Abstract The specification and drawings show a ball valve including a housing defining a valve chamber which is of cylindrical configuration. Inlet and outlet flow passages extend into the housing and connect with the chamber. A ball member is positioned in the chamber with its center located generally at the intersection of the axes of the flow passage and the axis of the chamber. A resilient, resinous packing completely encloses the ball and fills substantially all voids between the ball and the inner walls of the chamber. Circular ports are formed through the packing at locations aligned with the inlet and outlet passages and the center of the ball. The outer ends of the ports terminate at the inner of the chamber and about the associated passageway, whereas, the inner ends of the ports terminate adjacent the surface of the ball. A circumferential, cylindrical recess is formed inwardly from the outer end of each port and terminates closely adjacent the inner end of the port to leave a continuous circumferential lip of packing material extending radially inwardly of the port adjacent the ball. Positioned in each recess is a relatively rigid ring member having an axial opening of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the associated passage, and an outer diameter which engages the wall of the recess. The axial length of the ring is substantially equal to the length of the recess. Preferably, the inner end of the ring closely engages the lip, whereas the outer end is shaped to engage the inner wall of the chamber about the associated port. This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 41,503, filed May 28, 1970, and now abandoned.
A ball valve comprising: a housing having an internal valve chamber; inlet and outlet flow passages extending through said housing and into said chamber; a ball member positioned in said chamber and having at least one flow aperature extending therethrough; a resilient capsule of synthetic resinous material disposed in and substantially filling said chamber and surrounding the outer surface of said ball and sealingly engaging both said ball and the walls of said chamber; means adjustably applying a compressive loading to said capsule in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of said flow aperature to compress said capsule into tight engagement with said ball and the walls of said chamber; ports formed through said capsule at locations corresponding to the locations of said inlet and outlet passages, said ports having a free passage area substantially equal in size and shape to the free passage area of said inlet and outlet passages, each of said ports being defined by a relatively rigid metal ring member closely received in an opening formed in said capsule, each said ring member having a first face closely engaging said housing and a flat second face spaced a short distance from said ball, said capsule having a preformed lip portion which extends inwardly about the second face of said ring a distance slightly less than the thickness of said ring and completely fills the axial space between said ring and said ball at all points radially outwardly of its maximum inward extent, said lip being continuous about said port and sealingly engaging said ball and said second face, said lip being an integral part of said capsule and generating axially directed forces against said second face and said ball due to said compressive loading applied to said capsule.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
A ball valve comprising: a housing having an internal valve chamber; inlet and outlet flow passages extending through said housing and into said chamber; a ball member positioned in said chamber and having at least one flow aperature extending therethrough; a resilient capsule of synthetic resinous material disposed in and substantially filling said chamber and surrounding the outer surface of said ball and sealingly engaging both said ball and the walls of said chamber; means adjustably applying a compressive loading to said capsule in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of said flow aperature to compress said capsule into tight engagement with said ball and the walls of said chamber; ports formed through said capsule at locations corresponding to the locations of said inlet and outlet passages, said ports having a free passage area substantially equal in size and shape to the free passage area of said inlet and outlet passages, each of said ports being defined by a relatively rigid metal ring member closely received in an opening formed in said capsule, each said ring member having a first face closely engaging said housing and a flat second face spaced a short distance from said ball, said capsule having a preformed lip portion which extends inwardly about the second face of said ring a distance slightly less than the thickness of said ring and completely fills the axial space between said ring and said ball at all points radially outwardly of its maximum inward extent, said lip being continuous about said port and sealingly engaging said ball and said second face, said lip being an integral part of said capsule and generating axially directed forces against said second face and said ball due to said compressive loading applied to said capsule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said second face is planar and said lip is machined in said capsule.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 including a stem member extending into said housing for rotating said ball, said stem member passing through and being sealingly engaged by said capsule.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 including disc members positioned between said ball member and said chamber, said packing including lip portions extending inwardly between said disc members and said ball.