Patent ID: 8783283

Claim:
A valve assembly for use with a fluid in a prescribed pressure range and having a corresponding saturation temperature, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body defining a primary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end; a valve piston disposed within the valve body and selectively movable along a piston axis between a closed position wherein the piston effectively blocks direct fluid flow from the inlet end to the outlet end of the flow passage, and an open position wherein fluid is able to flow over the piston directly from the inlet end to the outlet end; and a heating device cooperatively engaged to the valve body and operative to radiate heat along and radially outward from the piston axis to maintain at least the valve body and the valve piston at a prescribed temperature level which exceeds the saturation temperature of the fluid; wherein the heating device is provided in a size, shape, and location on the valve body such that the activation of the heating device is operative to maintain at least the valve body and the valve piston at a temperature which is in the range of about 5° F. to about 15° F. above the saturation temperature of the fluid.