Patent ID: 6776394
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
A valve assembly comprising:a housing including an interior space and an opening through which fluid can enter and exit the interior space; a valve body movable within the interior space of the housing between a completely opened position allowing fluid flow through the opening and a completely closed position preventing fluid flow through the opening; a sleeve movable longitudinally along, and rotatably about, a longitudinal axis, and wherein the sleeve is connected to the valve body so that the valve body can rotate with the sleeve about the longitudinal axis between the completely open position and an intermediate position where the valve body is substantially aligned with the opening but spaced longitudinally from the opening, and so that the valve body can move longitudinally with the sleeve between the intermediate position and the completely closed position, and wherein one of the housing and the sleeve includes a cam surface and the other of the housing and the sleeve includes a cam follower received by the cam surface for moving along and being guided by the cam surface; and a shaft extending along, and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, wherein the shaft is in screw-threaded engagement with the sleeve so that rotation of the shaft causes at least one of rotation and longitudinal movement of the sleeve against the cam follower.