VALVE

• US 3,762,682 A
• Filed: 11/18/1971
• Issued: 10/02/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald L. Franck
• Original Assignee: Donald L. Franck
• Inventors: Franck, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Klinksiek, Henry T.
• Application Number:
  US05/199,927
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 251/124,315,209
• US Class Current: 251/124
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0605 with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/10 Means for additional adjustment of the rate of flow

Abstract

A precision fluid control ball valve including a ball having an opening therethrough with a circular opening at its outlet end cooperating with a circular outlet valve housing port to provide for a variable outlet opening between valve open and valve closed positions and with the ball opening being progressively larger from its outlet to its inlet end so that the inlet end is fully open to the inlet valve housing port for all positions of the valve between its fully open and fully closed positions to provide for linear or laminar fluid flow through the valve for all said positions.

Claims

1. A precision fluid control ball valve comprising a valve housing having an inlet port anD an outlet port aligned in spaced relation along an axis and of substantially equal diameter, a ball having a funnel-shaped opening therethrough having an inlet end and an outlet end sealingly and rotatably supported between said inlet and outlet ports, said opening being progressively larger from said outlet end to said inlet end said inlet end being larger than said inlet port, means for rotating said ball between a fully open position when said outlet end is fully aligned with said outlet port and a fully closed position when said outlet end is fully out of alignment with said outlet port, said inlet end being sufficiently larger than said inlet port so that said inlet end is fully open to said inlet port in all positions of said ball between said fully open and said fully closed positions so that the fluid may pass through said valve substantially linearly for all positions of said ball between said fully open and fully closed positions.

2. A precision fluid control valve comprising a valve housing having an inlet port and an outlet port of substantially equal diameter aligned in spaced relation along a first axis, an annular seal bearing adjacent said inlet port and an annular seal bearing adjacent said outlet port in spaced relation within said housing along said first axis, a ball having a funnel-shaped opening therethrough having an inlet end and an outlet end rotatable and sealingly supported between said seal bearings, a stem rotatably mounted in said housing and connected to said ball operative to rotate said ball about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, said ball opening being disposed on a third axis perpendicular to said second axis and said ball being rotatable between a fully open position when said ball opening axis is in alignment with said first axis and a fully closed position when said opening outlet end is moved entirely out of alignment with the outlet port, said ball opening being progressively larger from said outlet end to said inlet end with said inlet end being sufficiently larger than said inlet port so that said inlet end is substantially fully open to said inlet port when said ball is rotated between said fully open position and said closed position.

3. The valve of claim 2 wherein said inlet end of said opening is generally elliptical and one wall of said opening is substantially parallel to said third axis and the opposite wall thereof is oblique thereto.