SELF-ALIGNING VALVE PLUG

摘要

A balanced pressure regulator includes a valve body (119) having a fluid inlet (116) and a fluid outlet (118) connected by a fluid passageway. A valve seat (122) is disposed within the fluid passageway. A self-aligning valve plug (128)is at least partially disposed within the fluid passageway, the self-aligning valve plug (128) interacting with the valve seat (122) to selectively open or close the fluid passageway. A retainer (139) is partially disposed within a bore of the self-aligning valve plug (128) and operatively connects the self-aligning valve plug (128) to a valve stem (127) having a ball portion. More specifically, the retainer (139) includes a recess adapted to receive the ball portion of the valve stem (127), such that the self-aligning valve plug (128) automatically rotates around the ball portion of the valve stem (127) to achieve alignment and sealing engagement between a valve disc of the self-aligning valve plug (128) and the valve seat (122).