US3795385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball valve
Assignee: PMB Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1972-11-10
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Granted: 1974-03-05
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Expires: 1992-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A ball valve including a body having two longitudinally aligned fluid passages and a lateral opening communicating with a central space. A rotatable ball, having an opening communicable with the fluid passages, is positioned within the central space. A pair of annular seat rings of wedge shape cross section, fit against and clampingly secure the ball therebetween. A pair of seat ring retainer means, integral with the body, having side walls inclined downwardly and inwardly, wedge the ball and seat rings therebetween. Bonnet means is secured to the body in covering relationship to the seat rings and ball. Piston means extend through the bonnet means for selectively applying pressure to an upper portion of the seat rings to compress the seat rings to the ball and the retainer means side walls. Various means are disclosed for the actuation of the piston means. A rotatable valve stem passes through the lateral opening and the bonnet means, and is connected to the ball to rotate the ball between positions of permitting and preventing the passage of fluid therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 G Westenrieder
- 👤 J Ruffolo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:14
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K5/00; F16K5/08; F16K5/14; F16K5/20; F16K5/201; F16K5/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
A ball valve, including: a body having two longitudinally aligned fluid passages and a lateral opening communicating with a central space; a rotatable ball, positioned within said central space, having an opening therethrough communicable with said fluid passages; a pair of seat rings, of wedge shape cross section, positioned against and clampingly securing said ball therebetween; a pair of seat ring retainer means having flow openings aligned with said fluid passages and side walls inclined downwardly and inwardly towards each other, said ball and said seat rings being wedgably received between said side walls; bonnet means secured to said body in covering relationship to said seat rings and said ball; seat ring adjustment means having a pair of piston means extending through said bonnet means directly above each of said seat rings for selectively applying pressure to a portion of said seat rings and thereby compressing said seat rings to said ball and said ring retainer side walls; each of said piston means includes a piston portion positioned for directly contacting said seat rings and a threaded stem portion having a first end attached to said piston portion and a second end extending outwardly through said bonnet means, said stem portion being threadedly received by said bonnet means so as to permit selective inward and outward movement thereof so as to increase and decrease the pressure applied to said seat rings by said piston portion; said piston portion being received by a cavity formed integral with the inner surface of said bonnet means; and a rotatable valve stem, projecting through said lateral opening and said bonnet means, connected to said ball to rotate said ball between positions permitting and preventing the passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
285 words
A ball valve, including: a body having two longitudinally aligned fluid passages and a lateral opening communicating with a central space; a rotatable ball, positioned within said central space, having an opening therethrough communicable with said fluid passages; a pair of seat rings, of wedge shape cross section, positioned against and clampingly securing said ball therebetween; a pair of seat ring retainer means having flow openings aligned with said fluid passages and side walls inclined downwardly and inwardly towards each other, said ball and said seat rings being wedgably received between said side walls; bonnet means secured to said body in covering relationship to said seat rings and said ball; seat ring adjustment means having a pair of piston means extending through said bonnet means directly above each of said seat rings for selectively applying pressure to a portion of said seat rings and thereby compressing said seat rings to said ball and said ring retainer side walls; each of said piston means includes a piston portion positioned for directly contacting said seat rings and a threaded stem portion having a first end attached to said piston portion and a second end extending outwardly through said bonnet means, said stem portion being threadedly received by said bonnet means so as to permit selective inward and outward movement thereof so as to increase and decrease the pressure applied to said seat rings by said piston portion; said piston portion being received by a cavity formed integral with the inner surface of said bonnet means; and a rotatable valve stem, projecting through said lateral opening and said bonnet means, connected to said ball to rotate said ball between positions permitting and preventing the passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein a locking nut is threadedly received on said second end of said stem portion to retain said piston means in a fixed relationship to said seat means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer end of said stem portion is secured to a first end of a shaft extension, said shaft extension having a second end secured to a motor means for rotation thereof about an axis passing through said piston means so as to selectively rotate said stem portion relative to said bonnet means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said motor means has slip clutch means associated therewith for preventing the rotation of said shaft extension when the pressure applied to said seat rings reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
259 words
A ball valve, including: a body having two longitudinally aligned fluid passages and a lateral opening communicating with a central space; a rotatable ball, positioned within said central space, having an opening therethrough communicable with said fluid passages; a pair of seat rings, of wedge shape cross section, positioned against and clampingly securing said ball therebetween; a pair of seat ring retainer means having flow openings aligned with said fluid passages and side walls inclined downwardly and inwardly towards each other, said ball and said seat rings being wedgably received between said side walls; bonnet means secured to said body in covering relationship to said seat rings and said ball; seat ring adjustment means having a pair of piston means extending through said bonnet means directly above each of said seat rings for selectively applying pressure to a portion of said seat rings and thereby compressing said seat rings to said ball and said ring retainer side walls; each of said piston means includes a piston portion received within a cavity formed integral with the inner surface of said bonnet means for reciprocal inward and outward movement thereof, said outer end of said piston portion being in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid so as to exert force thereon and thereby apply pressure to said seat rings at the inner end of said piston portion; and a rotatable valve stEm, projecting through said lateral opening and said bonnet means, connected to said ball to rotate said ball between positions permitting and preventing the passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
259 words
A ball valve, including: a body having two longitudinally aligned fluid passages and a lateral opening communicating with a central space; a rotatable ball, positioned within said central space, having an opening therethrough communicable with said fluid passages; a pair of seat rings, of wedge shape cross section, positioned against and clampingly securing said ball therebetween; a pair of seat ring retainer means having flow openings aligned with said fluid passages and side walls inclined downwardly and inwardly towards each other, said ball and said seat rings being wedgably received between said side walls; bonnet means secured to said body in covering relationship to said seat rings and said ball; seat ring adjustment means having a pair of piston means extending through said bonnet means directly above each of said seat rings for selectively applying pressure to a portion of said seat rings and thereby compressing said seat rings to said ball and said ring retainer side walls; each of said piston means includes a piston portion received within a cavity formed integral with the inner surface of said bonnet means for reciprocal inward and outward movement thereof, said outer end of said piston portion being in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid so as to exert force thereon and thereby apply pressure to said seat rings at the inner end of said piston portion; and a rotatable valve stEm, projecting through said lateral opening and said bonnet means, connected to said ball to rotate said ball between positions permitting and preventing the passage of fluid therethrough.
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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) | 1977-03-04 | 1977-09-03 | 1978-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-04 | 1981-09-03 | 1982-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-04 | 1985-09-03 | 1986-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |