PRESSURE ACTUATED DRAIN VALVE

摘要

The present invention valve (10) is operable to drain fluid remaining in a conduit system. This drain valve (10) is of a general type known as a biased open line condition change responsive check valve. The present invention drain valve (10) is comprised of a conduit (30), a spring (32), a fluid blockage device (38) and a seal (36). The fluid blockage device (38) is movably suspended in an axial direction within a pocket (50) of the conduit (30) by the spring (32). The seal (36) is juxtapositioned around the fluid blockage device (38) and is movable therewith. Accordingly, the fluid blockage device (38) acts to axially compress the spring (32) when a predetermined axial fluid pressure differential occurs between the ends thereof such that the seal (36) and the fluid blockage device (38) act to prevent passage of the fluid through the adjacent conduit (30). However, when the fluid blockage device (38) is in its normally opened position, the fluid blockage device (38) and the seal (36) thereon allow remaining fluid to pass through the adjacent conduit (30). The present invention drain valve (10) also comprises a wire retainer (40) which has a substantially straight center segment (140) with angled segments (142 and 144) joined at each end thereof. The retainer (40) further has substantially semi-circular circumferential segments (146 and 148) extending from the respective ends (150 and 152) of each of the angled segments (142 and 144) opposite from the center segment (140).