Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A valve comprising: a body having a flow passageway therethrough; a shaft sealably journalled in said body with its axis substantially at right angle to said flow passageway, and in the plane of said flow passageway being defined in part by a valve seat; a ball freely movable in a portion of said passageway against said valve seat to close the valve; and an actuating arm of flat spring material in a plane at right angle to said shaft, said plane passing through said flow passageway, said arm having two portions extending out from said shaft, a first portion in such position on rotation of said shaft in a first direction to move said ball away from said seat and an S-shaped second portion in such a position on rotation of said shaft in a second direction to move said ball toward said seat, said second portion having at least one substantially 180° bend and a part of said second portion when said ball is on said seat serving to exert a compressive force between said shaft and said ball to press said ball in a radial direction into sealing contact with said seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A valve comprising: a body having a flow passageway therethrough; a shaft sealably journalled in said body with its axis substantially at right angle to said flow passageway, and in the plane of said flow passageway being defined in part by a valve seat; a ball freely movable in a portion of said passageway against said valve seat to close the valve; and an actuating arm of flat spring material in a plane at right angle to said shaft, said plane passing through said flow passageway, said arm having two portions extending out from said shaft, a first portion in such position on rotation of said shaft in a first direction to move said ball away from said seat and an S-shaped second portion in such a position on rotation of said shaft in a second direction to move said ball toward said seat, said second portion having at least one substantially 180° bend and a part of said second portion when said ball is on said seat serving to exert a compressive force between said shaft and said ball to press said ball in a radial direction into sealing contact with said seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A valve according to claim 1 in which said shaft has a longitudinal diametrical slot therein, the slot receiving an intermediate portion of said flat spring actuating arm as a means of attaching the actuating arm to said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A valve according to claim 2 including: an extension member received by an interior recess in said valve body, the extension member being coaxial with said shaft and having a cup shaped portion receiving the end of said shaft, the cup shaped portion serving to retain said actuating arm in said longitudinal diametrical slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A valve according to claim 1 including a ball restraining means near one side of said passageway.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A valve according to claim 4 in which said restraining means is a pin inserted into the wall of the valve body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A valve according to claim 5 wherein said actuating arm first portion has a slot therein to permit passage of said arm past said pin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A valve according to claim 1 including means to limit the rotation of said shaft to about 90°.