Patent ID: 6401747
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A gate valve comprising:a valve body having an internal flow passage which extends between an inlet port and an outlet port; a pair of seats mounted in respective seat pockets formed in the body coaxial with the flow passage; a gate disposed between the seats and having a transverse opening therethrough; a valve stem threadedly connected to the gate; wherein rotation of the valve stem raises or lowers the gate to bring the opening into or out of alignment with the flow passage to either open or close the gate valve, respectively; wherein each seat comprises a generally cylindrical body portion having a substantially uniform outer diameter and first and second end faces which are adapted to seal with the gate; whereby each seat may be mounted in its seat pocket with either the first face or the second face adjacent the gate; wherein each seat further comprises first and second annular grooves formed on the outer diameter of the body portion, and wherein only one of the grooves is positioned within the seat pocket when the seat is mounted in the seat pocket; a gate cavity extending through the valve body and intersecting the flow passage; a bonnet connected to the valve body over the gate cavity, the bonnet having a bore extending therethrough which communicates with the gate cavity; a bonnet cap secured to the bonnet over the bore; the valve stem comprising a first portion which is rotationally supported in the bonnet cap and a second portion which extends through the bore in the bonnet and into the gate cavity; a bearing support ring rotationally received within the bonnet cap, the bearing support ring including first and second axial ends and an axial bore through which the first portion of the valve stem is inserted; a bearing pin positioned in corresponding holes in the bearing support ring and the valve stem to connect the bearing support ring to the valve stem; and a first thrust bearing washer disposed between the bonnet cap and the first axial end of the bearing support ring.