Patent ID: 7600532

Claim:
A valve assembly comprising: a first conduit having a first flange; a second conduit having a second flange abutting against the first flange; a stopper; and a valve body secured between the first and second flanges, the valve body including a circumferential notch that divides the body into first and second portions between the notch and respective first and second opposite ends of the body, a body bore extending through the valve body between the first and second ends, the body bore defining circular opening in the second end of the body, the body bore communicating between the first and second conduits; wherein the notch substantially insulates the circular opening from distortion arising from securing the valve body between the first and second flanges; wherein the stopper snuggly seats against the circular opening to prevent fluid flow through the body bore from the second end to the first end, and unseats from the circular opening to permit fluid flow through the body bore from the first end to the second end; an o-ring around the first portion of the valve body; wherein the first portion of the valve body includes a tapered surface that is of smaller diameter at the first end of the valve body and increases in diameter to the notch; and wherein securing the valve body between the first and second flanges forces the tapered surface into the o-ring and energizes the o-ring to fluid-tightly seal between the valve body and the first and second flanges.