Patent ID: 8689825

Claim:
A flow control valve to regulate the flow of an oxygen enriched stream, the flow control valve comprising: a body made of a metallic material of a type that does not support burning in an oxygen enriched stream, said body having an inlet and a substantially in line outlet to receive and transmit the oxygen enriched stream; a seat made of a non resilient metallic material of the type that does not support burning in an oxygen enriched stream, said seat being located within the body for passage of said oxygen enriched stream thereby; a ball made of a metallic material of the type that does not support burning in an oxygen enriched stream, said ball being sized to sealingly seat against said seat, said ball having a surface finish of AFBMA (Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association) Grade 200 and under; a ball retainer made of a metallic material of the type that does not support burning in an oxygen enriched stream, said ball retainer being located within the body and positioned to capture the ball; a biasing means made of a metallic material of the type that does not support burning in an oxygen enriched stream, said biasing means being positioned and configured to urge said ball retainer and in turn said ball between a flow position in which the oxygen enriched stream is flowing from said inlet to said outlet and a non-flow position in which the flow of the oxygen enriched stream is impeded; and wherein the flow control valve is assembled without any other materials that support burning in an oxygen enriched stream positioned for contact with said oxygen enriched stream.