Valve orifice insert
AssigneeHORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
InventorsJohn T. Dick, David Daniel Webster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve orifice insert has a stepped-shaped wall including a first tubular section and a second tubular section having a smaller outer dimension than the first tubular section, and a lip structure protruding axially and including a planar valve seat surface. The first tubular section and the second tubular section being are joined by a step structure. At least one circumferential protrusion extends radially outward a predetermined distance from an outer surface of the first tubular section or an outer surface of the second tubular section to form an interference fit with the step-shaped opening when the valve orifice insert is fitted into the step-shaped opening.
Claims19
A valve orifice insert sized to be fitted in a step-shaped opening in an orifice structure of a valve assembly, the valve orifice insert comprising:
- a plastic tubular body having a stepped-shaped wall including a first tubular section and a second tubular section having a smaller outer dimension than the first tubular section, the first tubular section and the second tubular section being joined by a step structure;
- and
- a circumferential protrusion extending radially outward a predetermined distance from an outer surface of the second tubular section to form a seal with the step-shaped opening when the valve orifice insert is fitted into the step-shaped opening, wherein
- the circumferential protrusion is formed adjacent a second end of the plastic tubular body opposite a first end of the plastic tubular body, and
- the circumferential protrusion has a lobe shape.
A method for manufacturing a valve assembly, the method comprising:
- forming a step-shaped opening in an orifice structure of the valve assembly;
- forming a valve orifice insert from a plastic material to have a tubular body having a stepped-shaped wall including a first tubular section and a second tubular section having a smaller outer dimension than the first tubular section, the first tubular section and the second tubular section being joined by a step structure;
- inserting the valve orifice insert into the step-shaped opening, such that after insertion a circumferential protrusion extending radially outward a predetermined distance from an outer surface of the first tubular section or an outer surface of the second tubular section forms a seal with the step-shaped opening;
- and
- concurrently lapping a lip structure of the tubular plastic valve insert and a surface at the orifice structure of the valve assembly with a planar lapping tool so as to form a valve sealing surface on the lip structure that is coplanar with the surface at the orifice structure of the valve assembly, wherein
- the lip structure protrudes axially from a first end of the first tubular section, the lip structure including a planar valve seat surface formed at a distal end thereof.
A fluid flow controller comprising:
- a flow path;
- a valve assembly provided in the flow path to control the flow of fluid along the flow path, the valve including an inlet, an outlet, an orifice structure having a valve orifice insert positioned in an opening thereof, the valve orifice insert fluidically communicating with the inlet and outlet, and a diaphragm coupled to an actuator, the actuator being configured to move the diaphragm under command of a controller to cause the diaphragm to selectively contact or separate from a planar valve seat surface by a distance to stop or allow the flow of fluid through the orifice structure at a commanded flow rate, wherein
- the valve orifice insert includes a plastic tubular body having an outer surface, at least one circumferential protrusion extending radially outward from the outer surface forming an interference fit with a wall of the opening, and a lip structure including the planar valve seat surface formed at a distal end thereof that is coplanar with a surface of the orifice structure that supports an outer circumferential portion of the diaphragm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.