Ball valve with snap-in stem
US7306010B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2005 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/8811
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A ball valve has a ball with resilient, opposed facing spaced-apart locking arms which engage a stem having outwardly projecting flanges to allow the stem to be inserted externally into the valve body and snap-locked to the resilient opposed locking arms of the ball. In one embodiment, the stem includes a breakaway groove to prevent over torquing of the stem. In another embodiment, a retainer carrier for the ball includes slots for receiving integrally formed projection tabs on the underside of the valve handle which are spaced and sized to interfit with the slots of the threaded retainer carrier such that, if ball or seal replacement becomes necessary, the valve handle itself can serve as a removal tool for the retainer carrier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.