BALL VALVE WITH INTEGRATED FITTING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A ball valve comprising:
- a cartridge having at least two pieces and a rotatable ball located inside the cartridge;
a fitting of a material different from the cartridge; and
a body overmolded to encapsulate at least a portion of the cartridge and the fitting, the body holding the fitting in a position against the cartridge to maintain the at least two pieces of the cartridge together in a closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments provide a fitting that is integrated into the valve body of a ball valve during the manufacture of the valve body. The fitting and a cartridge may be overmolded to create the valve body. The mold may apply a pressure onto the fitting during the molding process. The fitting may transfer the pressure of the mold onto the cartridge. The fitting may transfer a sufficient amount of force to seal valve seats of the ball valve.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A ball valve comprising:
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a cartridge having at least two pieces and a rotatable ball located inside the cartridge; a fitting of a material different from the cartridge; and a body overmolded to encapsulate at least a portion of the cartridge and the fitting, the body holding the fitting in a position against the cartridge to maintain the at least two pieces of the cartridge together in a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A ball valve comprising:
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a valve body having two ends and a channel extending between the two ends; a ball located inside of the valve body, the ball having a bore extending through the ball from a first end of the ball to a second end of the ball; two valve seats, wherein a first seat is adjacent the first end of the ball and a second seat is adjacent the second end of the ball; and a fitting made of a material different than the valve body integrated into the valve body, the fitting located adjacent and spaced apart from one of the valve seats and extending in a direction along the channel of the valve body, the fitting having a plurality of ribs that are spaced apart in the direction along the channel; wherein the plurality of ribs are configured to prevent translation and rotation of the fitting relative to the valve body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of manufacturing a ball valve, the ball valve comprising a cartridge having a cartridge body, a ball having a bore extending therethrough from a first end of the ball to a second end of the ball, a first valve seat adjacent the first end of the ball and a second valve seat adjacent the second end of the ball, and a fitting integrated into the ball valve, the method comprising:
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placing the cartridge and fitting into a coaxial alignment in a mold template wherein the first valve seat is between the ball and the fitting; and applying a compressive force to the fitting and transferring the force to the valve seats to seat at least one of the valve seats against the ball. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification