Fluid system device

• US 3,981,482 A
• Filed: 12/20/1974
• Issued: 09/21/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Whitey Research Tool Company
• Original Assignee: Whitey Research Tool Company
• Inventors: Koch, Ulrich H., Matousek, Stephen, Gallagher, Bernard J., Callahan, Francis J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cline, William R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spiegel, H. Jay
• Application Number:
  US05/534,607
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 251/148, 251/150, 251/151, 251/152, 251/315, 137/454.2
• US Class Current: 251/152
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/067 with spherical plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0631 between two flanges
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/006 Attachments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7504 Removable valve head and seat unit

Abstract

The specification and drawings disclose a ball valve designed to be highly reliable and easily maintained. The disclosed valve comprises an intermediate body section positioned between a pair of end fittings which are connected to the body by a plurality of longitudinally extending tie bolts. The tie bolts are arranged so that with removal of one, preferably color-coded or otherwise identified, the body can be pivoted outwardly from between the end fittings. The valve further includes seal assemblies axially removable from the ends of the intermediate body section and arranged to provide a seal between the end fittings and the body as well as between the body and an internally mounted valve ball. An improved stem seal and operating handle assembly for the valve are also provided in the valve.

Claims

1. A flow system device comprising:

a body section having a longitudinal through-flow passage which extends between a pair of generally parallel end faces, said body section having seal ring assemblies positioned about each end of said through-flow passage and which seal ring assemblies are axially removable from said body section, said body section further having a protrusion extending outwardly thereof substantially longitudinally therealong;

a pair of end fitting members each having a through opening, said end members being positioned on opposed ends of said body section in engagement with the end faces thereof with said through openings aligned with said through-flow passage;

four tie bolts extending between said end fittings for interconnecting said body section and end fittings, said tie bolts being positioned generally equidistantly apart from each other around said end fittings to form a generally rectangular pattern radially disposed from said through-flow passage and extending generally parallel thereto, said tie bolts being comprised of a pair of upper and a pair of lower tie bolts, one of said lower tie bolts extending through said body section with the remaining tie bolts located radially outward of the body and said protrusion engaging the other of said lower tie bolts, said tie bolts being spaced in said end fittings such that removal of the upper tie bolt disposed diagonally opposite said other lower tie bolt and loosening of the remainder of the tie bolts permits arcuate movement of said body section about said one lower tie bolt for gaining access to the through-flow passage of said body section.

2. The flow system device as defined in claim 1 wherein said protrusion defines a wrench flat and facilitates gripping of said body section on opposite sides thereof by a conventional wrench without engaging said tie bolts.

3. The flow system device as defined in claim 1 wherein said body section has a uniform cross-sectional configuration in all planes perpendicular to the axis of said through-flow passage.

4. A valve comprising:

a body section having a longitudinal through-flow passage which extends between a pair of generally parallel end faces, said body section having a ball member mounted therein and seal assemblies positioned about each end of said through-flow passage, said seal assemblies being axially removable from said body section, said body section further having a protrusion extending outwardly thereof substantially longitudinally therealong;

a pair of end fitting members each having a through opening, said end members being positioned on opposed ends of said body section in engagement with the end faces thereof with said through openings aligned with said through-flow passage;

four tie bolts extending between said end fittings for interconnecting said body section and end fittings, said tie bolts being positioned generally equidistantly apart from each other around said end fittings to form a generally rectangular pattern radially disposed from said through-flow passage and extending generally parallel thereto, said tie bolts being comprised of a pair of upper and a pair of lower tie bolts, one of said lower tie bolts extending through said body section with the remaining tie bolts located radially outward of the body and said protrusion engaging the other of said lower tie bolts, said tie bolts being positioned in said end fittings such that removal of the upper tie bolt disposed diagonally opposite said other lower tie bolt and loosening of the remainder of the tie bolts permits arcuate movement of said body section about said one lower tie bolt for gaining access to the through-flow passage of said body section.

5. The ball valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said seal assemblies include a first portion for sealing between said body section and said end member and a second portion for sealing between said body section and said ball member.

6. The ball valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said body section has a uniform cross-sectional configuration in all planes perpendicular to the axis of said through-flow passage.

7. The ball valve as defined in claim 6 including a rib member extending outwardly of said body section generally longitudinally therealong and having opposed side walls;

and,

a ball actuating stem extending through said rib into engagement with said ball.

8. The ball valve as defined in claim 7 including a packing ring carried in said rib and located about said stem and means carried on said stem for compressing said packing.

