Patent ID: 9541219
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: F16K

Claim:
1. A valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body defining a flow passage and a body cavity perpendicular to the flow passage; a bonnet secured to the valve body; a valve member moveable between an open position and a closed position, the valve member blocking the flow passage in the closed position, and allowing flow through the flow passage in the open position; a valve stem coupled to the valve member; and a debris barrier circumscribing the valve stem, the debris barrier comprising a first disk shaped member with a central opening through which the valve stem is inserted and notches that extend radially from the central opening to define petals with ends that abut the valve stem, the debris barrier being a non-sealing member having a pressure of a fluid within the body cavity of the valve body balanced across the debris barrier; wherein the valve stem has a radially outward facing annular stem sloped surface selectively mated with a radially inward facing annular bore sloped surface to form a metal to metal seal, and wherein the petals of the debris barrier are sized to pass over the stem sloped surface of the valve stem to prevent debris from interfering with the metal to metal seal.