NZ204287A - Valve member seal ring compression against seat limited by surrounding collar - Google Patents

Description

2042$7 N.Z. PATENT OFFto". to JUL 1984 pcr;c;\ - NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 19 53 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL; No. 204287 DATED: 18 May, 1983 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO VALVES AND WASHERS THEREFOR WE, HARDWARE MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED of 44 Rosebank Road, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand# a New Zealand company, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 204297 This invention relates to improvements in valves and moreparticularly to improvements in sealing assemblies between a valve head and a seat. > Traditionally, sealing between a valve head and a seat has been effected by means of a washer, such as a flat disk like fibre washer and the like.

More recently, attempts have been made to provide alternative washers so as to overcome some of the disadvantages of the fibre washers. However, these in themselves have experienced difficulties.

In particular, fibre washers wear on abrasion with the seat, swell upon becoming saturated with fluid and cause the valve to be inconsistent in its operation, pitt or disintegrate or cut or otherwise damage owing to contact with detritus material such as metal particles, scale and the like.

The alternative washer asseblies have been generally formed in alternative materials such as nylon injection mouldings, synthetic rubbers and the like, however, whilst these wahsers have been more lasting than the fibre washers, they have often been either difficult to use, such as in needing excessive force to completely shut off or alternatively it has been difficult to establish when a full seal has been created between the seat and the valve there being a tendancy for the operator to damage the washer by overtightening.

Since the development of 0-rings attempts have been made to include them as a seal or washer between •204287 the valve head and the seat. Significant problems have been experienced in so using an O-ring, especially in retaining the O-ring in position or positioning the 0-ring where it will be contactable on an adjacent portion of an annular seat and yet will not be vulnerable to damage through crushing and the like such as upon over tightening.

There have also been difficulties in using constructions of washers hitherto available, especially in providing convenient and therefore efficient manufacture and assembly.

It is an object of this ivention to come some way in overcoming the abovementioned problems or at least provide the public with a useful choice. Other objects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an improved valve washering assembly including a valve head portion operable with an annular seat for controlling fluid flow between said valve and said seat, said valve head including a groove positioned transversely about a distal portion thereof, an annular washer member engagable in said groove ot expose at least a portion of a periphery thereof facing toward portions of said annular seat and contactable therewith when said valve head portion is closed toward said seat, a retaining means positioned about at least a portion of 204287 said groove arid outer peripheral portions of said washer member.

Wherein said retaining means is a collar positioned annularly about said groove.

Wherein an outer edge of said valve head is displaced longitudinally of said head rearwardly of peripheral portions of said head said washer member contactable with said seat.

Wherein a stop is provided on said valve head for contacting adjacent portions of said seat when said head is brought toward said seat.

Wherein said stop is spaced longitudinally from said distal portion such that when said valve head is closed against said seat said outer periperhal portions of said washer member is at least partially compressed against adjacent portions of said seat.

Wherein the washer member is a resilient annular member.

Wherein the washer member is an O-ring Wherein the collar is provided as a separate member from said head and includes at least one inwardly directed projection behind which adjacent portions of said washer member engage with engaged in said groove.

Other aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings 204287 shows a substantially diagrammatic cross-sectional view through a valve head and seat assembly incorporating the washer assembly of this invention is a similar cross-sectional view showing the valve in a closed position showing an alternative configuration of valve head With reference to the drawings, the valve assembly of this invention is preferably provided for use in controlling the flow of mains water supply for example in a domestic enviroment, however, the invention is not limited to this configuration and the invention is able to be utilized in any valving arrangement for fluids.

Generally valving assemblies incorporate a valve head which mounts a washer and which is moveable via an actuator in relation to an annular seat so as to open or close, or control the size of the opening of an aperture in said annular seat.

For clarity and the purposes of this description, the valve head will be identified as "H" and the seat as "S"; the terms raise and lower and specific orientational terms are used to assist in the description of the invention and are to be interpreted for the purposes of this description only in accordance with the orientation of the valve head and seat assembly as is shown in the in which: Figure 1 Figure 2 2042B orientation of the drawings accompanying this specification, the directional terms are in no way limiting to the orientation of the invention and are mer6ly for the purposes of clarity of description in relation to the figures which show the valve seat and head of this invention in a specific orientation.

