Drain through ball valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid control valve comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet at one end, an outlet at the other end, and a cylindrical flow bore extending between the inlet and outlet for communicating fluid through the valve body within the inner diameter defined between the walls of said cylindrical flow bore;
a ball shaft assembly including a spherical shaped ball and a shaft for rotating the ball;
said spherical shaped ball having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said cylindrical flow bore;
said spherical shaped ball including a pair of symmetrical grooves on respective opposite outer surfaces of said ball;
said grooves each extending less than 180°
around the outer surfaces of said ball to define opposite symmetrical narrow spherical surfaces joined with opposite symmetrical wider spherical surfaces forming respective fluid sealing surfaces for blocking the flow of fluid;
mounting means for mounting said ball shaft assembly to said valve body with said shaft angularly disposed with respect to said valve body and with said spherical shaped ball engaged in a movable interference fit within said valve body cylindrical flow bore, with said respective fluid sealing surfaces sealingly contacting the walls of said flow bore;
said shaft being rotatable to rotate said spherical shaped ball from, (1) a first position blocking the passage of fluid through the valve wherein all of the fluid sealing surfaces on the ball narrow and wider spherical surfaces sealingly contact the walls of said flow bore in an unbroken seal line, to (2) a second position opening the passage of fluid through the valve wherein at least only the respective fluid sealing surfaces on the ball wider spherical surfaces sealingly contact the walls of said flow bore and fluid can flow only through each of said grooves.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid control valve with a rotatable shaft and a ball valve mounted within a flow bore. The ball has one or more V-shaped grooves for controlling fluid flow. In the closed position the ball and walls of the flow bore are in a continuous line sealing contact. The valve may be mounted and opened to enable complete drainage of fluid in the connecting pipeline which is an advantage in sanitary applications. The ball and shaft are part of a removable bonnet assembly with the ball inserted into the flow bore through an aperture in the valve body. A one-piece seal in the aperture provides a static seal between the valve body and bonnet and a dynamic shaft seal.
28 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A fluid control valve comprising:
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a valve body having an inlet at one end, an outlet at the other end, and a cylindrical flow bore extending between the inlet and outlet for communicating fluid through the valve body within the inner diameter defined between the walls of said cylindrical flow bore; a ball shaft assembly including a spherical shaped ball and a shaft for rotating the ball; said spherical shaped ball having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said cylindrical flow bore; said spherical shaped ball including a pair of symmetrical grooves on respective opposite outer surfaces of said ball; said grooves each extending less than 180°
around the outer surfaces of said ball to define opposite symmetrical narrow spherical surfaces joined with opposite symmetrical wider spherical surfaces forming respective fluid sealing surfaces for blocking the flow of fluid;mounting means for mounting said ball shaft assembly to said valve body with said shaft angularly disposed with respect to said valve body and with said spherical shaped ball engaged in a movable interference fit within said valve body cylindrical flow bore, with said respective fluid sealing surfaces sealingly contacting the walls of said flow bore; said shaft being rotatable to rotate said spherical shaped ball from, (1) a first position blocking the passage of fluid through the valve wherein all of the fluid sealing surfaces on the ball narrow and wider spherical surfaces sealingly contact the walls of said flow bore in an unbroken seal line, to (2) a second position opening the passage of fluid through the valve wherein at least only the respective fluid sealing surfaces on the ball wider spherical surfaces sealingly contact the walls of said flow bore and fluid can flow only through each of said grooves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A fluid control valve comprising:
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a valve body having an inlet at one end, an outlet at the other end, and a cylindrical flow bore extending between the inlet and outlet for communicating fluid through the valve body within the inner diameter defined between the walls of said cylindrical flow bore; a ball shaft assembly including a spherical shaped ball and a shaft for rotating the ball; said spherical shaped ball having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said cylindrical flow bore; said spherical shaped ball including at least one groove on the outer surface of said ball; said groove extending less than 180°
around the outer surface of said ball to define respective fluid sealing surfaces for blocking the flow of fluid;mounting means for mounting said ball shaft assembly to said valve body with said shaft angularly disposed with respect to said valve body and with said spherical shaped ball engaged in a movable interference fit within said valve body cylindrical flow bore, with said respective fluid sealing surfaces sealingly contacting the walls of said flow bore; said shaft being rotatable to rotate said spherical shaped ball from, (1) a first position blocking the passage of fluid through the valve wherein all of the fluid sealing surfaces on the ball sealingly contact the walls of said flow bore in a continuous, unbroken seal line, to (2) a second position opening the passage of fluid through the valve wherein only a portion of the respective fluid sealing surfaces sealingly contact the walls of said flow bore so that said seal line is non-continuous and fluid can flow only through said groove. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification