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US 10,371,282 B2Granted
Shaft blowout prevention device
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsPurushottam Savalia, Ashraf Abouelleil, Julian Ramirez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve includes a valve body defining a top end, a bottom end distal from the top end, and a shaft bore defined in the top end and the bottom end; a valve shaft positioned at least partially within the shaft bore of the valve body and defining an end bore; and a shaft blowout prevention fastener secured within the end bore of the valve shaft.
Claims19
A valve comprising:
- a valve body defining a top end, a bottom end distal from the top end, and a shaft bore defined in the top end and the bottom end;
- a valve shaft positioned at least partially within the shaft bore of the valve body and defining an end bore, the valve shaft defining an axis, the valve shaft configured to rotate within the valve body about the axis;
- a shaft blowout prevention fastener secured within the end bore of the valve shaft and aligned with the axis of the valve shaft;
- and
- a bottom cover secured to the bottom end of the valve, the bottom cover defining a clearance hole sized to receive the shaft blowout prevention fastener, the bottom cover positioned at least partially between the valve shaft and a head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener, an outer diameter of the head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener being larger than an inner diameter of the clearance hole of the bottom cover;
- wherein fluid surrounding the head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener is in fluid communication with the bottom cover, the bottom cover enclosing the head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener.
3 more elements
A shaft blowout prevention device comprising:
- a valve shaft configured to be installed within a shaft bore of a valve body of a valve, the valve shaft defining an end bore;
- a shaft blowout prevention fastener secured within the end bore of the valve shaft;
- and
- a bottom cover configured to be assembled to the valve body and positioned at least partially between the valve shaft and the shaft blowout prevention fastener, a first gap defined between a pair of respective opposing surfaces of the shaft blowout prevention fastener and the valve shaft and a second gap defined between a pair of respective opposing surfaces of the shaft blowout prevention fastener and the bottom cover, the shaft blowout prevent device configured to place fluid surrounding a head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener in fluid communication with the bottom cover and the bottom cover enclosing the head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener.
1 more element
A method of manufacturing a valve, the method comprising:
- inserting a valve shaft at least partially within a shaft bore of a valve body, the valve body defining a top end, a bottom end distal from the top end, and the shaft bore defined in the top end and the bottom end;
- securing a bottom cover of the valve to the valve body, the bottom cover facing and covering at least a portion of an axial end surface of the bottom end of the valve shaft;
- securing a shaft blowout prevention fastener to an end of the valve shaft, a first gap defined between a pair of respective opposing surfaces of the shaft blowout prevention fastener and the valve shaft and a second gap defined between a pair of respective opposing surfaces of the shaft blowout prevention fastener and the bottom cover;
- blocking removal of the valve shaft from and through the top end of the valve body with the shaft blowout prevention fastener;
- placing fluid surrounding a head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener in fluid communication with the bottom cover;
- and
- enclosing the head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener with the bottom cover.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.