In this preferred form of the invention, the valve head H is preferably formed as a substantially elongate member of substantially round cross section and is connected with a valve spindle arrangement which effects raising and lowering of the valve head H relative to the seat S.

Preferably, both the seat S and valve head H are formed in a non-ferrous metal for example brass or bronze however in alternative forms of the invention other materials are utilized such as other metals, plastics, suitable ceramics and the like.

In this preferred form of the invention, the washer member is preferably provided as an O-ring 1 formed in a resilient synthetic rubber material or suitable dimensions to fit about an annular groove 2 positioned about a distal end as generally indicated by arrow 3 of the valve head H.

With reference to figure 1, the distal end 3 of the valve head H is preferably provided with a substantially domed extreme end portion 4, domed outwardly toward a mid portion thereof so as to encourage relatively clean flow of fluid past the distal end and the valve seat S 2o(+2%1 to reduce turbulance and therefore flow obstruction in the region of the valve to a minimum.

The groove 2 in this preferred form includes preferably a semi circular groove in cross section as is shown by Figure 1 and flanked by rebates (in this case a stepped rebated) positioned therebehind, the rebate 5 accommodating this form of the invention, a collar member 6 which is preferably provided as a substantially annular ring like member of an outer dimension approximately corresponding with the dimension of adjacent portions of the valve head H and having on its internal face a projection 7 provided as a substantially annular rib extending inwardly thereof, the projection 7 provided to be feed into adjacent interior surfaces 8 of the collar member 6 so that it will be appreciated that in this form of the invention, a somewhat asymmetric recess is provided by a combination of the groove 2 and some of the shaped internal surfaces of the collar member 6.

Preferably the groove 2 is somewhat asymmetric so as to somewhat asymmetric so as to somewhat deform the CD-ring 1 when it is engaged therein to thus distend contact periperhal portions 9 of the O-ring outwardly of the groove 2 to a predetermined extent; this is however in no way essential to the invention and in other forms of the invention a symmetric or near symmetric recess for the O-ring be provided by a combination of the collar member 6 and the groove 2. • • f'AT-v-r ! 3 C JUL 1984 204267 Referring particularly to the collar 6 of figure 1, said collar member 6 is preferably provided in similar material to the valve head H although this is not essential. Preferably, the collar member 6 is provided with the projection 6 extending outwardly of internal surfaces 8 adjacent a transverse midportion thereof so that the collar member 6 may be readily engaged on a production line with the head, it not mattering which way up the collar member 6 is engaged on the head. However, in alternative forms of the invention the collar member 6 may be provided merely of a half width of the arrangement as shown in figure 1; that is, one edge provided as shown and the other edge terminating on a ling adjacent a mid portion of the projection 7 and the rebate 5 be accordingly reduced in size so that the collar member 6 engages snuggly within such rebate.

The overall width of the collar member 6 in this form of the invention is preferably provided of a predetermined length related to the resiliency, size and position of the O-ring in relation to the valve head H and in relation to the seat S.

A distal edge 10 of the collar member 6 is in this form of the invention, preferably displaced longitudinally out of register with the peripheral contact surfaces 9 of the washer member 1 a predetermined distance so that when the valve head H is closed against the seat S as is shown diagrammatically by broken lines of figure 1, the distal edge 10 comes into contact with ■ - . i- n 204287 the seat S and provides a positive stop for the valve head H so that a person knows that the tap is positively turned off.

'It will be appreciated that upon closing of the valve head against the seat S, the resilient washer member 1 is deformed to wrap substantially about the seat S, both on an upper surface 11 thereof and over an internal edge 12 thereof, (which in this form of the invention is preferably substantially rounded to prevent cutting) and a short distance down a bore surface 13 thereof so as to provide a fluid tight seal between said head H and seat S.

It will be seen that owing to the opening generally indicated by arrow 14 of the recess behind which the majority of O-ring is engaged, being orientated substantially outwardly of a longitudinal axis of the head H, there is a tendancy for the washer member to tighten in its contact with the adjacent surfaces of the seat S upon pressure in the direction of flow F as showing being imparted upon the O-ring when it is closed against the seat owing to the impingement between the washer member 1 and the adjacent surfaces of the groove 2 and the recessed surface of the collar 6.

