Valves and valve actuation – Rotary valves – Ball valve
Patent
1986-03-05
1987-12-01
Nilson, Robert G.
Valves and valve actuation
Rotary valves
Ball valve
251317, F16K 520
Patent
active
047099020
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a ball valve of the kind comprising a valve housing in which the valve member of the valve housing is retained between an annular sealing member and an annular retaining element mounted through one of the connecting branches of the valve housing.
2. The Prior Art
Ball valves of the kind referred to above are known wherein the annular retaining element is screwed into contact against the valve member so as to press the valve member against the annular sealing member with a sealing pressure. However, in the previously known ball valves of this kind it has proved to be difficult to obtain the optimum sealing pressure between the annular sealing member and the valve member. It has been proposed to provide the annular retaining element and the valve housing with cooperating abutments which engage upon termination of the screwing-in of the annular retaining element, whereby it should be possible to obtain a well defined sealing pressure between the valve member and the annular sealing member. However, due to unavoidable tolerance variations during the manufacturing of the valves, it is not possible by means of such a valve to secure an optimum sealing pressure.
As regards the prior art reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 2,373,628 wherein from which a ball valve is known, the seats consist of rings of molded elastomeric material. In each seat ring a spring insert is embedded having radially projecting fingers. When mounting the seat rings, the fingers are arranged with snap-action in circumferentially extending grooves in the valve housing. However, also in this case tolerance variations during the manufacturing of the valves will cause unequal sealing pressures between the valve member and the seat rings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The ball valve according to the present invention is characterized by the annular retaining element being secured in the valve housing by being pressed into the housing and by projecting means being provided in the valve housing for engaging the annular retaining element. Hereby a very well defined pressure of abutment is achieved between the valve member and the annular sealing member which is independent of tolerance variations from valve to valve. When the annular retaining element is pressed into the valve housing until next line the force with which the pressing is carried out has achieved a predetermined value, the annular retaining element will maintain the valve member pressed against the annular sealing member with a well defined pressure of abutment, and accordingly the optimum sealing pressure between the valve member and the annular sealing member may be achieved.
Preferably, according to the invention the projecting means comprise a circumferentially extending ridge, seeing that such a ridge is easily manufactured, e.g., by turning.
In order to facilitate the pressing of the annular retaining element into the valve housing the ridge preferably according to the invention comprises a sloping surface facing away from the valve member and a steep surface facing the valve member. The latter surface will secure the retaining element in the pressed-in position.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the steep surface may be positioned in a plane, which extends perpendicular to the axis of the annular retaining element. Thereby a particularly well defined securing of the retaining element is obtained.
Preferably, according to the invention the ridge has a sharp edge in order to secure immobility of the retaining element after the pressing-in thereof.
A further embodiment of the invention is characterized by the annular retaining element consisting of a single piece of a comparatively hard material, e.g., a mixture of sulphonated plastic and teflon reinforced by fibers. Due to the manufacturing of the retaining element in one piece, a simple embodiment is obtained and a material of the kind referred to or a corresponding kind has proved to be appropriate due to the fact that such mat
REFERENCES:
patent: 3669406 (1972-06-01), Moore
patent: 4023773 (1977-05-01), Wise
patent: 4314586 (1982-02-01), Folkman
patent: 4449694 (1984-05-01), Hobart et al.
patent: 4467823 (1984-08-01), Shaffer et al.
patent: 4531710 (1985-07-01), Tort
Broen Armatur A/S
Nilson Robert G.
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