# US 10,371,282 B2 · Shaft blowout prevention device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,282 B2 - Document ID: US10371282B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/627,815 - Filed: 2017-06-20 - Published: 2017-12-28 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-22 - Assignees: Mueller International, LLC - Applicants: Mueller International, LLC - Inventors: Purushottam Savalia; Ashraf Abouelleil; Julian Ramirez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371282B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/14: for mounting on, or in combination with, hand-actuated valves - F16K 1/221: {specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00)} - F16K 1/224: {Details of bearings for the axis of rotation} - F16K 27/0218: {Butterfly valves} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein a surface of a head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener and a surface of the valve body define a gap extending from an uppermost portion of the head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener to an uppermost portion of a plug bore of the valve as defined in a direction parallel to the axis of the valve shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve of claim 2, wherein the bottom cover at least partially spans the gap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve further defines an inlet, an outlet distal from the inlet, and a fluid bore defined between the inlet and the outlet, the valve further comprising a valve disc positioned within the fluid bore of the valve body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve shaft is configured to rotate within the shaft bore about an axis of the shaft bore. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the valve shaft proximate to the shaft blowout prevention fastener is equal to a maximum outer diameter of a portion of the valve shaft that is positioned within the shaft bore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the bottom end of the valve is configured to seal against an internal fluid pressure of at least 200 psig. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein a surface of a head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener and a surface of the bottom cover define the second gap, the second gap extending from an uppermost portion of the head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener to an uppermost portion of a plug bore of the bottom cover as defined in a direction parallel to an axis of the valve shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the bottom cover defines a clearance hole sized to receive the shaft blowout prevention fastener. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein an outer diameter of a head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener is larger than an inner diameter of the clearance hole of the bottom cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the valve shaft and the shaft blowout prevention fastener are configured to rotate with respect to the bottom cover after the shaft blowout prevention fastener is secured to the valve shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein a diameter of the valve shaft proximate to the shaft blowout prevention fastener is equal to a maximum outer diameter of a portion of the valve shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the bottom cover defines a plug bore, the device further comprising a plug secured within the plug bore, the plug and the plug bore forming a fluid-tight seal. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the end of the valve shaft defines an end bore and the shaft blowout prevention fastener is secured within the end bore. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising separating an uppermost portion of a head of the shaft blowout prevention fastener from an uppermost portion of a plug bore of the valve by a distance sufficient to permit rotation of the shaft blowout prevention fastener relative to the valve body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising securing a plug in the plug bore, the plug sealing the plug bore against leakage of a fluid from inside the valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: securing a bottom plate to the bottom end of the valve body; and blocking removal of the valve shaft from and through the bottom end of the valve body with the bottom plate.