More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a check valve for a metering device having a negligible pressure drop thereacross.CHECK VALVES It is another object of the present invention to provide such a Check Valves that is easy to assemble and manufacture and is lightweight.

To that end, a Check Valves having a negligible pressure drop thereacross includes a valve seat defining an inlet flow region having a predetermined flow area; a support frame projecting outwardly from the valve seat and defining an outlet flow region having a predetermined flow area greater than the area of the inlet flow region. Further, the present invention includes a valve member, or poppet, slidably mounted to the support frame for reciprocal movement between a flow blocking position in abutment with the valve seat and a flow sustaining position away from the valve seat. A retainer is mounted to the frame and a biasing spring is mounted intermediate the retainer and the valve member for biasing the valve member against the valve seat in a normally closed configuration and for biasing the retainer into contact with the support frame. Preferably, the gasket is mounted to the valve member for sealing abutment against the valve seat when the valve member is biased against the valve seat in the normally closed configuration. The valve member preferably includes a convex edge surface for enhanced flow thereacross. Preferably, a pressure relief valve is disposed substantially in the center of the valve member.

It is preferred that the frame include a first frame portion having at least two generally elongate rail members projecting generally parallelly outwardly a predetermined distance from the valve seat with the rail members being joined by a retainer support member extending from a distal end of a first rail member to a distal end of a second rail member in generally perpendicular alignment with the rail members. Further, the frame structure includes a second frame portion structurally similar to the first frame portion and mounted to the valve seat at a predetermined spacing from the first frame portion with the retainer extending between the first frame portion and the second frame portion in abutment with the retainer support members with the retainer being biased thereagainst by the spring.

It is further preferred that the retainer include two flanges projecting outwardly from opposing sides thereof, each flange being configured to fit within the spacing between the rail members for abutment against the retainer support members.

By the above, the present invention provides a lightweight check valve having a negligible pressure drop thereacross. Further, the valve member does not tend to stick open as with previous designs which had lengthwise space constraints which prevented the use of alignment or directing rail members. In addition, the relatively thin design of the valve member prevents binding during valve member motion, while the biasing spring substantially prevents lateral motions of the valve member.

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