Wedgeball valve

• US 4,440,380 A
• Filed: 04/28/1982
• Issued: 04/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACF Industries Holding Corporation (Icahn Associates Holding LLC)
• Original Assignee: ACF Industries Holding Corporation (Icahn Associates Holding LLC)
• Inventors: Behle, Gunter R., Hrinsin, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, A. Michael
• Application Number:
  US06/372,590
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 251/176, 251/162, 251/163, 251/160, 251/192, 251/144
• US Class Current: 251/144
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/07 of cutting-off parts of tanks, e.g. tank-cars
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0615 the angle the spindle makes with the housing being other than 90 degrees
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0647 Spindles or actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/204 with the plugs or parts of the plugs mechanically pressing the seals against the housing

Abstract

At least one ball valve segment is located within a partial valve cage mounted within a tank. The cage is integral with a valve housing removably mounted within a tank mounting flange. The housing includes an inclined sealing surface which the ball valve segment engages in closed position. A lading outlet chamber is located below the inclined sealing surface. An operating shaft is inclined with respect to the outlet chamber. Inclined openings are provided in the valve housing and in the outlet chamber through which the operating shaft passes. The operating shaft includes an eccentric head which is located within a non-round slot in the ball valve segment. Rotation of the operating shaft rotates the eccentric head which drives the valve segment between open and closed positions. Preferably a pair of ball valve segments located approximately 180° apart are connected with supports or ribs. The valve segment which closes the opening into the discharge chamber is larger. The contour of the eccentric head is such that the smaller valve segment is located outwardly from the center of the discharge opening in the valve housing when the larger valve segment is in open position to minimize flow restriction. The smaller valve segment is cam shaped to urge the larger portion into closed and sealed position.

Claims

1. A valve assembly comprising:

at least two spaced ball valve segments located within a valve housing mounted within a tank;

said housing including a cage extending into said tank and having an inclined sealing surface which at least are of said ball valve segments engages in closed position;

a lading outlet chamber located below said inclined sealing surface and being in fluid communication with the passage through said cage;

an operating shaft inclined with respect to the axis of said outlet chamber;

said operating shaft passing through inclined openings provided in the valve housing and in the outlet chamber;

said operating shaft including connecting means for drivably engaging and rotating said ball valve segments;

whereby movement of the operating shaft rotates said valve segments between open and closed positions, whereby one of said segments seats on said sealing surface in said closed position.

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said segments are located approximately 180°

apart and are connected with supports or ribs.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein said second segment comprises a cam surface to move said larger segment into closed and seated position.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein the valve segment which closes the opening into the discharge chamber is larger.

5. A valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein said operating shaft includes an eccentric head located within a non-round opening in said valve segment.

6. A valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein the contour of the eccentric is such that the smaller valve segment is located outwardly from the center of the discharge opening in the valve housing when the larger valve segment is in open position.

7. A valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing is mounted within a tank mounting flange.

8. A valve assembly comprising:

at least two spaced apart ball valve segments located within a valve housing mounted within a tank;

said housing including a cage extending into said tank having an inclined sealing surface which at least one of said ball valve segments engages in closed position;

a lading outlet chamber located below said inclined sealing surface, and being in fluid communication with the passage through said cage;

an operating shaft inclined with respect to the axis outlet chamber;

said operating shaft passing through inclined openings provided in the valve housing and in the outlet chamber;

said operating shaft including connectng means for drivably engaging and rotating said ball valve segment;

said operating shaft including an eccentric head located within a non-round opening in at least one of said valve segments;

whereby movement of the operating shaft rotates the valve segments between open and closed positions, whereby one of said segments seats on said sealing surface in said closed position.

9. A valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein the contour of the eccentric is such that the smaller valve segment is located outwardly from the center of the discharge opening in the valve housing when the larger valve segment is in open position.

10. A valve assembly comprising:

at least a pair of spaced ball valve segments located within a valve housing mounted within a tank including a cage located within said tank;

said segments located approximately 180°

apart and connected with supports or ribs, and including a larger segment and a smaller segment;

said cage including an inclined sealing surface larger which the ball valve segment engages in closed position;

a lading outlet chamber located below said inclined sealing surface, and being in fluid communication with the passage through said cage;

an operating shaft inclined with respect to the axis outlet chamber;

said operating shaft passing through inclined openings provided in the valve housing and in the outlet chamber;

said operating shaft including connecting means for drivably engaging and rotating said ball valve segments;

whereby movement of the operating shaft drives the valve segments between open and closed positions.

11. A valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein said smaller segment comprises a cam surface to move said larger segment into closed and sealed position.

12. A valve assembly according to claim 11, wherein said operating shaft includes an eccentric head located within a non-round opening in said valve segment.

13. A valve assembly according to claim 11, wherein the contour of the eccentric is such that the smaller valve segment is located outwardly from the center of the discharge opening in the valve housing when the larger valve segment is in open position.