AU2009100248A4

AU2009100248A4 - Valve

Info

Publication number: AU2009100248A4
Application number: AU2009100248A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter John Morris
Original assignee: Australian Valve Group Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Australian Valve Group Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-03-18
Filing date: 2009-03-18
Publication date: 2009-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-18
Also published as: AU2009100248B4

Description

P/00/009 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant: Australian Valve Group Pty Ltd Invention Title: Valve The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing known to us: 1 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" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "include" 10 or variations such as "includes" or "including", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Background Art The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an 15 understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. One type of prior art valve has a body that accommodates a valve member and a valve seat arrangement. This valve is a three-piece construction unit. The body 20 that accommodates the valve member and valve seat arrangement is made in two separate parts. Making this body in two parts enables the valve member and valve seat arrangement to be installed in the valve. These two body parts are then connected together. One of the parts of this body has an end having a screw thread to receive a nut. 25 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. The other one of these two parts of the body has an end with a tubular member attached to it. A loose nut is provided on the tubular member, i.e. the nut is 2 loosely provided on the tubular member. The tubular member is generally relatively short, it being of a length sufficient to loosely support the nut. 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 single piece unit. The 5 loose nut is placed on the tubular member and the tubular member is then connected to that other body part. The tubular member, provided with the loose nut, forms a third separate part of the valve. The tubular member and loose nut act as a connector so that another fitting or component, such as a pipe, may be connected to the valve. This is 10 achieved by using an internal screw thread on the loose nut to secure that other fitting or component in abutment with the end of the tubular member by a screw threaded engagement with that other fitting or component. The connection between the two parts of the body, that accommodates the valve member and the valve seat arrangement, is by a screw-threaded connection. 15 Similarly, the connection between the tubular member and one of the parts of the body is by a screw-threaded connection. The above-described prior art arrangement requires three separate pieces to be made and connected together via screw threaded connections, namely, two separate parts for the body, that accommodates the valve member and valve seat 20 arrangement, and a third part being the tubular member that supports the loose nut. This requires screw threads at each end of each one 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, in addition, the flange at the end of the tubular member. It also requires connection together of 25 three components, being the two parts of the body and the tubular member. It would be advantageous if a valve of the general 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 30 comprising a body having a first end, a second end and a substantially tubular member, 3 a passage through said body between said first end and said second end for flow of fluid, a valve member and valve seat means accommodated by said body, said valve member operable to open and close said valve to control flow of fluid through said 5 valve, a nut supported by said substantially tubular member, and retention means to retain said nut with said substantially tubular member, wherein said substantially tubular member is integral with at least one portion of said body and said retention means is integral with said substantially tubular 10 member. Preferably, said one portion of said body is connected to another portion of said body. Preferably, said substantially tubular member is provided with said first end and said retention means is provided on said substantially tubular member between 15 said first end and a location spaced from said first end. Preferably, said retention means is located adjacent said first end. Preferably, said retention means comprises a shoulder located on the circumference of said substantially tubular member. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a 20 method of making a valve comprising providing a body having a substantially tubular member that is integral with at least one portion of said body, said body having a first end, a second end and a passage through said body between said first end and said second end for flow of fluid, 25 accommodating a valve member and valve seat means in said body such that said valve member is operable to open and close said valve to control flow of fluid through said valve, positioning a nut on said substantially tubular member, and 4 expanding a portion of said substantially tubular member to increase the external diameter of said substantially tubular member at at least one location to form retention means such that at least a portion of said nut is able to abut with said retention means to prevent said nut being removed from said substantially tubular 5 member. Preferably, said method further comprise connecting said one portion of said body to another portion of said body. Preferably, expanding a portion of said substantially tubular member comprises expanding a portion of said substantially tubular member at a location adjacent 10 said first end. 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 perspective view of an embodiment of a valve in accordance with the 15 present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the valve shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross section side elevation view of the first and second body portions of the valve shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4a is second side elevation view of the valve shown in Figures 1 and 2, 20 with the nut in a first position on the tubular member; Figure 4b is a detail of the position of the nut on the tubular member, shown in Figure 4a; Figure 5a is a third side elevation view of the valve shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the nut in a second position on the tubular member: 25 Figure 5b is a detail of the position of the nut on the tubular member, shown in Figure 5a; Figure 6 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; and 5 Figure 7 is a side view of an embodiment of a swaging tool that may be used in the manufacture of the valve shown in Figures 1 and 2. Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a valve 1 comprising a body 2 having a first 5 end 4 and a second end 6. A bore 7 is provided through the body 2, between the first and second ends 4 and 6, as is further described later herein. The body 2 comprises two body portions 8 and 10, i.e. the body 2 is of two-piece construction. The body portions 8 and 10 are connected together. The body portions 8 and 10 are shown in their disconnected condition in Figure 2. The body 10 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 provided with the male thread 18 to form the screw threaded engagement 14. Alternatively, the first body portion 8 may be provided with the male thread 18 and the second body portion 10 may be 15 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. The body 2 has a substantially tubular member 20. The tubular member 20 is integral with the first body portion 8 of the body 2, i.e. 20 the tubular member 20 and the remainder of the first body portion 8 are of single piece construction. (The remainder of the first body portion 8 forms a housing 36 as will be further described later herein.) 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 member 20. 25 A nut 22, sometimes referred to as a "loose nut" in the art, is supported by the tubular member 20. The nut 22 has a bore 23 therethrough. The nut 22 has a flange 24 at its end that is furtherest from the first end 4 of the first body portion 8. The flange 24 defines an opening 25. A retention member is provided to retain the nut 22 with the tubular member 20. 