Importance

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Abstract

An improved ball retaining mechanism is disclosed in combination with an improved valve body for maintaining a checking ball within a ball check valve. The valve body includes a central conduit configured about a flow axis passing from the valve inlet to the valve outlet. Adjacent the valve inlet, there is defined a Venturi contoured seat. When an inserted checking ball is lodged on the seat, fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet is stopped. Beyond the seat, an expanded valve flow chamber is defined communicating to the valve outlet having sufficient volume to accommodate both the lifted checking ball and fluid flow around the lifted checking ball from inlet to outlet. The improvement to the valve body includes a the spring steel wire retainer and an interior annulus in the valve body at the expanded flow volume for receiving a spring steel wire retainer. A spring steel wire retainer is provided having a circular section and ball retaining tangs. The circular section is provided with a diameter slightly exceeding the diameter of the interior annulus and an arc less than 360.degree. (330.degree. circular section being preferred) to permit elastic expansion and contraction. At least one tang extends from the circular section having sufficient length and dimension with respect to the expanded flow volume to retain the checking ball in the expanded flow volume.

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First Claim