Abstract: Apparatus for use in a reciprocating pump wherein a one-way check valve opens to admit fluid from a reservoir during the pump upstroke and a second one-way check valve opens to expel fluid from the pump during the downstroke. The apparatus includes a valve seat having a frusto-conical shape and formed from resilient material, and a spherical metallic ball, together with a rigid seat edge liner for restricting the seat resilient expansion. In operation, the invention enables the check valve in the check position to automatically compensate for excessive forces against the ball by distributing these forces over a variable spherical ball/seat surface to provide a predetermined maximum pressure on the valve seat.

Abstract: Apparatus for an improved diaphragm pump wherein hydraulic shock and mechanical wear to the diaphragm membrane is reduced by providing a circular reed valve member adjacent to the diaphragm. The reed valve member provides a barrier to pressurized hydraulic fluid jets from direct impingement upon the diaphragm membrane, and provides a valve closure member for reducing hydraulic shock effects on the diaphragm membrane.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically metering and dispensing a plurality of fluids such as paint components is disclosed, including an operator input station for selecting the desired combination of metered fluids, a scanner drive subsystem for positioning a metering unit at appropriate fluid component storage stations, an automatic valving subsystem for controlling the flow of the selected metered component, a metering subsystem having a unit for measuring the proper volume of fluid component to be dispensed, and a dispensing subsystem for feeding the metered quantity into a receptacle. The apparatus may be operated automatically under electrical control of a control subsystem with pre-stored fluid formulations, wherein the desired mixture is identified and the pre-stored formulations enable precise metering of fluid components, or manually where each of the fluid components is manually selected and proportioned by the operator.