Attachment means for valve components

Claim 1

In a valve mechanism comprising a valve body having an inlet and an outlet communicated to one another by a passage, and cooperating valve means, which includes a valve component, in said passage to control fluid flow through the valve body, the fluid being at elevated temperatures, the improvement characterized by said valve means including holder means for retaining the valve component in a vibration-free manner over a predetermined temperature range, including elevated temperatures on the order of 500* F., and above, said holder means including retainer means, support means and expansion means, said retainer and said support means each having a coefficient of expansion greater than the coefficient of expansion of said valve component, said retainer means bearing against a first portion of said valve component for preventing the valve component from moving in a predetermined direction, said support means being connected to the retainer means and cooperating therewith to define a space for receiving the valve component and the expansion means, said support means having a mounting surface thereon, the expansion means having a coefficient of expansion greater than the coefficient of expansion of the retainer means or support means, said expansion means having a first portion bearing against said mounting surface and a second portion bearing against said valve component, whereby the thermal expansion of the expansion means maintains said first portion of the valve component with contact with the retainer means so that the valve component is maintained in a vibration-free manner throughout a predetermined temperature range.