Patent ID: 7296993

Claim:
A poppet valve assembly for use in controlling the flow of molten thermoplastic material comprising a holder member having a bore therein, a member having a valve seating surface thereon, and a poppet member received in said bore in said holder member and being slidingly movable therein and being retained therein by said holder member at one end thereof and by said valve seating surface at the oppositely disposed end thereof, said poppet member having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end of said poppet member being substantially spherical in configuration causing said poppet member to be self-aligning with respect to said valve seating surface, said poppet member having a plurality of longitudinally extending fluted surfaces thereon defining a plurality of ribs which slidingly engage the surface defining said bore in said holder member, said fluted surfaces further defining a root diameter which decreases from said inlet end to said outlet end of said poppet member, whereupon said poppet member moves into sealing engagement with said valve seating surface as said molten thermoplastic material enters said outlet end.