30 The retention member is formed integral with the tubular member 20, i.e. the 6 retention member and the tubular member 20 are a single-piece construction. The retention member is provided on the tubular member between the first end 4 and the remainder of the first body portion 8. In the present embodiment it is preferable that the retention member is provided 5 near, or adjacent to, the first end 4. The retention member may be provided as a shoulder 26. The shoulder 26 may be flange-like and located adjacent the end 4. The shoulder 26 tapers in the direction away from the first end 4 toward the remainder of the body portion 8. The flange 24 is turned inwardly toward the tubular member 20. The diameter (Df) 10 of the opening 25 at the flange 24 is greater than the external diameter of the tubular member 20, except at the shoulder 26. The bore 23 of the nut 22 has a diameter (Db) greater than the external diameter of the tubular member 20, such that the nut 22 may be supported on the tubular member 20. The diameter (Db) of the bore 23 of the nut 22 is greater than the diameter of the 15 shoulder 26. However, the diameter (Df) of the opening 25 at the flange 24 is less than the diameter of the shoulder 26. The flange 24 of the nut 22 abuts against the shoulder 26 when the nut 22 is moved along the tubular member 20 toward the first end 4. Once the flange 24 abuts with the shoulder 26, the nut 22 can move no further in the direction toward the first end 4. 20 At least the part of the remainder of the first body portion 8 that is adjacent the tubular member 20 has a diameter greater than the diameter (Df) of the opening 25 at the flange 24. The external diameter of the tubular member 20 is greatest at the shoulder 26. Thus, the nut 22 cannot be moved in the opposite direction beyond shoulder 30, i.e. where the tubular member 20 extends from the 25 remainder of the first body portion 8. Accordingly, the nut 22 is loosely supported on the tubular member 20 between the shoulder 26 and the shoulder 30 of the remainder of the first body portion 8 of the body 2. The tubular member 20 is substantially tubular such that the nut 22 has sufficient clearance to be loosely supported by the tubular member 20. The tubular member 30 20 may be relatively short, however, it is of sufficient length such that the nut 22 can be moved away from the first end 4 such that another fitting or component 7 can be abutted with the tubular member 20 at the first end 4. The nut 22 can then be moved toward the first end 4 to connect that other fitting or component with the valve as is further described later herein. The first body portion 8 is provided with a housing 36 to accommodate a valve 5 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 10 24 of the nut 22. Accordingly, the nut 22 is retained on the tubular member 20 such that it is movable between the shoulder 26 and the shoulder 30 of the housing 36. As an alternative to the shoulder 30, the tubular member 20 may be provided with a projection above its surface spaced from the end 4 such that the nut 22 can 15 move along the tubular member 20 between the shoulder 26 and the projection. The projection forms the retention member in such an alternative. The ball 38 seals with valve seats 40 and 42 in conventional manner. The valve 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 20 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 the other end of the stem 50 by way of a screw 54. O-ring seals 56 and 58 are provided along the stem 50 to seal with the inner surface of a portion 60 of the 25 first body portion 8 of the body 2. The arrangement of these components may be conventional, such as in a conventional ball valve, so 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, 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 1 may be 30 opened or closed by turning the handle 52 from its first position to its second position, respectively, to control flow of fluid through the valve 1. 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 so that a passage is formed for fluid flow through the bore 7 8 from the first end 4 to the second end 6. The closed condition of the valve 1 is when the bore 7 and 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 or other suitable fitting or component. A seal 70 is located at the first end 5 4 of the tubular member 20 of the first body portion 8. 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 achieved by abutting that other fitting or component with the seal 70 and then using the internal screw thread 62 of the nut 22 to secure that other fitting or 10 component in the abutted position by a screw threaded engagement with that other fitting or component. 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. A method of making a valve as hereinbefore described will now be described. 15 In fabrication of the valve 1, the first and second body portions 8 and 10 may be made separately. The nut 22 is placed over the first end 4, on the first body portion 8, and onto the tubular member 20, such that the tubular member 20 extends through the bore 23 of the nut 22, with the flange 24 furtherest from the first end 4, i.e. the flange 24 is 20 nearest the shoulder 30. A swaging tool 80 is inserted through the opening of the bore 7 at the first end 4 and into the bore 7 that extends through the body portion 8. The swaging tool 80 is tapered such that its diameter increases from one end to the other. The narrowmost end of the swaging tool is inserted first into the bore 7. Once the 25 swaging tool 80 is inserted far enough into the bore 7, the swaging tool 80 contacts the internal wall of the bore 7 adjacent the end 4. As the swaging tool 80 is inserted further into the bore 7 its increasing diameter causes the tubular member 20 to expand its external diameter, i.e. its external circumference, at the location adjacent the end 4. This results in the external diameter, i.e. the external 30 circumference, of the shoulder 26 being increased. This is illustrated, by way of example, in Figure 3 where the diameter is exemplified as increasing to 18.5 millimetres after swaging, from an initial diameter of 16.6 millimetres. Thus, the 9 insertion of the swaging tool 80 increased the diameter at the shoulder 26 by approximately 1.9 millimetres. Once the diameter of the shoulder 26 has been increased to the desired amount, the swaging tool 80 is removed from the bore 7. 5 The exterior diameter of the shoulder 26 is increased until it is greater than the diameter (Df) of the opening 25 at the flange 24 of the nut 22. This means that the nut 22 is then retained with the tubular member 20 because the nut 22 cannot pass over the shoulder 26 due to the increased external diameter (and correspondingly, circumference) of the shoulder 26. This is because the flange 24 10 abuts with the shoulder 26. This is illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b and Figures 5a and 5b. Figures 4a and 4b show the nut 22 positioned wholly on the tubular member 20. The nut 22 is able to slide toward the first end 4. However, when the flange 24 of the nut 22 abuts the shoulder 26 it cannot pass over the shoulder 26. This is illustrated in figures 5a and 5b. 15 The valve seat 40, ball 38, stem 50, O-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 handle 52 is attached to the stem 50 by the screw 54. The first body portion 8 and the second body portion 10 are then screw threadedly connected together, via the screw threaded engagement 14, in 20 conventional manner. The end nut 66 may be screw threadedly engaged on the second end 6 on the second body portion 10 via the respective screw threads 68 and 64. A seal 70 is placed at the first end 4 of the first body portion 8. The valve 1 of the present invention, as hereinbefore described, provides that the 25 tubular member 20 is integral with the remainder of the first body portion 8. Thus, no connection between the tubular member 20 and 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 also not required. In contrast, in prior art valves, the tubular member was screw threadedly connected to the first 30 body portion of the valve, with the nut on the tubular member being retained in place by a flange integral with the tubular member. In an alternative embodiment, the second body portion 10 (instead of the first 10 body portion 8) may be provided with the housing 36. In such an embodiment, the ball 38, valve seat 42, stem 50. O-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 tubular member is still formed integral with the first body 5 portion 8. The first body portion 8, in such an embodiment, terminates substantially at the shoulder 30. The second body portion 10 and the housing 36 are of single-piece construction. The first body portion 8 and the second body portion 10 are connected together by a screw threaded engagement, similar to screw threaded engagement 14. In other respects, the valve of such an 10 alternative embodiment is similar to the valve 1 hereinbefore described. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 11

