US 12,228,218 B2Granted

Retaining ring and method of manufacture

AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC

InventorsLucas J. Schmitt, Steven Hostetter, Aaron Anderson

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Abstract

The present disclosure includes a retaining ring for a valve plug assembly. The retaining ring includes a first ring portion having an inner surface with a central axis extending along a circumference of the first ring portion, and a rib disposed on the inner surface of the first ring portion and offset from the central axis. The retaining ring also includes a second ring portion having an inner surface with a central axis extending along a circumference of the second ring portion, and a rib disposed on the inner surface of the second ring portion and offset from the central axis. The second ring portion is coupled to the first ring portion such that each of the ribs disposed on the inner surfaces of the first and second ring portions are configured to mate with a groove of a valve plug.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A retaining ring for a valve plug assembly, the retaining ring comprising:

a first ring portion having an end portion and an inner surface with a central axis extending along a circumference of the first ring portion, and a rib disposed on the inner surface of the first ring portion between the end portion and the central axis and offset from the central axis;
and
a second ring portion having an end portion and an inner surface with a central axis extending along a circumference of the second ring portion, and a rib disposed on the inner surface of the second ring portion between the end portion and the central axis and offset from the central axis, the second ring portion coupled to the first ring portion,
wherein each of the ribs disposed on the inner surfaces of the first and second ring portions are configured to mate with a groove of a valve plug including a distal end with a first diameter and a proximal end with a second diameter, and
wherein the inner surface and an outer surface of the first ring portion and the second ring portion define a thickness, the thickness equal to the difference between the first diameter and the second diameter of the valve plug.

2 more elements

A valve plug assembly, comprising:

a valve cage;
a valve plug disposed within the valve cage, the valve plug including a groove;
and
a retaining ring disposed between the valve plug and the valve cage, the retaining ring comprising:
a first ring portion having an end portion, an inner surface and a rib disposed on the inner surface of the first ring portion offset from the end portion and received in the groove of the valve plug;
and
a second ring portion having an end portion, an inner surface and a rib disposed on the inner surface of the second ring portion offset from the end portion and received in the groove of the valve plug,
wherein, the valve cage confines the retaining ring on the valve plug and secures both the rib on the first ring portion and the rib on the second ring portion in the groove of the valve plug, and
wherein the valve plug includes a distal end having a first diameter and a proximal end having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the groove disposed on the proximal end of the valve plug, and the inner surface and an outer surface of the first ring portion and the second ring portion define a thickness, the thickness equal to the difference between the first diameter and the second diameter of the valve plug.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.