Patent ID: 9285039
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: F16K

Claim Text:
1. A fluid flow control device, comprising: a valve body defining an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a bonnet opening, and a fluid flow path extending between the inlet portion and the outlet portion; a bonnet disposed in the bonnet opening and secured to the valve body; a control assembly at least partly supported by the bonnet, the control assembly including a ball element disposed within the valve body and rotatable between an open position and a closed position; an internal recess defined by the valve body at a location completely downstream from the inlet portion and adjacent the bonnet opening; a seal assembly disposed within the internal recess of the valve body and comprising a sleeve seal, a retaining device, a biasing element, and a sealing element, the sleeve seal axially movable along a direction of the flow path and adapted to be sealingly engaged by the ball element when the ball element occupies the closed position, the sleeve seal including a sealing leg portion in sliding contact with the retaining device and a biased leg portion in sliding contact with the valve body, the retaining device attached to the valve body adjacent to the internal recess and between at least a portion of the sleeve seal and the ball element to limit displacement of the sleeve seal in the valve body toward the ball element, the biasing element having a first end seated against a portion of the valve body and a second end seated against the biased leg portion of the sleeve seal, the biasing element configured to bias the biased leg portion toward the ball element, and the sealing element arranged to provide a fluid tight seal between the sleeve seal and at least one of the retaining device and the valve body to prevent leakage when the ball element is in the closed position.