Check valve

Claim 1

In a slip-in check valve adapted to be slipped into place in a cylindrical bore of a fluid flow component for controlling axial flow through said bore, said check valve having an annular valve seat providing means, a movable valve member cooperable with said valve seat for controlling flow therepast, spring means for biasing said valve member toward said valve seat, and a cartridge valve body for supporting said valve seat providing means, said valve member, and said spring means in their operating positions, the improvement comprising: said cartridge having a cage-like configuration and including an inlet retainer portion adapted to support said valve seat providing means at an inlet end of the check valve, an outlet retainer portion defining an outlet port at an outlet end of the check valve and spaced axially away from said inlet retainer portion, said valve seat providing means, said inlet retainer and said outlet retainer each having cylindrical wall portions of the same outer diameter which fits slidably within said cylindrical bore so that said cartridge and valve seat providing means can be slipped into said cylindrical bore to be concentric therewith. a valve stop portion located between said inlet and outlet retainer portion for limiting the movement of said valve member away from said valve seat, a plurality of inlet posts extending axially between said inlet retainer portion and said stop portion in circumferentially spaced apart relation, a spring retainer centrally located on said stop portion for supporting said spring means in its operative position, said valve member being located on the inlet side of said stop portion and within said inlet posts for movement toward and away from said valve seat, a plurality of outlet posts extending axially between said stop portion and said outlet retainer in circumferentially spaced apart relation. a plurality of inlet windows defined between said inlet posts to provide flow passages for the flow of fluid radially outwardly from said valve seat and the inlet side of said valve member to the outer portions of said cartridge, and a plurality of outlet windows defined between said outlet posts to provide flow passages for the flow of fluid radially inwardly from the outer portions of said cartridge to said outlet port, said stop portion having peripheral wall portions spaced radially inwardly from the outer portions of said cartridge to cooperate with said cylindrical bore to provide flow passages for the flow of fluid axially from said inlet windows to said outlet windows within the outer diameter of said cartridge.