Rod connector assembly

A valve stem connector assembly, the valve stem connector assembly comprising:

• an actuator rod assembly, the actuator rod assembly having a substantially planar end surface generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the actuator rod, the actuator rod assembly also having an undercut adjacent to the end surface to provide a first mating surface positioned at an acute angle with respect to the end surface;
• a valve stem assembly, the valve stem assembly being comprised of a valve stem and a valve stem adapter, the valve stem adapter having means for attaching to the valve stem, the valve stem adapter further having a substantially planar end surface generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the valve stem, the valve stem adapter also having an undercut adjacent to the end surface to provide a second mating surface;
• a stem union for enclosing the first rod assembly and the second rod assembly, the stem union comprising two generally equal halves providing a first internal cavity having a first diameter, the first internal cavity further including two openings having a second diameter wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter to provide a first rim and a second rim for receiving the first and second mating surfaces;
• and
• attachment means for joining the two halves of the stem union to mechanically couple the actuator assembly to the valve stem assembly wherein the end surface of the actuator assembly and the end surface of the valve stem assembly are placed in substantially planar contact.

A method for reducing the friction between a valve stem assembly and a valve packing set created by the axial misalignment of an actuator rod assembly and the valve stem assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

• fabricating an actuator rod assembly to have a substantially planar end surface generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the actuator rod, the actuator rod assembly also having an undercut adjacent to the end surface to provide a first mating surface positioned at an acute angle with respect to the end surface;
• attaching a valve stem adapter to a valve stem, the valve stem adapter having a substantially planar end surface generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the valve stem, the valve stem adapter also having an undercut adjacent to the end surface to provide a second mating surface;
• fashioning a stem union comprised of two generally equal halves containing a first internal cavity to provide corresponding mating surfaces for the first mating surface of the actuator rod assembly and the second mating surface of the valve stem adapter wherein the first internal cavity is arranged to receive the undercut of the actuator rod assembly and the undercut of the valve stem adapter, the cavity having sufficient dimensions to accommodate substantial axial misalignment of the actuator rod assembly and the valve stem;
• and
• fastening the stem union about the actuator assembly and the valve stem adapter wherein the end surface of the actuator assembly and the end surface of the valve stem adapter are placed in substantially planar contact.

A control valve assembly, comprised of:

• a valve, the valve having a valve body including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet and fluid outlet being connected by a fluid passageway;
• a moveable operator contained within the valve body to control the fluid flow through the fluid passageway, the moveable operator including an operator stem assembly protruding from the valve body;
• actuation means directly attached to the valve body to provide motive force to the moveable operator, the actuation means including an actuator rod assembly;
• and
• a rod connector assembly to axially connect the operator stem assembly to the actuator rod assembly wherein the operator stem assembly includes an adjustable adapter attached the operator stem assembly to accommodate variable operator stem assembly length, the adjustable adapter further having a first mating surface, the actuator rod assembly having a second mating surface including a first internal cavity to accept a portion of the operator stem, and an union with a second internal cavity to correspondingly engage the first and second mating surfaces wherein the first internal cavity of the actuator rod assembly and the second internal cavity of the union provide clearance spacing to accommodate axial misalignment of the operator stem assembly and the actuator rod assembly.