Valve with sealing seat abutting a soft annular ring and stem

Claim 2

In the combination of a valve body with passage means between an inlet and an outlet, stem means projecting into said body for sealing against an annular seat within said passage, an annular recess in the inner end of said stem means containing an annular ring composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene of a specific gravity not less than 2.15, unplasticized polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene, soft metals and rubber having a durometer hardness of at least 90, a nose portion projecting from the inner end of said stem through an opening in the ring, said ring substantially completely filling the recess between said nose portion and a rim at the periphery of said recess, said rim and nose portion holding the edges of said ring in sealing engagement within the recess, with the seat and ring in sealing engagement, the interaction of the holding pressure of the rim and the nose portion and the substantially complete filling of the recess by the ring combining to maintain said substantially fluid tight sealing engagement at the rim and nose portion up to fluid pressures of 5,000 psi, the improvement comprising: the stem including two concentrically mounted pieces, (1) a shaft with the nose portion on its lower end and its upper end projecting from the valve body, an outwardly extending flange on said shaft intermediate its ends and (2) a ferrule having an inwardly extending flange abutting the flange on said shaft and a cylindrical portion circumscribing said annular ring, said cylindrical portion comprising said rim, the ferrule and the nose portion of said shaft combining to hold the annular ring in constant compression where it contacts the surface of said recess, a bonnet attached to the valve body and circumscribing the stem means, packing means in said bonnet for sealing between said stem and bonnet, means for adjusting the fluid flow through said valve body, said adjusting means being on said stem means above said packing means and out of contact with fluids passing through said valve body.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means includes threads on said stem and bonnet.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 including mating sealing surfaces on the ferrule flange and the lower end of said bonnet for sealing the passage through the bonnet from the flow passage through the valve body.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 wherein the packing means comprises a ring, said ring being formed of a fluorocarbon material.

Claim 6

In the combination of a valve body with passage means between an inlet and an outlet, stem means projecting into said body for sealing against an annular seat within said passage, an annular recess in the inner end of said stem means containing an annular ring composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene of a specific gravity not less than 2.15, unplasticized polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene, soft metals and rubber having a durometer hardness of at least 90, a nose portion projecting from the inner end of said stem through an opening in the ring, said ring substantially completely filling the recess between said nose portion and a rim at the periphery of said recess, the surface of said ring facing said seat being partially covered by said rim and a shoulder on said nose portion, said rim and shoulder holding the edges of said ring in sealing engagement within the recess, the seat comprising a raised flat surface for sealing against said ring, said flat surface being of a width to contact substantially all of the exposed surface of said ring and without contacting the rim or the nose portion, with the seat and ring in sealing engagement, the interaction of the holding pressure of the rim and the shoulder and the substantially complete filling of the recess by the ring combining to maintain said substantially fluid tight sealing engagement at the rim and shoulder up to fluid pressures of 5, 000 psi, the improvement comprising: the stem means including two pieces, the rim being a portion of the first of said pieces, said first piece comprising a ferrule having a raDially inwardly extending shoulder portion, a cylindrical portion and a sealing portion, said sealing portion comprising the inner surface of said rim, the radially inwardly extending shoulder portion of said first piece engaging a cooperating support flange on the second portion of said stem means, said second portion comprising a shaft with said nose portion being on its lower end, the cylindrical portion of the ferrule extends between its shoulder portion and its sealing portion substantially concentrically with the shaft, the ferrule sealing portion being formed radially inwardly from the cylindrical portion and into sealing engagement with the lower face of the sealing ring.

