Patents Assigned to Brent McKnight
  • Patent number: 5628493
    Abstract: A valve comprises a valve body having threaded connections on each end. A unit handled valve mechanism includes a cage carrying a spring loaded floating valve ball. The valve mechanism is placed in and removed from the valve body without the use of special tools. The valve mechanism includes lip type polyseals allowing pressure from below to leak past a lower valve seat so pressure from below causes the valve ball to seal only against an upper seat assembly. The only segment of the valve ball in substantial compression is immediately adjacent the upper seat assembly. An actuator for the valve fits onto a connector between the actuator and ball in only one manner, so the indicator on the actuator correctly points at the correct indicia on the valve body describing the valve condition, i.e. open or closed. An improved connector between the actuator and the valve ball minimizes the potential of deformation due to abuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignees: Devereux J. McKnight, Brent McKnight
    Inventors: Devereux J. McKnight, Brent H. McKnight, James A. Cunningham