Valve assembly for pressurized fluid systems
AssigneeThe Perkin-Elmer Corporation
InventorCharles F. de Mey, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a valve assembly having a housing defining a flow passage with an inlet port and a shoulder surrounding the port. The shoulder is chamfered in an upstream direction. A valve seat formed of a gold material, preferably 24 karet gold, is disposed on the shoulder. The margin of the seat about its central opening is deformed in an upstream direction against the chamfer. A sapphire ball seats against the deformed seat to seal the flow passage through the valve assembly.
Claims5
A ball valve assembly for use in a liquid chromatography system where said liquid of said system contains particulate matter;
- said assembly comprising:
- a housing defining a flow passage including a port and a shoulder downstream of and surrounding said port, said shoulder having a generally chamfered surface extending upstream therefrom, said housing further defining a chamber on the downstream side of said port;
- a ball disposed in said chamber;
- means for continuously self-sealing the interface between said chamfered surface of said shoulder and said ball and for preventing particulate matter remaining on said interface from entering subsequent flow streams, said means including a valve seat member disposed on said shoulder and having a central opening in registry with said inlet port, said valve seat member being formed of a material containing at least 50% pure gold;
- a member, constituting part of said housing, further defining said chamber and having a face engaging said seat on the side thereof opposite said shoulder to retain said seat against said shoulder whereby a seal is formed between said face of said member and said shoulder for preventing communication between said chamber and said port externally about said seat.
A ball valve assembly for use in a liquid chromatography system where said liquid of said system contains particulate matter;
- said assembly comprising:
- a housing defining a flow passage including a port and a shoulder downstream of and surrounding said port, said shoulder having a generally chamfered surface extending upstream therefrom, said housing further defining a chamber on the downstream side of said port;
- a ball disposed in said chamber;
- and
- means for continuously self-sealing the interface between said chamfered surface of said shoulder and said ball and for preventing particulate matter remaining on said interface from entering subsequent flow streams, said means including a valve seat member disposed on said shoulder and having central opening in registry with said inlet port;
- said valve seat being formed of gold alloyed with a material which renders the seat no more than 20% harder than the hardness of a seat formed of 24 karat gold, said alloy containing at least 50% pure gold.
A ball valve assembly for use in a liquid chromatography system where said liquid of said system contains particulate matter;
- said assembly comprising:
- a housing defining a flow passage including a port and a shoulder downstream of and surrounding said port, said shoulder having a generally chamfered surface extending upstream therefrom, said housing further defining a chamber on the downstream side of said port;
- a ball disposed in said chamber;
- and
- means for continuously self-sealing the interface between said chamfered surface of said shoulder and said ball and for preventing particulate matter remaining on said interface from entering subsequent flow streams, said means including a valve seat member disposed on said shoulder and having a central opening in registry with said inlet port;
- said valve seat being formed with gold alloyed with a material which is at least as chemically inert as pure gold, said alloy containing at least 50% pure gold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.