Patent ID: 6029686
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve assembly comprising means providing a passageway having first and second ends, the passageway having an entrance at one end and an interior, the interior of the passageway having a wall with a plurality of grooves formed therein and a sealing surface, and a plug capable of insertion into the interior of the passageway for occluding the passageway, the plug comprising a plug body having a seal engageable with the sealing surface of the passageway, and the plug body also having a sidewall defining an internal chamber within the plug body, a plurality of openings in the sidewall, a ball situated in each of the openings, the diameter of each ball being greater than the length of the opening in which it is situated, cam means engageable with the balls for maintaining the balls in a condition in which they protrude outwardly from the openings into the grooves of the wall of the passageway, and temperature-responsive means for moving the cam means to release the balls for retraction into the openings, each groove extending into the passageway from the entrance, and having a circumferential portion with a surface engageable by one of the balls to lock the plug in the passageway, the grooves and the balls together providing bayonet connection means allowing the plug to be engaged with the passageway, and the seal to be engaged with the sealing surface, by inserting the plug into the interior of the passageway with the balls protruding outwardly from the openings, and twisting the plug to cause the balls to move into the circumferential portions of the grooves, and the plug having a cylindrical external portion situated outside the passageway, beyond said one end thereof, when the plug is inserted into the interior of the passageway, wherein the improvement comprises a cap tightly fitting at least a portion of said cylindrical external portion of the plug, the cap having an external surface with means formed thereon for facilitating the manual grasping and twisting of the plug for engagement and disengagement with the passageway.