AU2008100338B4 - Valve - Google Patents

Abstract

-17 Abstract A valve (1) comprising a body (2) having a first end (4), a second end (6) and a tubular member (20). The tubular member is provided with the first end. The valve also comprises a passage (7) through said body (2) between the 5 first end and the second end for flow of fluid. A valve member (38) and valve seat means (40, 42) are provided in the body, whereby the valve member is operable to open and close said valve. The valve also comprises a nut (22), supported on the tubular member; and retention means to retain the nut with the tubular member. The tubular member is integral with at least a portion of 10 the body.

Description

AUSTRALIA ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Valve Name of Applicant: Australian Valve Group Pty Ltd Actual Inventor: Peter John Morris Address for service: WRAYS Ground Floor, 56 Ord Street West Perth WA 6005 Attorney code: WR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2 Title "Valve" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a valve. 5 Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises", "comprised" and "comprising", are to be understood to imply the presence of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word 10 "include" and variations such as "includes", "including" and "included" are to be understood to imply the presence of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Background Art The discussion of the background art, any reference to a document and any 15 reference to information that is known, which is contained in this specification, is provided only for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the background art to the present invention, and is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of that material forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other country as at the priority date of the application in relation to which this 20 specification has been filed. One type of prior art valve has a body containing a valve member and a valve seat arrangement. The body is made in two parts. Making the body in two parts enables the valve member and valve seat arrangement to be installed. The two body parts are then connected together.

-3 One of the parts of the body has an end having a screw thread to receive a nut. This enables a pipe with a flared end to be connected to the valve by abutting the flared end of the pipe with that part of the body and tightening the nut onto the screw thread at the end of that part of the body. 5 The other part of the body has an end with a tubular member attached to it. A loose nut is provided on the tubular member. The tubular member has a flange at its other end. The flange is made integral with the tubular member, i.e. the flange and tubular member are a one-piece unit. The loose nut is placed on the tubular member and the tubular member is then connected to that other body part. 10 The connections between the two parts of the body and the tubular member and one of the parts of the body are by screw threaded connections. The above-described prior art arrangement requires three separate pieces to be made and connected together via screw threaded connections, namely, two parts for the body and the tubular member. This requires screw threads at each end of 15 each of the two parts of the body and also a screw thread at one end of the tubular member. Consequently, this results in the need to machine seven screw threads and also the flange at the end of the tubular member. It also requires connection of three components, being the two parts of the body and the tubular member. 20 If would be advantageous if a valve of the type hereinbefore described was of simpler construction. Disclosure of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a valve comprising: 25 a body having a first end, a second end and a tubular member, said tubular member being provided with said first end; -.4 a passage through said body between said first end and said second end for flow of fluid; a valve member and valve seat means provided in said body, said valve member operable to open and close said valve; 5 the body comprising two body portions, the two body portions being connected together; a nut support on said tubular member; and retention means to retain said nut with said tubular member, said tubular member provided with said retention means; 10 wherein said retention means is of separate piece construction from said body and said tubular member is integral with one said body portion. Preferably, said retention means is removably retained on said tubular member. Preferably, said nut is moveable along said tubular member between said retention means and part of the remainder of said at least one body portion that is 15 spaced from said retention means. Preferably, said tubular member is provided with said first end, and said retention means is provided on said tubular member near said first end. Preferably, said retention means comprises a ring, and said ring is located in a groove in said tubular member. 20 Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a valve in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial cross section side elevation view of the valve shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial cross section side elevation view of the first and second body portions of the valve shown in Figures 1 and 2; 5 Figure 4 is a cross section side elevation view of the nut that is supported on the tubular member of the valve shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is an exploded cross section side elevation view of a valve similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 6 is a cross section side elevation view of the valve shown in Figure 5. 10 Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention In Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, there is shown a valve 1 comprising a body 2 having a first end 4 and a second end 6. A passage in the form of a bore 7 is provided through the body 2, between the first and second ends 4 and 6, as is later further described herein. 15 The body 2 comprises two body portions 8 and 10. The body portions 8 and 10 are connected together. The body portions 8 and 10 are shown in their disconnected condition in Figure 3. The body portions 8 and 10 are connected together by a screw threaded engagement 14. The first body portion 8 may be provided with the female thread 16 and the second body portion 10 may be 20 provided with the male thread 18. Alternatively, the first body portion 8 may be provided with the male thread 18 and the second body portion 10 may be provided with the female thread 16. The first end 4 of the body 2 is provided on the first body portion 8 and the second end 6 of the body 2 is provided on the second body portion 10. 25 The body 2 has a tubular member 20.

