Segmented ball control valve with universal end connections

• US 20050205824A1
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles Agnew Osborne
• Original Assignee: Charles Agnew Osborne
• Inventors: Osborne, Charles Agnew
• Application Number:
  US10/878,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20050205824A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/305
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs

Abstract

A segmented ball control valve assembly for controlling fluid flowing in a piping system having a ball valve seat retainer rigidly affixed to the valve body and providing universal end connections. The universal end connections include both a screw-type end connection and a wafer-type end connection. The segmented ball control valve can be used without modification in a threaded NPT piping system or a flanged piping system. The wafer-type connection is provided by the rigidly affixed ball valve seat retainer on the inlet end of the valve assembly. A ball valve seat isolates the ball valve body from the ball valve seat retainer. A solid graphite seat provides the primary sealing component between the ball and ball valve seat.

Claims

1. A segmented ball control valve assembly for controlling fluid flowing in a piping system, comprising:

a valve body; and

a ball valve seat retainer rigidly affixed to the valve body and providing universal end connections.

2. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the universal end connections comprise a screw-type end connection.

3. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the universal end connections comprise a wafer-type end connection.

4. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a ball valve seat to isolate the valve body and the ball valve seat retainer.

5. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 2 wherein the type of end connection used depends on an intended installation of the valve assembly.

6. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 2 wherein the screw-type end connection is used with a threaded NPT piping system.

7. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 3 wherein the wafer-type end connection is used with a flanged piping system.

8. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat retainer is bolted on to the valve body.

9. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the seat retainer enables the valve assembly to be installed, removed from a flanged piping system, and re-installed without use or replacement of a seal retainer gasket.

10. The segmented ball control valve of claim 4 wherein the ball valve seat comprises solid graphite.

11. The segmented ball control valve of claim 2 wherein the seat retainer and a valve outlet connection are drilled and tapped to accept male NPT threads and finished to accept an ANSI standard flange with a smooth finish designation.

12. The segmented ball control valve of claim 11 wherein the wafer finish is comparable to a surface finish from about 125 root mean square (rms) to about 250 rms.

13. A segmented ball control valve assembly for controlling fluid flowing in a piping system, comprising a valve body;

and universal end connections providing interchangeable use of the valve assembly in a plurality of piping systems without modification to the valve assembly.

14. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 13 wherein the segmented control valve can be used in a threaded piping system or a flanged piping system.

15. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 13 wherein the universal end connections are provided by a ball valve seat retainer rigidly affixed to the valve body.

16. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 13 wherein the universal end connections comprise a screw-type end connection.

17. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 13 wherein the universal end connections comprise a wafer-type end connection.

18. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 13 further comprising a graphite ball valve seat.

19. A segmented ball control valve assembly for controlling fluid flowing in a threaded piping system, comprising a valve body;

and a ball valve seat retainer rigidly affixed to the valve body and including a screw-type end connection.

20. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 19 wherein the seat retainer is bolted on to the valve body.

21. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 19 further comprising a graphite ball valve seat.

22. The segmented ball control valve assembly of claim 19 wherein the piping system is a threaded NPT piping system.

23. A segmented ball control valve assembly for controlling fluid flowing in a piping system, comprising:

a valve body;

a ball valve seat retainer rigidly fastened to the valve body, wherein the seat retainer provides both a screw-type and a wafer-type end connection; and

a graphite ball valve seat that functions as a gasket between the valve body and seat retainer.