Whitey Research Tool Co.

Stephen Matousek

Ulrich H Koch

Francis J Callahan, Jr

Bernard J Gallagher

Richard S DiGennaro

The specification and drawings show a ball valve including a housing defining a valve chamber with inlet and outlet passages connected to the chamber. A ball having at least one throughflow aperture is positioned within the chamber and arranged for selective rotation by a cylindrical stem which extends from the chamber. Resilient, resinous material substantially fills the chamber and sealingly engages the outer surface of the ball and the inner walls of the chamber. Packing means are disposed about the stem and include a relatively rigid first gland member closely and slidably received in the housing and having an opening through which the stem extends. A first surface of the gland is engaged with the resinous material in the chamber. A recess is formed in the gland member about the inside of the opening. Preferably, the recess has a substantial length axially of the stem. An elongated bushing of resilient, resinous material is positioned in the recess and adjustable means are provided for applying a compressive loading axially of the bushing in a direction toward the first surface to compress the bushing into sealing engagement with the stem and cause the gland member to apply a compressive load on the resinous material within the chamber. Preferably, the bushing is formed from polytetrafluoroethylene or the like.

Ball valve stem guide

An operating handle comprising a sheet metal stamping or the like which includes means for providing a clamping force against an operating member when the handle is mounted thereon. The handle structure is comprised of separate handle and biasing members which each include a mounting opening through which the operating member is received. The handle and biasing members are shaped and dimensioned such that as a conventional handle nut is threadedly advanced on the operating member to force these members toward each other, the mounting openings in the members are biased in opposite directions from each other to place a clamping force against opposite sides of the operating member. The biasing member may also conveniently include stops or tabs adapted to cooperate with stops on a valve body or the like to precisely define the extreme positions to which the handle and operating member may be rotated.

Operating handle

The specification and drawings disclose a ball valve designed to be highly reliable and easily maintained. The disclosed valve comprises an intermediate body section positioned between a pair of end fittings which are connected to the body by a plurality of longitudinally extending tie bolts. The tie bolts are arranged so that with removal of one, preferably color-coded or otherwise identified, the body can be pivoted outwardly from between the end fittings. The valve further includes seal assemblies axially removable from the ends of the intermediate body section and arranged to provide a seal between the end fittings and the body as well as between the body and an internally mounted valve ball. An improved stem seal and operating handle assembly for the valve are also provided in the valve.

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Moraga, CA, United States of America

Stephen Matousek