Retainer device

A valve assembly, said valve assembly including a valve body and, at one or more locations on the valve body, there is provided a threaded aperture for the reception of a threaded valve component, said threaded valve component driven into the threaded aperture to locate the threaded valve component with the valve body;

• wherein the valve assembly includes a retaining device, said retaining device including a first part having a first aperture shaped to mate with a portion of the threaded valve component to prevent relative rotational movement of the first part and the threaded valve component and a second part which includes a second aperture having a recess portion that receives the first part to allow the second part to be secured to the valve body;
• wherein the first and second parts of the retaining device are provided with mutual engagement surfaces to prevent relative rotational movement between the first and second parts once the said parts are respectively located with the threaded valve component and the valve body;
• wherein the second part is provided with lugs for attachment of the second part to the valve body and when the retaining device is connected thereto, the retaining device prevents relative rotational movement between the threaded valve component and the valve body.

A method of securing a threaded valve component in a pre-determined position on a valve assembly, said method comprising the steps of driving the threaded valve component into a threaded aperture in a valve body, placing a first part of a retaining device in contact with or adjacent to the threaded valve component such that at least one portion of the threaded valve component engages with a portion of the first part to prevent relative rotational movement of the first part and the threaded valve component, placing a recess portion of a second part of the retaining device which receives the first part so that the first and second parts have mutual engagement surfaces that engage to prevent relative rotational movement of the first part and the second part, and securing the second part to the valve body to prevent relative rotational movement of the threaded valve component and the valve body.

A retaining device for use to prevent rotation of a valve component relative to a valve body with which the valve component is located by a screw threaded engagement, said retaining device comprising first and second parts, the first part having a first aperture shaped to receive and mate with a portion of the valve component to prevent relative rotational movement of the first part and the valve component, the second part including a second aperture having a recess portion that receives the first part and lugs to allow the second part to be located on and fixed to the valve body adjacent to the valve component and wherein said first and second parts are provided with mutual engagement surfaces which, when engaged, prevent relative rotational movement between the first and second parts;

• wherein the mutual engagement surfaces comprise, in one of the first or second parts, side walls at a first angle and in the other first or second parts, side walls at a second angle which differs from the first angle;
• wherein the first and second angles of the side walls of the first and second parts are provided in a frustoconical form.