Plug valve with removable lip insert means
AssigneeXomox Corporation
InventorJohn A. George
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plug valve and method of making same are provided wherein such valve has lip inserts removably installed between an outer housing of the valve and diametrically opposed ports in a plastic sleeve which serves as a liner for the inside surface of the outer housing. The ports are aligned in a flow passage through the valve and a rotatable plug member is rotatably supported within the sleeve. The lip inserts serve the multiple purpose of protecting edge surfaces defining the ports of the sleeve against impingement of fluid flowing through the flow passage, holding the sleeve against rotation, preventing cold flow or extrusion of parts of the plastic sleeve in the flow passage and providing smooth uninterrupted flow of fluid through the valve flow passage.
Claims24
In a plug valve for controlling fluid flow therethrough, said valve having, an outer housing, a flow passage extending through said housing and including an inlet and an outlet interconnected by a bore disposed therebetween, said bore having a central axis disposed substantially perpendicular to said flow passage, a plastic sleeve disposed within said housing and lining said bore, said sleeve having a pair of aligned ports therein at diametrically opposed locations each defined by annular edge surface means, said ports being aligned with said inlet and outlet to enable fluid flow through said passage, a rotatable plug disposed within said sleeve, said plug having an opening therethrough which is adapted to be aligned in and out of registry with said inlet and outlet in accordance with rotation of said plug relative to said sleeve and housing, and means holding said sleeve against rotation relative to said housing, the improvement wherein said holding means comprises, removable lip insert means of roughly annular outline disposed against one of said edge surface means and against said housing, said lip insert means serving the multiple purpose of protecting said one edge surface means against impingement by fluid flowing through said flow passage, holding said sleeve against said rotation, preventing cold flow or extrusion of parts of said plastic sleeve in said flow passage, and providing smooth uninterrupted flow of said fluid through said flow passage.
In a method of making a plug valve for controlling fluid flow therethrough, said method comprising the steps of, providing an outer housing, forming a flow passage extending through said housing and including an inlet and an outlet interconnected by a bore disposed therebetween, said bore having a central axis disposed substantially perpendicular to said flow passage, providing a plastic sleeve within said housing and lining said bore, said sleeve having a pair of aligned ports therein at diametrically opposed locations each defined by annular edge surface means, aligning said ports with said inlet and outlet in said housing to enable fluid flow through said passage, disposing a rotatable plug within said sleeve, said plug having an opening therethrough which is adapted to be aligned in and out of registry with said inlet and outlet in accordance with rotation of said plug relative to said sleeve and housing, and providing holding means for holding said sleeve against rotation relative to said housing, the improvement in said method wherein said step of providing holding means comprises providing removable lip insert means of roughly annular outline and disposing said lip insert means against one of said edge surface means and against said housing, said lip insert means serving the multiple purpose of protecting said one edge surface means against impingement by fluid flowing through said flow passage, holding said sleeve against said rotation, preventing cold flow or extrusion of parts of said plastic sleeve in said flow passage, and providing smooth uninterrupted flow of said fluid through said flow passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.