Method for forming a ball valve connection and structure

• US 4,964,614 A
• Filed: 10/02/1989
• Issued: 10/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mueller Company Decatur IL
• Original Assignee: Mueller Co Limited (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sands, Robert E., Floren, Carl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, John C.
• Application Number:
  US07/415,615
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 251/309, 251/315
• US Class Current: 251/315.16
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0642 the spherical plug being insertable from one and only one side of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0647 Spindles or actuating means

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a ball valve member for cooperation with a valve and a ball valve member includes utilizing a cutting tool having first and second annular cutting surfaces with one of the cutting surfaces having a smaller radius than the other cutting surface whereby a slot is cut in the surface of the ball valve member to a greater depth than heretofore possible for permitting greater penetration of a valve stem into the ball valve member and a recess is formed adjacent the slot for the ball valve stem for receiving a lug member mounted on the stem to increase torque transmission to the ball valve element when the operation stem is rotated.

Claims

1. A ball valve assembly having a ball member, said ball member having a substantially spherical surface and a through bore formed therein extending substantially along a diameter of said ball member, said through bore being defined by a curved surface having a selected radius of curvature, an arcuate slot means being formed in said spherical surface for receiving an operating stem, said arcuate slot means having a curved bottom wall, said arcuate slot means extending into said spherical surface such a distance that said arcuate slot means intersects said through bore to form an opening from said arcuate slot means into said through bore.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said curved bottom wall has a selected radius of curvature about an axis.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, said ball member including an auxiliary recess contiguous with said arcuate slot means and opening thereon, said recess having a curved bottom wall with a radius of curvature about a recess axis, the radius of said recess being smaller than the radius of said arcuate slot means, said recess axis and the axis of said arcuate slot means being the same axis.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said operating stem has a body with a user engageable portion at one end and a lug engaging said arcuate slot means at the end opposite said one end, said lug having an extension means extending into said recess of said ball member.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, wherein said extension means comprises a protrusion formed on said lug.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 4, wherein said extension means is a screw threaded into said lug to extend transversely therefrom.

7. The invention of claim 2, wherein said operating stem has a body with a user engageable portion at one end and a lug engaging said arcuate slot means at the end opposite said one end, said lug having an end that is concavely curved with a radius of curvature substantially matching the said radius of curvature of said through bore of said ball member.

8. A ball valve assembly, comprising:

a ball member having a substantially spherical surface with a through bore formed therein extending substantially along a diameter thereof, said through bore being defined by a curved surface having a selected radius of curvature, arcuate slot means formed in said spherical surface having a curved bottom wall and an opening therein in communication with said through bore, said ball member also having an auxiliary recess contiguous with said arcuate slot means and opening thereon; and

an operating stem fitting into said arcuate slot means, said operating stem having a user engageable portion at one end and a lug engaging said arcuate slot means at the end opposite said one end, said lug having a threaded extension means which is threaded into said lug means so that the threaded extension means extends transversely from said lug and into said recess of said ball member.