Ball valve

• US 20040250862A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Maruta, Tomonori
• Granted Patent: US 7,089,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/625.47
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0873 the plug being only rotatable around one spindle
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0605 with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means
• CPC Class Codes: F16T 1/38 Component parts; Accessories valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86646 Plug type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86871 Plug

Abstract

The present invention is a ball valve which may be attached to a fluid pipe for connection/disconnection between an entrance and an exit. More particularly, the present invention is a ball valve having a discharge orifice communicating with ambient air in addition to the entrance and the exit for connection/disconnection between the entrance and the discharge orifice and/or between the exit and the discharge orifice. The ball valve of the present invention may be attached to piping systems such as, for example, the secondary side of a steam trap, which blocks steam but automatically discharges condensed water, and is used for checking a discharging state of the primary side steam trap and/or releasing remaining pressure on the secondary side.

Claims

1. A ball valve comprising:

a casing comprising an entrance, a valve chamber, an exit and a discharge orifice, wherein said discharge orifice communicates with ambient air when said ball valve is installed in a piping system;

a valve shaft hermetically passing through said casing;

a valve ball within said valve chamber connected to said valve shaft within said casing;

an entrance-side ring valve seat between said casing and said valve ball on the entrance side of said ball valve; and

an exit-side ring valve seat between said casing and said valve ball on the exit side of said ball valve, wherein said exit-side ring valve seat comprises a through hole passing through said exit-side ring valve seat between said valve ball and said discharge orifice in said casing;

said valve ball comprising;

a circulation hole through the valve ball, wherein said entrance in said casing is connected and disconnected to said exit in said casing by rotate-operating said valve shaft and said valve ball;

a first passage hole between said circulation hole and said entrance when said valve ball is positioned in a first disconnection state wherein said valve ball disconnects said entrance from said exit; and

a second passage hole between said circulation hole and said through hole in said exit-side ring valve seat when said valve ball is positioned in said first disconnection state.

2. The ball valve according to claim 1, wherein said first passage hole is at a right angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball.

3. The ball valve according to claim 2, wherein the central axis of said first passage passes through the center of said ball valve.

4. The ball valve according to claim 1, wherein said second passage hole is at a 45-degree angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball and the central axis of said second passage hole passes through the center of the valve ball.

5. The ball valve according to claim 4, wherein said through hole is parallel to a center line of said entrance and said exit.

6. The ball valve according to claim 1, wherein said first passage hole and said second passage hole are repositioned when said valve ball is rotated to a second disconnection state 180 degrees from said first disconnection state, said first passage hole repositioned between said circulation hole and said exit, and said second passage hole is disconnected from said through hole in said exit-side ring valve seat.

7. The ball valve according to claim 1, said valve ball further comprising a third passage hole between said circulation hole and said through hole in said exit-side ring valve seat when said valve ball is rotated to a second disconnection state 180 degrees from said first disconnection state.

8. The ball valve according to claim 7, wherein said first passage hole and said second passage hole are repositioned when said valve ball is rotated to said second disconnection state, said first passage hole repositioned between said circulation hole and said exit, and said second passage hole is disconnected from said through hole in said exit-side ring valve seat;

and

wherein said third passage hole is disconnected from said through hole in said exit-side ring valve seat when said ball valve is in said first disconnection state.

9. The ball valve according to claim 8, wherein said first passage hole is at a right angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball.

10. The ball valve according to claim 9, wherein the central axis of said first passage passes through the center of said ball valve.

11. The ball valve according to claim 8, wherein each of said second passage hole and said third passage hole is at a 45-degree angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball and the central axis of said second passage hole and of said third passage hole pass through the center of the valve ball.

12. The ball valve according to claim 11, wherein said through hole is parallel to a center line of said entrance and said exit.

13. A ball valve comprising:

a casing comprising an entrance, a valve chamber, an exit and a discharge orifice, wherein said discharge orifice communicates with ambient air when said ball valve is installed in a piping system;

a valve shaft hermetically passing through said casing;

a valve ball within said valve chamber connected to said valve shaft within said casing;

an entrance-side ring valve seat between said casing and said valve ball on the entrance side of said ball valve; and

an exit-side ring valve seat between said casing and said valve ball on the exit side of said ball valve, wherein said exit-side ring valve seat comprises a through hole passing through said exit-side ring valve seat between said valve ball and said discharge orifice in said casing;

said valve ball comprising;

a circulation hole through the valve ball, wherein said entrance in said casing is connected and disconnected to said exit in said casing by rotate-operating said valve shaft and said valve ball;

a first passage hole between said circulation hole and said entrance when said valve ball is positioned in a first disconnection state wherein said valve ball disconnects said entrance from said exit; and

a third passage hole between said circulation hole and said through hole in said exit-side ring valve seat when said valve ball is repositioned to second disconnection state 180 degrees from said first disconnection state;

wherein said first passage hole is between said circulation hole and said exit when said valve shaft and valve ball are in said second disconnected state.

