Single flanged end ball valve of unitary construction

• US 20020195153A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NIBCO Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Webstone Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Reck, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,655,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/883
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets

Abstract

A ball valve unit for shutting off the flow of fluids flowing in heating and plumbing systems. The ball valve unit includes a ball valve and a main section including a flange formed integrally with the main section. A chamber is formed in the main section for receiving the ball of the ball valve. The main section is made of brass in order to prevent galvanic action between ball valve unit and the heating/plumbing system.

Claims

1. A ball valve unit comprising:

a main section formed of a rigid material;

a flange formed of said rigid material and as a continuous portion of said main section;

a ball valve including a ball;

a chamber formed in said main section for accommodating said ball of said ball valve; and

a handle for actuating said ball valve.

2. The ball valve unit of claim 1, wherein said ball valve unit further includes a gasket disposed adjacent to said flange for forming a seal between said flange and said appliance.

3. The ball valve unit of claim 1, wherein said main section is made of brass.

4. The ball valve unit of claim 1, further including an end cap attached to said main section.

5. The ball valve unit of claim 4, wherein said main section and said end cap are made of brass.

6. The ball valve unit of claim 1, wherein an outside surface of said flange is substantially flat.

7. The ball valve unit of claim 1, wherein said handle is wing-shaped.

8. The ball valve unit of claim 4, wherein an inner diameter of said chamber is substantially equal to an inner diameter of said end cap.

9. A ball valve unit comprising:

a main section formed of a rigid material;

a flange formed of said rigid material and as a continuous portion of said main section,

wherein said flange is adaptable to receive a gasket;

a ball valve including a ball;

a chamber formed in said main section for accommodating said ball of said ball valve; and

a handle for actuating said ball valve.

10. A ball valve unit comprising:

a main section formed of a rigid material;

a flange formed of said rigid material and as a continuous portion of said main section,

a ball valve including a ball;

a chamber formed in said main section for accommodating said ball of said ball valve;

a handle for actuating said ball valve; and

a drain valve formed in said main section for draining said ball valve unit.

11. The ball valve unit of claim 10, wherein said drain valve is disposed between said flange and said ball valve.

12. The ball valve unit of claim 10, wherein said main section is made of brass.

13. The ball valve unit of claim 10, further including an end cap attached to said main section.

14. The ball valve unit of claim 13, wherein said main section and said end cap are made of brass.

15. The ball valve unit of claim 10, wherein an outside surface of said flange is substantially flat.

16. The ball valve unit of claim 10, wherein said handle is wing-shaped.

17. The ball valve unit of claim 13, wherein an inner diameter of said chamber is substantially equal to an inner diameter of said end cap.