Claim 7

In the combination of a valve body with passage means between an inlet and an outlet, stem means projecting into said body for sealing against an annular seat within said passage, an annular recess in the inner end of said stem means containing an annular ring composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene of a specific gravity not less than 2.15, unplasticized polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene, soft metals and rubber having a durometer hardness of at least 90, a nose portion projecting from the inner end of said stem through an opening in the ring, said ring substantially completely filling the recess between said nose portion and a rim at the periphery of said recess, the surface of said ring facing said seat being partially covered by said rim and a shoulder on said nose portion, said rim and shoulder holding the edges of said ring in sealing engagement within the recess, the seat comprising a raised flat surface for sealing against said ring, said flat surface being of a width to contact substantially all of the exposed surface of said ring and without contacting the rim or the nose portion, with the seat and ring in sealing engagement, the interaction of the holding pressure of the rim and the shoulder and the substantially complete filling of the recess by the ring combining to maintain said substantially fluid tight sealing engagement at the rim and shoulder up to fluid pressures of 5, 000 psi, the improvement comprising: the stem means including two pieces, the rim being a portion of the first of said pieces, said first piece comprising a ferrule having a raDially inwardly extending shoulder portion, a cylindrical portion and a sealing portion, said sealing portion comprising the inner surface of said rim, the radially inwardly extending shoulder portion of said first piece engaging a cooperating support flange on the second portion of said stem means, said second portion comprising a shaft with said nose portion being on its lower end, the cylindrical portion of the ferrule extends between its shoulder portion and its sealing portion substantially concentrically with the shaft, the ferrule sealing portion being formed radially inwardly from the cylindrical portion and into sealing engagement with the lower face of the sealing ring.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 wherein the rim portion of the ferrule is of less radial thickness than the remainder of the cylindrical portion.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein the greatest diameter of the nose portion of the shaft is greater than the minimum diameter of the annular ring but less than the diameter at which the elastic limit of said annular ring is exceeded.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 5 wherein the greatest diameter of the nose portion of the shaft is greater than the minimum diameter of the annular ring but less than the diameter at which the elastic limit of said annular ring is exceeded.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 5 wherein the linear dimension of said ring is greater than the linear dimension of said raised seat, both measured parallel with the shaft axis.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 wherein said linear dimension of said raised seat is at least about 0.0312 inch.

Claim 13

In the combination of a valve body with passage means between an inlet and an outlet, stem means projecting into said body for sealing against an annular seat within said passage, an annular recess in the inner end of said stem means containing an annular ring composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene of a specific gravity not less than 2.15, unplasticized polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene, soft metals and rubber having a durometer hardness of at least 90, a nose portion projecting from the inner end of said stem through an opening in the ring, said ring substantially completely filling the recess between said nose portion and a rim at the periphery of said recess, said rim and nose portion holding the edges of said ring in substantially fluid tight sealing engagement within the recess, with the seat and ring in sealing engagement, the interaction of the holding pressure of the rim and the nose portion and the substantially complete filling of the recess by the ring combining to maintain said substantially fluid tight sealing engagement at the rim and nose portion up to fluid pressures of 5,000 psi, the improvement comprising: the stem comprising two pieces; the first piece being a shaft with the nose portion on its lower end and the upper end projecting out of the valve body, a radially outwardly extending flange on said shaft intermediate its ends; the second piece being a ferrule mounted concentrically about said shaft and including a cylindrical rim portion and a radially inwardly extending flange, the two said flanges being in contact, the rim portion including a plastically deformed groove in its outer surface, the lower end of the annular ring projecting below the rim portion and defining a sloping surface converging toward the nose portion, said annular seat comprising (1) a flat surface substantially parallel with said flanges and (2) a curved surface extending between said flat surface and a portion of said passage means, the minimum diameter of said passage means adjacent said curved surface being greater than the maximum diameter of the nose portion of the stem.

Claim 14

In the combination of a valve body with passage means between an inlet and an outlet, stem means projecting into said body for sealing against an annular seat within said passage, an annular recess in the inner end of said stem means containing an annular ring composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene of a specific gravity not less than 2.15, unplasticized polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene, soft metals and rubber having a durometer hardness of at least 90, a nose portion projecting from the inner end of said stem through an opening in the ring, said ring substantially completely filling the recess between said nose portion and a rim at the periphery of said recess, said rim and nose portion holding the edges of said ring in substantially fluid tight sealing engagement within the recess, with the seat and ring in sealing engagement, the interaction of the holding pressure of the rim and the nose portion and the substantially complete filling of the recess by the ring combining to maintain said substantially fluid tight sealing engagement at the rim and nose portion up to fluid pressures of 5,000 psi, the improvement comprising: the stem comprising two pieces; the first piece being a shaft with the nose portion on its lower end and the upper end projecting out of the valve body, a radially outwardly extending flange on said shaft intermediate its ends; the second piece being a ferrule mounted concentrically about said shaft and including a cylindrical rim portion and a radially inwardly extending flange, the two said flanges being in contact, the rim portion including a plastically deformed groove in its outer surface, the lower end of the annular ring projecting below the rim portion and defining a sloping surface converging toward the nose portion, said annular seat comprising (1) a flat surface substantially parallel with said flanges and (2) a curved surface extending between said flat surface and a portion of said passage means, the minimum diameter of said passage means adjacent said curved surface being greater than the maximum diameter of the nose portion of the stem.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 11 wherein the sealing ring above the groove in said ferrule is under compression at all times.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 12 wherein the sealing rIng is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene and said compression is greater than the elastic limit of said ring.

