Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Joseph W Ross

Frank J Heymann

Joachim A La Rosa

A removably securable guide ring (33) for a valve plug (30) in a control valve. The removably securable guide ring (33) also serves as a retainer for a pressure seal ring. The guide ring (33) includes the surface (40) which, upon the guide ring (33) being secured with a valve plug (30), forms a seal ring groove with a stepped portion (34) of the valve plug (30). A seal ring may be installed by removing the guide ring (33) from the valve plug (30), placing the seal ring within the stepped portion (34) of the valve plug (30), and by securing the guide ring (33) with the valve plug (30). As a result, the seal ring is disposed within a seal ring groove formed by a stepped indentation (34) of the valve plug (30) and a surface (40) of the guide ring (33). The guide ring (33) also includes a surface (38) which faces and may abut the inside surface of a valve bonnet (12) during operation. This valve bonnet facing surface (38) of the guide ring (33) operates to guide the valve plug (30) within the valve bonnet (12) during operation of the valve.

Seal ring retainer and guide ring for valve plug

A damper/isolator device having four ring segments (38) which are retained in slots (36) in an upper guide (31). The four segments (38) are forced radially outward against a valve bonnet liner (30) and are retained and centered within the slot (36) by serpentine or buggy type springs (44). The natural frequency of the damper and spring system is designed to be significantly higher than the frequency of the applied vibration induced by steam flow across a valve seat. This provides for the isolation of the valve plug (13) from the liner (30) and bonnet bore (11). The surface interaction between the ring segments (38) and the upper guide (31) provides for added friction damping to the system.

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Huntsville, AL, United States of America

Joseph W Ross