BALL VALVE WITH INTEGRATED FITTING

• US 20170328480A1
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red-White Valve Corporation (VIR Valvoindustria Ing. Rizzio S.P.A.)
• Original Assignee: Red-White Valve Corporation (VIR Valvoindustria Ing. Rizzio S.P.A.)
• Inventors: RIZZIO, GIOVANNI
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0605 with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0657 Particular coverings or materials

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.

Claims

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.

2. The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises two valve seats located on opposite sides of the ball, and wherein body holds the fitting in a position against the cartridge to seat the valve seats and the ball.

3. The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a cartridge body having a first end, a second end, and a cavity at the second end for receiving the ball, and a cap member, wherein the cap member is configured to be at least partially inserted in the second end of the cartridge body to maintain the ball in the cartridge body.

4. The ball valve of claim 3, wherein the cartridge comprises a channel extending from the first end of the cartridge body through an end of the cap member, wherein the fitting comprises an inner wall defining a passage, and wherein at least a portion of the passage of the fitting is aligned with the channel of the cartridge.

5. The ball valve of claim 4, wherein the ball comprises a first end, a second end, and a bore extending through the first and second ends, wherein the body comprises a port at an end of the body opposite to the fitting, and wherein the ball is rotatable from a first position wherein the port is in fluid communication with the passage of the fitting, to a second position wherein the ball prevents fluid communication between the port and the passage of the fitting.

6. The ball valve of claim 3, further comprising a valve stem configured to couple to the ball and rotate the ball inside the cartridge.

7. The ball valve of claim 6, wherein the cartridge body comprises a bore connecting an interior of the cartridge body to outside of the cartridge body, and wherein the valve stem is located at least partially in bore of the cartridge body.

8. The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the fitting is made of brass and the cartridge is made of polypropylene random copolymer.

9. The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the cartridge and the body are made of the same material.

10. The ball valve of claim 9, wherein the material of the cartridge and the body is polypropylene random copolymer.

11. The ball valve of claim 1, further comprising a second fitting, wherein the body encapsulates at least a portion of the second fitting.

12. A ball valve comprising:

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.

13. The ball valve of claim 12, wherein the fitting is made of brass and the valve body is made of polypropylene random copolymer.

14. The ball valve of claim 12, wherein the body comprises a port at an end of the valve body opposite to the fitting, wherein the fitting comprises an inner wall defining a passage, and wherein the ball is rotatable from a first position wherein the port is in fluid communication with the passage of the fitting, to a second position wherein the ball prevents fluid communication between the port and the passage of the fitting.

15. The ball valve of claim 12, further comprising a second fitting, the second fitting located adjacent one of the valve seats and extending in a direction along the channel of the valve body, the second fitting having a plurality of ribs that are spaced apart in the direction along the channel.

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:

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.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of placing the cartridge and fitting into a coaxial alignment in the mold template further comprises placing the second valve seat at the second end of the ball opposite to the first valve seat;

and applying a compressive force to the fitting and transferring the force to the valve seats to seat both of the valve seats.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of placing the cartridge and fitting into a coaxial alignment comprises placing a cartridge cap between the first valve seat and the fitting, wherein the cartridge cap is received in an opening of the cartridge body;

and wherein the step of applying a compressive force to the fitting comprises contacting the cartridge cap with the fitting.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of placing the cartridge and fitting into a coaxial alignment comprises placing a valve seat in a groove of the cartridge cap prior to placing the cartridge cap in the opening of the cartridge body.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising overmolding the cartridge body, cartridge cap, and fitting such that the cartridge body and cartridge cap fuse together and the cartridge cap, cartridge body, and fitting are at least partially encapsulated by molding material.