Adjustable ball valve
US5746417A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 5, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16K5/202
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An adjustable ball valve assembly having a vertically tapered chamber and an adjustment mechanism is provided. The adjustable ball valve includes a vertically tapered chamber, a ball disposed within said chamber, a valve stem connected to said ball, seat members, which include a rigid, solid support frame encapsulated in a polymeric material, supporting and sealing the ball and having a vertical taper corresponding to the chamber taper, locking members to prevent horizontal or rotational movement of the seat members and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the seat members vertically within the chamber. The seat members are encapsulated by means of an injection molding process. The process includes providing an injection mold having, among other features, pins which position the support frame to provide for even application of the polymeric material to the support frame.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.