9. The ball valve as defined in claim 6 including a flange portion extending from said body toward said stem, said stem having an outwardly extending flange located radially inward of said body flange and a bearing member positioned between said flanges.

10. The valve as defined in claim 7 including a handle member connected to the outer end of said stem:

and,

stop members extending from said handle for engagement with said rib at predetermined points of handle rotation.

11. The valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said ball member is engaged by a stem extending radially through said body section, said stem being slidably connected with said ball whereby said ball can be removed axially from said bore.

12. The valve as defined in claim 11 including axially removable seal ring assemblies positioned in each end of said through-flow passage and having seat ring portions engage the outer surface of said ball.

13. The ball valve as defined in claim 4 wherein said protrusion defines a wrench flat and facilitates gripping of said body section on opposite sides thereof by a conventional wrench without engaging said tie bolts.

14. A ball valve comprising:

a body section terminating in end faces and having a longitudinally extending bore connected between said end faces with a ball member positioned in said bore and mounted for rotation therein to control flow of fluid therethrough;

a pair of end fitting members each having a through opening, said end members being positioned on opposed ends of said body section in engagement with said end faces with the through openings aligned with said bore, said through openings having a smaller diameter than said bore and defining inwardly facing annular shoulders at the interconnection between said end fitting members and said main body section; and

,

seal assemblies positioned in opposite ends of said bore adjacent said inwardly extending shoulders, each of said seal assemblies comprised of (1) an annular seat ring formed from a resilient material and having a main body portion including an outwardly facing surface in engagement with one of said inwardly extending shoulders and an outer peripheral surface, said seat ring further including a distinct free standing resilient lip portion extending inwardly toward said ball in a radially outward direction for engagement therewith, (2) a metal sleeve member closely encircling said outer peripheral surface of said seat ring and slidably received in an annular recess formed about the end of said bore and having an inner end wall with the innermost end of said sleeve engaging said recess inner end wall, and (3) a resilient seal ring member encircling said sleeve member.

15. The valve as described in claim 14 wherein said metal sleeve member includes an axially extending recess in the inner peripheral wall thereof which receives the outer peripheral surface of said seat ring.

16. The valve as described in claim 14 wherein said resilient seal ring is received in a groove defined by said sleeve member and a counterbored area in said body section end face communicating with said body section bore.

17. The valve as defined in claim 16 wherein the cross-sectional diameter of said seal ring is slightly greater than the correspondinng depth of said groove.

18. A valve comprising:

a body section having a longitudinal through-flow passage which extends between a pair of generally parallel end faces, said body section having a ball member mounted therein and seal assemblies positioned about each end of said through-flow passage, said seal assemblies being axially removable from said body section, said body section further having a protrusion extending outwardly thereof substantially longitudinally therealong;

a pair of end fitting members each having a through opening, said end members being positioned on opposed ends of said body section in engagement with the end faces thereof with said through openings aligned with said through-flow passage;

at least three tie bolts extending between said end fittings for interconnecting said body section and end fittings with said tie bolts being spaced apart from each other around said end fittings, one of said tie bolts extending through said body section with the remaining tie bolts located radially outward of the body and said protusion engaging another of said tie bolts, said at least three tie bolts being spaced apart in said end fittings such that removal of a single tie bolt other than said one and said another tie bolts and loosening of the remainder of said at least three tie bolts permits arcuate movement of said body section about said one tie bolt for gaining access to the through-flow passage of said body section.

19. A flow system device comprising:

a body section having a longitudinal through-flow passage which extends between a pair of generally parallel end faces, said body section having seal ring assemblies positioned about each end of said through-flow passage and which seal ring assemblies are axially removable from said body section, said body section further having a protrusion extending outwardly thereof substantially longitudinally therealong;

a pair of end fitting members each having a through opening, said end members being positioned on opposed ends of said body section in engagement with the end faces thereof with said through openings aligned with said through-flow passage;

at least three tie bolts extending between said end fittings for interconnecting said body section and end fittings with said tie bolts being spaced apart from each other around said end fittings, one of said tie bolts extending through said body section with the remaining tie bolts located radially outward of the body and said protrusion engaging another of said tie bolts, said at least three tie bolts being spaced apart in said end fittings such that removal of a single tie bolt other than said one and said another tie bolts and loosening of the remainder of said at least three tie bolts permits arcuate movement of said body section about said one tie bolt for gaining access to the through-flow passage of said body section.