US3760833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sealing means for valve structure
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1972-03-14
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1992-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A spherical plug valve structure having a seat assembly on opposed sides of a ball valve member. Each seat assembly is mounted for limited longitudinal movement toward and away from the adjacent ball valve member and an annular recess in the seat assembly receives a sealing element having a free lip portion in sealing contact with the valve member. An annular groove contiguous with the recess and facing in a direction generally perpendicular to the recess receives a resilient O-ring which is in contact with and provides a resilient support for the lip portion of the sealing element. The sealing element has its free end terminating generally adjacent the groove and may be partially received within the groove upon contact with the ball valve member particularly under high pressure conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 W Kemp
- 👤 J Tomlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 06:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K5/00; F16K5/08; F16K5/22; F16K5/227; F16K5/06; F16K5/0663; F16K5/0673; F16K5/14; F16K5/20; F16K5/205; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/4238; Y10T137/4358; Y10T137/4442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
323 words
A spherical plug valve structure comprising a valve body having a valve chamber, upstream and downstream flow passages formed in said valve body and being in fluid communication with said valve chamber, a ball valve member disposed within the valve chamber, means to rotate said ball valve member between open and closed positions to control the flow of fluid through the valve structure, seat recesses formed in the valve body on opposite sides of the ball valve member, a seat assembly mounted within each of said seat recesses, each of said seat assemblies having an outer sealing member defining an outer perimeter of sealing contact between the seat assemblies and said valve body, each of said seat assemblies having an inner sealing member defining an inner perimeter of sealing contact between the seat assemblies and said valve body which is disposed radially inwardly of said outer sealing member and said outer perimeter of sealing contact, an annular recess in each seat assembly facing the adjacent valve member and extending in a direction generally longitudinally of said flow passages, a sealing element having a base portion secured within said recess against any substantial sliding movement longitudinally of said flow passages and a free lip portion extending from said recess to provide sealing contact with said ball valve member, an annular groove in said seat assembly radially outward of said recess and facing in a direction generally perpendicular to said recess, said recess having its outer extent contiguous to said annular groove and said free lip portion of said sealing element terminating adjacent said annular groove, and resilient means positioned within said annular groove in contact with the lip portion of said sealing element to urge said sealing element into contact with said valve member, said resilient means permitting said lip portion to be depressed outwardly by the valve member within the confines of said annular groove thereby to minimize wear of said sealing element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
323 words
A spherical plug valve structure comprising a valve body having a valve chamber, upstream and downstream flow passages formed in said valve body and being in fluid communication with said valve chamber, a ball valve member disposed within the valve chamber, means to rotate said ball valve member between open and closed positions to control the flow of fluid through the valve structure, seat recesses formed in the valve body on opposite sides of the ball valve member, a seat assembly mounted within each of said seat recesses, each of said seat assemblies having an outer sealing member defining an outer perimeter of sealing contact between the seat assemblies and said valve body, each of said seat assemblies having an inner sealing member defining an inner perimeter of sealing contact between the seat assemblies and said valve body which is disposed radially inwardly of said outer sealing member and said outer perimeter of sealing contact, an annular recess in each seat assembly facing the adjacent valve member and extending in a direction generally longitudinally of said flow passages, a sealing element having a base portion secured within said recess against any substantial sliding movement longitudinally of said flow passages and a free lip portion extending from said recess to provide sealing contact with said ball valve member, an annular groove in said seat assembly radially outward of said recess and facing in a direction generally perpendicular to said recess, said recess having its outer extent contiguous to said annular groove and said free lip portion of said sealing element terminating adjacent said annular groove, and resilient means positioned within said annular groove in contact with the lip portion of said sealing element to urge said sealing element into contact with said valve member, said resilient means permitting said lip portion to be depressed outwardly by the valve member within the confines of said annular groove thereby to minimize wear of said sealing element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A valve structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of the surfaces defining said annular recess are serrated and the base portion of said sealing element is secured within said recess by said serrated surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A valve structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing element comprises a Teflon sealing element being generally rectangular in cross section, and said resilient means comprises an O-ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
276 words
