Check valves provide sealing
In automobile windshield washer pumps, for example, it is common practice to employ check valves to control connection between an inlet passage and the pump chamber and also between this chamber and an outlet passage. The check valves are normally used only for valve operation with other structure used to provide the necessary sealing between the inlet and outlet passages in arrangements where there would otherwise be a leak path therebetween. It has further been found that in such CHECK VALVES usage, the outlet controlling check valve should close without assisting back pressure to insure that the pump will prime. It is also desirable that the total arrangement including the sealing provision be simple, have few parts and be easily assembled.
In one embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided for use with a windshield washer pump a Check Valves arrangement comprising a valve body at one end of the pump chamber. In the valve body there is provided an inlet passage for directing fluid to the chamber and also an outlet passage for directing fluid from the chamber. An elastic valve member is snap fittingly secured to the valve body with such securing also providing sealing between the inlet and outlet passages. The valve member is arranged to normally close the chamber to the inlet passage and is deflectable to open the inlet passage to the chamber to thus permit flow to the chamber and prevent flow in the opposite direction. The valve member also has Check Valves structure for preventing flow from the outlet passage to the chamber while permitting flow in the opposite direction. This latter check valve structure in one embodiment is provided by a nipple on the elastic member that has a fluid passage with one end that is formed so as to be normally closed. In addition, the valve body has structure for cooperating with this nipple to provide positive closure to prevent flow from the outlet passage to the chamber while permitting the nipple's passage to open to permit flow in the opposite direction from the chamber to the outlet passage whereby this check valve will seal without back pressure to provide for pump priming. >P
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