Method and means for mounting valve member on valve stem

A method and means for removably connecting a valve member (62, 62A) on a valve stem (46, 46A) for movement between open and closed positions relative to a valve seat (24, 24A). The removable connection includes a split frustoconical connector (76, 76A) forming two halves (78, 78A) which fit about a frustoconical section (56, 56A) of the valve stem (46, 46A). A retainer sleeve (84, 84A) holds the split connector (76, 76A) about the frustoconical section (56, 56A) of the stem (46, 46A).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to valves having a reciprocable valve member 
connected to a stem for movement between open and closed positions, and 
more particularly to means for removably mounting the valve member on the 
end of the valve stem. 
Heretofore, valves such as plug valves have included a reciprocable valve 
member mounted on the lower end of a valve stem and movable between open 
and closed positions relative to a fixed seat in the valve body. A valve 
member such as a tapered plug valve member has been attached to or mounted 
on the lower end of the stem by various means heretofore. Particularly for 
relatively large plug valves having flow passages over 3/8 inch in 
diameter, for example, the plug member has been attached to the stem for 
relative rotation with some amount of longitudinal movement between the 
stem and the plug member for achieving proper seating within the tapered 
valve seat. Some plug members, for example, have been attached to the stem 
heretofore with a snap ring and some have been secured by a threaded nut 
on the inner end of the stem. 
The attachment for the plug valve member must be adequate to withstand the 
upward pulling force exerted by the stem in pulling the valve member to 
open position. Also, the tapered plug member should be mounted so that a 
simple and fast replacement may be provided such as may be necessary in 
the event of excessive wear or damage, and particularly without the use of 
any special replacement tools. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a removable attachment for mounting a 
reciprocable valve member on the end of a stem for assembly and 
disassembly in a minimum of time. The valve member is connected to a 
frustoconical section of the stem by a split frustoconical connector 
fitting about the frustoconical section. The connector halves are easily 
fitted about the frustoconical section by dropping or fitting the halves 
within an open end of the valve member for engagement with a shoulder on 
the valve member adjacent the frustoconical stem section and subsequent 
fitting about the frustoconical section. Then, the connector halves are 
retained about the stem section by a retainer sleeve also dropped within 
the open end of the valve member about the stem for fitting about the 
connector halves. Such a connection between the stem and valve member can 
be easily assembled and disassembled manually without the use of any 
special replacement tools. 
The frustoconical connector halves fit between opposed shoulders on the 
valve member and the stem, and upon movement to open position the 
shoulders abut opposite ends of the connector halves for transmitting the 
opening force exerted by the rising stem to the valve member to pull the 
valve member to an open position relative to the seat and associated flow 
passage. 
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and means 
for removably connecting a reciprocable valve member to a valve stem for 
movement of the valve member between open and closed positions relative to 
a fixed seat about a flow passage in a valve body. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a method and means 
in which the valve member is connected to a frustoconical section of the 
valve stem by utilizing a split connector fitting around the frustoconical 
section of the valve stem so that the valve member may be assembled and 
disassembled from the valve stem in a minimum amount of time. 
Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become more 
apparent after referring to the following specifications and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, a plug 
valve is generally indicated at 10 and includes a valve body 12 having a 
longitudinally extending flow passage 14 therethrough adapted for fluid 
flow in either direction along a longitudinal axis indicated at 16. 
A bore indicated generally at 18 in valve body 10 extends in a 
perpendicular direction to longitudinal axis 16 of flow passage 14 and has 
a closed end forming a bottom at 20. Bore 18 has internal screw threads at 
22. A tapered valve seat is shown generally at 24 fixed within body 12 
across flow passage 14 and having opposed openings 26 therein in axial 
alignment with flow passage 14. Seat 24 has a lower end 28 abutting bottom 
20 and an opposed upper large diameter end 30. 
A housing or bonnet generally indicated at 32 has external screw threads at 
34 threaded within bore 18 in engagement with internal screw threads 22. 
The inner end 36 of housing 32 is in abutting contact with upper end 30 of 
valve seat 24 for holding valve seat 24 in position. An externally 
threaded bushing 38 is threaded within housing 32 and is in abutting 
contact with a follower 40 for compressing packing rings 42. A lock nut 44 
secures bushing 38 within housing 32. 
A stem generally indicated at 46 is threaded within bushing 38. An outer 
end portion has a handle 48 for rotation of stem 46 relative to bushing 38 
and housing 32 to provide a so-called rising stem. Stem 46 has an inner 
end portion generally designated at 50 extending inwardly from a flange 
which forms an annular shoulder 52. Inner end portion 50 defines a large 
diameter cylindrical section 54, a frustoconical intermediate section 56 
which defines an annular shoulder 58, and a small diameter cylindrical end 
section 60. 
