US3592440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball valve
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-16
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A ball valve of the type wherein the flow control ball member is supported by valve seats and is free to ''''float'''' in the sense that it can move axially under fluid pressure and transversely of its axis under either mechanical or fluid pressure. This latter transverse movement is employed in conjunction with and relative to the support means for the seats to maintain the seats in firm sealing contact with the ball surface. To facilitate the maintaining of sealing contact, and to permit unrestricted free movement of the seats, the respective contiguous surfaces on said seats and said support means are defined by a low-friction plasticlike material. Further, there is provided a novel seat construction which, in addition to attaining the aforementioned mode of operation, provides increased load support for the ball, and will function when the valve is exposed to excessive heat.
Inventors
- 👤 Rolland Mcfarland
- 👤 Werner K Priese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:06
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K5/00; F16K5/08; F16K5/14; F16K5/20; F16K5/201; F16K5/202; B; B22; B22F; B22F3/00; B22F3/24; B22F3/26; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49405; Y10T29/49412
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A ball valve comprising, in combination; a valve body defining an internal valve chamber, two flow passages opening into opposite sides of said chamber and a flat seat support surface encircling the inner end of each said respective passage, which surfaces converge in a direction transverse to the axis of said bore, said seat support surface being defined by a thin lamina of low-friction, plasticlike material supported by the underlying structure of the valve body; a flow control ball member defining a flow bore therethrough and being rotatably disposed within said chamber between said passages; two annular valve seats supported by said respective seat support surfaces in encircling relation to the inner ends of said respective passages, each said seat including a ball-engaging surface disposed in sealing contact with the outer surface of said flow control ball, and a base surface engaged against said support surface, said base surface being defined by a low-friction, plasticlike material; and means tending to bias said ball and said seats in the direction of convergence, such that said seats may slide freely relative to the seat support surface in conjunction with movement of said ball, with said seat support surfaces forcing said seats into firm sealing contact with the ball.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A ball valve comprising, in combination; a valve body defining an internal valve chamber, two flow passages opening into opposite sides of said chamber and a flat seat support surface encircling the inner end of each said respective passage, which surfaces converge in a direction transverse to the axis of said bore, said seat support surface being defined by a thin lamina of low-friction, plasticlike material supported by the underlying structure of the valve body; a flow control ball member defining a flow bore therethrough and being rotatably disposed within said chamber between said passages; two annular valve seats supported by said respective seat support surfaces in encircling relation to the inner ends of said respective passages, each said seat including a ball-engaging surface disposed in sealing contact with the outer surface of said flow control ball, and a base surface engaged against said support surface, said base surface being defined by a low-friction, plasticlike material; and means tending to bias said ball and said seats in the direction of convergence, such that said seats may slide freely relative to the seat support surface in conjunction with movement of said ball, with said seat support surfaces forcing said seats into firm sealing contact with the ball.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A ball valve according to claim 1, wherein each said lamina is defined by an annular member and the underlying structure of the valve body supporting said member is rough to engage frictionally said member and to maintain same in position during movement of the seat relative thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A bAll valve according to claim 1 wherein each said annular valve seat comprises, an annular body of low-friction plasticlike material, said body having the base surface and the ball-engaging surface formed thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ball valve as defined in claim 3 wherein said annular valve seat further includes an annular restraining band disposed about the radially outer surface of said seat to maintain the dimensions thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A ball valve according to claim 1 wherein each said valve seat comprises; a porous annular body formed of metal particles partially fused together, and a low-friction, plasticlike material covering the ball-engaging and seat-support-engaging surfaces of said seat, with said low friction plasticlike material filling the pores of said seat to a substantial depth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
227 words
A ball valve comprising, in combination; valve body means defining an internal valve chamber and two flow passages opening into opposite sides of said chamber, a flow control ball defining a flow bore therein and being rotatably disposed within said chamber between said passages, said body means having thereon two flat seat support surfaces encircling the inner ends of said respective passages and converging in a direction transverse to said passages, each said seat support surface being defined by a thin lamina of low-friction, plasticlike material, two annular valve seats supported on said seat support surfaces in encircling relation to the inner ends of said respective passages, each said seat including an annular ball-engaging surface in sealing contact with said ball and a base surface disposed in engagement with said support surface of the body means, said base surface being defined by low-friction, plasticlike material such that said seats slide freely relative to their respective support surfaces, and means tending to bias said ball and said seats together in said direction of convergence of said seat support surfaces to effect tightening of said seats against said ball, each said lamina being defined by an annular member and the underlying structure of the valve body supporting said lamina being rough to engage frictionally said lamina and maintain same in place during movement of the corresponding seat relative thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
227 words
A ball valve comprising, in combination; valve body means defining an internal valve chamber and two flow passages opening into opposite sides of said chamber, a flow control ball defining a flow bore therein and being rotatably disposed within said chamber between said passages, said body means having thereon two flat seat support surfaces encircling the inner ends of said respective passages and converging in a direction transverse to said passages, each said seat support surface being defined by a thin lamina of low-friction, plasticlike material, two annular valve seats supported on said seat support surfaces in encircling relation to the inner ends of said respective passages, each said seat including an annular ball-engaging surface in sealing contact with said ball and a base surface disposed in engagement with said support surface of the body means, said base surface being defined by low-friction, plasticlike material such that said seats slide freely relative to their respective support surfaces, and means tending to bias said ball and said seats together in said direction of convergence of said seat support surfaces to effect tightening of said seats against said ball, each said lamina being defined by an annular member and the underlying structure of the valve body supporting said lamina being rough to engage frictionally said lamina and maintain same in place during movement of the corresponding seat relative thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ball valve according to claim 6 wherein each said annular valve seat comprises, an annular body of low-friction plasticlike material, said body having the base surface and the ball-engaging surface formed thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ball valve as defined in claim 7 wherein said annular valve seat further includes an annular restraining band disposed about the radially outer surface of said seat to maintain the dimensions thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A ball valve according to claim 6 wherein each said valve seat comprises; a porous annular body formed of metal particles partially fused together, and a low-friction, plasticlike material covering the ball-engaging and seat-support-engaging surfaces of said seat, with said low-friction plasticlike material filling the pores of said seat to a substantial depth.
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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) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |