US 11,668,400 B2
Integrated equalization valve
Timothy Wayne Stern, Hixson, TN (US); Rock Allen Powell, Jr., Mt. Zion, IL (US); and Mohammad Unnus Qasim, Decatur, IL (US)
Assigned to Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Mueller International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on May 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/746,365.
Application 17/746,365 is a continuation of application No. 17/092,828, filed on Nov. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,359,727.
Prior Publication US 2022/0275869 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 3/02 (2006.01); F16K 39/04 (2006.01); F16K 3/30 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 3/0227 (2013.01) [F16K 39/04 (2013.01); F16K 3/30 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An equalization valve comprising:
a valve body defining a gate slot;
a gate defining an equalization chamber, a first equalization channel, and a second equalization channel, the equalization chamber and the first and second equalization channels defining an equalization pathway across the gate; and
an actuation stem slidable within the equalization chamber between a first chamber position, wherein the actuation stem blocks the equalization pathway, and a second chamber position, wherein the actuation stem unblocks the equalization pathway;
wherein:
the actuation stem is further slidable within the gate slot of the valve body between a first valve position, wherein the gate is seated with the valve body, and a second valve position, wherein the gate is unseated from the valve body;
the actuation stem defines a lower portion slidably engaged with the equalization chamber;
the lower portion of the actuation stem defines a stem slot;
a fastener extends axially across the equalization chamber and is slidably received through the stem slot; and
the stem slot is configured to slide relative to the fastener as the actuation stem slides between the first chamber position and the second chamber position.