Abstract: An automatic center cavity equalizing valve for equalizing pressure in a main valve. The equalizing valve includes a body with a bore for providing fluid communication between an upstream port and a center cavity port, and a downstream port and the center cavity port. A metal ball is disposed within the bore and is arranged to mate with upstream and downstream seats to seal communication with the upstream or downstream port and the center cavity port depending upon the differential pressure across valve. The metal ball is spring biased against the downstream seat to prevent damage to the downstream seat due to rattling. In addition, access plugs are provided at opposite ends of the bore to allow for access to the interior of the bore for repairing or replacing the metal ball, the seats, and/or other internal components.

Abstract: A valve is presented comprising a valve body defining a chamber, a valve stem extending into said chamber, a disk attached to the valve stem, a discrete annular seat movably disposed in the chamber, a resilient ring disposed in the chamber adjacent the annular seat, and a retainer fixed in the chamber on a side of the seat opposite from the ring, wherein the ring exercises a bias on the seat in a direction toward the disk, urging the seat into engagement with the disk. The invention further contemplates a method for making the valve.

Abstract: A seat for a valve stem comprised of two spaced rings of carbon fiber coated with a dispersion of polytetrafluoroethylene between which is interposed a ring of polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A check valve is comprised of a body having inlet and outlet passages and a cylindrical chamber within the body, the axis of which forms an angle with the axis of the inlet and outlet passages. An orifice plate in the cylindrical chamber divides the chamber into a dashpot chamber and a valve chamber which is in communication with the inlet and outlet passages. A valve seat in the valve chamber separates the inlet and outlet passages. A valve closure element is mounted for reciprocation in the valve chamber between a valve open position and a valve closed position where an element is seated upon the seat. A piston is mounted for reciprocation in the dashpot chamber. A piston rod extends through an opening in the orifice plate and connects the closure element and the piston. Means are provided to apply the pressure in the outlet passage to the piston to urge the piston and closure element toward valve closed position.

Abstract: A coupling is mounted between a valve stem of a valve and a rod of a valve actuator. The rod includes an extension having a piston member at the end thereof which is received within a cylinder member mounted on the end of the valve stem. The extension and piston member thereof define with the cylinder member a chamber within the cylinder member. Force can be transmitted from the rod to the stem by full insertion of the piston member within the cylinder member. A pressurized gas is contained within the chamber to limit the force transmitted from the rod to the stem when the relative position of the rod with respect to the stem causes the piston member to be located intermediate of the cylinder member.

Abstract: An improved plug valve is of the type that includes a valve body having a bore extending therethrough and a pair of passages intersecting the bore and being substantially normal to the axis of the bore. A valve plug is disposed within the bore for selective rotation between an opened and a closed position to respectively align and misalign a port through the plug with the passages. A first circumferential sealing member between the plug and the bore above the port and the passages and a second circumferential sealing member between the plug and the bore below the port prevents fluid from escaping from an interior of the plug valve and balances fluid pressure acting on the plug. A circumferential sealing device around the top of the plug prevents ingress of foreign matter into the region of the bore above the first sealing member.

Abstract: A coupling is mounted between a valve steam of a valve and a rod of a valve actuator. The rod includes an extension having a piston member at the end thereof which is received within a cylinder member mounted on the end of the valve stem. The extension and piston member thereof define with the cylinder member a chamber within the cylinder member. Force can be transmitted from the rod to the stem by full insertion of the piston member within the cylinder member. Hydraulic fluid under pressure from an accumulator secured to the cylinder member is in communication with the chamber to limit the force transmitted from the rod to the stem when the relative position of the rod with respect to the stem causes the piston member to be located intermediate of the cylinder member.

Abstract: An improved plug valve is of the type that includes a valve body having a bore extending therethrough and a pair of passages intersecting the bore and being substantially normal to the axis of the bore. A valve plug is disposed within the bore for selective rotation between an opened and a closed position to respectively align and misalign a port through the plug with the passages. A first circumferential sealing member between the plug and the bore above the port and the passages and a second circumferential sealing member between the plug and the bore below the port prevents fluid from escaping from an interior of the plug valve and balances fluid pressure acting on the plug. The improvements include providing opposed circumferential semi-circular grooves respectively on the bore and the plug to define a circumferential channel therebetween. The body includes a circular hole extending therethrough which is tangentially aligned with the channel.

Abstract: This is a unitary all-plastic ball valve particularly for use with natural gas distribution lines which are plastic and buried in the earth, where the parts are designed to assure accurate assembly in order to provide a unitary sealed valve body impervious to most elements encountered, inside or outside the valve.

Abstract: A valve positioning handle is for a plastic valve which is capable of being utilized in gas distribution pipes and includes a body and a fluid isolation member rotatably disposed therein. If the valve becomes jammed, it and/or the pipe are capable of being destroyed by the application of excessive forces to the isolating member and the body during rotation. The valve positioning handle includes an extended fitting centrally aligned with the isolation member and has a number of working surfaces thereon for the receipt of different torque applying tools. A connecting section between the extended fitting and the isolation member is designed to fail prior to the generation of any excessive forces which might destroy the valve or pipe by a tool being utilized to rotate the fitting.

Abstract: A method of assembling an all-plastic valve that assures proper positioning of the associated parts while forming a unitary, leaf-proof valve body.

Abstract: A valve positioning handle for a plastic valve includes a fluid isolation member rotatably disposed in a valve body and rotatable therewithin by means of different torque applying tools having legs selectively engageable with discretely oriented working surfaces.

Abstract: An improved cylindrical plug valve is of the type which includes a body having a cylindrical bore and a pair of axially aligned passages intersecting the bore and normal thereto. A cylindrical valve plug is rotatably disposed within the bore for movement between an opened and closed position for respectively aligning and misaligning a diametral port therethrough with the passages. Sealing rings around the plug above and below the port and passages prevent fluid from escaping from the interior of the plug valve. The improvement includes a pair of cup shaped recesses at opposite sides of the plug which are aligned with the passages when the valve is closed. Each recess is larger than the passage and has a substantially flat bottom and a peripheral side wall.

Abstract: A metal diaphragm valve including a multiple ply metal diaphragm structure comprised of a plurality of thin circular metal elements each having a planar annular rim surrounding a dome-shaped interior portion superimposed one on top of another with their annular rims fixed together to seal the hollow interior portion of a valve bonnet. A diaphragm contacting surface including at least two areas of different degrees of curvature, one of which is cruciform in shape, is mounted for axial movement in the valve bonnet. A method of making the metal diaphragm structure and a hermetically sealed valve assembly are also disclosed.