with said valve seat lip portion responsive to a relatively low pressure in a second upward direction upon a liquid rise in said passage to prevent low pressure liquid flow through said passage in said second upward direction, said valve seat being responsive to the urging of said valve member at a relatively higher pressure in said second upward direction for deflecting into engagement with said valve seat backup means, said valve seat and said valve seat backup means being cooperatively deformable to effect a relatively higher pressure seal for preventing higher pressure flow through said passage in said second direction.

Claim 12

A check valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said valve seat is in the form of a thin pliable member having an annular seal lip extending into said passage for sealing engagement by said valve member under a relatively low buoyant force.

Claim 13

A check valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said valve member is in the form of a buoyant sphere having a weighted lower portion to maintain said valve member in a predetermined orientation within said passage.

Claim 14

A check valve as defined in claim 8 and further including inlet and outlet means for connecting said check valve into a liquid conduit.

Claim 15

A check valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said valve seat includes an enlarged annular ring disposed radially outwardly from said passage and effectively clamped between a portion of said housing means and said valve seat backup means for axially and radially retaining said valve seat for sealing engagement by said movable valve member.

Claim 16

A valve comprising: housing means defining a liquid conduit including an inlet and an outlet and further defining an air passage communicating with said conduit; a resilient and flexible annular valve seat including a pliable lip portion effectively disposed within said air passage; a resiliently deformable valve seat backup means juxtaposed above said valve seat within said air passage; and a movable valve member having a first position within said housing means permitting relatively free airflow in a first direction into said conduit and movable responsive to a low urging force to a second position of sealing engagement with said valve seat lip portion for preventing fluid flow from said conduit through said air vent in a second direction, said valve seat being responsive to a higher urging force on said valve member in said second direction for deflecting into engagement with said valve seat backup means, said valve seat and said valve seat backup means being cooperatively deformable to maintain said seal for preventing liquid flow through said air passage in said second direction under a higher pressure.

Claim 17

A valve comprising: housing means defining a liquid conduit including an inlet and an outlet and further defining an air passage communicating with said conduit; a resilient and flexible annular valve seat including a pliable lip portion effectively disposed within said air passage; a resiliently deformable valve seat backup means juxtaposed above said valve seat within said air passage; and a movable valve member having a first position within said housing means permitting relatively free airflow in a first direction into said conduit and movable responsive to a low urging force to a second position of sealing engagement with said valve seat lip portion for preventing fluid flow from said conduit through said air vent in a second direction, said valve seat being responsive to a higher urging force on said valve member in said second direction for deflecting into engagement with said valve seat backup means, said valve seat and said valve seat backup means being cooperatively deformable to maintain said seal for preventing liquid flow through said air passage in said second direction under a higher pressure.