US 11,703,145 B1
Fluid damped check valve, and associated systems and methods
Justin K. Bahrami, Bellevue, WA (US); and Kyle J. Meeuwsen, Puyallup, WA (US)
Assigned to Blue Origin, LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed by Blue Origin, LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Nov. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/516,335.
Application 17/516,335 is a continuation of application No. 16/813,388, filed on Mar. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,174,966.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16K 47/04 (2006.01); F16K 15/02 (2006.01); F16K 1/12 (2006.01); F16K 15/06 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 47/04 (2013.01) [F16K 15/025 (2013.01); F16K 1/12 (2013.01); F16K 15/063 (2013.01); Y10T 137/785 (2015.04); Y10T 137/7852 (2015.04)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A check valve assembly, comprising:
a housing including—
an inlet port;
an outlet port;
a flow chamber fluidly coupling the inlet port to the outlet port;
a damping chamber; and
a leak chamber positioned between the flow chamber and the damping chamber, wherein the leak chamber is positioned to receive air at ambient pressure;
a piston assembly extending at least partially through the flow chamber to the damping chamber, wherein the piston assembly is movable between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the piston assembly is positioned to sealing engage the housing in the closed position to fluidly disconnect the inlet port from the outlet port;
a biasing member operably coupled to the piston assembly, wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the piston assembly to the closed position; and
at least one sealing member between the piston assembly and the housing, wherein the at least one sealing member is positioned to fluidly disconnect the flow chamber from the damping chamber.