The Nupro Company

Gary W Scheffel

Theodore J Gausman

Terrence J Kolenc

James K Simonelli

Richard J Medvick

William C Steiss

Joseph J Jagielo

A check valve responsive to low cracking pressures includes first and second body portions defining a valve chamber. An inlet and outlet passage communicate with the valve chamber while a valve element received therein moves between open and closed positions responsive to pressure differentials. A stop member welded to the valve body is adapted to limit the opening movement of the valve element. An axially raised central portion of the stop member abuttingly engages the valve element to limit its opening movement yet permit fluid flow around the valve element to plural openings defined in a peripheral region of the stop member. A guide member is interposed between the stop member and valve element to urge a seal member disposed on one face of the valve element toward a seated, closed position.

Check valve

An inflatable valve member includes a valve body received in a fluid line and defining a generally annular flow passage therewith. A flexible member disposed on the valve body is selectively inflated to open and close the flow passage. A filter is interposed between the valve body and flexible member. The filter prevents injection of the flexible member in a pre-cured state into an internal passage provided in the valve body. A bonding material is provided between the flexible member and the valve body to provide a secure mechanical engagement therebetween as the material is cured to a cross-linked polymer state. The bonding of the flexible member also eliminates crevices in the final assembled valve member. The fluid line also includes a linear portion at the outlet to facilitate drainage of the valve.

Inflatable valve

A relief valve for low pressure operation includes a valve body having an enlarged cylindrical bore in alignment with an inlet port and defining a valve chamber. An outlet opens laterally from the valve chamber at a location spaced from the inlet port. An insert member is received in the bore and defines an axially facing raised seat circumferentially about the inlet port at a location closely adjacent the outlet port. A poppet valve with a truncated conical configuration and a maximum outer diameter only slightly less than the inner diameter of the enlarged bore is mounted for engaging the seat and blocking flow through the inlet. A biased stem extends into the valve chamber in axial alignment with the seat insert. The stem has a cylindrical end portion which is received in a cylindrical opening formed axially into the poppet valve on the end thereof opposite the seat insert. The cylindrical end portion and the cylindrical opening are sized to permit lateral shifting and alignment of the poppet valve relative to the seat while preventing excessive and unwanted tilting of the poppet valve relative to the bore.

Low pressure relief valve

A diaphragm valve which uses a multiple layer annular metal diaphragm welded about its inner periphery to a valve operating stem. The diaphragm is sealingly clamped about its outer periphery to the valve body and is also clamped about its inner periphery at a location spaced outwardly of the weld to prevent the weld from being subjected to flexure stresses during valve actuation. The actuating assembly is arranged to produce non-rotary, reciprocatory movement of the operating stem through a bonnet mounted rotary actuator. An improved stem tip seal arrangement is also disclosed.

Diaphragm valve

A diaphragm valve which uses a multiple annular metal diaphragm welded about its inner periphery to a valve operating stem. The diaphragm is sealingly clamped about its outer periphery to the valve body and is also clamped about its inner periphery at a location spaced outwardly of the weld to prevent the weld from being subjected to flexure stresses during valve actuation. The actuating assembly is arranged to produce non-rotary, reciprocatory movement of the operating stem through a bonnet mounted rotary actuator. An improved stem tip seal arrangement is also disclosed.

A metering valve having a one-piece bonnet for reducing problems resulting from tolerance stack up. A guide portion is included on the nose of the bonnet for cooperation with a valve body bore to ensure concentric alignment between the metering pin and its associated orifice. A pair of O-rings on the valve stem cooperate with the bonnet bore to absorb forces and substantially reduce the potential for galling and breakage of the metering pin. One of the O-rings is compressed to a substantially greater extent than the other to aid in achieving better alignment between the stem and bonnet, and to obtain a firmer feel.

Metering valve

A metering valve having a one-piece bonnet for reducing problems resulting from tolerance stack up. A guide portion is included on the nose of the bonnet for cooperation with a valve body bore to ensure concentric alignment between the metering pin and its associated orifice. A pair of O-rings on the valve stem cooperate with the bonnet bore to absorb forces and substantially reduce the potential for galling and breakage of the metering pin. One of the O-rings is compressed to a substantially greater extent than the other to aid in achieving better alignment between the stem and bonnet, and to obtain a firmer feel. A handle is included at the outer end of the valve stem and receives an upper portion of the valve bonnet. A packing is interposed between the handle and valve bonnet upper portion for limiting lateral movement between the handle and valve stem. The packing may be selectively adjusted without altering a preset deadstop position of the valve.

A stem tip seal for a shutoff valve includes a valve member having an axial recess at the outer end that operatively receives a retaining sleeve. The retaining sleeve includes a flange portion engaging a shoulder formed by a circumferential groove in the valve member to effectively limit relative movement between these two components. A tapered surface at one end of the retaining sleeve cooperates with a tapered surface formed on the valve member for confining a seal ring. The seal ring is under compression and biases the retaining sleeve toward a first or outer limit position. Initial contact between the retaining sleeve and valve seat prevents nibbling or chipping of the seal ring during valve closure, and extended contact between the retaining sleeve and valve seat provides support during valve opening to prevent seal blow out.

Seal ring shutoff stem tip

A stem tip seal for a shut-off valve including a valve member adapted for selective movement axially toward and away from an associated valve seat. A generally cylindrical sleeve is carried by the valve member and has an end defining an outer annular seal surface adapted for cooperative sealing engagement with the seat. Mounted centrally within the sleeve for limited axial movement is a rigid cylindrical body that defines a first inner annular seal surface adapted for engagement with the seat at a location radially inwardly of the outer annular seal surface. Formed between the sleeve and the rigid body is an annular chamber which opens axially inwardly from a narrow slot located between the first inner annular seal surface and the outer annular seal surface. A mass of resilient packing material substantially fills the chamber and extends axially outwardly of the slot to define a second inner annular seal surface. Means are associated with the rigid body for generating pressure on the packing material when the body is forced axially toward the valve member. In addition, the first inner annular seal surface is configured to engage the seat prior to engagement by either the second inner annular seal surface or the outer annular seal surface.

Stem tip seal

A poppet check valve comprising mating body forming sections which define a valve chamber having a cylindrical inner wall. A generally cylindrical inlet passage connects axially with the valve chamber and a shoulder at the juncture between the inlet passage and the chamber defines an annular valve seat. Positioned in the chamber and extending transversely thereof is a relatively thin disk-like valve element. The valve element has a generally circular imperforate central section of a diameter greater than the diameter of the inlet passage but less than the diameter of the valve chamber. A plurality of legs extend radially from the periphery of the central section into sliding engagement with the inner wall of the valve chamber. A circular seal element is joined to one side of the central section at a location inwardly of its outer periphery to extend axially toward the valve seat. The valve element is maintained under a bias toward the seat by a coil spring mounted in the valve chamber. Positioned between the spring and the valve element is a stop member including a plurality of radially spaced, axially extending force applying elements for engaging the central section of the valve element on the side opposite the seal element. The stop also includes guide surfaces extending radially outwardly of the force applying elements into sliding engagement with the wall of the valve chamber at a location axially spaced from the valve element.

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Streetsboro, OH, United States of America

Gary W Scheffel