Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A valve comprising: a body having a through flow passage of generally circular cross-section and a longitudinal axis; a valve disc member positioned in said passage and having an outer periphery adapted to close said passage when rotated to a position generally transverse to the axis; a rotatable operating stem connected to said valve disc and extending outwardly through said body; an actuating stem positively connected to said operating stem and having an outer end portion inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said operating stem; a bellows assembly enclosing said actuating stem and having a lower end portion joined to said body and an outer end portion inclined at an angle generally corresponding to the angle of said actuating stem and rotatably engaged therewith; and, means for applying a generally radially acting force to the outer end of said stem whereby rotation of said stem produces deflection of said bellows substantially without torsional loading of said bellows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A valve comprising: a body having a through flow passage of generally circular cross-section and a longitudinal axis; a valve disc member positioned in said passage and having an outer periphery adapted to close said passage when rotated to a position generally transverse to the axis; a rotatable operating stem connected to said valve disc and extending outwardly through said body; an actuating stem positively connected to said operating stem and having an outer end portion inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said operating stem; a bellows assembly enclosing said actuating stem and having a lower end portion joined to said body and an outer end portion inclined at an angle generally corresponding to the angle of said actuating stem and rotatably engaged therewith; and, means for applying a generally radially acting force to the outer end of said stem whereby rotation of said stem produces deflection of said bellows substantially without torsional loading of said bellows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said operating stem and said actuating stem are integrally formed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The valve as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer end of said bellows assembly comprises a rigid cap member having an opening which receives the inclined end portion of said operating stem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said bellows assembly is enclosed by a rigid, cup-shaped housing rotatably joined to said body for rotation about the axis of said operating stem.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said operating stem is supported from said valve disc and loosely guided in aligned openings in said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said operating stem and said actuating stem are rotatably guided at least two points by bearing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The valve as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for applying a radial force to said stem includes a rigid, cup-shaped housing rotatably joined to said body for rotation about the axis of said operating stem, and wherein said cap member is rotatably received in said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A valve as defined in claim 7 wherein said cap member and said cup-shapEd housing are rotatably engaged through a bearing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said bellows assembly includes a hollow, generally cylindrical bellows member having an open lower end positioned about said operating stem with said lower end sealingly clamped to said body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A valve as defined in claim 9 including a clamp ring member having a flange which overlies a flange on the lower end of said bellows member.