-6 The tubular member 20 is integral with the first body portion 8 of the body 2, i.e. the tubular member 20 and the remainder of the first body portion 8 are of single piece construction. The tubular member 20 extends from the remainder of the first body portion 8. The first end 4 of the body 2 is provided on the tubular 5 member 20. A nut 22 is supported on the tubular member 20. The nut 22 provides a first securing means to secure the first end of the valve 1 to a fitting. The nut 22 has a bore 23. The bore 23 of the nut 22 has a diameter (Db) greater than the external diameter of the tubular member 20. The nut 22 has a flange 24 at its end that is 10 furtherest from the first end 4 of the first body portion 8. The flange 24 defines an opening 25. The flange 24 is turned inwardly toward the tubular member 20. The diameter (Df) of the opening 25 at the flange 24 is greater than the external diameter of the tubular member 20. A retention member is provided to retain the nut 22 with the tubular member 20. 15 The retention member is of separate piece construction from the body 2. Thus, the retention member is of separate piece construction from the tubular member 20 and the remainder of the first body portion 8. The retention member may be removable. For example, the retention member may be provided on the tubular member 20 and is removable from the tubular 20 member 20. Alternatively, the retention member may be non-removable. For example, the retention member may be provided on the tubular member 20 and is non removable from the tubular member 20. The retention member is provided on the tubular member between the first end 4 25 and the remainder of the first body portion 8. The retention member is provided near the first end 4.

-7 The retention member may be provided as a clip 26. The clip 26 may be located in a circumferential groove 28 on the tubular member 20. The circumferential groove 28 is provided near the first end 4. Figure 1 shows the valve 1 without the clip 26 located on the tubular member 20. 5 The clip 26 may be provided as an incomplete ring, i.e. a ring with a small gap between its ends, that locates in the circumferential groove 28. The incomplete ring may, for example, be made of metal. The diameter (Db) of the bore 23 of the nut 22 is greater than the diameter of the clip 26 located in the circumferential groove 28. However, the diameter (Df) of the 10 opening 25 at the flange 24 is less than the diameter of the clip 26 located in the circumferential groove 28. The flange 24 of the nut 22 abuts against the clip 26 when the nut 22 is moved along with the tubular member 20 toward the first end 4. Once the flange 24 abuts with the clip 26, the nut 22 can move no further in the direction of the first end 4. (This position of the nut 22 is shown in Figures 2 15 and 6.) At least the part of the remainder of the first body portion 8 that is adjacent the tubular member 20 has a diameter greater that the diameter (Df) of the opening 25 at the flange 24. Thus, the nut 22 cannot be moved in the opposite direction beyond a shoulder 30, i.e. where the tubular member 20 extends from the remainder of the first body portion 8. (This position of the nut 22 is shown in 20 Figure 5.) The shoulder 30 is spaced from the clip 26, as can be seen in Figure 2. Accordingly, the nut 22 is loosely supported on the tubular member 20 between the clip 26 and the shoulder 30 of the remainder of the first body portion 8 of the body 2. The first body portion 8 is provided with a housing 36 to accommodate a valve 25 member in the form of a ball 38. The housing 36 forms the remainder of the first body portion 8. The tubular member 20 extends from the housing 36, with which the tubular member 20 is integral. The housing 36, at the shoulder 30, has a diameter greater than the diameter of the tubular member 20 and greater than the diameter (Db) of the bore 23 and the diameter (Df) of the opening 25 at the flange 30 24 of the nut 22. Accordingly, the nut 22 is retained on the tubular member 20 between the clip 26 and the shoulder 30 of the housing 36.

As an alternative, the tubular member 20 may be provided with a projection above its surface spaced from the groove 28 such that the nut 22 can move along the tubular member 20 between the clip 26 and the projection. The ball 38 seals with valve seats 40 and 42 in conventional manner. The valve 5 seats 40 and 42 are positioned in respective recesses 44 and 46 in the first body portion 8 and second body portion 10, respectively. The valve seats 40 and 42 may be circular in form. The ball 38 is provided with a bore 48 therethrough for passage of fluid when the valve 1 is in its open condition, in conventional manner. A stem 50 extends from the ball 38 at one end thereof. A handle 52 is attached to 10 the other end of the stem 50 by way of a screw 54. O-ring seals 56 and 58 are provided along with stem 50 to seal with the inner surface of a portion 60 of the first body portion 8 of the body 2. The arrangement of these components may be conventional, such that turning the handle 52 between first and second positions causes the ball 38 to rotate in the housing 36 to either align or not align, 15 respectively, the bore 48 of the ball 38 with the bore 7 that extends through the body 2 for fluid flow. In this way, the valve I may be opened or closed by turning the handle 52 from its first position to its second position, respectively. The open condition of the valve 1 is when the bore 7 of the body 2 and the bore 48 of the ball 38 are aligned. The closed condition of the valve 1 is when the bore 7 and 20 the bore 48 of the ball 38 are not aligned. The nut 22 is provided with an internal screw thread 62 for connection to a pipe coupling. In use, the tubular member 20 and nut 22 act as a connector so that another fitting or component, such as a pipe, may be connected to the valve 1. This is 25 achieved by abutting that other fitting or component with the seal 70 (with the nut 22 positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 5) and then moving the nut 22 along the tubular member 20 toward the first end 4 and using the internal screw thread 62 of the nut 22 to secure that other fitting or component in the abutted position by a screw threaded engagement with that other fitting or component. In this 30 connected position, the nut 22 has been moved to its position shown in Figure 2 and 6. A screw thread 64 is provided adjacent the second end 6 of the body 2.

The screw thread 64 may connect with a nut 66 via a screw thread 68 on the nut 66. The nut 66 provides a second securing means to secure the valve 1, adjacent the second end 6, to another fitting, such as, for example, a pipe coupling or other suitable fitting or component. In this way, the valve 1 may be 5 connected into a pipe installation or network. As shown in Figure 5, the second securing means also comprises a sleeve, or olive, 66a. As previously described herein, the body portions 8 and 10 are shown in their disconnected condition in Figure 3. The body portions 8 and 10 may be disconnected, if required, e.g. for inspection or repair of internal components. The 10 body portions 8 and 10 may be reconnected by engaging their respective threads 16 and 18 and re-tightening the screw threaded engagement 14. A thread locking/sealing compound (for example, such as that sold under the trade mark LOCTITE@) may be applied to the threads 16 and 18 prior to engaging them and re-tightening the screw threaded engagement 14. 15 In fabrication of the valve 1, the first and second body portions 8 and 10 may be made separately. The valve seat 40, ball 38, stem 50, 0-ring seals 56 and 58 are installed in the housing 36 of the first body portion 8 and the valve seat 42 is installed in the second body portion 10. The hand 52 is attached to the stem 50 by the screw 54. The first body portion 8 and the second body portion 10 are 20 then screw threadedly connected together, via the screw threaded engagement 14, in conventional manner. The end nut 66 may be screw threadedly engaged on the second end 6 on the second body portion 10. The nut 22 is placed over the first end 4, on the first body portion 8, and onto the tubular member 20, with the flange 24 furtherest from the first end 4, i.e. the 25 flange 24 is nearest the shoulder 30. The clip 26 is then slid over the first end 4 of the first body portion 8 until it locates in the groove 28. If the clip 26 is provided as an incomplete ring, its ends will move apart slightly as it slides over the first end 4 and the ends will then move back toward each other as the clip 26 locates in the circumferential groove 28 on the tubular member 20. When the clip 26 is 30 located in the circumferential groove 28, it is raised above the adjacent surfaces of the tubular member 20. The diameter of the clip 26 is greater than the diameter (Df) of the opening 25 at the flange 24. The nut 22 is thereby retained -10 on the tubular member 20 and is able to slide along the tubular member 20 between the clip 26 and the shoulder 30 of the housing 36. A seal 70 is placed at the first end 4 of the first body portion 8 to rest on the shoulder recess 72 located thereat. 5 In an alternative embodiment, shown in Figures 5 and 6, the second body portion 10 (instead of the first body portion 8) may be provided with the housing 36. In such an embodiment, the ball 38, valve seat 42, stem 50, 0-ring seals 56 and 58 are accommodated in the second body portion 10 and the valve seat 40 is still accommodated in the first body portion 8. The first body portion 8, in such an 10 embodiment, terminates near the shoulder 30, before the portion 60. In other respects, the valve of such an embodiment is similar to the valve 1 hereinbefore described. In one aspect, the valve of the present invention provides that the tubular member 20 may be integral with the remainder of the first body portion 8. Thus, no 15 connection between the tubular member 20 and the remainder of the first body portion 8 is required. Thus, no screw thread is required on the tubular member 20 and a screw thread on the first body portion 8 is not required according to this aspect of the present invention. In contrast, in prior art valves, the tubular member is screw threadedly connected to the first body portion of the valve, with 20 the nut on the tubular member being retained in place by a flange integral with the tubular member, In another aspect, the valve of the present invention provides a retention member for the nut 22, that is of separate piece construction from the body portion 8 and the tubular member 20. Thus, according to this aspect of the present invention, a 25 flange does not have to be machined at the end of the tubular member 20 to retain the nut 22. In contrast, in prior art valves, a flange integral with the tubular member is provided to retain the nut on the tubular member. Whilst preferred embodiments of the present invention have been herein before described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to those specific -11 embodiments, and may be embodied in other ways, as will be apparent to a skilled addressee. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. A valve comprising: a body having a first end, a second end and a tubular member, said tubular member being provided with said first end; 5 a passage through said body between said first end and said second end for flow of fluid; a valve member and valve seat means provided in said body, said valve member operable to open and close said valve the body comprising two body portions, the two body portions being 10 connected together; a nut supported on said tubular member; and retention means to retain said nut with said tubular member, said tubular member provided with said retention means; wherein said retention means is of separate piece construction from said body 15 and said tubular member is integral with one said body portion.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said retention means is removably retained on said tubular member.

3. A valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nut is moveable along said tubular member between said retention means and part of 20 the remainder of said at least one body portion that is spaced from said retention means.

4. A valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tubular member is provided with said first end, and said retention means is provided on said tubular member near said first end. 25

5. A valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said retention means comprises a ring, and said ring is located in a groove in said tubular member.