초록 ▼

A valve cap (14) can be configured to have an integral sealing member (50) at least part of which is extendable into an opening(18) of a valve body (12) and seals against an inner surface of a valve body wall (16). The sealing member (50) is configured to have a void space (51) such that when fluid

A valve cap (14) can be configured to have an integral sealing member (50) at least part of which is extendable into an opening(18) of a valve body (12) and seals against an inner surface of a valve body wall (16). The sealing member (50) is configured to have a void space (51) such that when fluid leaks from a valve stem disposed in the valve body (12), an internal pressure in the void space forces a surface of the sealing member (50) against the inner surface of the valve body wall (16), thereby tightening a seal between the sealing member (50) and the valve body wall (16). In such circumstances, the fluid is prevented effectively from exiting the valve cap (14).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A valve assembly, comprising: a first integrally formed structural member including a valve body that has a cylindrical wall and a free end defining an opening, the valve body defining an inner space; anda second integrally formed structural member including a valve cap that closes the opening of

1. A valve assembly, comprising: a first integrally formed structural member including a valve body that has a cylindrical wall and a free end defining an opening, the valve body defining an inner space; anda second integrally formed structural member including a valve cap that closes the opening of the valve body, the valve cap comprising: a side wall;a closed end connected to the side wall, the closed end and the side wall defining an interior space;an integral sealing member that extends from the closed end into the interior space, at least part of the integral sealing member being extendable into the opening of the valve body and seals against an inner surface of the valve body, the integral sealing member being cylindrical and concentric with the side wall of the cap;a first void space defined by an inner surface of the integral sealing member; anda second void space in an annular shape defined by an outer surface of the integral sealing member, an inner surface of the side wall of the valve cap and an inner surface of the closed end of the valve cap,wherein the free end of the valve body is received in the second void space,wherein the integral sealing member being flexible such that when an internal pressure in the first void space increases due to a flow of fluid leaking toward the opening of the valve body, the integral sealing member is pressurized against the inner surface of the valve body, thereby tightening a seal between the integral sealing member and the valve body,wherein the integral sealing member has a distal end, the outer surface of the integral sealing member tapers toward the distal end and tapers inwardly toward the inner surface of the integral sealing member to facilitate insertion of the free end of the valve body into the second void space, andwherein an inner diameter of the valve body at a threaded section is smaller than an outer diameter of the integral sealing member. 2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the valve body tapers inwardly, tracking the tapered outer surface of the integral sealing member at the distal end of the integral sealing member when the valve cap closes the opening of the valve body. 3. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the valve body has a constant inner diameter and the integral sealing member has a constant outer diameter, the constant inner diameter being smaller than the constant outer diameter. 4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve cap has a pair of handles extending radially from an outer surface of the side wall of the valve cap. 5. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid that leaks toward the opening of the valve body is refrigerant. 6. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the valve body is smaller than a smallest outer diameter of the integral sealing member. 7. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve body has a leading section at the opening that has a constant inner diameter and the tapered inner surface of the valve body follows the leading section, the leading section having the constant diameter and the tapered inner surface of the valve body tracking a constant outer diameter of the integral sealing member adjacent to the closed end of the integral sealing member and the tapered outer surface of the integral sealing member, respectively. 8. A refrigeration system comprising a valve assembly of claim 1. 9. A method for tightening a seal formed in a valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly includes: a first integrally formed structural member including a valve body that has a cylindrical wall and a free end defining an opening; anda second integrally formed structural member including a valve cap configured to close the opening of the valve body, the valve cap having: a side wall,a closed end connected to the side wall,an interior space defined by the side wall and the closed end,an integral sealing member extending from an inner surface of the closed end toward the interior space, the integral sealing member being cylindrical, flexible, and concentric with the side wall, the integral sealing member has a distal end and an outer surface,a first void space defined by an inner surface of the integral sealing member, anda second void space in an annular shape defined by the outer surface of the integral sealing member, an inner surface of the side wall of the valve cap and the inner surface of the closed end,the method comprising:extending at least part of the integral sealing member formed on the valve cap into the opening of the valve body to form a seal between an inner surface of the valve body and the outer surface of the integral sealing member;pressurizing the integral sealing member against the inner surface of the valve body by increasing an internal pressure, which is caused by a flow of fluid leaking toward the opening of the valve body, thereby tightening the seal between the integral sealing member and the valve body;inserting the free end of the valve body into the second void space, with the outer surface of the integral sealing member tapering toward the distal end of the integral sealing member and tapering inwardly toward the inner surface of the integral sealing member to facilitate the insertion; andengaging the inwardly tapering outer surface of the integral sealing member located at the distal end of the integral sealing member with a tapered inner surface of the valve body, andwherein an inner diameter of the valve body at a threaded section is smaller than an outer diameter of the integral sealing member. 10. The method for tightening a seal formed in a valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the tapered inner surface of the valve body tracks the inwardly tapering outer surface of the integral sealing member. 11. The method for tightening a seal formed in a valve assembly of claim 9, wherein an inner diameter of the valve body is smaller than a smallest outer diameter of the integral sealing member. 12. The method for tightening a seal formed in a valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the valve body has a constant inner diameter and the integral sealing member has a constant outer diameter, the constant inner diameter being smaller than the constant outer diameter. 13. The method for tightening a seal formed in a valve assembly of claim 9, further comprising: engaging a constant inner diameter of a leading section of the valve body and the tapered inner surface of the valve body following the leading section with a constant outer diameter of the integral sealing member adjacent to the closed end of the integral sealing member and the tapered outer surface of the integral sealing member, respectively.