Claims

1. A valve comprising a body having a first end, a second end and a substantially tubular member, a passage through said body between said first end and said second end for 5 flow of fluid, a valve member and valve seat means accommodated by said body, said valve member operable to open and close said valve to, in use, control flow of fluid through the valve 1, a nut supported on said substantially tubular member, 10 retention means to retain said nut with said substantially tubular member, wherein said substantially tubular member is integral with at least one portion of said body and said retention means is integral with said substantially tubular member.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein said one portion of said body is 15 connected to another portion of said body.

3. A valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said substantially tubular member is provided with said first end and said retention means is provided on said substantially tubular member between said first end and a location spaced from said first end. 20

4. A valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said retention means is located adjacent said first end.

5. A valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said retention means comprises a shoulder located on the circumference of said substantially tubular member. 25

6. A method of making a valve comprising providing a body having a substantially tubular member that is integral with at least one portion of said body, said body having a first end, a second end and 12 a passage through said body between said first end and said second end for flow of fluid, locating a valve member and valve seat means in said body, said valve member operable to open and close said valve to, in use, control flow of fluid 5 through the valve, positioning a nut on said substantially tubular member, and expanding a portion of said substantially tubular member to increase the external diameter of said tubular member at at least one location to form retention means such that at least a portion of said nut is able to abut with 10 said retention means to prevent said nut being removed from said substantially tubular member.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising connecting said one portion of said body to a another portion of said body.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein expanding a portion of said 15 substantially tubular member comprises expanding a portion of said substantially tubular member at a location adjacent said first end.

9. A valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of making a valve substantially as hereinbefore described with 20 reference to the accompanying drawings. 13