US 12,442,462 B2
Diaphragm valve with actuator bearing element
William H. Glime, III, Chagrin Falls, OH (US); Branden W. Keeper, Mentor, OH (US); Timothy P. Vidoni, Cleveland, OH (US); and Daniel E. Zeiler, Chardon, OH (US)
Assigned to SWAGELOK COMPANY, Solon, OH (US)
Filed by Swagelok Company, Solon, OH (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/409,850.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/438,802, filed on Jan. 13, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0240726 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. F16K 27/02 (2006.01); F16K 7/17 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 27/0281 (2013.01) [F16K 7/17 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A diaphragm valve comprising:
a valve body defining a flow passage extending to an internal valve cavity;
a valve seat disposed in the valve cavity and surrounding the flow passage;
a diaphragm disposed in the valve cavity, the diaphragm including an axially fixed outer periphery and an axially flexible central portion movable between a closed position in sealing engagement with the valve seat and an open position axially spaced apart from the valve seat; and
an actuator including an actuator housing assembled with the valve body and an actuating arrangement axially movable within the actuator housing between a first position holding the diaphragm in the closed position and a second position permitting movement of the diaphragm from the closed position to the open position, wherein the actuating arrangement comprises:
an actuator stem extending through a lower bore in the actuator housing;
an actuator button disposed between a lower end of the actuator stem and the diaphragm for contact with the diaphragm; and
a bearing member disposed between the actuator stem and the actuator button, wherein an upper portion of the bearing member is received in a lower socket portion of the actuator stem, and a lower portion of the bearing member is received in an upper socket portion of the actuator button;
wherein the upper socket portion of the actuator button includes an annular wall, and wherein the lower bore of the actuator housing and the lower socket portion of the actuator stem define an annular recess receiving the annular wall of the upper socket portion.