A modular butterfly valve includes a disc member which is selectively rotated between an open and a closed position, a housing, a resilient valve seat, and a clamping ring which are held together by a hinged coupling ring. The disc member is resiliently suspended in this valve by the valve seat, which provides for a self-centering of the disc-member.Butterfly Valves The hinged coupling ring may include an integral actuation means which is keyed into alignment during assembly. This modular butterfly valve assembly is adapted for being attached to an adjacent apparatus by a quick coupling means. A modular butterfly valve being adapted for a quick coupling to at least one adjacent apparatus, said butterfly valve including: a) a disc member adapted to be rotated between an open and a closed position,Water Pump Control Valves said disc member having opposed hubs, each hub having a shaft member extending therefrom, at least one of said shaft members having a sufficient length for extending exterior of said butterfly valve; b) a housing having a first cylindrical through bore and a counterbore formed concentrically with said first through bore, said counterbore having a determined depth for providing a shelf portion, said housing having a first retaining flange and a second retaining flange, said first retaining flange being selectively contoured for engagement by a first quick coupling ring,PLUG VALVES said second retaining flange being selectively contoured for engagement by a second quick coupling ring, a transverse aperture being adapted for allowing said shaft member extending exterior of said butterfly valve to pass therethrough, c) a resilient valve seat having an outer diameter, a selectively contoured seat portion, and a pair of transverse shouldered apertures, said valve seat also having a determined length, said outer diameter being adapted to closely and removably seat into said counterbore, each transverse shouldered aperture having a determined depth and shape; d) a pair of bushing members, each of said bushing members being adapted for removably seating into its associated transverse shouldered aperture of said valve seat, each bushing member having a selected length which is greater than the determined depth of said shouldered aperture, with at least one face of each of said bushings being adapted for providing a face seal with its associated hub of said disc member; e) a clamping ring having a second through bore, an pilot diameter, and a third retaining flange, said second through bore being substantially equal in diameter to said first through bore, said pilot diameter of said clamping ring being adapted to removably seat in said counterbore while retaining said valve seat in a preferred arrangement between a face of said clamping ring and said shelf portion of said housing, said third retaining flange being sized and contoured for a coupled abutment with said second retaining flange of said housing by said second coupling ring; and said disc member being resiliently suspended only by said valve seat, each of said bushings being equally biased by said valve seat for providing said face seal with said hub while providing a self-centering of said disc member.Butterfly valves are well known in the prior art. Most of the known prior art include split housings which are held together by means of threaded fasteners. Many of these prior art butterfly valves are also attached to adjoining conduits and processing equipment by means of a plurality of threaded fasteners. The use of threaded fasteners usually requires the use of tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers and the like. It has been found that in many cases there is a need for a valve to be assembled or attached to adjoining equipment without the use of tools. This need has been identified particularly in the industries which require the sanitary processing of powders and the like. Such industries produce pharmaceuticals, baking ingredients, and blended food ingredients. As far as it is known none of the prior art butterfly valves provide a modular butterfly valve which may be quickly uncoupled from adjoining equipment. In addition none of the known prior art provide a means for easily and quickly disassembling the butterfly valve for cleaning and sanitizing. The present valve overcomes the stated limations of the known prior art, by providing a butterfly valve which includes a modular construction. This modular construction allows for assembly of the valve substantially without tools, while employing quick coupling and uncoupling properties.

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