VALVE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

• US 3,712,584 A
• Filed: 02/17/1971
• Issued: 01/23/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eugene H. Wise, Homer W. Galt
• Original Assignee: Eugene H. Wise, Homer W. Galt
• Inventors: Galt, Homer W., Wise, Eugene H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US05/116,210
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 251/315,309,308,162,163
• US Class Current: 251/162
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0657 Particular coverings or materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0689 between housing and plug

Abstract

A valve of the type wherein a valve member having a passageway therethrough is rotatably mounted within a valve body or housing having inlet and outlet passages. The valve body is provided with one or more raised portions on its interior surface which serve to firmly engage or bias the valve member when it is rotated to the closed position, thereby preventing leakage be the valve member and the body. In the manufacture of such a valve in accordance with the method of the present invention, the valve body is formed of a suitable plastic material and is molded about the valve member. The valve member is placed in the open position in the mold and is provided with one or more recessed portions on the outer surface thereof so that complementary raised portions are formed on the inner surface of the molded valve body which serve to firmly engage or bias the valve member when it is rotated to the closed position.

Claims

1. A valve, comprising:

a valve body formed of a substantially rigid material and having inlet and outlet passages, a valve member rotatably mounted within said valve body and having a passageway therethrough, said valve member being movable between an open position wherein said passageway is aligned with said passages and a closed position wherein said passageway is out of alignment with said passages, said valve member having a recessed portion on the outer surface thereof, said valve body having a substantially rigid raised portion on the inner surface thereof that is adapted to mate with said recessed portion when said valve member is in the open position, said raised portion being positioned so as to be out of engagement with said recessed portion and in tight engagement with the outer surface of said valve member when it is in the closed position to prevent leakage between said valve member and said valve body, said valve member having a unitary construction which substantially retains its configuration during operation of the valve.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein said raised portion is positioned adjacent to the inlet passage of said valve body so as to urge said valve member toward the portion of said valve body adjacent to said outlet passage when said valve member is in the closed position.

3. The valve of claim 2 wherein said raised portion and said recessed portion have an annular configuration.

4. The valve of claim 3 wherein said valve body has a second substantially rigid annular raised portion on the inner surface thereof adjacent to the outlet passage thereof, and said valve member has a second annular recessed portion on the outer surface thereof that is complementary with said second raised portion and adapted to mate therewith when said valve member is in the open position, said second raised portion being positioned so as to be out of engagement with said second recessed portion and in tight engagement with the outer surface of said valve member when it is in the closed position.

5. A valve as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means connected to said valve member for rotating said valve member within said valve body.

6. A valve as claimed in claim 5 wherein said valve member is a ball, and said valve body is molded about said ball in contact therewith except at said passages.

7. A valve, comprising:

a valve body formed of a substantially rigid material and having inlet and outlet passages, a ball rotatably mounted within said valve body and having a passageway therethrough, said ball being movable between an open position wherein said passageway is aligned with said passages and a closed position wherein said passageway is out of alignment with said passages, said ball having a first annular flat surface provided on the outer surface thereof surrounding and adjacent to the passageway through said ball at the inlet passage of said valve body and a second annular flat surface provided on the outer surface thereof surrounding and adjacent to the passageway through said ball at the outlet passage of said valVe body, said valve body having a first substantially rigid annular raised portion formed on the inner surface thereof adjacent to and surrounding said inlet passage, said first raised portion complementary with the first flat surface of said ball and adapted to mate therewith when said ball is in the open position, said first raised portion being positioned so as to be out of engagement with said first flat surface and in tight engagement with the outer surface of said ball when it is in the closed position, and a second substantially rigid annular raised portion formed on the inner surface thereof adjacent to and surrounding said outlet passage, said second raised portion complementary with said second flat surface of said ball and adapted to mate therewith when said ball is in the open position, said second raised portion being positioned so as to be out of engagement with said second flat surface and in tight engagement with the outer surface of said ball when it is in the closed position, thereby to prevent leakage between said ball and said valve body.

8. A valve as claimed in claim 7 wherein said ball is of a unitary construction which substantially retains its configuration during operation of the valve.

9. A valve as claimed in claim 8 further comprising means connected to said ball for rotating said ball within said valve body.