In-line fluid flow control valve with apparatus for and method of installation in an existing fluid conduit

A double-acting fluid flow control valve for installation in a fluid conduit, comprising

• a valve body having an elongate hollow tubular sleeve open at both ends to be interconnected to the fluid conduit in coaxial alignment therewith at the location determined for installation of the fluid flow control valve, an aperture penetrating said sleeve intermediate its two ends, and an open ended elongate hollow tubular neck, having first and second ends, with the cross-sectional configuration and internal dimensions of said neck matching the configuration and dimensions of said aperture, said neck being interconnected at its first end to said sleeve in coaxial alignment with said aperture and extending outwardly from said sleeve;
• a double-acting valve member to be received in the interior of said body with the longitudinal axis of said valve member in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis of said neck of said body, having a spade portion for selectively controlling the flow of fluid along the longitudinal axis of the fluid conduit and a disk portion for preventing flow of fluid around said valve member in said neck of said valve body, with said spade portion having first and second ends and including two opposed separated faces each having first and second ends with the first ends defining a curve matching the curvature of the inside surface of the fluid conduit through which fluid flow is to be controlled, a continuous sealing edge extending between said faces along their edges and said first end to form a fluid-tight seal against said inside surface of said conduit and against a portion of said neck and define a hollow in the interior of said spade portion, and with said disk portion being a substantially planar disk with a continuous edge matching the cross-sectional configuration of said neck and dimensioned such that said disk will be received in said neck in closely mating fluid-tight sliding relationship therewith when said valve member is inserted into said neck, said disk being interconnected to said second end of said spade portion with the plane of said disk perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said spade portion, and said disk being penetrated by an aperture interconnecting with said hollow of said spade portion, said valve member further including a threaded valve nut;
• and
• a valve actuating assembly including an annular valve flange adapted to be removeably interconnected in fluid-tight relation to the second end of said neck of said body, an elongate valve operating stem with first and second ends, threaded over a majority of its length to be operatively interconnected to said valve member by threading said first end of said valve operating stem through said threaded valve nut of said valve member, disposed and loosely retained in said aperture of said disk such that said valve nut is prevented from rotational and longitudinal movement relative to the longitudinal axis of said valve member so as to prevent binding of said valve nut and said valve operating stem during longitudinal movement of said valve member, with said valve operating stem extending through the central opening of said annular valve flange with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the plane of said valve flange, a seal plate having a central aperture, said seal plate interconnected to said valve flange in fluid-tight relation with said valve operating stem extending through said central aperture, and said seal plate having sealing means to form a fluid-tight seal between said seal plate and said valve operating stem while allowing rotational movement of said valve operating stem relative to said seal plate and further having retaining means to retain said valve operating stem so as to allow rotational movement of said valve stem relative to said seal plate while preventing longitudinal movement of said valve stem relative to said seal plate, and valve member alignment means interconnected to the face of said valve flange nearest said second end of said valve operating stem for the purpose of preventing rotational movement of said valve member relative to said valve flange while allowing longitudinal movement of said valve member along said valve operating stem and maintaining alignment of said valve member relative to said valve body as said valve operating stem is rotated with said first end of said valve operating stem threaded through said valve nut.