Valve including a valve stem with a combination threaded and splined section
One illustrative embodiment of a valve disclosed herein comprises a body ( 12 ), a valve stem ( 22 ) that comprises a combination threaded-splined section ( 22 X) and an unthreaded section ( 22 Y) wherein the combination threaded-splined section ( 22 X) comprises at least one spline ( 22 S) and a thread ( 22 Z). The valve ( 10 ) also comprises an anti-rotation ring ( 26 ) that includes at least one tab ( 26 T) positioned in the at least one spline ( 22 S) of the combination threaded-splined section ( 22 X) and a threaded drive nut ( 24 ) that is adapted to engage the thread ( 22 Z) of the combination threaded-splined section ( 22 X).
1. A valve, comprising:
a body;
a valve stem comprising a combination threaded-splined section and an unthreaded section, the combination threaded-splined section comprising at least one spline and a thread;
an anti-rotation ring comprising at least one tab positioned in the at least one spline of the combination threaded-splined section; and
a threaded drive nut that is adapted to engage the thread of the combination threaded-splined section, wherein at least a portion of the thread comprising the combination threaded-splined section is adapted to translationally move through a first end of the anti-rotation ring and exit out a second end of the anti-rotation ring when the threaded drive nut is rotationally actuated to translationally move the valve stem within the valve.
2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve further comprises at least one additional spline, the at least one spline and the at least one additional spline defining a plurality of spaced-apart axial thread segments that are radially spaced around an outer perimeter of the combination threaded-splined section.
3. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section extends for an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
4. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spline comprises a single spline that defines a partial ring thread segment that extends partially around an outer perimeter of the combination threaded-splined section.
5. The valve of claim 4 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section extends for an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
6. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section extends for an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section extends for less than an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
8. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section comprises four splines that define four spaced-apart axial thread segments that are radially spaced around an outer perimeter of the combination threaded-splined section and extend for an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
9. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the anti-rotation ring is positioned within a recess defined in a bonnet that is coupled to the valve body.
10. The valve of claim 9 , wherein the recess is a first recess, a portion of the drive nut being positioned in a second recess defined in the bonnet, wherein the second recess is positioned above the first recess.
11. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bonnet that is coupled to the valve body by a plurality of threaded fasteners; and
a stepped recess defined in the bonnet, the stepped recess comprising a lower recess and an upper recess positioned above the lower recess, the upper recess having a larger diameter than a diameter of the lower recess, wherein the anti-rotation ring is positioned within the lower recess and at least a portion of the drive nut is positioned in the upper recess.
12. The valve of claim 11 , further comprising:
a plurality of threaded fasteners that couple the anti-rotation ring to the bonnet;
a cover plate positioned above the upper recess, wherein a portion of the drive nut extends through an opening in the cover plate; and
a plurality of threaded fasteners that couple the cover plate to the bonnet.
13. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section has a central axis and comprises a plurality of spines, and wherein the plurality of splines are equally spaced around an outer perimeter of the combination threaded-splined section and extend axially in a direction that is substantially parallel to the central axis.
14. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the thread is an external thread.
15. A valve, comprising:
a body;
a valve stem comprising a combination threaded-splined section and an unthreaded section, the combination threaded-spline section comprising a plurality of splines and a plurality of spaced-apart axial thread segments that are radially spaced around an outer perimeter of the combination threaded-splined section;
an anti-rotation ring comprising a plurality of tabs, each of the plurality of tabs being positioned in one of the plurality of splines of the combination threaded-splined section; and
a threaded drive nut that is adapted to engage the plurality of spaced-apart axial thread segments of the combination threaded-splined section, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of spaced-apart axial thread segments comprising the combination threaded-splined section is adapted to translationally move through a first end of the anti-rotation ring and exit out a second end of the anti-rotation ring when the threaded drive nut is rotationally actuated to translationally move the valve stem within the valve.
16. The valve of claim 15 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section extends for an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
17. The valve of claim 15 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section extends for less than an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
18. The valve of claim 15 , further comprising:
a bonnet that is coupled to the valve body by a plurality of threaded fasteners; and
a stepped recess defined in the bonnet, the stepped recess comprising a lower recess and an upper recess positioned above the lower recess, the upper recess having a larger diameter than a diameter of the lower recess, wherein the anti-rotation ring is positioned within the lower recess and at least a portion of the drive nut is positioned in the upper recess.
19. The valve of claim 18 , further comprising:
a plurality of threaded fasteners that couple the anti-rotation ring to the bonnet;
a cover plate positioned above the upper recess, wherein a portion of the drive nut extends through an opening in the cover plate; and
a plurality of threaded fasteners that couple the cover plate to the bonnet.
20. A valve, comprising:
a body;
a valve stem comprising a combination threaded-splined section and an unthreaded section, the combination threaded-spline section comprising a single spline that defines a partial ring thread segment that extends partially around an outer perimeter of the combination threaded-splined section;
an anti-rotation ring comprising a single tab that is positioned in the single spline of the combination threaded-splined section; and
a threaded drive nut that is adapted to engage the partial ring thread segment of the combination threaded-splined section, wherein at least a portion of the partial ring thread segment defined by the single spline comprising the combination threaded-splined section is adapted to translationally move through a first end of the anti-rotation ring and exit out a second end of the anti-rotation ring when the threaded drive nut is rotationally actuated to translationally move the valve stem within the valve.
21. The valve of claim 20 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section extends for an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
22. The valve of claim 20 , wherein the combination threaded-splined section extends for less than an entire axial length of a threaded portion of the valve stem.
23. The valve of claim 20 , further comprising:
a bonnet that is coupled to the valve body by a plurality of threaded fasteners; and
a stepped recess defined in the bonnet, the stepped recess comprising a lower recess and an upper recess positioned above the lower recess, the upper recess having a larger diameter than a diameter of the lower recess, wherein the anti-rotation ring is positioned within the lower recess and at least a portion of the drive nut is positioned in the upper recess.
24. The valve of claim 23 , further comprising:
a plurality of threaded fasteners that couple the anti-rotation ring to the bonnet;
a cover plate positioned above the upper recess, wherein a portion of the drive nut extends through an opening in the cover plate; and
a plurality of threaded fasteners that couple the cover plate to the bonnet.