Patent ID: 6325092
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A valve mechanism comprising a body having a sealing means cooperable with a sealing surface in a fluid passage, and a sidewall defining an internal chamber within the 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 within said internal chamber, the cam mean being engageable with the balls for selectably maintaining the balls in a condition in which they protrude outwardly from the openings for engagement with a detent for holding the body in a position in which the sealing means is engaged with the sealing surface, and releasing the balls for retraction into the openings, wherein the openings are tapered, throughout a major part of their lengths, in the direction from the internal chamber toward the exterior of the body, the taper being such that the diameter of a first part of each opening is greater than that of the ball situated in the opening, and the diameter of a second part of the each opening, situated outward from the first part thereof, is smaller than the diameter of the ball situated in the opening, and wherein the body has an access hole in the side wall for each of the tapered openings, each access hole being located on a side of the body opposite one of the tapered openings so that the tapered configuration of each of the tapered openings can be formed by a tool inserted through its opposite access opening before the balls are located in the tapered openings and the cam is located in the internal chamber.