Ball valve retainer with soldering paste seal and method
AssigneeConbraco Industries, Inc.
InventorsBertito Tubo Rodriguez, Kevin Gerome Porterfield, Rudy Ray Stewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of sealing a metal retainer to a metal valve body that includes the steps of applying a soldering paste in a predetermined amount to the threads of a threaded retainer and threading the retainer into the threads of a threaded opening in the valve. The retainer is heated to a temperature sufficient to liquefy and disperse the soldering paste into spaces between the threads of the retainer and the threads of the opening in the valve to thereby achieve an adhesive seal.
Claims18
A method of sealing a metal retainer to a metal valve body, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a soldering paste in a predetermined amount to the threads of a threaded retainer;
- (b) threading the retainer into the threads of a threaded opening in the valve;
- and
- (c) heating the retainer to a temperature sufficient to liquefy and disperse the soldering paste into spaces between the threads of the retainer and the threads of the opening in the valve to thereby achieve an adhesive seal.
A method of sealing a metal retainer to a metal valve body of a quarter-turn ball valve of the type wherein a ball sealed within a valve body is adapted to be turned on a stem rotated by a lever external to the valve body, comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a soldering paste in a predetermined amount to the threads of a threaded retainer;
- (b) threading the retainer into the threads of a threaded opening in the valve thereby sealing the ball against upstream and downstream annular seals;
- (c) tightening the threaded retainer onto the body to a torque sufficient to create a metal-to-metal contact between adjacent surfaces of the retainer and body;
- and
- (d) heating the retainer to a temperature sufficient to liquefy and disperse the soldering paste into spaces between the threads of the retainer and the threads of the opening in the valve to thereby achieve an adhesive seal.
A metal valve for controlling the flow of a fluid through a fluid transport system, comprising:
- (a) a valve body and a fluid control structure moveable within the valve body for controlling the flow of the fluid;
- (b) upstream and downstream seals positioned in the valve body and engaging upstream and downstream sealing surfaces of the fluid control structure;
- (c) an operating device having an exterior part and a part extending into the valve body for moving the fluid control structure;
- (d) a threaded retainer for being threaded onto the threads of a threaded opening in the valve to enclose the valve body;
- and
- (e) a soldering paste positioned in the spaces between the threads of the retainer and the threads of the threaded opening in the valve wherein the position of the soldering paste was achieved by first applying a predetermined quantity of soldering paste to the threads of the retainer, threading the retainer into the threaded opening in the valve body and heating the soldering paste to a liquid state whereupon the liquefied solder is dispersed into spaces between the threads of the retainer and the threads of the valve body to provide an adhesive and sealing effect to the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.