Patent ID: 11959564
Assignee: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 8:
9. A valve comprising:
a valve body defining an inlet cavity region and an outlet cavity region, the valve body comprising:
a valve body step defining a recessed valve body sealing surface; and
a diaphragm support flange comprising a rounded support surface;

a bonnet coupled to the valve body; and
a seat assembly configured to move between an open orientation and a closed orientation, comprising:
a diaphragm defining a diaphragm end wall at a second diaphragm end comprising a head pad extending from an inner end wall surface and an outer end wall surface and defining a diaphragm step opposite the valve body step defined between the inner end wall surface and the outer end wall surface, an annular diaphragm flange at a first diaphragm end retained between the bonnet and the valve body and supported the diaphragm support flange, and a diaphragm sidewall coupled to the diaphragm end wall and extending from the first diaphragm end to the second diaphragm end, the diaphragm sidewall defining the annular diaphragm step between a diaphragm sealing surface of the outer diaphragm end wall surface and the diaphragm sidewall;
a diaphragm guide defining a guide disc abutting the diaphragm end wall; and
a spring biasing the seat assembly to the closed orientation, a first spring end of the spring secured to the guide disc by engagement of the first spring end with a disc groove of the guide disc;

wherein in the open orientation, fluid is permitted to flow between the inlet cavity region and the outlet cavity region; and
wherein in the closed orientation, the head pad, comprising the outer end wall surface and the diaphragm step, engages the annular support flange of the valve body step, and fluid is prohibited from flowing between the inlet cavity region and the outlet cavity region.