A tapered or frustoconical plug valve member generally designated 62 has a 
central bore therethrough defining a small diameter bore portion 64 and a 
large diameter bore portion 66 with an annular shoulder 68 defined at the 
juncture of bore portions 64 and 66. Plug valve member 62 also defines a 
large diameter upper annular end 70 in abutting contact with shoulder 52 
on stem 46 and an opposite lower annular end 72. An inner annular groove 
74 is provided adjacent lower end 72 of tapered valve member 62. 
For removably attaching or mounting tapered plug valve member 62 onto stem 
46, a split connector indicated at 76 is formed of two halves 78 of a 
frustoconical shape for fitting about frustoconical section 56. A large 
diameter end surface 80 on connector 76 is mounted adjacent annular 
shoulder 68 of plug valve member 62 and a small diameter inner end surface 
82 on connector 76 is positioned adjacent annular shoulder 58 of 
frustoconical section 56 of stem 46. To hold the two halves 78 together 
about frustoconical stem section 56, a retainer sleeve shown at 84 fits 
about small diameter end section 60 of stem 46 and has a tapered surface 
86 about its inner periphery adjacent outer end 88. Tapered surface 86 
flares outwardly at an angle around two degrees greater than the adjacent 
tapered outer surface of connector halves 78 so that inner end 82 of 
connector 76 contacts tapered surface 86 generally along a line contact 
area. To hold retainer sleeve 84 in position, a split retainer ring 90 is 
mounted within groove 74 on tapered plug member 62. 
To assemble tapered plug valve member 62 onto stem 46, plug valve member 62 
is first fitted on end portion 50 with end surface 70 in abutting contact 
with annular shoulder 52 on stem 46. Then, connector halves 78 are 
inserted or dropped within the open end 72 of tapered valve member 62 and 
contact shoulder 68 for subsequent fitting about frustoconical section 56. 
Next, retainer sleeve 84 is dropped or inserted within open end 72 of 
valve member 62 adjacent shoulder 58 about inner end section 60 in contact 
with the outer peripheral surface of connector 76 for holding halves 78 in 
position about frustoconical section 56. Tapered surface 86 acts as a 
guide for urging halves 78 against frustoconical section 56 between 
opposed shoulders 58 and 68. Split ring 90 is then mounted in groove 74 to 
hold retainer sleeve 84 in position. To remove or disassemble tapered plug 
member 62 from stem 46, ring 90 is first removed. Then, retainer sleeve 84 
drops from the open end of valve member 62 and connector halves 78 are 
next removed thereby to permit removal of plug valve member 62 from stem 
46 in a minimum amount of time in a simple manner. Connector halves 78 
during movement of stem 46 and valve member 62 to open position have 
opposed ends in abutting contact with opposed shoulders 58 and 68 for 
transmitting an opening force from handle 48 and stem 46 to valve member 
62 for moving valve member 62 to open position. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the present invention 
is illustrated in which a valve member is removably mounted on the end of 
a stem for blocking fluid flow across a flow passage. Valve 10A has a body 
12A with a flow passage 14A extending through body 12A and a fixed valve 
seat 24A is provided on body 12A about flow passage 14A. A stem 46A has an 
extending inner end portion 50A defining a large diameter cylindrical 
section 54A, an intermediate frustoconical section 56A, and a small 
diameter cylindrical section 60A defining an annular shoulder 58A between 
frustoconical section 56A and small diameter end section 60A. 
A handle 48A is mounted on the outer end of stem 46A and a valve member 62A 
is mounted on the inner end of stem 46A for movement with stem 46A between 
open and closed positions relative to seat 24A and flow passage 14A. Valve 
member 62A includes a ball or ball seat 94A for seating on fixed seat 24A 
and a housing 96A fitting about end portion 50A in abutting contact with 
shoulder 52A on stem 46A. Housing 96A has a central bore and an internal 
shoulder 68A about the central bore. Connector halves 78A fit about 
frustoconical section 56A between shoulders 58A and 68A. Ball 94A is 
secured to housing 96A by a small thickness end portion 98A crimped about 
ball 62A. 
For securing or mounting valve member 62A onto stem 46A, ball housing 96A 
is fitted about end portion 50A of stem 46A in abutting contact with 
shoulder 52A. Then, connector halves 78A are dropped within the open end 
of housing 96A about frustoconical section 56A and in contact with 
shoulder 68A. Next, retainer sleeve 84A is dropped within the open end of 
housing 96A and tapered inner end surface 86A urges connector halves 78A 
against frustoconical section 56A while fitting over small diameter end 
portion 60A and stem 46A. Ball 94A is then inserted within the open end of 
housing 96A and end portion 98A is then crimped about ball 94A to engage 
the inner end of retainer sleeve 84A to hold retainer sleeve 84A in 
position. While ball 94A is not normally removed from crimped end portion 
98A, ball 94A may be removed from housing 96A if desired by deforming end 
portion 98A to permit removal of ball 94A. Then, retainer 84A is removed 
along with connector 78A. Housing 96A is then removed from end portion 
50A. 
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated 
in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of the 
preferred embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it 
is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are 
within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the 
following claims.