Fisher Controls International LLC

Wilbur Dean Hutchens

Philip Wayne Eggleston

James Leroy Lounsberry

Randall Scott Collison

Loren Lee Bovee

Mark John Linser

Frank E Jensen

David Charles Stanze

Virgil W Pepper

Timothy Arthur McMahon

Ronald Ray Brestel

Steven M Kirk

Timothy Randall Parrie

Ronnald J Funk

Robert F Berry

Kurt J Leger

Paul R Hunsberger, Jr

Brian V Nolan

William C Scheffert

Steven Douglas Cherry

Kurt Joseph Leger

Robert Fredrick Berry

Ronnald James Funk

Frank Eric Jensen

William Charles Scheffert

Virgil Wayne Pepper

Movable valve apparatus having conditioned lubricating surfaces are described. An example valve includes a valve packing having a graphite packing ring disposed within a bonnet of the fluid valve and a stem or shaft has a conditioned surface to hold a lubricating material. The conditioned surface of the stem or shaft is disposed within the bonnet and moves the lubricating material relative to and in contact with the graphite packing ring during operation of the fluid valve.

Movable valve apparatus having conditioned lubricating surfaces

Methods and apparatus to load a valve packing are described. An example method disclosed herein includes adjusting a packing flange nut to a position corresponding at least approximately to a free condition of a biasing assembly, coupling a first gauge member to a first flange, adjusting a first gap between a first surface of the first gauge member and a reference surface opposite the first flange to a first predetermined distance, and tightening the packing flange nut so that the first surface of the first gauge member substantially aligns with or engages the reference surface and causes a load assembly to provide a first predetermined packing stress to the valve packing when the first gauge member substantially aligns with or engages the reference surface.

Methods and apparatus to load a valve packing

Seal ring assemblies for use with rotary valves and methods to manufacture the same are disclosed. A seal ring assembly is described that includes a ring-shaped seal to be fixed within the rotary valve, where the seal enables the sealing engagement of a control member with a flow control aperture. The seal is compressed between a first seal clamp and a second seal clamp by a compressive force maintained by a plurality of fasteners extending through the seal and fixed to the first and second seal clamps.

Seal ring assemblies for use with rotary valves

Methods and apparatus to load a valve packing are described. An example apparatus to load a valve packing includes a load assembly having a biasing element disposed between a valve packing flange and a stop flange to provide a load to a seal assembly. The packing flange is adjustable relative to the stop flange to adjust the load to be applied to the seal. A first guide member coupled to the packing flange or the stop flange provides a first predetermined distance between the packing flange and the stop flange. The first guide member provides an indication of a first predetermined load to be provided by the load assembly when the packing flange and the stop flange are spaced at the first predetermined distance provided by the first guide member.

A reduced component wear valve is comprised of a valve body having a passage therethrough and a disc attached to a rotatable shafts. The disc is utilized with a seal forming a gap between the disc and the seal proximate to the rotational axis of the disc. When the disc is in the open position, the seal major axis is greater then the disc diameter and they do not touch. As the disc rotates to near closure, the disc perimeter engages the minor axis of the seal (which is smaller than the disc diameter), and the disc stretches the seal in the minor axis direction thus decreasing the major axis such that the gap is closed. The seal can be preformed in an elliptical shape or it can be formed into an elliptical shape by a retaining mechanism. The seal may be a single-piece or a multi-piece assembly press-fit into the valve body. Zero or light disc to seal contact during the majority of the valve disc rotation minimizes valve seal wear and rotational friction.

Elliptical sealing surface for butterfly valve

A reduced component wear valve is comprised of a valve body having a passage therethrough and a disc attached to a rotatable shaft. The disc is utilized with a seal forming a gap between the disc and the seal proximate to the rotational axis of the disc. When the disc is in the open position, the seal major axis is greater then the disc diameter and they do not touch. As the disc rotates to near closure, the disc perimeter engages the minor axis of the seal (which is smaller than the disc diameter), and the disc stretches the seal in the minor axis direction thus decreasing the major axis such that the gap is closed. The seal can be pre-formed in an elliptical shape or it can be formed into an elliptical shape by a retaining mechanism. The seal may be a single-piece or a multi-piece assembly press-fit into the valve body. Zero or light disc to seal contact during the majority of the valve disc rotation minimizes valve seal wear and rotational friction.

A fluid valve graphite packing assembly with graphite packing rings and thin PTFE disc rings surrounding an operating valve member. Softer graphite packing rings on the interior are bounded by progressively harder graphite packing rings. A PTFE disc ring is inserted between the graphite packing rings. The packing is subjected to sufficient packing stress to cause the PTFE disc rings to extrude onto the operating valve member. A laminated packing ring formed of alternating sheets of flexible graphite and PTFE which is die cut to provide a crown shaped cross-section aiding in enabling PTFE extrusion to enhance valve operating member lubrication and sealing.

Graphite packing

A fluid seal for rotary valves wherein a metal seal ring is adapted to fit within a groove formed within the valve body and a retainer ring for sealing engagement with the sealing surface of a closure member. The metal seal ring has a non-symmetrical cross section with the retainer ring side portion including a shoulder engaging the retainer within the groove and a seating portion extending from the groove for sealing engagement with the closure member. A valve body side portion of the metal seal ring includes a shoulder engaging the valve body within the groove and a non-seating portion extending from the groove for a substantially non-sealing and non-engagement with the sealing surface of the closure member. Engagement of the closure member with the seating portion of the retainer side portion of the metal seal ring torsionally loads the cross-section of the seal ring so as to only enlarge the retainer side portion. A resilient material seal ring can be added to the metal seal ring for desired applications. If the resilient material ring is destroyed by high temperatures or fire, the seating portion of the metal seal ring continues to reliably engage the closure member. An elastomeric O-ring can be used on the metal seal ring on a side opposite to the resilient material ring.

Torsionallly loaded fluid seals for rotary valves

A packing containment assembly for sealing an operating member such as a shaft or stem in a fluid control valve, particularly where PTFE packing is used. A pair of zero clearance anti-extrusion rings of PEEK material are mounted in the shaft with the PTFE packing therebetween. Each ring has an inner diameter slightly less than the shaft outer diameter to form an interference fit. The rings are split with a scarf cut to provide an overlapping joint and enable mounting of the rings on the operating member. A male adapter PEEK ring matches a V-type female packing ring which significantly reduces the amount of PTFE packing needed for a reliable seal. A step cut PEEK zero clearance anti-extrusion ring could be used as well as a fractured carbon ring.

Zero clearance anti-extrusion rings for containment of PTFE packing

A fluid control valve with a rotatable shaft and a ball valve mounted within a flow bore. The ball has one or more V-shaped grooves for controlling fluid flow. In the closed position the ball and walls of the flow bore are in a continuous line sealing contact. The valve may be mounted and opened to enable complete drainage of fluid in the connecting pipeline which is an advantage in sanitary applications. The ball and shaft are part of a removable bonnet assembly with the ball inserted into the flow bore through an aperture in the valve body. A one-piece seal in the aperture provides a static seal between the valve body and bonnet and a dynamic shaft seal.

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Marshalltown, IA, United States of America

Wilbur Dean Hutchens