Claim 17

In the combination of a valve body with passage means between an inlet and an outlet, stem means projecting into said body for sealing against an annular seat within said passage, an annular recess in the inner end of said stem means containing an annular ring, a nose portion projecting from the inner end of said stem through an opening in the ring, said ring substantially completely filling the recess between said nose portion and a rim at the periphery of said recess, said rim and nose portion holding the edges of said ring in sealing engagement within the recess, with the seat and ring in sealing engagement, the interaction of the holding pressure of the rim and the nose portion and the substantially complete filling of the recess by the ring combining to maintain said substantially fluid tight sealing engagement at the rim and nose portion up to fluid pressures of 5,000 psi, the improvement comprising: the stem including two concentrically mounted pieces, (1) a shaft with the nose portion on its lower end and its upper end projecting from the valve body, an outwardly extending flange on said shaft intermediate its ends and (2) a ferrule having an inwardly extending flange abutting the flange on said shaft and a cylindrical portion circumscribing said annular ring, said rim comprising part of said cylindrical portion, the ferrule and the nose portion of said shaft combining to hold the annular ring in constant compression where it contacts the surface of said recess, a bonnet attached to the valve body and circumscribing the stem means, packing means in said bonnet for sealing between said stem and bonnet, means for adjusting the fluid flow through said valve body, said adjusting means being on said stem means above said packing means and out of contact with fluids passing through said valve body, said rim portion of the ferrule being of less radial thickness than the remainder of said cylinder portion, the greatest diameter of the nose portion of the shaft being greater than the minimum diameter of the annular ring, but less than the diameter at which the elastic limit of said annular ring is exceeded.

Claim 18

In the combination of a valve body with passage means between an inlet and an outlet, stem means projecting into said body for sealing against an annular seat within said passage, an annular recess in the inner end of said stem means containing an annular ring, a nose portion projecting from the inner end of said stem through an opening in the ring, said ring substantially completely filling the recess between said nose portion and a rim at the periphery of said recess, said rim and nose portion holding the edges of said ring in sealing engagement within the recess, with the seat and ring in sealing engagement, the interaction of the holding pressure of the rim and the nose portion and the substantially complete filling of the recess by the ring combining to maintain said substantially fluid tight sealing engagement at the rim and nose portion up to fluid pressures of 5,000 psi, the improvement comprising: the stem including two concentrically mounted pieces, (1) a shaft with the nose portion on its lower end and its upper end projecting from the valve body, an outwardly extending flange on said shaft intermediate its ends and (2) a ferrule having an inwardly extending flange abutting the flange on said shaft and a cylindrical portion circumscribing said annular ring, said rim comprising part of said cylindrical portion, the ferrule and the nose portion of said shaft combining to hold the annular ring in constant compression where it contacts the surface of said recess, a bonnet attached to the valve body and circumscribing the stem means, packing means in said bonnet for sealing between said stem and bonnet, means for adjusting the fluid flow through said valve body, said adjusting means being on said stem means above said packing means and out of contact with fluids passing through said valve body, said rim portion of the ferrule being of less radial thickness than the remainder of said cylinder portion, the greatest diameter of the nose portion of the shaft being greater than the minimum diameter of the annular ring, but less than the diameter at which the elastic limit of said annular ring is exceeded.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 14 wherein the sealing ring is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of polutetrafluoroethylene and polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene and said compression is greater than the elastic limit of said ring.