Cartridge-retained valve stem sealing means

Claim 1

A FLUID CONTROLLING VALVE COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A PASSAGE THEREIN FOR FLUID FLOW AND A VALVE MEANS ACCOMMODATING OPENING, A VALVE MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BODY FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID PASSAGE, SAID VALVE MEANS INCLUDING A FLOW CONTROLLING MEMBER OPERATIVELY RELATED WITHIN SAID PASSAGE AND OPENING AND A STEM PROJECTING BEYOND SAID OPENING, A RIGID ANNULAR CARRIER SURROUNDING THE STEM AND HAVING AN ANNULAR RECESS IN ITS INNER PERIPHERY AT ONE AXIAL END THEREOF, AN APERTURED DIAPHRAGM SURROUNDING SAID OPENING AND HAVING A PORTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLOW CONTROLLING MEMBER WITH THE STEM PASSING THROUGH THE APERTURE, SAID DIAPHRAGM BEING PROVIDED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE APERTURE THEREIN WITH AN AXIALLY PROJECTING FLANGE WHICH EXTENDS INTO SAID ANNULAR RECESS OF THE CARRIER, A SINGLE RESILIENT ANNULAR SEALING ELEMENT IN SAID ANNULAR RECESS AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE STEM AND THE FLOW CONTROLLING MEMBER IN CONTACT WITH THE STEM AND THE DIAPHRAGM AND MEANS CO-OPERABLE WITH SAID SEALING ELEMENT FOR URGING SAID SEALING ELEMENT INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STEM AND DIAPHRAGM AND THEREBY PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF FLUID IN THE AXIAL AND RADIALLY OUTWARD DIRECTIONS RESPECTIVELY.