Valve and coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10408370-B2
Application number	US-201615267755-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 18, 2015
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A valve and coupling for joining pipe elements has a valve body captured in a central space defined by a plurality of coupling segments attached to one another end to end. The inner surface of the valve body defines a bore. A liner on the inner surface surrounds the bore and forms a seal with a valve closing member. Circumferentially arranged projections on the segments engage and center the valve body within the central space. The liner has lobes that extend axially in opposite directions. The lobes are compressed between the segments and the pipe elements to form a fluid tight seal when connection members are tightened to draw the segments toward the central space and into engagement with the pipe elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve, comprising:
no more than two segments attached end to end surrounding a central space, each of said segments having first and second projections arranged in spaced apart relation to one another, said projections extending circumferentially about and extending toward said central space, each of said segments comprising a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space, each of said channels being defined by first and second side surfaces located on opposite sides of said segments and a back surface extending between said side surfaces;
a valve body positioned within said central space, said valve body having an outer surface facing said segments and an inner surface defining a bore therethrough, said first and second projections being engageable with said outer surface for securing said valve body within said central space;
a closing member positioned within said bore, said closing member being movable between an open and a closed configuration;
a stem attached to said closing member for moving said closing member between said open and said closed configuration;
a liner overlying said inner surface of said valve body and surrounding said bore, said liner sealingly engaging said closing member when in said closed configuration, said liner further comprising a ring having first and second lobes positioned on opposite sides thereof, said first lobe having a first lobe surface facing toward said first side surface and said second lobe having a second lobe surface facing toward said second side surface, a portion of said first lobe surrounding a first portion of said outer surface of said valve body, said first projections engaging said portion of said first lobe, a portion of said second lobe surrounding a second portion of said outer surface of said valve body, said second projections engaging said portion of said second lobe; and
first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of said segments for effecting end to end attachment of said segments; wherein
when said lobes are seated within said channel, at least a portion of said first and second lobe surfaces come into contact respectively with said first and second side surfaces such that said lobes deform toward a center of said channel.

2. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein said first lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said first side surface and said second lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said second side surface when said lobes are undeformed.

3. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second lobe surfaces comprise convexly curved surfaces when said lobes are undeformed.

4. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein said closing member comprises a disk rotatably mounted within said valve body.

5. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein each of said segments further comprises first and second keys positioned on opposite sides of said segments, each of said keys extending circumferentially around and projecting toward said central space.

6. The valve according to claim 5 , wherein each of said keys comprises an arcuate surface engageable with a pipe element positioned within said central space.

7. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein said projections are circumferentially continuous.

8. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein said projections are circumferentially intermittent.

9. The valve according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first support body positioned adjacent to said first connection member, said first support body having a surface facing said valve body and first and second posts in spaced apart relation extending away from said central space, said first post engaging a first segment of said plurality of segments, said second post engaging a second segment of said plurality of segments;
a second support body positioned adjacent to said second connection member, said second support body having a surface facing said valve body and first and second posts in spaced apart relation extending away from said central space, said first post of said second support body engaging said first segment, said second post of said second support body engaging said second segment; wherein
said surfaces of said first and second support bodies engage said liner, said posts engage said segments, whereby said first and second support bodies cooperate with said liner to support said first and second segments in spaced apart relation in a pre-assembled configuration.

10. A valve, comprising:
a plurality of segments attached end to end surrounding a central space, each of said segments comprising first and second circumferentially arranged projections extending toward said central space, each of said segments comprising a channel extending circumferentially around and facing said central space, each of said channels being defined by first and second side surfaces located on opposite sides of said segments and a back surface extending between said side surfaces;
a valve body positioned within said central space, said valve body having an outer surface facing said segments, said outer surface having first and second grooves therein arranged in spaced apart relation to one another, said grooves extending circumferentially about said central space, said valve body further comprising an inner surface defining a bore therethrough, said first and second circumferentially arranged projections being engageable with said outer surface of said valve body for securing said valve body within said central space;
a closing member positioned within said bore, said closing member being movable between an open and a closed configuration;
a liner overlying said inner surface of said valve body and surrounding said bore, said liner sealingly engaging said closing member when in said closed configuration, said liner further comprises a ring having first and second lobes positioned on opposite sides thereof, said first lobe having a first lobe surface facing toward said first side surface and said second lobe having a second lobe surface facing toward said second side surface, a portion of said first lobe surrounding a first portion of said outer surface of said valve body, said first projections engaging said portion of said first lobe, a portion of said second lobe surrounding a second portion of said outer surface of said valve body, said second projections engaging said portion of said second lobe;
a stem attached to said closing member for moving said closing member between said open and said closed configuration; and
first and second connection members positioned at opposite ends of at least two of said segments for effecting end to end attachment of said segments; wherein
when said lobes are seated within said channel, at least a portion of said first and second lobe surfaces come into contact respectively with said first and second side surfaces such that said lobes deform toward a center of said channel.

11. The valve according to claim 10 , wherein said first lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said first side surface and said second lobe surface is oriented angularly with respect to said second side surface when said lobes are undeformed.

12. The valve according to claim 10 , wherein said first and second lobe surfaces comprise convexly curved surfaces when said lobes are undeformed.

13. The valve according to claim 10 , comprising only two of said segments.

14. The valve according to claim 10 , wherein said closing member comprises a disk rotatably mounted within said valve body.

15. The valve according to claim 10 , wherein each of said

Assignees

• Victaulic Co Of America

Inventors

• Wortmann Steven A
• Dole Douglas R

Classifications

• F16K1/2265

  with a channel- or U-shaped seal covering a central body portion · CPC title

• F16L17/04

  with longitudinally split or divided sleeve · CPC title

• F16K1/222 Primary

  Shaping of the valve member · CPC title

• F16K27/0218 Primary

  Butterfly valves · CPC title

• F16K1/2263 Primary

  the sealing being arranged on the valve seat · CPC title