Self-locking valve assemblies

Claim 2

A self-locking valve assembly comprising a valve stem including a head having a first diameter, a body, and a neck portion connecting said head and said body and having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter; a resilient valve facing having a central portion engaging said head of said valve stem and peripheral securing means; and a backup plate having an outer rim engaging said peripheral securing means of said valve facing, and aperture means receiving said valve stem and including a first aperture centrally disposed in said backup plate and having a third diameter smaller than said first diameter and slightly larger than said second diameter to receive said neck portion of said valve stem while preventing movement therethrough of said head, and a second aperture displaced from said first aperture and having a fourth diameter slightly larger than said first diameter, said first aperture being linked with said second aperture whereby said head of said valve stem may be inserted through said second aperture to engage said central portion of said valve facing and said valve stem may be centrally positioned with respect to said backup plate by aligning said neck portion of said valve stem with said backup plate and laterally moving said valve stem to said first aperture.

Claim 3

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said backup plate has an upper surface abutting said valve facing and a lower surface with rib means therein adapted to receive and center a bias spring.

Claim 4

The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein said rib means includes an arcuate rib concentrically disposed about said first aperture.

Claim 5

The invention as recited in claim 2 wherein said rib means includes a plurality of ribs extending radially from said first aperture and having outer ends concentrically disposed about said first aperture.

Claim 6

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said peripheral securing means includes a cup-shaped outer edge defining an annular groove, said outer rim of said backup plate being inserted in said annular groove.

Claim 7

The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said central portion has a recess therein having a fifth diameter essentially the same as said first diameter whereby said valve facing firmly grips said head of said valve stem.

Claim 8

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first aperture is linked with said second aperture through a slot having a width equal to the third diameter of said first aperture.

Claim 9

The invention as recited in claim 7 wherein said slot is L-shaped whereby said valve stem must be moved in transverse directions from said second aperture to said first aperture.

Claim 10

The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said neck portion of said valve stem includes an alignment portion having said second diameter and a sliding portion having a fifth diameter smaller than said second diameter, and said first aperture through a slot having a width slightly larger than said fifth diameter and smaller than said first and second diameters.

Claim 11

The invention as recited in claim 9 wherein said sliding portion is connected with said alignment portion through a tapered collar.

Claim 12

A self-locking valve assembly comprising an annular backup plate having aperture means therein and an outer rim; a valve stem having a neck portion aligned with said backup plate and extending through said aperture means to a head having a diameter larger than the diameter of said neck portion; and a valve facing made of a resilient material and including an upper surface having a flat outer portion and a raised central portion, said raised central portion having a lower surface abutting said head of said valve stem, said valve facing further including a cup-shaped peripheral edge with a lower lip defining an annular groove with said flat outer portion, said outer rim of said backup plate being inserted in said annular groove and grasped by said lower lip whereby said backup plate may be mounted in said valve facing by forcing said backup plate against said cup-shaped peripheral edge to distort said cup-shaped peripheral edge such that said annular groove receives said outer rim, said aperture means receiving said valve stem and including a first aperture centrally disposed in said backup plate and having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said head and slightly larger than the diameter of said neck portion to receive said neck portion of said valve stem while preventing movement therethrough of said head, and a second aperture displaced from said first aperture and having a diameter slightly larger than said head, said first aperture being linked with said second aperture whereby said head of said valve stem may be inserted through said second aperture to engage said central portion of said valve facing and said valve stem may be centrally positioned with respect to said backup plate by aligning said neck portion of said valve stem with said backup plate and laterally moving said valve stem to said first aperture.

Claim 13

A self-locking valve assembly comprising an annular backup plate having aperture means therein and an outer rim; a valve stem having a neck portion aligned with said backup plate and extending through said aperture means to a head having a diameter larger than the diameter of said neck portion; and a valve facing made of a resilient material and including an upper surface having a flat outer portion and a raised central portion, said raised central portion having a lower surface abutting said head of said valve stem, said valve facing further including a cup-shaped peripheral edge with a lower lip defining an annular groove with said flat outer portion, said outer rim of said backup plate being inserted in said annular groove and grasped by said lower lip whereby said backup plate may be mounted in said valve facing by forcing said backup plate against said cup-shaped peripheral edge to distort said cup-shaped peripheral edge such that said annular groove receives said outer rim, said aperture means receiving said valve stem and including a first aperture centrally disposed in said backup plate and having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said head and slightly larger than the diameter of said neck portion to receive said neck portion of said valve stem while preventing movement therethrough of said head, and a second aperture displaced from said first aperture and having a diameter slightly larger than said head, said first aperture being linked with said second aperture whereby said head of said valve stem may be inserted through said second aperture to engage said central portion of said valve facing and said valve stem may be centrally positioned with respect to said backup plate by aligning said neck portion of said valve stem with said backup plate and laterally moving said valve stem to said first aperture.

Claim 14

The invention as recited in claim 11 wherein said aperture in said annular backup plate is a keyhole slot.

Claim 15

The invention as recited in claim 11 wherein said lower lip is hemispherical in cross section.

Claim 16

A self-locking valve assembly comprising an annular backup plate having a centrally disposed aperture therein and an outer rim, a valve stem having a neck portion aligned with said backup plate and extending through said aperture to a head having a diameter larger than the Diameter of said neck portion, a valve facing made of a resilient material and including an upper surface having a flat outer portion and a raised central portion, said raise central portion having a lower surface abutting said head of said valve stem, said valve facing further including a cup-shaped peripheral edge with a lower lip defining an annular groove with said flat outer portion, said outer rim of said backup plate being inserted in said annular groove and grasped by said lower lip whereby said backup plate may be mounted in said valve facing by forcing said backup plate against said cup-shaped peripheral edge to distort said cup-shaped peripheral edge such that said annular groove receives said outer rim, and said backup plate having an upper surface abutting said valve facing and a lower surface with rib means therein adapted to receive and center a bias spring.

Claim 17

A self-locking valve assembly comprising an annular backup plate having a centrally disposed aperture therein and an outer rim, a valve stem having a neck portion aligned with said backup plate and extending through said aperture to a head having a diameter larger than the Diameter of said neck portion, a valve facing made of a resilient material and including an upper surface having a flat outer portion and a raised central portion, said raise central portion having a lower surface abutting said head of said valve stem, said valve facing further including a cup-shaped peripheral edge with a lower lip defining an annular groove with said flat outer portion, said outer rim of said backup plate being inserted in said annular groove and grasped by said lower lip whereby said backup plate may be mounted in said valve facing by forcing said backup plate against said cup-shaped peripheral edge to distort said cup-shaped peripheral edge such that said annular groove receives said outer rim, and said backup plate having an upper surface abutting said valve facing and a lower surface with rib means therein adapted to receive and center a bias spring.

Claim 18

The invention as recited in claim 14 wherein said rib means includes an arcuate rib concentrically disposed about said aperture.

Claim 19

The invention as recited in claim 14 wherein said rib means includes a plurality of ribs extending radially from said aperture and having outer ends concentrically disposed about said aperture.