Valve seat assemblies for relief valves

An apparatus for use with a relief valve, the apparatus comprising:

• a valve seat having a seating surface and a stem, the valve seat having a tapered surface to provide a transition between the seating surface and the stem;
• a retainer ring having a central opening to receive the stem of the valve seat, the retainer ring includes a tapered profile, wherein the tapered profile of the retainer ring is complimentary to the tapered surface of the valve seat, the retainer ring and the valve seat coupled via a press-fit connection;
• and
• a spindle, the retainer ring to couple to the spindle via a clearance fit connection.

A relief valve comprising:

• a valve body defining a fluid flow passageway between an inlet and an outlet, the valve body defining a spring chamber to receive a biasing element;
• a nozzle positioned in the valve body and defining an orifice;
• and
• a valve seat assembly interposed in the fluid flow passageway, the valve seat assembly to move relative to the orifice to control fluid flow through the fluid flow passageway, the valve seat assembly including a valve seat, a retainer ring and a spindle, the spindle having a cavity to receive the valve seat and an annular groove on an inner surface of the cavity, the annular groove of the spindle to receive fluid to increase a volume adjacent the orifice, the valve seat coupled to the retainer ring via a press-fit connection, the retainer ring coupled to the spindle via a clearance fit connection, the retainer ring to allow the valve seat to self-align relative to the orifice.

A valve seat assembly for use with a relief valve, the valve seat assembly comprising:

• a valve seat including:
• a seating surface having a circular shape;
• a stem extending from the seating surface;
• a tapered surface extending between the stem and the seating surface;
• a retainer ring, the retainer ring having a central opening to receive the stem, the spindle to at least partially receive the retainer ring via the cavity, the valve seat and the retainer ring are to couple via a press-fit connection between the stem and an inner surface defined by the central opening of the retainer ring;
• and
• a spindle including a shaft and a skirt, the shaft extending away from a first end of the skirt, the skirt including an annular wall having a cavity, the skirt including a tapered profile that extends outwardly from an inner surface of the annular wall defining the cavity and toward an outer surface of the annular wall, the inner surface of the annular wall including an annular groove, wherein the tapered profile is between the annular groove and a second end of the skirt, the retainer ring is to couple to the spindle via a clearance fit connection.