WEAR-RESISTANT PLUG HEAD

摘要

As set forth in the detailed description, the present invention includes, in various exemplary embodiments, a valve device to control fluid flow that incorporates a substantially flat plug head. By incorporating a substantially flat plug head, the valve device realizes lower stresses than other typical valve configurations; namely thermal and tensile stress is reduced throughout the valve device. In an exemplary embodiment of this invention, the valve device comprises a housing, at least one plug head seat within the housing, a substantially planar or flat plug head configured to control or stop flow of a substance and a plug stem configured to actuate the substantially flat plug head. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the substantially flat plug head comprises a solid disk shaped or cylindrical shaped plug head. Additionally, in one exemplary embodiment, the plug head and plug head seat material can comprise ceramics and various metal alloys.