Mueller Co.

John R Rice

Robert E Sands

M Dale Stanley

Gary L Bouc

Robert D Brownlow

Valve

The present invention provides a valve assembly having a bore fitted with an operating member, whereby the operating member operatively controls a valve member to permit or prevent fluid flow through the valve assembly. The bore extends along a longitudinal axis and has a selected diameter in one portion and a diameter greater than the selected diameter on an interior portion. The bore further includes an annular transition portion extending with diminishing diameter from the interior portion to the one portion of the bore. The operating member is substantially cylindrical and includes a first portion which closely interfits with the one portion of the bore and a second portion which has an annular convex surface disposed to face the transition portion of the bore. The annular convex surface of the operating member and the transition portion of the bore form a metal-to-metal seat which performs desirably in a high temperature environment. The valve member is disposed in a valve housing between two rubber sealing rings. The rubber rings are disposed in recesses partially defined by annular lips. When the valve assembly is exposed to high temperature, the rubber rings burn and char away sufficiently and the valve member engages one of the annular lips to form a metal-to-metal seat to limit any leakage.

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Decatur, IL, United States of America

John R Rice