Fire-resistant gate valve
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorsAlfred P. Regitz, Stephen P. Barrett, Charles E. Jennings, Kendall E. Keene, Bashir M. Koleilat, John N. McIntyre, Ronald L. Riess, Michael R. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stem-operated fire-resistant gate valve including an improved metal-to-metal stem backseat fusible ring assemblies for facilitating automatic stem backseating at pre-selected temperatures, spring enhancement of the backseating procedure, and an improved metal-to-metal gate seat.
Claims22
A valve comprising a body with a metallic surface flow passage extending therethrough and a chamber intersected by said flow passage;
- a valve closure element position in said chamber to control flow through said flow passage;
- a bonnet secured to said body and having a bore communicating with said chamber;
- a valve stem extending through said bore and connected to said closure member;
- and
- means for providing a fluid-tight seal between said body and said valve closure element, said seal means comprising a one-piece sleeve-like seat having a central longitudinal axis, said seat positioned in said flow passage and extending into contact with said valve closure element, said seat having as a portion thereof an annular metallic ridge-like sealing surface of round cross-sectional configuration, said cross-section taken with respect to said central longitudinal axis, said metallic sealing surface pressing against the surface of said flow passage to form a fluid-tight metal-to-metal seal therewith.
A valve comprising a body with a flow passage extending therethrough and a chamber intersected by said flow passage;
- a valve closure element positioned in said chamber to control flow through said flow passage;
- a bonnet secured to said body and having a bore communicating with said chamber;
- a valve stem extending through said bore and connected to said closure element;
- means for backseating said stem on said bonnet in response to axial movement of said stem with respect to said bonnet;
- fusible means for said stem in unbackseated condition, said fusible means comprising a ring of fusible material and a support sleeve surrounded by and supportive of said ring, said support sleeve including an outwardly extending radial flange upon which said ring is supported, said support sleeve surrounding and secured to said stem for unitary axial movement therewith;
- first bearing means surrounding said stem above said fusible ring, said bearing means cooperating with said ring and said bonnet to prevent axial movement of said stem;
- and
- a retaining ring surrounding said stem, said retaining ring including an annular radial flange between said first bearing means and said fusible ring, whereby said fusible ring cooperates with said bonnet to prevent said unitary axial movement until melting of said fusible ring has occurred.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.