Self aligning nozzle for a flapper valve

In a servo system having a flapper valve with a lever which rotates about a pivot from a shut off position as a function of movement of a bellow member responding to a pressure differential between a first pressure and a second pressure to define a space relationship with a nozzle to control the flow of fluid from a source, the improvement in the nozzle comprising:

• a stem member located in a passageway of a housing, said stem having a cylindrical body with a first end and a second end, said cylindrical body having a blind axial bore extending from said second end and radial holes for connecting said blind axial bore with said source of fluid, said cylindrical body having an annular inwardly projecting rib located adjacent said second end;
• a semi-spherical member retained in said blind axial bore of said stem member by said rib, said semi-spherical member having an axial bore extending perpendicular therethrough from a base, said semi-spherical member having a plurality of radial slots extending in a plane perpendicular to said axial bore along said base;
• and
• resilient means located in said blind axial bore for urging said semi-spherical member into engagement with said rib, said fluid from said source flowing through said blind axial bore and axial bore toward said lever, said bellows moving said lever into engagement with said base of said semi-spherical to terminate flow of fluid through said blind axial bore, said rib allowing said semi-spherical member to rotate such that the radial slots are maintained in a plane parallel with the lever to assure that said lever is seated on said base and the no fluid leakage occurs through said blind axial bore in a shut off position.