Patent ID: RE39658

Claim:
A valve of the type having a casing provided with openings to be connected to a fluid pipe line, wherein at least one of the casing openings forms a groove and having a valve chamber therein with at least one inlet and outlet port for defining a fluid flow path through the valve chamber, the valve comprising: a plug mounted in the valve chamber and having an exterior surface and two ends and a fluid flow passageway extending between the ends and through the plug, the plug having an axis of rotation extending transverse to the direction of the fluid flow passageway, the plug being rotatable about the axis of rotation for selectively turning the plug between an open position in which the fluid flow passageway is disposed along the fluid flow path between the inlet and outlet ports and a closed position in which the fluid flow passageway is disposed transverse to the fluid flow path; a disk having an opening therein, the disk located inside at least one of the inlet or outlet ports, the disk having at least two sides, wherein one of its sides closely conforms with and interfaces with the exterior surface of the plug, wherein the opening of the disk interacts with the fluid passageway extending between the ends of the plug so that different flow characteristics are achieved when the plug is moved between the open and closed positions; and an internal retaining ring sized and shaped to fit at least partially inside the groove, wherein the disk is retained by the internal retaining ring which is at least partially recessed into the groove in one of the casing openings.