Patents Assigned to Valve Concepts International
  • Patent number: 4471810
    Abstract: A new and improved valve apparatus having an operating mechanism sealed in such a manner that the fluid pressure urging thereon produces offsetting or balancing forces to enhance ease of valve operation. To accomplish the force balancing, the flow closure means is continuously sealed to the valve housing and seat to produce the desired pressure responsive surfaces. By balancing the pressure forces, movement of the valve closure element between the open and closed positions with a minimum of operating force is accomplished. In addition the operating mechanism tubular flow closure element and valve seat having a plurality of opposed radially disposed flow opening are arranged so that the controlled flow through the openings into the seat impinges on itself to prevent flow cutting or erosion of the valve seat. When the flow closure element moves to the closed position, it activates a protected second seal on the seat to block flow throuh the flow openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Valve Concepts International
    Inventors: John D. Muchow, Harry R. Cove
  • Patent number: 4386756
    Abstract: The invention is an improved self-centering, floating metal seal to be used in combination with a ball valve which controls the flow of fluid in a conduit. The ball valve includes a valve body which has a bore extending therethrough and which also has an inlet and an outlet which are axially aligned and adapted to be mechanically coupled to the conduit. The valve body also has an aperture therein. The ball valve also includes a spherical valve member having a port the axis of which is alignable with the axis of the bore of the valve body and a stem having an inner end mechanically coupled to the spherical valve member and an axially outer end which extends through the aperture of the valve body. The ball valve further includes a device for forming a seal between the aperture of the valve body and the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: Valve Concepts International
    Inventor: John D. Muchow
  • Patent number: 4226263
    Abstract: The invention is an improvement for controlling the flow of fluid in a conduit to be used in combination with a ball valve. The ball valve includes a valve body which has a bore extending therethrough and which also has an inlet and an outlet which are axially aligned and adapted to be mechanically coupled to the conduit. The valve body also has an aperture therein. The ball valve also includes a sperical valve member having a port the axis of which is alignable with the axis of the bore of the valve body and a stem having an inner end mechanically coupled to the spherical valve member and an axially outer end which extends through the aperture of the valve body. The ball valve further includes a device for forming a seal between the aperture of the valve body and the stem.The improvement includes a cylindrical sealing member which has an outer cylindrical sidewall and which is axially aligned with the port of the spherical valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: Valve Concepts International
    Inventor: John D. Muchow
  • Patent number: 4180238
    Abstract: The present invention is a bi-directional valve actuator with a ratchet mechanism for use in combination with a control valve which includes a stem which, when turned, adjusts the flow through the control valve. The bi-directional valve actuator includes a frame which is mechanically coupled to the control valve adjacent to the other end of the stem of the control valve. The valve actuator also includes a shaft which is disposed within the frame and which is rotatably coupled thereto with the shaft being mechanically coupled to the stem of the control valve so it can turn the stem thereof, a first ratchet wheel and a second ratchet wheel. Each ratchet wheel is coaxially aligned with the shaft and is fixedly coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Valve Concepts International, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Muchow