US 12,292,120 B1
System and method for valve assembly
Chance Ray Mullins, Spring, TX (US); Jason David Smith, Porter, TX (US); and Steven Zachary Newberg, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Vulcan Industrial Holdings, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Vulcan Industrial Holdings, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/678,136.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/152,501, filed on Feb. 23, 2021.
Int. Cl. F16K 1/36 (2006.01); F04B 53/10 (2006.01); F04B 53/12 (2006.01); F16K 1/48 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 1/36 (2013.01) [F04B 53/1027 (2013.01); F04B 53/127 (2013.01); F16K 1/48 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve member comprising:
(a) an upper portion comprising:
a top side,
an underside,
an annular recess positioned between the top side and the underside, and
a cavity extending at least partially into a body of the upper portion, the cavity arranged at the underside and having:
a first portion adjacent the underside, the first portion having a first diameter, and
a second portion axially spaced from the underside by at least the first portion and having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;
(b) guide legs comprising:
a plurality of legs, and
a coupling member extending axially from the plurality of legs, the coupling member comprising a plurality of fingers extending from the plurality of legs and configured to flex radially inward responsive to a force driving the plurality of fingers within the first portion; and
(c) a sealing element configured to be installed within the annular recess so that the upper portion couples to both the guide legs and the sealing element when a force is applied thereto, thereby to axially position the sealing element within the annular recess and to position the coupling member into the cavity.