Abstract: A clamp with a live loading clamp nut assembly is provided for pipe joints and the like. The nut assembly includes a body member movable within a cage. A plurality of springs, such as spring washers, are employed in the cage to provide a stored spring energy to maintain the clamping pressure in a desired range. The clamping arrangement preferably includes a pair of jaws, hinged together at one end so that the other ends of the jaws are moved toward and away from one another. The nut assembly presses the free ends of the jaws together to maintain a desired tightness in the pipe joint.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a gasket trapped between spaced apart flanges of a valve stem. The gasket is worked over one flange, causing one end of the gasket to deflect with the cross-section undergoing a rolling motion. Upon passing the flange the deflected end of the gasket resumes its normal size, thereby remaining captive between the valve stem flanges. The valve stem flange and the gasket have recesses formed therein for visual inspection of hidden surfaces, useful to evaluate flush cleaning performed on the valve assembly. The gasket internal bore and the valve stem body extending between the flanges have complementary cross-sectional configurations. The gasket has a tapered bore to aid in insertion on the valve stem and the recesses are part conical, terminating at an intermediate point along the gasket bore. The gasket is dimensioned to float in radial and axial directions when mounted on the valve stem.