US3556471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball valve
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-05-20
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1989-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A generally spherical plug of a bidirectional ball valve is supported in the valve housing by similar, oppositely arranged support rings retained in the housing and engaging the plug''s surface toward but spaced from opposite ends thereof. Oppositely arranged, flexible sealing rings, separate from the support rings, engage the plug''s surface in a circular line contact adjacent to the ends of the plug. The support rings are vented to constitute the housing space between the sealing rings as a single fluid chamber giving fluid support to the plug.
Inventors
- 👤 Herman L Paul Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:42
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K5/00; F16K5/06; F16K5/0663; F16K5/0673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
In a ball valve comprising a housing formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; a generally spherical valving plug in an enlarged part of said passage, said plug being formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; and means for turning said plug about an axis extending transversely of the housing''s said passage between open and closed relationships of the plug''s said passage and the housing''s said passage; the combination comprising a pair of support rings, disposed in parallel planes extending transversely of the plug''s said passage, seated toward opposite ends of said enlarged part, and having concave inner surface portions in sliding engagement with outer, convex surface portions of said plug toward but distal from opposite sides of the plug, said support rings each being formed with venting means providing fluid communication between opposite sides thereof; and a pair of slightly resilient sealing rings, seated separately within said housing and spaced from the support rings, in parallelism with the latter, one of the latter pair being at the upstream side of said plug and the other of the latter pair being at the downstream side of said plug, said sealing rings having annular, convex, inwardly facing sealing surfaces in narrow-line, slidable sealing engagement with adjacent convex surface portions of the plug, and said sealing rings having axially outer surfaces receptive to fluid pressure for axially urging portions of said sealing rings toward said plug, to enhance the rings'' s sealing engagement therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a ball valve comprising a housing formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; a generally spherical valving plug in an enlarged part of said passage, said plug being formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; and means for turning said plug about an axis extending transversely of the housing''s said passage between open and closed relationships of the plug''s said passage and the housing''s said passage; the combination comprising a pair of support rings, disposed in parallel planes extending transversely of the plug''s said passage, seated toward opposite ends of said enlarged part, and having concave inner surface portions in sliding engagement with outer, convex surface portions of said plug toward but distal from opposite sides of the plug, said support rings each being formed with venting means providing fluid communication between opposite sides thereof; and a pair of slightly resilient sealing rings, seated separately within said housing and spaced from the support rings, in parallelism with the latter, one of the latter pair being at the upstream side of said plug and the other of the latter pair being at the downstream side of said plug, said sealing rings having annular, convex, inwardly facing sealing surfaces in narrow-line, slidable sealing engagement with adjacent convex surface portions of the plug, and said sealing rings having axially outer surfaces receptive to fluid pressure for axially urging portions of said sealing rings toward said plug, to enhance the rings'' s sealing engagement therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination according to claim 1, said sealing rings, said housing, and said plug defining a fluid chamber, said support rings subdividing said fluid chamber into plural portions, and said venting means comprising grooves serving to control the movement of fluid between said plural portions of the fluid chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
180 words
The combination according to claim 1, each of said sealing rings being seated in an interior, annular right angular channel formed in said housing, said channel having an outer cylindrical wall and a radially inwardly extending wall having a flat, annular portion right angularly adjoining said cylindrical wall and an outwardly flared, annular portion angularly adjoining said flat portion; each of said sealing rings, in relaxed condition, having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface and a flat outer side surface, adjoining said cylindrical sUrface approximately at a right angle; said sealing rings being in a stressed, cocked condition in the valve with its said flat outer surface engaging the circular juncture between said flat and flared portions of the channel''s s said radially extending wall and substantially clear of engagement with said flat and flared portions, and a portion of the outer side of the sealing ring''s said flat outer surface defining, with said flared portion, a fluid pressure area in which fluid therein is effective upon the sealing ring to urge the latter firmly into sealing engagement with said plug.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
219 words
In a ball valve comprising a housing formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; a generally spherical valving plug in an enlarged part of said passage, said plug being formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; and means for turning said plug about an axis extending transversely of the housing''s said passage between open and closed relationships of the plug-''s said passage and the housing''s said passage; the combination comprising a pair of support rings, disposed in parallel planes extending transversely of the plug''s said passage, seated toward opposite ends of said enlarged part, and having concave inner surface portions in sliding engagement with outer, convex surface portions of said plug toward but distal from opposite sides of the plug, and a pair of slightly resilient sealing rings, seated separately within said housing and spaced from the support rings, in parallelism with the latter, one of the latter pair being at the upstream side of said plug and the other of the latter pair being at the downstream side of said plug, said sealing rings having annular sealing surfaces in slidable sealing engagement with adjacent annular surface portions of the plug, said sealing rings each having a surface receptive to fluid pressure for axially urging and maintaining a portion of the sealing ring in sealing relation to said plug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
219 words
In a ball valve comprising a housing formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; a generally spherical valving plug in an enlarged part of said passage, said plug being formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; and means for turning said plug about an axis extending transversely of the housing''s said passage between open and closed relationships of the plug-''s said passage and the housing''s said passage; the combination comprising a pair of support rings, disposed in parallel planes extending transversely of the plug''s said passage, seated toward opposite ends of said enlarged part, and having concave inner surface portions in sliding engagement with outer, convex surface portions of said plug toward but distal from opposite sides of the plug, and a pair of slightly resilient sealing rings, seated separately within said housing and spaced from the support rings, in parallelism with the latter, one of the latter pair being at the upstream side of said plug and the other of the latter pair being at the downstream side of said plug, said sealing rings having annular sealing surfaces in slidable sealing engagement with adjacent annular surface portions of the plug, said sealing rings each having a surface receptive to fluid pressure for axially urging and maintaining a portion of the sealing ring in sealing relation to said plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination according to claim 4, said sealing rings, said housing, nd said plug defining a fluid chamber, said support rings subdividing said fluid chamber into plural portions, and having venting grooves serving to control the movement of fluid between said plural portions of the fluid chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
The combination according to claim 4, each of said sealing rings and seated in cocked condition in an interior, annular right angular channel formed in said housing, said channel having an outer cylindrical wall and a radially inwardly extending wall having a flat, annular portion right angularly adjoining said cylindrical wall and an outwardly flared, annular portion angularly adjoining said flat portion; the sealing ring having an axially outwardly facing surface, in acute angular relation to said flared portion, and receptive of fluid pressure for enhancing the sealing engagement of the sealing ring with said plug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 4, said support rings and sealing rings at opposite sides of said plug being substantially similar and facing oppositely, whereby to render the valve duodirectional.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a ball valve comprising a housing formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; a generally spherical valving plug in an enlarged part of said passage, said plug being formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; and means for turning said plug about an axis extending transversely of the housing''s said passage between open an closed relationships of the plug''s said passage and the housing''s said passage; the combination comprising a pair of support rings, disposed in parallel planes extending transversely of the plug''s said passage, seated toward opposite ends of said enlarged part, and having concave inner surface portions in sliding engagement with outer, convex surface portions of said plug toward but distal from opposite sides of the plug, said support rings each being formed with venting means providing fluid communication between opposite sides thereof; and sealing means within said hOusing and spaced from said support rings, said sealing means being in sealing engagement with both said housing and said plug.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a ball valve comprising a housing formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; a generally spherical valving plug in an enlarged part of said passage, said plug being formed with a fluid passage extending therethrough; and means for turning said plug about an axis extending transversely of the housing''s said passage between open an closed relationships of the plug''s said passage and the housing''s said passage; the combination comprising a pair of support rings, disposed in parallel planes extending transversely of the plug''s said passage, seated toward opposite ends of said enlarged part, and having concave inner surface portions in sliding engagement with outer, convex surface portions of said plug toward but distal from opposite sides of the plug, said support rings each being formed with venting means providing fluid communication between opposite sides thereof; and sealing means within said hOusing and spaced from said support rings, said sealing means being in sealing engagement with both said housing and said plug.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |