Eccentric ball type valve

• US 4,164,343 A
• Filed: 09/12/1977
• Issued: 08/14/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry Vogt Machine Co.
• Original Assignee: Henry Vogt Machine Co.
• Inventors: Graebner, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Cline, William R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spiegel, H. Jay
• Application Number:
  US05/832,167
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 251/315, 251/160, 251/161, 251/192, 251/287, 251/298, 251/306, 137/315, 29/157.1 R
• US Class Current: 251/315.07
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/24 with valve members that, on opening of the valve, are initially lifted from the seat and next are turned around an axis parallel to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/204 with the plugs or parts of the plugs mechanically pressing the seals against the housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6038 Particular valve seat or interface seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49421 including metallurgical bonding

Abstract

A ball type valve for high pressure lines is designed so that the spherical valve member is offset from the centerline of the valve stem in such a manner that the spherical valve member in the open position has a cylindrical fluid passage in parallel alignment with the flow axis of the inlet and outlet passages, but in the closed position is transversely disposed across the valve chamber so that the cylindrical flow passage is perpendicular to the flow axis of the inlet and outlet passages. Due to the eccentric placement of the valve stem onto the spherical valve member, and the eccentric placement of the bore of the bonnet in which the valve stem rotates relative to the centerline of the bonnet, and the eccentric placement of the bonnet opening relative to the centerline of the inlet and outlet passages, the spherical valve member rotates in an arc from open position to closed position so as to approach the valve seat tangentially with a wiping motion and at an angle of approach so that the spherical valve member is self-locking. Further, the design of the valve is such that in open position, the surface of the spherical valve member engages the wall of the valve chamber to prevent further rotation. This eliminates the need for an external stop and prevents rotation of the spherical valve member beyond the full open position.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

A. a casing, having aligned inlet and outlet passages, a bonnet opening, at right angles to the axis of said inlet and outlet passages, a valve chamber for provision of a valve member to effect closure, an annular valve seat surrounding one of said passages;

B. a bonnet for said casing, said bonnet having a bore axially aligned parallel to the centerline of said bonnet opening;

C. a valve stem rotatably journaled in the bore of said bonnet and extending into said casing at one end and projecting out of said casing at the other;

D. packing surrounding said valve stem;

E. a spherical valve member, having a cylindrical fluid passage therethrough and mounted on said valve stem for movement between an open position in which said cylindrical fluid passage is in parallel axial alignment with said axis of said inlet and outlet passages and a closed position in which said cylindrical fluid passage is disposed transversely across said valve chamber, normal to said axis of said aligned inlet and outlet passages, and

F. means to rotate said valve stem;

G. said spherical valve member being mounted so that its centerline is offset relative to the centerline of said stem;

H. the improvement wherein;

1. the centerline of said bonnet opening is offset from the axis of said inlet and outlet passages, and

2. said stem is mounted so that its centerline is offset from the centerline of said bonnet, and

3. the spherical valve member moves in an arc between open and closed positions, so as to engage the valve seat tangentially with a wiping action and defines an angle of approach to said valve seat of greater than 0°

so as to be self-locking;

I. the further combination therewith of;

1. movement means including the co-action of the bore of said bonnet and the stem of said valve member responsive to the rotation of said bonnet for moving said spherical valve member in an effective straight line into seating and engagement with said seat during assembly; and

2. means for permanently securing said bonnet in fixed position.

2. A valve, as defined in claim 1, in which:

A. the bore of said bonnet, has a centerline which is offset from the centerline of said bonnet and from the centerline of said spherical valve member; and

B. said bore has a larger internal diameter than the external diameter of said stem to allow for effective straight-line movement of said stem during assembly of said valve.

3. A valve, as defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said spherical valve member is free floating in the direction of the centerline of said valve stem and is attached only to said stem.

4. A valve, as defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein the spherical valve member in full open position engages the inside wall of the valve cavity and acts as a backstop for said spherical valve member to prevent further rotation thereof.

5. A valve, as defined in claim 1, the further improvement in which said means for turning said valve stem is a handle disposed in parallel alignment with the axis of said cylindrical fluid passage of said spherical valve member.

6. A method of assembling a valve from an assemblage of complementary parts which includes:

A. a casing, having aligned inlet and outlet passages, a valve chamber opening at the top, the centerline of said opening being offset from the axis of said aligned inlet and outlet passages and an annular valve seat surrounding one of said passages;

B. a bonnet for said opening, said bonnet having a bore extending through said bonnet with its centerline offset relative to the axis of said aligned inlet and outlet passages;

C. a valve stem,

D. a spherical valve member, having a cylindrical fluid passages therethrough,

E. movement means including the co-action of said valve stem and the bore of said bonnet, responsive to the rotation of said bonnet,

F. the stems which comprise;

1. attaching said spherical valve member to said valve stem so that the centerline of the spherical valve member is offset relative to the centerline of said valve stem;

2. inserting said spherical valve member through said opening at the top of said valve casing into said valve chamber and aligning said spherical valve member so that said cylindrical fluid passage lies perpendicular to the axis of said aligned inlet and outlet passages;

3. placing said bonnet into position in the opening at the top of said valve chamber with said valve stem protruding through the bore of said bonnet;

4. holding said valve stem and said spherical valve member in position and rotating said bonnet until the spherical valve member engages said seat in sealing engagement,

5. permanently securing said bonnet into position in said valve casing and

6. inserting packing around said valve stem and securing said packing into place.