Abstract: A check valve is provided that includes a valve body, a stop bar, a flapper, and a protrusion. The valve body has a flow channel extending therethrough, a first stop support, and a second stop support. The first and second stop supports extend axially from the valve body. The stop bar is coupled to and extends between the first and the second stop supports. The flapper is rotationally mounted to the valve body and comprises a first material. The protrusion is integrally molded with the flapper and extends axially therefrom. The protrusion comprises a second material that is non-metallic and different than the first material. The flapper is moveable between a closed position, in which the flapper at least substantially seals the flow channel, and a fully-open position, in which the protrusion contacts the stop bar and the flapper unseals the flow channel.

Abstract: A check valve is provided that includes a valve body, a stop mechanism, and a flapper. The valve body includes a flowpath extending therethrough and a pair of stop supports extending axially therefrom. The valve body includes an engineered composite. The stop mechanism is integrally formed with the valve body and extends between the pair of stop supports. The stop mechanism includes the engineered composite. The flapper rotationally is coupled to the valve body and configured to be selectively moveable between an open and closed position in response to a pressure differential thereacross. The flapper includes the engineered composite.

Abstract: A check valve stop assembly and method of retaining the check valve stop assembly in a check valve flow body without external fixation means, wherein the check valve stop assembly includes a threaded check valve stop insert and a check valve stop housing including a threaded interior sidewall that defines a void space therein. The check valve stop insert is inserted within the void space of the check valve stop housing by mating the threads of the check valve stop insert with those of the check valve stop housing. The check valve stop housing further includes an opening formed in the sidewall through which at least a portion of the check valve stop insert is accessible. The check valve stop insert that is accessible via the opening formed in the sidewall is either coupled to the check valve stop housing or mechanically deformed to prevent removal of the check valve stop insert from within the check valve stop housing.

Abstract: A pressure relief check valve system includes a valve body, a flapper, a magnet, an electromagnet, and a pressure sensor circuit. The flapper is rotationally mounted on the valve body and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The magnet is coupled to the flapper, and the electromagnet is coupled to the valve body. The pressure sensor circuit is adapted to sense one or more fluid pressures and is operable, based on the one or more sensed fluid pressures, to selectively supply or interrupt the electrical current to the electromagnet. The electromagnet is coupled to receive the electrical current and, upon receipt of the electrical current, either magnetically attracts or does not magnetically attract the magnet, to thereby hold the flapper in the closed position or allow flapper rotation to the open position, respectively.

Abstract: A check valve is provided that includes a valve body, a stop bar, a flapper, and a protrusion. The valve body has a flow channel extending therethrough, a first stop support, and a second stop support. The first and second stop supports extend axially from the valve body. The stop bar is coupled to and extends between the first and the second stop supports. The flapper is rotationally mounted to the valve body and comprises a first material. The protrusion is integrally molded with the flapper and extends axially therefrom. The protrusion comprises a second material that is non-metallic and different than the first material. The flapper is moveable between a closed position, in which the flapper at least substantially seals the flow channel, and a fully-open position, in which the protrusion contacts the stop bar and the flapper unseals the flow channel.

Abstract: A damping system, for a valve with a flapper movable between an open position and a closed position, comprises a main body and a piston. The main body has at least an inner wall that defines a chamber having fluid therein. The main body is coupled to the flapper, and is configured to move therewith. The piston is disposed at least partially within the chamber. The piston is configured to move within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body when the flapper approaches the open position or the closed position, to thereby compress the fluid in a section of the chamber and slow movement of the main body. Movement of the flapper is thereby slowed when approaching the open position or the closed position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a collapsible shaft and control assembly that is useful for transferring rotational control valve movements to a control surface. The invention includes a housing, shaft, and actuator arm. The housing defines a hollow cylinder. The shaft has a resilient end with a plurality of flexible strips capable of radial bending so as to transition between an expanded position and a compressed position. The shaft is positioned in the hollow cylinder, in the expanded position, so that the shaft can rotate. The actuator arm is positioned within the resilient end of the shaft so as to maintain the resilient end of the shaft in the expanded position. Both the actuator arm and shaft include reciprocal engagement means, and the actuator arm and shaft are positioned so as to engage the reciprocal engagement means. A rotational movement of the actuator arm thus causes a rotational movement of the shaft. A flapper affixed to the shaft can direct air depending on the radial position of the shaft.

Abstract: A pressure relief check valve includes a valve body, a flapper, a magnet coupled to the flapper, and an adjustment mechanism. The valve body has an upstream side, a downstream side, and a flow channel that extends therebetween. The flapper is rotationally mounted on the valve body, and is movable between a closed position, in which the flapper at least substantially seals the flow channel, and an open position, in which the flapper unseals the flow channel. The adjustment mechanism comprises a magnetically permeable material, and is movably coupled to the valve body at a position in which the adjustment mechanism is magnetically attracted to the magnet with a magnetic closing force at least when the flapper is in the closed position, to thereby at least substantially inhibit flapper movement from the closed position. Movement of the adjustment mechanism varies the magnetic closing force.

Abstract: A damping system, for a valve with a flapper movable between an open position and a closed position, comprises a main body and a piston. The main body has at least an inner wall that defines a chamber having fluid therein. The main body is coupled to the flapper, and is configured to move therewith. The piston is disposed at least partially within the chamber. The piston is configured to move within the chamber in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the main body when the flapper approaches the open position or the closed position, to thereby compress the fluid in a section of the chamber and slow movement of the main body. Movement of the flapper is thereby slowed when approaching the open position or the closed position.

Abstract: A damping system for a valve with a flapper comprises a main body having at least an inner wall defining a chamber having fluid therein, a paddle disposed within the chamber, and a fluid channel. The paddle is coupled to the flapper and moved thereby between a first and second position when the flapper is in a closed and an open position, respectively, and is configured to force fluid from at least a section of the chamber when approaching the first or second position. The fluid channel is coupled to the chamber section, and is configured to allow fluid egress out of the chamber section at a first egress rate when the paddle moves from the first position to a predetermined intermediate position between the first and second positions, and at a second, lower egress rate when the paddle moves from the predetermined intermediate position to the second position.

Abstract: A damping system for a valve with a flapper comprises a main body having at least an inner wall defining a pneumatic chamber, a paddle disposed within the pneumatic chamber, and a plurality of orifices extending through the main body. The paddle is coupled to the flapper and moved thereby between a first position and a second position when the flapper is in a closed and an open position, respectively, and is configured to force gas out of the pneumatic chamber when moving to the first position or the second position. The plurality of orifices allow gas egress out of the pneumatic chamber at least at a first egress rate when the paddle moves from the first position to an intermediate position between the first and second positions, and at least at a second, lower egress rate when the paddle moves from the intermediate position to the second position.

Abstract: A check valve is provided that includes a valve body, a stop mechanism, and a flapper. The valve body includes a flowpath extending therethrough and a pair of stop supports extending axially therefrom. The valve body includes an engineered composite. The stop mechanism is integrally formed with the valve body and extends between the pair of stop supports. The stop mechanism includes the engineered composite. The flapper rotationally is coupled to the valve body and configured to be selectively moveable between an open and closed position in response to a pressure differential thereacross. The flapper includes the engineered composite.

Abstract: A check valve assembly including a position indicator and method of operation, wherein the position indicator indicates the position of at least one of a plurality of flappers. The valve assembly including at least one bridge conductor and at least one pair of spaced apart mating conductors formed on at least one of a fluid flow opening and/or on a flapper stop. During operation, the bridge conductor bridges the pairs of conductors formed about at least one fluid flow opening thereby generating a signal to alert a controller that the flapper is in a closed position. Alternatively, or in addition to, the bridge conductor bridges the pair of conductors on the flapper stop thereby generating a signal to alert a controller that the flapper is in a full-open position.

Abstract: A check valve is provided for use in a low pressure differential system. The check valve includes a valve body, a support bar, stop supports, a shaft, a stop mechanism, and flappers. The valve body has a first and a second flow channel extending therethrough that each has an inlet and a corresponding outlet. The inlets have a cross sectional flow area that is greater than a cross sectional flow area of the corresponding outlet. The support bar extends radially across and axially along the valve body to separate flow channels and has a tapered upstream edge extending along a radial length thereof. The shaft is coupled to and extends between stop supports. The stop mechanism is coupled to and extends between the stop supports downstream from the shaft. Flappers are rotationally mounted to the valve body, moveable between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A pressure relief check valve system includes a valve body, a flapper, a magnet, an electromagnet, and a pressure sensor circuit. The flapper is rotationally mounted on the valve body and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The magnet is coupled to the flapper, and the electromagnet is coupled to the valve body. The pressure sensor circuit is adapted to sense one or more fluid pressures and is operable, based on the one or more sensed fluid pressures, to selectively supply or interrupt the electrical current to the electromagnet. The electromagnet is coupled to receive the electrical current and, upon receipt of the electrical current, either magnetically attracts or does not magnetically attract the magnet, to thereby hold the flapper in the closed position or allow flapper rotation to the open position, respectively.

Abstract: A check valve stop assembly and method of retaining the check valve stop assembly in a check valve flow body without external fixation means, wherein the check valve stop assembly includes a threaded check valve stop insert and a check valve stop housing including a threaded interior sidewall that defines a void space therein. The check valve stop insert is inserted within the void space of the check valve stop housing by mating the threads of the check valve stop insert with those of the check valve stop housing. The check valve stop housing further includes an opening formed in the sidewall through which at least a portion of the check valve stop insert is accessible. The check valve stop insert that is accessible via the opening formed in the sidewall is either coupled to the check valve stop housing or mechanically deformed to prevent removal of the check valve stop insert from within the check valve stop housing.

Abstract: A relief plate is provided for coupling a housing of an electro-mechanical actuator assembly to a valve housing of a valve assembly. The relief plate includes a first side, a second side, an opening, an annular collection channel, and a plurality of grooves. The first side is configured to couple to the actuator housing. The second side is configured to couple to the valve housing. The opening extends between the first and the second sides. The annular collection channel is formed in the second side concentric to and in communication with the opening. The plurality of grooves is formed in the second side in communication with and extending radially outwardly from the channel.