What's the difference in construction of a check valve vs. a priority valve. From what I've understood it's rather a matter of application than construction which decides if it's a checkvalve or a priority valve.
Well I'll have a go......
The
simple check valve or a non return valve (NRV). Imagine a pipe with a flange which goes around the inside, only a thin one mind, we don't want to restrict the flow too much. A a thin rod is located accross the diameter of the pipe with a hole in its middle. Through this hole is a further rod, quite a long one, and attached to that is a round plate that sits on the flange and at the other end is a nut that won't pass through the hole. Lets say the pipe is horizontal and the plate sits to the left of the flange, then fluid or a gas or what ever can flow from the right to the left with just a little restriction because the medium in the pipe would push it open. But...... if the medium flowed from left to right it would push the plate on to the flange thereby closing off the pipe. As effective as a stop cock
now for the priority valve.......