A spherical plug valve structure comprising a valve body having a valve chamber, upstream and downstream flow passages formed in said valve body and being in fluid communication with said valve chamber, a ball valve member disposed within the valve chamber, means to rotate said ball valve member between open and closed positions to control the flow of fluid through the valve structure, seat recesses formed in the valve body on opposite sides of the ball valve member, a seat assembly mounted within each of said seat recesses, means permitting limited movement of said seat assemblies in a direction longitudinally of said flow passages toward and away from said ball valve member, resilient spring means urging said seat assemblies toward said ball valve member, an annular recess in each seat assembly facing the adjacent valve member and extending in a direction generally longitudinally of said flow passages, a sealing element having a base portion secured within said recess against any substantial sliding movement longitudinally of said flow passages and a free lip portion extending from said recess in sealing contact with said ball valve member, said valve structure defining an annular space adjacent and radially outward of said free lip portion with said free lip portion of said sealing element terminating adjacent said annular space, and resilient means positioned within said annular space in contact with the lip portion of said sealing element to urge said sealing element into contact with said valve member, said last mentioned resilient means permitting said lip portion to be depressed outwardly by the valve member within the confines of said annular space thereby to minimize wear of said sealing element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
276 words
A spherical plug valve structure comprising a valve body having a valve chamber, upstream and downstream flow passages formed in said valve body and being in fluid communication with said valve chamber, a ball valve member disposed within the valve chamber, means to rotate said ball valve member between open and closed positions to control the flow of fluid through the valve structure, seat recesses formed in the valve body on opposite sides of the ball valve member, a seat assembly mounted within each of said seat recesses, means permitting limited movement of said seat assemblies in a direction longitudinally of said flow passages toward and away from said ball valve member, resilient spring means urging said seat assemblies toward said ball valve member, an annular recess in each seat assembly facing the adjacent valve member and extending in a direction generally longitudinally of said flow passages, a sealing element having a base portion secured within said recess against any substantial sliding movement longitudinally of said flow passages and a free lip portion extending from said recess in sealing contact with said ball valve member, said valve structure defining an annular space adjacent and radially outward of said free lip portion with said free lip portion of said sealing element terminating adjacent said annular space, and resilient means positioned within said annular space in contact with the lip portion of said sealing element to urge said sealing element into contact with said valve member, said last mentioned resilient means permitting said lip portion to be depressed outwardly by the valve member within the confines of said annular space thereby to minimize wear of said sealing element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A spherical plug valve structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said seat assemblies has a plurality of radially spaced chambers facing in a direction opposite said valve member, and said resilient spring means comprise coil spring members positioned within said chambers and biased against the valve body to urge the associated seat assemblies into engagement with the valve member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A spherical plug valve structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein a pair of longitudinally spaced sealing members are disposed radially outwardly of said sealing element between the valve body and each seat assembly to provide sealing contact therebetween, a lubricant bore extends through said seat assembly from a position between the sealing members to a position adjacent the valve member inwardly of the sealing element, and means in fluid communication with said lubricant bore to permit lubricant to be supplied thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
252 words
A valve structure comprising a valve body having a valve chamber, upstream and downstream flow passages formed in said valve body and being in fluid communcation with said valve chamber, a valve member disposed within the valve chamber and being movable between open and closed positions to control the flow of fluid through the valve structure, seat recesses formed in the valve body on opposite sides of the valve member, a seat assembly mounted within each of said seat recesses, an annular recess in each seat assembly facing the adjacent valve member and extending in a direction generally longitudinally of said flow passages, a sealing element having a base portion secured within said recess against any substantial sliding movement longitudinally of said flow passages and a free lip portion extending from said recess in sealing engagment with the adjacent surface of the valve member, an annular groove in said seat assembly adjacent and radially outwardly of said recess, said recess having its outer extent contiguous to said annular groove and said free lip portion of said sealing element terminating generally adjacent said annular groove under all operating conditions, and a resilient O-ring positioned within said annular groove in contact with the lip portion of said sealing element to urge said sealing element into contact with said valve member, said O-ring permitting said lip portion to be urged outwardly by the valve member against said O-ring and received within said annular groove thereby deforming said O-ring to minimize wear of said sealing element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
252 words
A valve structure comprising a valve body having a valve chamber, upstream and downstream flow passages formed in said valve body and being in fluid communcation with said valve chamber, a valve member disposed within the valve chamber and being movable between open and closed positions to control the flow of fluid through the valve structure, seat recesses formed in the valve body on opposite sides of the valve member, a seat assembly mounted within each of said seat recesses, an annular recess in each seat assembly facing the adjacent valve member and extending in a direction generally longitudinally of said flow passages, a sealing element having a base portion secured within said recess against any substantial sliding movement longitudinally of said flow passages and a free lip portion extending from said recess in sealing engagment with the adjacent surface of the valve member, an annular groove in said seat assembly adjacent and radially outwardly of said recess, said recess having its outer extent contiguous to said annular groove and said free lip portion of said sealing element terminating generally adjacent said annular groove under all operating conditions, and a resilient O-ring positioned within said annular groove in contact with the lip portion of said sealing element to urge said sealing element into contact with said valve member, said O-ring permitting said lip portion to be urged outwardly by the valve member against said O-ring and received within said annular groove thereby deforming said O-ring to minimize wear of said sealing element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |