This application relates to ball valve systems having a seal mounted to the ball valve.
Valves are utilized in any number of applications to control the flow of a fluid. One known type of valve is a so called ball valve. In a ball valve, a generally spherical ball member has a passage through a central portion. The ball is mounted in a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The ball can turn about an axis such that the passage is either aligned between the inlet and outlet and fluid can flow, or to a location where the ball body blocks the inlet from connecting to the outlet.
Seals are known in ball valve systems. The seals have typically been mounted in the housing surrounding the ball member, and have been generally complex and large.
A ball valve includes a housing and has an inlet port, an outlet port and a central ball chamber. A ball member is received within the ball chamber and has a shaft connected to a motor such that the ball member can be rotated. The ball member is movable between a closed position at which it blocks fluid connection between the inlet port and the outlet port and to an open position at which a central passage in the ball member communicates the inlet port to the outlet port. A seal is mounted for movement with the ball member to provide a seal against the housing.
A ball valve system is also disclosed.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
Ball valve system 20 connects a source of fluid 22 to a use of the fluid 24. A housing 26 includes a first portion 28 which is connected to a second portion 30. A control and motor 32 can rotate a ball member 34. The ball valve body 34 is made up of shaft members 35 and 37, ball member 36, and end cap 44. The ball member 36 may be generally spherical. The ball member 36 is received in a spherical ball chamber 41 in housing 26. The ball member 36 is shown in the
An end cap 44 of the ball valve body 34 is connected to a main ball 46. Bolts 48 connect the two. A seal 50 seals against housing 26 on the inlet side.
A seal 50 is shown in greater detail in
In the illustrated embodiment, the ball member 36 is formed as a single part with the shafts 35 and 37. However, it should be understood that the shafts can be formed as separate components and attached to the ball member 36. In addition, this disclosure would provide benefits into ball valve systems wherein the ball member has only a single shaft.
In one embodiment the seal 50 may be a metallic seal ring. Of course, other materials may be utilized.
In the
When it is desired to allow fluid flow, the control/motor 32 rotates the ball member 34 into and out of the plane of
With the prior art seals mounted in a housing there is more wear on the seal as the seal is contacted across its entire surface during the full movement of the ball member from the
A ball valve under this disclosure could be said to include a housing that has an inlet port, an outlet port and a central ball chamber. A ball member is received within the ball chamber and has a shaft connected to a motor such that the ball member can be rotated. The ball member is movable between a closed position at which it blocks fluid connection between the inlet port and the outlet port and to an open position at which a central passage in the ball member communicates the inlet port to the outlet port. A seal is mounted for movement with the ball member to provide a seal against the housing.
A ball valve under this disclosure could also be said to include a housing that has an inlet port, an outlet port and a central ball chamber. Ball member means are received within the ball chamber and have a shaft connected to a driving means such that ball member means can be rotated. The ball member means are movable to a closed position at which it blocks fluid connection between the inlet port and the outlet and to an open position at which a central passage in the ball member communicates the inlet port to the outlet port.
Seal means are mounted for movement with the ball member means to provide a seal against the housing.
The seal means may be a seal ring.
The seal ring may be a metallic seal ring.
Ball valves as described above may be used in a ball valve system having a source of fluid connected to the inlet port and a use for fluid connected to the outlet port.
Although embodiments of this disclosure have been shown, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.