14. The ball valve according to claim 13, wherein said first passage hole is at a right angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball.

15. The ball valve according to claim 14, wherein the central axis of said first passage passes through the center of said ball valve.

16. The ball valve according to claim 13, wherein said third passage hole is at a 45-degree angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball and the central axis of said third passage hole passes through the center of the valve ball.

17. The ball valve according to claim 16, wherein said through hole is parallel to a center line of said entrance and said exit.

18. A ball valve comprising:

a casing comprising an entrance, a valve chamber, an exit and a discharge orifice, wherein said discharge orifice communicates with ambient air when said ball valve is installed in a piping system;

a valve shaft hermetically passing through said casing;

a valve ball within said valve chamber connected to said valve shaft within said casing;

an entrance-side ring valve seat between said casing and said valve ball on the entrance side of said ball valve, wherein said entrance-side ring valve seat comprises a through hole passing through said entrance-side ring valve seat between said valve ball and said discharge orifice in said casing; and

an exit-side ring valve seat between said casing and said valve ball on the exit side of said ball valve,

said valve ball comprising;

a circulation hole through the valve ball, wherein said entrance in said casing is connected and disconnected to said exit in said casing by rotate-operating said valve shaft and said valve ball;

a first passage hole between said circulation hole and said entrance when said valve ball is positioned in a first disconnection state wherein said valve ball disconnects said entrance from said exit; and

a second passage hole between said circulation hole and said through hole in said entrance-side ring valve seat when said valve ball is positioned in said first disconnection state.

19. The ball valve according to claim 18, wherein said first passage hole is at a right angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball.

20. The ball valve according to claim 19, wherein the central axis of said first passage passes through the center of said ball valve.

21. The ball valve according to claim 18, wherein said second passage hole is at a 45-degree angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball and the central axis of said second passage hole passes through the center of the valve ball.

22. The ball valve according to claim 21, wherein said through hole is parallel to a center line of said entrance and said exit.

23. The ball valve according to claim 18, wherein said first passage hole and said second passage hole are repositioned when said valve ball is rotated to a second disconnection state 180 degrees from said first disconnection state, said first passage hole repositioned between said circulation hole and said exit, and said second passage hole is disconnected from said through hole in said entrance-side ring valve seat.

24. The ball valve according to claim 18, said valve ball further comprising a third passage hole between said circulation hole and said through hole in said entrance-side ring valve seat when said valve ball is rotated to a second disconnection state 180 degrees from said first disconnection state.

25. The ball valve according to claim 24, wherein said first passage hole and said second passage hole are repositioned when said valve ball is rotated to said second disconnection state, said first passage hole repositioned between said circulation hole and said exit, and said second passage hole is disconnected from said through hole in said entrance-side ring valve seat;

and

wherein said third passage hole is disconnected from said through hole in said entrance-side ring valve seat when said ball valve is in said first disconnection state.

26. The ball valve according to claim 25, wherein said first passage hole is at a right angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball.

27. The ball valve according to claim 26, wherein the central axis of said first passage passes through the center of said ball valve.

28. The ball valve according to claim 25, wherein each of said second passage hole and said third passage hole is at a 45-degree angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball and the central axis of said second passage hole and of said third passage hole pass through the center of the valve ball.

29. The ball valve according to claim 28, wherein said through hole is parallel to a center line of said entrance and said exit.

30. A ball valve comprising:

a casing comprising an entrance, a valve chamber, an exit and a discharge orifice, wherein said discharge orifice communicates with ambient air when said ball valve is installed in a piping system;

a valve shaft hermetically passing through said casing;

a valve ball within said valve chamber connected to said valve shaft within said casing;

an entrance-side ring valve seat between said casing and said valve ball on the entrance side of said ball valve, wherein said entrance-side ring valve seat comprises a through hole passing through said entrance-side ring valve seat between said valve ball and said discharge orifice in said casing; and

an exit-side ring valve seat between said casing and said valve ball on the exit side of said ball valve;

said valve ball comprising;

a circulation hole through the valve ball, wherein said entrance in said casing is connected and disconnected to said exit in said casing by rotate-operating said valve shaft and said valve ball,

a first passage hole between said circulation hole and said entrance when said valve ball is positioned in a first disconnection state wherein said valve ball disconnects said entrance from said exit, and

a third passage hole between said circulation hole and said through hole in said entrance-side ring valve seat when said valve ball is repositioned to second disconnection state 180 degrees from said first disconnection state,

wherein said first passage hole is between said circulation hole and said exit when said valve shaft and valve ball are in said second disconnected state.

31. The ball valve according to claim 30, wherein said first passage hole is at a right angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball.

32. The ball valve according to claim 31, wherein the central axis of said first passage passes through the center of said ball valve.

33. The ball valve according to claim 30, wherein said third passage hole is at a 45-degree angle to said circulation hole in said valve ball and the central axis of said third passage hole passes through the center of the valve ball.

34. The ball valve according to claim 33, wherein said through hole is parallel to a center line of said entrance and said exit.