Y-manifold valve
First Claim
1. A valve, comprising:
- a one piece, substantially Y-shaped body including a main member, a first branch, and a second branch, the first and second branches extending outwardly from the main member;
a single ball rotatably disposed within the body, the ball including a plurality of flow ports operable to provide fluid communication between the main member and a selectable one of the first and second branches;
wherein a longitudinal centerline of each of the first and second branches define an included angle less than 90 degrees.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve includes a one piece, Y-shaped body including a main member, a first branch having a first branch flow passage and a second branch having a second branch flow passage. The first and second branches extend outwardly from the main member. A single ball is rotatably disposed within the body. The ball includes a common flow port alignable with the first flow passage in a first rotated position and with the second flow passage in a second rotated position. A ball first flow port open to the common flow port is alignable with the main member in the first rotated position. A ball second flow port open to the common flow port is alignable with the main member in the second rotated position. First and second branch longitudinal centerlines define an included angle less than 90 degrees.
40 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A valve, comprising:
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a one piece, substantially Y-shaped body including a main member, a first branch, and a second branch, the first and second branches extending outwardly from the main member;
a single ball rotatably disposed within the body, the ball including a plurality of flow ports operable to provide fluid communication between the main member and a selectable one of the first and second branches;
wherein a longitudinal centerline of each of the first and second branches define an included angle less than 90 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A valve, comprising:
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a one piece, substantially Y-shaped body including a main member, a first branch having a first branch flow passage, and a second branch having a second branch flow passage, the first and second branches extending outwardly from the main member;
a single ball rotatably disposed within the body, the ball including;
a common flow port alignable with the first branch flow passage in a first rotated position and alignable with the second branch flow passage in a second rotated position;
a first flow port open to the common flow port and alignable with the main member in the first rotated position; and
a second flow port open to the common flow port and alignable with the main member in the second rotated position;
wherein a longitudinal centerline of each of the first and second branches define an included angle less than 90 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for constructing a valve, the valve including a substantially Y-shaped body having a main member and first and second branches, the first branch including a first branch flow passage and the second branch including a second branch flow port, a single ball having a common flow port and first and second flow ports open to the common flow port, and a tailpiece defining a main flow port, the method including:
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restricting rotation of the ball between a first and a second rotated position; and
configuring the common flow port to be operably alignable with the first branch flow passage in the first rotated position and to operably align with the second branch flow passage in the second rotated position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification