Sealing member for valve stems

Claim 1

A valve assembly comprising: a valve body having a flow passage for conveying a fluid therethrough; a valving element in said valve body rotatable about a valve axis between first and second positions for opening and closing said flow passage; an annular boss on said valve body having a frustoconical outer surface which terminates at an extended portion of said boss and a central opening therethrough; a valve stem operatively connected to said valving element and extending through said opening to terminate at an extended end thereof outwardly of said valve body, said stem and a wall of said opening defining a potential leakage path therebetween; a cap mounted on said extended end of said stem to be capable of transmitting rotational force thereto, said cap including an inwardly extending circumferential lip which overlies an outwardly extending collar on a terminal end of said extended portion of said boss to retain said cap thereon, said cap being capable of rotation relative to said boss; said lip including an exterior surface thereon to define with said frusto-conical surface of said boss a converging space therebetween, said space being in fluid communication with said leakage path through a gap between said lip and said collar; an O-ring being located within said space and in sealing engagement with said exterior surface and said frusto-conical surface to prevent ingress to said leakage path of contaminant fluids or particles while allowing venting of said fluid at a predetermined pressure if said fluid escapes from said valve body through said leakage path; a cylindrical sleeve extending from said lip adjacent said frusto-conical surface to define a predetermined distance therebetween to retain said O-ring within said space throughout operation of said valve assembly; a valve operating fitting including means for mounting said fitting on said cap, such fitting having surfaces thereon capable of receiving a tool for applying a torque through said fitting to said cap for rotation of said valving element; and said means for mounting said fitting including a shearable portion thereof capable of shearing when a predetermined torque is applied to said fitting to prevent damage to said valve assembly.