Patent ID: 8061681

Claim:
A control valve, comprising: an actuator disposed within a housing having a diaphragm captured between a first actuator casing and a second actuator casing; an actuator stem having a first end and a second end that each include an internally threaded bore, wherein the first end of the actuator stem operatively couples to the diaphragm and the second end includes a tapered recess; a rod end bearing having a bearing retainer and a shaft portion extending from the bearing retainer, wherein the shaft portion includes an internally threaded bore and a protruding tapered end to engage the tapered recess of the actuator stem to provide a self-locking connection between the actuator stem and the rod end bearing; and an externally threaded stud to threadably engage the bore of the shaft portion and the bore of the second end of the actuator stem to couple the rod end bearing and the actuator stem.