The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 1978
Filed:
Jul. 28, 1975
Thomas D Sharples, Atherton, CA (US);
Beckman Instruments, Inc., Fullerton, CA (US);
Abstract
A valve construction in the form of a 'flex-finger' or flexible stem valve is provided for handling substances which are highly corrosive or very active chemically. The valve body, valve seats, a valve ball and flexible finger or flexible valve stem are all composed of chemically resistant material. The flexible stem has an outer end secured in the valve body against rotation with a fluid tight joint and an inner end for actuating the 'ball'. The flexible stem is composed of material which is sufficiently resilient so that it may be caused to travel in a circular or orbital path carrying or actuating a 'ball' or other attachment into and out of engagement with the valve seat or seats. For causing such motion the flex stem is made hollow but with the lower end closed to prevent entry of fluid from a valve port, and a bent operating rod is mounted within the hollow space in the flexible stem with a slip fit so that rotation of the outer end of the bent operating rod serves to cause orbital movement of the inner end of the flexible finger without twisting or rotation thereof.