Celanese Gmbh

Nibco Incorporated

Gary L Runyan

Paul H Sloan, Jr

A rotary plug valve which is of the type comprising a housing formed of a polymer and a rotary plug disposed in a through-passage of the housing. The plug is formed of a polymer and includes a bore selectively alignable with the through-passage to admit the passage of fluid. The plug valve is formed by forming the plug and attaching thereto a preformed polymeric shield by snap-fitting the shield onto the plug. The shield has an inner surface conforming to the periphery of the plug. The plug and shield assembly is positioned within a cavity of a mold. The cavity corresponds to the shape of the housing. A molten polymer is introduced into the cavity and intimately contacts the shield and forms the housing around the plug.

Apparatus for preventing thermal damage to a preformed plug during

A rotary plug valve is formed which is of the type comprising a housing formed of a polymer and a rotary plug disposed in a through-passage of the housing. The plug is formed of a polymer and includes a bore selectively alignable with the through-passage to admit the passage of fluid. The plug valve is formed by forming the plug and attaching thereto a preformed polymeric shield by snap-fitting the shield onto the plug. The shield has an inner surface conforming to the periphery of the plug. The plug and shield assembly is positioned within a cavity of a mold. The cavity corresponds to the shape of the housing. A molten polymer is introduced into the cavity and intimately contacts the shield and forms the housing around the plug.

Method and apparatus for preventing thermal damage to a preformed plug

A rotary ball valve comprises a housing formed of plastic material, the housing including a through passage. A plug formed of a plastic material is rotatably mounted in the housing and includes a ball-shaped gate having a passage which is alignable with the housing passage when the plug is open. A stem projects laterally of the housing passage to enable the plug to be manually rotated. A pair of seating rings formed of an anti-friction material encircle respective ends of the gate passage when the plug is open. The housing includes a pair of annular flanges disposed on opposite sides of the plug passage. Each flange contacts a back side of a respective one of the seating rings. Each flange is notched around its periphery to form a plurality of circumferentially spaced flange segments whose inner diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of the gate passage. The flange segments are arranged to urge the seating rings against the gate and are independently yieldable to enable the rings to conform to the shape of the periphery of the gate. Each seating ring includes an annular groove on its back side located radially outwardly of the flange segments. Each flange includes an annular ridge received in the groove and forming a fluid seal between the housing and the seating rings. A handle is provided which can be snapped onto the stem. A cap is thereafter inserted into the handle to prevent accidental removal of the handle.

Rotary ball valve having seating rings

In an end entry ball valve assembly, a bifurcated seal carrier comprised of an annular seal support member and back-up member, is received in at least one end opening. The seal support member includes an axially facing end wall and a radially facing guide wall. The back-up member is slidably received in the opening and presents a recess defined by an axially facing support wall and a radially facing guide wall respectively adjacent the end wall and guide wall of the seal support member. An annular, resilient biasing and sealing ring is disposed, in a radially tensioned and axially compressed condition, in a groove disposed in at least one of those axially facing walls at a location radially inwardly of the guide walls. The ring biases the seal support member and a seal carried thereby toward the valve ball and seals against fluid flow between the axially facing walls. The seal support member is dimensioned for limited radial centering movement in the receiving recess without direct compressive resistance by the biasing and sealing ring. Longitudinal loads on the back-up member are isolated from the valve ball.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Gary L Runyan