Ball valve

Claim 2

A valve assembly comprising a valve housing having an upstream female portion and a downstream male portion matingly connected together and through which portions a passageway for flow of fluid extends, said female portion defining an integral socket in the passageway adjacent to the downstream end thereof which provides an annular rigid seat relatively thin in width facing said downstream end, an annular seal located between the connected ends of said portions and having an annular resilient seat facing the annular rigid seat of said female upstream portion, a ball mounted between and supported solely on the annular seats of said socket and said annular seal, said ball having a through passageway with ports at opposite ends, the ball being rotatable between an open position in which said ports are centered on said seats and a closed position in which said ports are disposed between said seats, said ball being in a free floating state when in its closed position so that fluid pressure acting on the upstream side of the ball will urge the ball against annular resilient seat.

Claim 3

The valve assembly that is defined in claim 1, wherein said male portion has an annular extension of reduced dimension at its upstream end, said annular seal having a sleeve portion that is in a state of compression between the outer surface of said extension and the inner surface of said female portion to provide a seal therebetween, said annular resilient seat being integrally joined to said sleeve portion and overlapping the end of said extension to provide a seal with the seated surface of the ball.

Claim 4

The valve assembly that is defined in claim 1, wherein said female portion has a valve stem opening located immediately downstream of said annular seat of the socket, and a valve stem is positioned in said opening for rotating said ball between its open and closed positions.

Claim 5

The valve assembly that is defined in claim 3, wherein said ball has a transverse slot in a plane perpendicular to said through passageway, and said valve stem has an end slidable in said slot for rotating the ball while allowing floating action of the ball when in its closed position.

Claim 6

The valve assembly that is defined in claim 3, wherein said valve stem Includes two axially-spaced annular shoulders providing bearing surfaces in the valve stem opening, and a resilient sealing ring is located between said shoulders.

Claim 7

The valve assembly that is defined in claim 5, wherein the axially outer annular shoulder is flush with the exterior surface of said female portion to allow retention of the valve stem in said female portion by a cover plate.

Claim 8

A valve assembly comprising a valve housing having an upstream female portion and a downstream male portion matingly connected together and through which portions a passageway for flow of fluid extends, said female portion defining a rigid socket in the passageway adjacent to the downstream end thereof which provides a relatively thin annular rigid seat facing said downstream end, said male portion having an annular extension of reduced diameter at its upstream end, an annular seal having a sleeve portion in a state of compression between the outer surface of said annular extension and the inner surface of said female portion and having a relatively thin annular resilient seat overlapping the end of said extension and facing the annular rigid seat female said femal portion, said female portion having a valve stem opening through its wall between said annular rigid seat and said annular flexible seat, a ball mounted in floating relation between the annular rigid and resilient seats and having a through passageway with ports at opposite ends, the ball being rotatable between an open position in which said ports are centered on said seats and a closed position in which said ports are disposed between said seats, said ball having a keyway in a plane perpendicular to said through passageway, and a valve stem mounted in said valve stem opening and having an end in the shape of a key that is located in said keyway.

Claim 9

A valve assembly comprising a valve housing having an upstream female portion and a downstream male portion matingly connected together and through which portions a passageway for flow of fluid extends, said female portion defining a rigid socket in the passageway adjacent to the downstream end thereof which provides a relatively thin annular rigid seat facing said downstream end, said male portion having an annular extension of reduced diameter at its upstream end, an annular seal having a sleeve portion in a state of compression between the outer surface of said annular extension and the inner surface of said female portion and having a relatively thin annular resilient seat overlapping the end of said extension and facing the annular rigid seat female said femal portion, said female portion having a valve stem opening through its wall between said annular rigid seat and said annular flexible seat, a ball mounted in floating relation between the annular rigid and resilient seats and having a through passageway with ports at opposite ends, the ball being rotatable between an open position in which said ports are centered on said seats and a closed position in which said ports are disposed between said seats, said ball having a keyway in a plane perpendicular to said through passageway, and a valve stem mounted in said valve stem opening and having an end in the shape of a key that is located in said keyway.

Claim 10

The valve assembly that is defined in claim 7, wherein said male portion has an L-shaped configuration, the base of the L-shaped configuration including said annular extension.

Claim 11

The valve assembly that is defined in claim 8, wherein the upright member of the L-shaped configuration includes a male hose barb at its remote end.