Ball valve with improved vent structure
First Claim
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1. An improved ball valve comprising:
- a valve body having a fluid passage therethrough;
a valve ball element having a central passage;
a pair of annular seals positioned in said body, one on each side of said valve ball element, each said seal surrounding said fluid passage;
means for rotatably supporting said ball element within said body and in engagement with said seal;
for closing said valve when said central passage is transverse to said fluid passage; and
for opening said valve when said central passage is aligned with said fluid passage;
a first vent passage through said valve body and through one of said annular seals, said first vent passage being blocked by said ball element when said valve is open;
a flow restrictor element positioned between said valve body and said one seal, said restrictor element having a bore forming a portion of said first vent passage; and
a second vent passage through said ball element, said second vent passage being connected with said first vent passage and said fluid passage on one side of said ball element when said valve is closed,whereby fluid under pressure on said one side of said ball element is vented to the exterior of said valve body when said valve is closed.
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Abstract
A ball valve is disclosed in which, in the closed position of the valve, a vent passage (74) extends through the ball element (22) and communicates with a further vent passage (58, 60, 62) extending through an annular seal (28) and the body (12) of the valve. See FIG. 1.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An improved ball valve comprising:
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a valve body having a fluid passage therethrough; a valve ball element having a central passage; a pair of annular seals positioned in said body, one on each side of said valve ball element, each said seal surrounding said fluid passage; means for rotatably supporting said ball element within said body and in engagement with said seal;
for closing said valve when said central passage is transverse to said fluid passage; and
for opening said valve when said central passage is aligned with said fluid passage;a first vent passage through said valve body and through one of said annular seals, said first vent passage being blocked by said ball element when said valve is open; a flow restrictor element positioned between said valve body and said one seal, said restrictor element having a bore forming a portion of said first vent passage; and a second vent passage through said ball element, said second vent passage being connected with said first vent passage and said fluid passage on one side of said ball element when said valve is closed, whereby fluid under pressure on said one side of said ball element is vented to the exterior of said valve body when said valve is closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification