Plug valve

Claim 2

In a valve comprising a body having a bore, ports communicating with said bore, a rotatable plug received in said bore and being of sufficiently small diameter to establish a clearance between said plug and said bore, said plug including a stem extending out of said bore, a sleeve positioned in said clearance and having openings therethrough communicating with said body ports, passages in said plug cooperating with said body ports for selectively interconnecting said body ports, said body including means forming an opening through which said plug stem extends, the improvement comprising: a. a bushing surrounding said stem with one end of said bushing contacting the upper end of said plug in sealing engagement, b. a portion of said sleeve extending beyond the said upper end of said plug and including an inner peripheral surface in opposed relation with the one end of said bushing, c. the outer surface of said bushing adjacent said one end thereof engaging said portion of said sleeve along said opposed inner peripheral surface thereof and urging said portions of the sleeve radially outwardly to establish a seal therebetween, and d. means engaging said bushing at the end thereof opposite said one end for pressing said one end against said upper end of said plug.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a. means in said bore defining grooves therein angularly disposed with respect to the direction of rotation of said plug, and b. a portion of said bushing being received within said groove means to prevent rotation thereof as said plug is rotated.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said outer surface of said bushing engaging said portion of said sleeve is tapered inwardly toward said plug whereby said bushing enters into said portion of said sleeve to urge said sleeve radially outwardly in sealing engagement with said bore.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said bushing is formed of a readily deformable material.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: a. said bushing is formed of polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bore includes axially spaced circumferential grooves, the portion of said sleeve opposite said grooves being received therein to prevent axial movement of said sleeve relative to said bore.

Claim 8

The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein a. said bore includes at least one groove near the open end thereof, the portion of said sleeve opposite said groove being received therein to prevent axial movement of said sleeve relative to said bore, and b. said angularly disposed grooves being located axially above said one groove.

Claim 9

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a. said valve has an inlet and an outlet port.

Claim 10

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a. said valve is a three-way valve.

Claim 11

A valve comprising: a. a body having a tapered bore disposed substantially centrally thereof, b. at least two ports communicating with said bore, c. a sleeve member positioned in said bore and having openings therein communicating with the ports in said body, d. a paiR of annular grooves formed in said bore, e. said sleeve including beads in engagement with said grooves, f. pockets in said bore on opposite sides thereof intermediate said annular grooves, g. said sleeve including portions thereof received in said pockets, h. a rotatable tapered plug received in said sleeve and urging it radially outwardly into sealing engagement with said bore, i. a passage formed in said plug for interconnecting said ports, j. said plug including a stem of a diameter less than the plug to provide an upper exposed plug surface, k. said body including an open end in alignment with said bore through which said stem extends, l. a deformable bushing positioned in said open end and surrounding said stem with the lower end of said bushing engaging the upper surface of said plug and the outer surface of said bushing adjacent said lower end thereof engaging an inner portion of said sleeve in sealing relationship therewith, m. a hollow threaded collar received in said open end of said body over said stem, n. said collar including a boss engaging the end of said bushing opposite said lower end thereof, o. a plurality of axially extending grooves spaced circumferentially in said bore and communicating with one of said annular grooves, and p. portions of said bushing being deformed into said axially extending grooves.

Claim 12

A valve comprising: a. a body having a tapered bore disposed substantially centrally thereof, b. at least two ports communicating with said bore, c. a sleeve member positioned in said bore and having openings therein communicating with the ports in said body, d. a paiR of annular grooves formed in said bore, e. said sleeve including beads in engagement with said grooves, f. pockets in said bore on opposite sides thereof intermediate said annular grooves, g. said sleeve including portions thereof received in said pockets, h. a rotatable tapered plug received in said sleeve and urging it radially outwardly into sealing engagement with said bore, i. a passage formed in said plug for interconnecting said ports, j. said plug including a stem of a diameter less than the plug to provide an upper exposed plug surface, k. said body including an open end in alignment with said bore through which said stem extends, l. a deformable bushing positioned in said open end and surrounding said stem with the lower end of said bushing engaging the upper surface of said plug and the outer surface of said bushing adjacent said lower end thereof engaging an inner portion of said sleeve in sealing relationship therewith, m. a hollow threaded collar received in said open end of said body over said stem, n. said collar including a boss engaging the end of said bushing opposite said lower end thereof, o. a plurality of axially extending grooves spaced circumferentially in said bore and communicating with one of said annular grooves, and p. portions of said bushing being deformed into said axially extending grooves.