Valve having axially separable members

Claim 2

A valve comprising an outer annular retaining means for retaining the valve in a passageway, said annular retaining means including a plurality of individual segments, a valve body comprising a plurality of concentric ring shaped elements and a central circular element, means interconnecting said outer annular retaining means and the outermost ring shaped element, means interconnecTing the elements of said valve body to limit the degree of separation thereof, and said annular retaining means being constructed to expand and contract radially, said means interconnecting the outer annular retaining means and the outermost ring shaped element comprising an outwardly extending flange on the outermost ring shaped element and a slot in each of said segments of said outer ring for receiving said flange, the flange and slot interengaging so as to permit said radial movement of the segments of the annular retaining means relative to the flange.

Claim 3

A valve according to claim 1, wherein said means interconnecting the elements of said valve body includes struts mounted on each of said valve body elements, said struts having end portions engaging adjacent elements.

Claim 4

A valve comprising: an outer ring member adapted to be secured within a passageway, a central member and concentric ring members of progressively larger diameter surrounding the central member, the outermost concentric ring member being surrounded by the said outer ring member, all said members interfitting with each other to close off the passageway in a first end position of axial movement of said members, said central member and concentric ring members being movable to a second end position with the central member fartherest, in an axial direction of fluid flow from the outer ring member and with the concentric ring member staggered axially, largest to smallest, respectively, from the outer ring member to the central member, to open the valve, thin struts connected to each of the central member and concentric ring members and extending axially upstream from its respective member and operatively engaging the upstream side of a larger diameter member to limit axial movement of its respective member at the second end position, said struts being of sufficiently small cross-section that they offer minimal resistance to the flow of fluid through the open valve, and said struts being long enough in the axial direction to permit its respective member to be spaced axially in the direction of fluid flow from the downstream end of the next larger member, thus providing between adjacent members an annular, substantially unobstructed opening for fluid flow, wherein, at said open position, the interior of the valve within the staggered central member and concentric ring members defines a generally frustro-conical space in open communication at its larger base with the upstream side of the valve and in open communication with the downstream side of the valve through substantially unobstructed annular openings between the adjacent, spaced apart members.

Claim 5

A valve comprising: an outer ring member adapted to be secured within a passageway, a central member and concentric ring members of progressively larger diameter surrounding the central member, the outermost concentric ring member being surrounded by the said outer ring member, all said members interfitting with each other to close off the passageway in a first end position of axial movement of said members, said central member and concentric ring members being movable to a second end position with the central member fartherest, in an axial direction of fluid flow from the outer ring member and with the concentric ring member staggered axially, largest to smallest, respectively, from the outer ring member to the central member, to open the valve, thin struts connected to each of the central member and concentric ring members and extending axially upstream from its respective member and operatively engaging the upstream side of a larger diameter member to limit axial movement of its respective member at the second end position, said struts being of sufficiently small cross-section that they offer minimal resistance to the flow of fluid through the open valve, and said struts being long enough in the axial direction to permit its respective member to be spaced axially in the direction of fluid flow from the downstream end of the next larger member, thus providing between adjacent members an annular, substantially unobstructed opening for fluid flow, wherein, at said open position, the interior of the valve within the staggered central member and concentric ring members defines a generally frustro-conical space in open communication at its larger base with the upstream side of the valve and in open communication with the downstream side of the valve through substantially unobstructed annular openings between the adjacent, spaced apart members.

Claim 6

A valve according to claim 3, said struts being thin elongated elements much thinner in cross-section than their length, said elongated elements extending axially from their respective members, toward an upstream direction and having an essentially right angle turned outwardly to engage a larger member at the open position of the valve.

Claim 7

A valve according to claim 4, said turned portions of the struts engaging the next adjacent member.

Claim 8

A valve according to claim 3, said struts being thin elongated elements operatively engaging an upstream member with sufficient looseness in the transverse direction to permit each member to undergo limited turning movement out of its normal transverse plane.

Claim 9

A valve according to claim 3, the mating edges of said members being beveled radially outwardly in the direction of flow to thereby provide said openings with streamline boundaries in the direction of flow out of the said space to the downstream side of the valve.

Claim 10

A valve according to claim 3, said members lying in a common plane transverse to the direction of fluid flow in the closed position of the valve.

Claim 11

A valve according to claim 8, said mating edges of said members being bevelled radially outwardly in the direction of fluid flow, said bevelled edges engaging each other in the closed position of thE valve.

Claim 12

A valve according to claim 3, said central member and concentric ring members being in the shape of generally flat discs.

Claim 13

A valve according to claim 10, the mating edges of said disc shaped members being bevelled radially outwardly in the direction of fluid flow to thereby provide said openings with streamline boundaries in the direction of fluid flow out of the said space to the downstream side of the valve.