Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
In a valve apparatus having a ball and seat combination surrounded by a valve housing except for a fluid flow passage through said seat and which may be obstructed by said ball, the improvement comprising a resilient seat member having its outside surfaces supported against said valve housing, and having a first inside surface defining said fluid flow passage, and having a second inside surface facing said ball with a frustoconical shape converging toward said first inside surface; a spherical ball having a size such that the diameter of unloaded line contact of said ball against said second inside surface is proximate to the midpoint of said frustoconical shape; and a rigid supporting sleeve in said fluid flow passage adjacent said first inside surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a valve apparatus having a ball and seat combination surrounded by a valve housing except for a fluid flow passage through said seat and which may be obstructed by said ball, the improvement comprising a resilient seat member having its outside surfaces supported against said valve housing, and having a first inside surface defining said fluid flow passage, and having a second inside surface facing said ball with a frustoconical shape converging toward said first inside surface; a spherical ball having a size such that the diameter of unloaded line contact of said ball against said second inside surface is proximate to the midpoint of said frustoconical shape; and a rigid supporting sleeve in said fluid flow passage adjacent said first inside surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball is metallic and said seat member is made from urethane plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
A ball check valve of the type allowing one-way fluid flow by the ball lifting from a seat in the fluid flow direction and closing against the seat in the reverse direction, comprising: (a) a seat having a central passage therethrough, said seat being constructed from elastomeric material and having a frustoconical surface facing the ball; (b) a non-elastomeric ball having a diameter such that the unloaded contact point of said ball against said frustoconical seat surface is approximately midway along said seat surface; (c) a rigid sleeve in said seat central passage, said sleeve being in confining and supporting contact with said elastomeric material; and (d) means for confining said elastomeric seat material on all of its surfaces except said frustoconical surface facing said ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
A ball check valve of the type allowing one-way fluid flow by the ball lifting from a seat in the fluid flow direction and closing against the seat in the reverse direction, comprising: (a) a seat having a central passage therethrough, said seat being constructed from elastomeric material and having a frustoconical surface facing the ball; (b) a non-elastomeric ball having a diameter such that the unloaded contact point of said ball against said frustoconical seat surface is approximately midway along said seat surface; (c) a rigid sleeve in said seat central passage, said sleeve being in confining and supporting contact with said elastomeric material; and (d) means for confining said elastomeric seat material on all of its surfaces except said frustoconical surface facing said ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said seat is constructed from urethane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said ball and said sleeve are constructed from metal, and said sleeve terminates at the edge of said seat frustroconical surface.