Abstract: An instrument manifold and pressure transducer are provided for detecting a pressure differential across an orifice fitting. Removable flanges are utilized on the output side of the orifice fitting, and on the input and the output ends of the manifold. Each flange may be structurally secured to its respective piece of equipment by special nipples, and is provided with apertures for receiving bolts to interconnect the flanges and the equipment. The versatility of the equipment is substantially increased, the response time and signal reliability is increased, and the installation costs are reduced.

Abstract: An improved valve is provided of the type having a spring biased ball for sealing engagement with both a metallic seat and a plastic seat. The valve is of the type including a passageway adapted for receiving a stinger to unseat the ball from both seating surfaces, thereby allowing fluid to pass through the valve body. The diameter of the soft seat approximates the diameter of the ball, and preferably at least a portion of the sealing surface of the soft seat is spaced opposite the metallic seat with respect to a plane parallel to the metallic seat and passing through the center of the fully seated ball. The soft seat may be secured in the valve body by a retainer, which maintains a radial outwardly directed force on the soft seat.

Abstract: A valve is provided with improved bonnet-stem and bonnet-valve body seals. Both non-metallic seals may be simultaneously compressed by threading the bonnet to the valve body, with a valve stem seal sandwiched between the bonnet and an axially movale retainer in engagement with the valve body. A jam nut threaded to the exterior of the bonnet may be periodically loosened, and the bonnet further threaded to the valve body to re-compress both seals and stop leakage from the valve. The concepts of the present invention are well adapted to providing a low cost valve suitable for handling corrosive fluids.

Abstract: An improved elastomeric seal for preventing both low or high pressure fluid from escaping past a rotatable valve stem or similar shaft. The annular seal comprises an outer generally envelope-shaped first plastic member for sealing engagement with the rotatable stem and valve bonnet, and an inner second plastic member substantially encapsulated by the first member. The annular legs of the envelope-shaped member are positioned downstream from fluid pressure, thereby sealing the inner second member from fluid attack. Novel techniques are employed for forming the elastomeric seal outside the valve bonnet by applying a substantial radially-directed force for deforming the first plastic member into the envelope configuration, while deforming the inner plastic member into an elliptical configuration. The seal in the substantially deformed configuration is then assembled within the bonnet cavity while preventing radial expansion of the envelope-shaped member.

Abstract: A valve manifold is provided of the type commonly referred to as an instrument manifold and used in systems designed to detect pressure differential. The manifold includes first and second passageways interconnecting a pair of input ports and a pair of output ports. Removable flanges are provided on the input and/or the output ends of the manifold. Each flange may be structurally secured to the valve manifold body by special nipples, and is provided with apertures for receiving bolts to mount the flanges to related process-side or instrument-side equipment. A threaded end of the nipple is adapted for sealing engagement with the manifold body, while the other end of the nipple is adapted for sealing engagement with elliptical-shaped flanges or a differential pressure transmitter. The versatility of the valve manifold is substantially increased, since the removable flanges allow the same manifold body to be used for either direct or remote mounting.

Abstract: A valve is provided with an improved seal between the valve body and the rotatable valve stem. A high pressure fluid seal is formed by a pressure-responsive lip seal. A spring positioned between the lip seal and the valve stem sealing surface provides a substantially axially directed force to a metal O-ring, which biases the lip seal into sealing engagement with the valve body and stem under relatively low pressure.

Abstract: An improved grease fitting of the type generally referred to as a blowdown fitting is provided, including a plurality of sealing means which enables lubricant to be safely injected into the lubricant supply system. An upper body is rotatable with respect to the main body, and pressure may be vented through a cap threaded to the upper body. A stinger assembly is rotatable with respect to both main body and the upper body, which enhances the life of the seal between the stinger and the main body. A sealing ball is provided between the stinger assembly and the cone, and is biased toward its seating surface by a spring adapted to enable a lubricant/polyester plasticizer mixture to pass through the fitting.

Abstract: An improved grease fitting is provided particularly suitable in high pressure applications where a polyester plasticizer is intermingled with a lubricant. In one embodiment of the invention, a metal ball is biased by a cylindrical helical spring for sealing engagement with a plastic seat. A leg of the spring passes through the axis of the fitting, so that when grease is forced through the fitting, the unseated ball moves rapidly to allow the plasticizer and lubricant to pass through the fitting with less resistance. The helical spring is enclosed in a sleeve, and a stop on the sleeve enables the end of the sleeve to compress the plastic seat to a predetermined extent, thus prolonging the expected life of the plastic seat.