Self-aligning valve assembly

Claim 2

A valve assembly for use inside of an enclosed container comprising: a support structure capable of being mounted on the outside of the container, opposite an annulus defining a drain hole, said drain hole having an inlet side and an outlet side; coupling means including a pressure plate joining said support structure to sealing means; sealing means including a circular valve plug centrally attached to said coupling means; said plug being of elastomeric material and having an integral spherical seating surface and an annular lip member enclosing said pressure plate; said plug including an annular fold intermediate said seating surface and the plug center, for permitting movement of said seating surface relative to said coupling means; whereby said seating surface can effect a fluid tight seal of the drain hole when said coupling means is not fully aligned with the drain hole.

Claim 3

The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein said sealing means plug further includes: an inner surface adapted to be adjacent said pressure plate; at least two integral stand off elements on said inner surface for contacting said pressure plate and for transmitting sealing force to said seating surface; whereby lateral movement of said plug relative to said pressure plate is facilitated during application of sealing pressures by said pressure plate.

Claim 4

For use with a valve assembly intended for the inside of container, container having an annulus defining a drain hole, the valve assembly to be controlled from the exterior of the container, the valve assembly including valve control means mounted on the exterior of the container on a surface opposite the annulus, a valve rod coupled to said valve control means and extending through the interior of the container, and a valve plate connected to said valve rod, adjacent the annulus, an elastomeric plug member adapted to be fitted to the rod and having a seating annulus adapted to fit into the drain opening defining annulus; said plug member having an integral, annular convoluted fold on the seating surface thereof, thereby permitting lateral movement of said seating annulus with respect to the valve assembly when the valve rod is not coaxial or concentric with respect to the drain hole.

Claim 5

For use with a valve assembly intended for the inside of container, container having an annulus defining a drain hole, the valve assembly to be controlled from the exterior of the container, the valve assembly including valve control means mounted on the exterior of the container on a surface opposite the annulus, a valve rod coupled to said valve control means and extending through the interior of the container, and a valve plate connected to said valve rod, adjacent the annulus, an elastomeric plug member adapted to be fitted to the rod and having a seating annulus adapted to fit into the drain opening defining annulus; said plug member having an integral, annular convoluted fold on the seating surface thereof, thereby permitting lateral movement of said seating annulus with respect to the valve assembly when the valve rod is not coaxial or concentric with respect to the drain hole.

Claim 6

The plug of claim 3 further including an inner surface adapted to be adjacent the valve plate and at least two integral stand off elements on said inner surface for contacting the valve plate and for transmitting sealing forces therefrom whereby lateral movement of said plug relative to the valve plate is not impeded during application of sealing pressures by friction between the pressure plate and said inner surface.

Claim 7

The plug of claim 3 further including: a reinforced, thickened lower central ring portion adapted to fit on the valve rod and be captured thereon; and a retroflex wall portion extending outwardly from said seating portion toward the rod resulting in a substantially toroidal body, said wall portion terminating in a reinforced, thickened, upper rim, adapted to fit closely on the rod over said valve plate member.

Claim 8

For use in a tank system having an annular drain opening in one wall and a drain valve including an actuating rod mounted in the opposite wall substantially in alignment with the drain opening, the actuating rod including at its free end a pressure plate element, a plug member comprising: (1) a drain engaging lower surface having an annular substantially spherical seating surface adapted to fit into the drain opening; (2) central fastening means including means adapted to cooperate with the pressure plate element; (3) an annular convoluted fold intermediate said seating surface and said central fastening means to permit limited movement of said seating surface relative to the actuating rod and pressure plate; and (4) a retroflex circumferential edge folding back toward the rod to partially enclose the pressure plate element between said circumferential edge and said drain engaging surface; whereby limited misalignments of the rod and drain opening can be accommodated by translational and rotational motion of said seating surface, permitted by said annular convoluted fold.

Claim 9

For use in a tank system having an annular drain opening in one wall and a drain valve including an actuating rod mounted in the opposite wall substantially in alignment with the drain opening, the actuating rod including at its free end a pressure plate element, a plug member comprising: (1) a drain engaging lower surface having an annular substantially spherical seating surface adapted to fit into the drain opening; (2) central fastening means including means adapted to cooperate with the pressure plate element; (3) an annular convoluted fold intermediate said seating surface and said central fastening means to permit limited movement of said seating surface relative to the actuating rod and pressure plate; and (4) a retroflex circumferential edge folding back toward the rod to partially enclose the pressure plate element between said circumferential edge and said drain engaging surface; whereby limited misalignments of the rod and drain opening can be accommodated by translational and rotational motion of said seating surface, permitted by said annular convoluted fold.

Claim 10

Circular drain plug adapted to be mounted on a plate that is adapted to be deployed to seal an aperture: said plug including an interior portion and a retroflex portion partially enclosing the plate; said plug having an annular seating surface adapted to fit into the aperture and, when urged by the plate, forming a fluid tight seal with the aperture; said plug having an annular bellows intermediate the seating surface and the center, permitting radial translation of said annular seating surface; whereby misalignments of the plate and the aperture are accommodated and corrected by translation of said seating surface.

Claim 11

Circular drain plug adapted to be mounted on a plate that is adapted to be deployed to seal an aperture: said plug including an interior portion and a retroflex portion partially enclosing the plate; said plug having an annular seating surface adapted to fit into the aperture and, when urged by the plate, forming a fluid tight seal with the aperture; said plug having an annular bellows intermediate the seating surface and the center, permitting radial translation of said annular seating surface; whereby misalignments of the plate and the aperture are accommodated and corrected by translation of said seating surface.

Claim 12

The plug of claim 7 wherein said annular seating surface is a zone of a sphere.

Claim 13

The plug of claim 7 wherein said annular seating surface is a conic section.

Claim 14

The plug of claim 7, further including on the interior surface thereof adjacent said seating surface, at least two integral stand off elements adapted to contact the plate and transmit forces therefrom to said seating surface without creating substantial resistance to seating surface motion in a direction substantially parallel to the plate.