It will be appreciated that there is a venting from inner portions of the recess to a low pressure or down stream side of the annular washer or O-ring so as to prevent a build up of fluid pressure behind said O-ring forcing the O-ring out of the groove 2, the venting 0* 204287 takes place between the adjacent surfaces of the collar 6 and the distal end of the head H.

Now turning to figure 2, this embodiment shows the valve head H and seat S in a closed relationship with the washer 1 deformed about the seat S. The collar 6 of figure 1 is integrally formed with the valve head H and the recess so formed is asymmetric although again, this is not essential to the invention, it will be appreciated that the opening 14 is similarly inclined and the distal edge 10 is similarly provided as a stop for contacting against adjacent portions of the seat S.

Venting of the base of the groove 2 is provided in this form preferably by a venting aperture 15 which extends outwardly of the groove 2, to in the preferred form of the invention terminate on outer side walls of the valve head H preferably adjacent an annular groove 16 although provision of the annular groove 16 is not essential to the invention.

Assembly of the apparatus of figure 1 can be achieved either by positioning the annular washer member 1 about the groove 2 and subsequently rolling of the collar member 6 into a position whereby the projection 7 positions behind the adjacent portions of the washer member or O-ring, alternatively, and preferably, the collar 6 is positioned on the valve head H and thereafter the O-ring is inserted through the opening 14 so formed, for example by using a suitable inserting tool and the like, a deformation of the washer member 1 is sufficient to achieve engagement without damage to the washer member 204287 1.

Insertion of the washer member 1 within the arrangement of figure 2 is of course achieved by insertion of the washer member 1 through the opening 14 on a similar basis to that described with reference to such an assembly of the arrangement of figure 1.

Whilst the seat S of the arrangement disclosed is shown as a substantially raised seat, the invention is not limited to this confiruration, and alternative configurations of seat, such as a flat or recessed seat can be used in association with the apparatus of this invention subject to consequential modificstion to the relationships of the groove 2 and edge 10.

Thus by this invention there is provided an improved washering assembly for valves.

Claims (1)

1. i 12 ■2.0*12.8 J;WHAT WE CLAIM IS:;1. A valve sealing assembly including a valve head portion cooperable with an annular seat for controlling fluid flow between said valve head and said seat, said valve head including an annular groove positioned transversely about a distal portion thereof, an annular resilient washer member engagable in said groove to expose at least a portion of a periphery thereof facing toward portions of said seat and contactable therewith when said valve head portion is closed toward said seat, a retaining collar portion positioned annularly about at least a portion of said groove and outer peripheral portions of said washer member, said collar portion provided with at least one inwardly directed projection which positions between adjacent portions of said washer member and portions of said head portion on a side of said washer member remote from a distal end of said valve head.;2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collar member engages in an outwardly directed recess or rebate provided in said valve head portion on an opposite side of said annular groove to the distal end portion.;3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said collar portion abutts adjacent portions of said valve head portion.;4. Apparatus as claimed in any one the preceding claims wherein an outer edge portion of said collar is extended longitudinally rearwardly relative to the valve head,;V i;#%;2.0^28 7;13;peripheral portions of said washer member contactable with said seat.;5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein a stop portion is provided on said valve seat, when said head is moved toward said seat.;6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stop is spaced longitudinally from said valve head distal portion such that when the valve head is closed against said seat, said outer peripheral portions of said washer member are at least partially compressed against said seat.;7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preced i ng claims wherein venting means is provided for venting a portion of said annular groove to a downstream or low pressure side of said annular washer member.;8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said venting means is provided by means of a gap provided between said collar portion and adjacent portions of said head.;9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the groove is at least partially asymmetric in cross-section to conform the annular washer member when engaged therein to distend a contact peripheral portion outwardly of the groove to a predetermined extent.;10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the distal portion of said valve head is at least partially convex.;11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the washer member is a resilient annular member.;\ i r>;2Q464C;2Q1-287;14;12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the washer member is a resilient O-ring.;13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve seat with which the valve head is engageable is a raised seat.;14. Apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.;15. Apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.;HARDWARE MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED,;By Their Attorneys,;BALDWIN, SON 6 CAREY;•0;1* 5635A 27JUN1986S