Plug valve

A plug member for a plug valve comprising:

• an elongated generally cylindrical plug portion having an outer surface and opposite stem and locking ends, circumferential seal receiving grooves adjacent said stem and locking ends, seals received in said seal receiving grooves, a circumferential snap ring receiving groove in said outer surface between said locking end and said seal receiving groove which is adjacent said locking end, a lateral flow passage through said plug portion intermediate said seal receiving grooves and having inlet and outlet ends, a continuous groove in said outer surface intermediate said seal receiving grooves and intermediate said inlet and outlet ends, said continuous groove having generally parallel inner and outer side walls and a bottom wall, said inner side wall having a depth greater than the depth of said outer groove side wall such that said groove bottom wall tapers inwardly away from said plug portion outer surface in a direction from said outer groove side wall toward said inner groove side wall and does not extend perpendicular to either of said groove side walls, a continuous seal received in said continuous groove and encompassing a closed seal area for sealingly surrounding an inlet passageway in a plug valve body, a pressure relief groove in said outer surface extending from said outlet end of said flow passage over a short circumferential arc on the opposite side of said outlet end from said continuous groove, said outer surface being smooth and ungrooved adjacent said inlet and outlet ends of said flow passage except for said pressure relief groove, an integral stem extending outwardly from said stem end, a handle secured to said stem and having a generally flat face extending generally radially outwardly beyond said outer surface of said plug portion, a recess in said flat face for receiving a projection on a valve body, said recess having opposite stop surfaces spaced over an arc for cooperation with a projection on a valve body to limit rotation of said plug member over an angle generally the same as the angle between the center of said closed seal area and the center of said inlet end of said flow passage, and said recess and stop surfaces having a predetermined relationship to said inlet and outlet ends and said continuous seal for insuring proper installation of said plug portion in a plug body.

A plug type valve comprising:

• a valve body having a generally cylindrical plug member receiving opening extending therethrough, fluid inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said opening generally radially thereof, a plug member including a generally cylindrical plug portion rotatably received in said valve body opening and having a lateral flow passage therethrough with inlet and outlet ends, said plug portion having an outer surface, a continuous groove in said outer surface intermediate said inlet and outlet ends, a continuous seal received in said continuous groove and engaging the peripheral surface of said valve body opening, said continuous seal encompassing an area greater than the area of said inlet passageway at said valve body opening, said plug member being rotatable between a closed position in which said continuous seal surrounds said inlet passageway for blocking flow therethrough and an open position in which said inlet and outlet ends of said flow passage are in fluid flow communication with said inlet and outlet passageways, said continuous groove having generally parallel inner and outer groove side walls and a groove bottom wall, said inner side wall having a depth greater than the depth of said outer wall such that said groove bottom wall tapers inwardly away from said plug portion outer surface in a direction from said outer groove side wall toward said inner groove side wall and is not perpendicular to either of said groove side walls.