Robert Ashley Erwin

US Patent:

42314402, Nov 4, 1980

Filed:

May 21, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/041069

Inventors:

Robert L. Erwin - Farmington NM

International Classification:

F16K 336

US Classification:

13724622

Abstract:

A rotary, segmented, expansible valve comprising a valve body having a fluid passage and a body opening intersecting the fluid passage, a valve member rotatably mounted in the valve body opening and divided into four quarter segments, the valve member having an opening to register with the fluid passage of the valve body, the valve member opening extending through one opposed pair of the quarter segments, the other opposed pair of the quarter segments being solid and forming fluid stops when registered with the fluid passage, a tube lining the valve member opening, the one opposed pair of quarter segments being slidably mounted on the tube and sealed with respect thereto, a valve stem and handle for rotating the valve member between open and closed positions, valve seats in the valve body opening where the opening intersects the fluid passage, and an expander for selectively expanding the opposed pairs of quarter segments outwardly against the valve seats to form a fluid seal between the expanded quarter segments and the valve seats.