CA1059106A - Valve - Google Patents
ValveInfo
- Publication number
- CA1059106A CA1059106A CA265,271A CA265271A CA1059106A CA 1059106 A CA1059106 A CA 1059106A CA 265271 A CA265271 A CA 265271A CA 1059106 A CA1059106 A CA 1059106A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ball valve
- seal
- ring
- force
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K5/00—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary
- F16K5/08—Details
- F16K5/14—Special arrangements for separating the sealing faces or for pressing them together
- F16K5/20—Special arrangements for separating the sealing faces or for pressing them together for plugs with spherical surfaces
- F16K5/201—Special arrangements for separating the sealing faces or for pressing them together for plugs with spherical surfaces with the housing or parts of the housing mechanically pressing the seal against the plug
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K5/00—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary
- F16K5/06—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary with plugs having spherical surfaces; Packings therefor
- F16K5/0663—Packings
- F16K5/0673—Composite packings
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Taps Or Cocks (AREA)
Abstract
VALVE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A ball valve having cam operated seal springs to reduce seal pressure and thereby to reduce seal wear and operating torque. The cam is fixed relative to the ball. Auxillary springs keep the seal in pressure contact with the ball at all times to prevent particulates from becoming lodged between seal and ball. The smallest and largest seal pressures occur when the valve is open and closed, respectively, because the pressure drop across the seal is least and greatest in these instances, respectively, and very little seal pressure is required when the valve is open.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A ball valve having cam operated seal springs to reduce seal pressure and thereby to reduce seal wear and operating torque. The cam is fixed relative to the ball. Auxillary springs keep the seal in pressure contact with the ball at all times to prevent particulates from becoming lodged between seal and ball. The smallest and largest seal pressures occur when the valve is open and closed, respectively, because the pressure drop across the seal is least and greatest in these instances, respectively, and very little seal pressure is required when the valve is open.
Description
-
-2- lOS9~06 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fluid flow control devices, and more particularly to a valve having a wear-resistant seal assembly and requir-ing small opening and/or closing forces.
In the past, seal wear in a valve has been a function of seal pressure.
The opening and closing forces required for a valve have also been a func-tion of such pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the device of the present invention, the above-10 described and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing fluid flow control apparatus comprising: a housing sealed ex-cept for a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a ball valve movably mounted on said housing inside thereof and having an external surface including at least a sealing portion, said sealing portion being spherical, said ball 15 valve having a hole extending completely therethrough, said hole having an axis approximately extending between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet in one position of said ball valve, said ball valve being mounted inside said housing in a manner such that the same may be rotated about an -axis extending approximately through the center of said spherical surface portion and approximately normal to said ball valve hole axis, said hole opening into said housing through said ball valve spherical surface por-tion; an annular first seal having a diameter greater than that of said -~
opening and surrounding the same and everywhere spaced therefrom when said ball valve is in said one position thereof; variable force means mounted on said housing inside thereof actuable to apply a force to said first ~ -seal to hold the same in engagement with at least a portion of said ~., " ~ " , -` lOSglO6 Amendment F. F. Domyan et al. 5-4, S/N 265,271 filed Nov. 9, 1976 Page 2a spherical surface portion, said first seal being in engagement with said spherical surface portion over the entire circumference of said seal al-ternately at said one rotational position of said ball valve or at another rotational position thereof different from said one position, said ball valve closing off the space inside said first seal circumference when said ball valve is rotated to said other position thereof; and control means mounted inside said housing, responsive to rotation of said ball valve and connected to said variable force means to actuate the same in a manner to change the magnitude of said force applied to said first seal while it is in contact with said ball when said ball valve is rotated from said one position thereof to said other position thereof, and vice versa, wherein said control means is constructed to cause said applied force to be less than said ball valve is in said position thereof than it is when said ball valve is in said other position thereof, and wherein said variable force means includes first and second cylinders, one of said cylinders being tele-scopically sealed into the other, said first cylinder being flxed relative to said housing, said second cylinder having a second seal mounted there-on, a ring slidable on the outside of said second cylinder, a spring coiled around said first cylinder, a stop at one end of said coiled spring fixed relative to said housing, said coiled spring being held in compression between said stop and one side of said ring, said ring being slidable on said second cylinder, spring means weaker than said coiled spring between said ring and said first seal, said control means including cam means fixed relative to said ball valve in a position such that, when said ball valve is rotated to said one position thereof, said cam means moves said ring to remove the load of said coiled spring on said spring means, and ~ -2a-",, ~,, h"
': ' ' 1 Amendment 1059~0~
F. F. Domyan et al. 5-4, S/N 265,271 filed Nov. 9, 1976 Page 2b said spring means applies a first force to said first seal holding the same in contact with said ball valve spherical surface portion, said cam means being fixed to said ball valve in a position to release said ring and to allow the force of said coiled spring to act in tandem with said spring means in a manner to cause said first seal to engage said ball valve with a second force greater than said first force when said ball valve is rotated to said other position thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention: ~ -Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 1--1 shown in Fig. 2, through a ball valve in closed position and constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, taken on the line 2--2 of the ball valve shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the ball valve of -Fig. 1 with the valve thereof in open position;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the valve in open position;
-2b-,........................................... . .
lOS9106 Fig. 5 is a rear elevational vlew of one of several leaf sprlngs employed in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the leaf spring shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a notched ring with eight leaf springs fixed thereto, each of the said leaf sprin~s being of the shape lllustrated in Figs. 5 and 6;
Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a pair of rings between which a leaf spring is deflected when the valve of Figs. 1-3 is in closed posltlon, the view of Fig. 8 belng taken on the line ~--8 shown in Flg. 7: and Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the pair of rings also shown in Fig. 8 between which a leaf spring is deflected when the valve of Flgs.1-3 is in open positi~n, the view of Fig. 9 being taken on the line 9--9 shown ln Flg. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE E~EFERRED EMBODIMENT
In Fig. 1, the ball valve of the present invention is illustrated at 10 having a valve housing 11 with a fitting 12 having an inlet port 13. Fitting 12 is flxed to valve housing 11 and is also sealed around the circumference thereof by an O-ring 14 in an O-rir~groo-~e 15in an extemal surface of fitting 12. An outlet port 16 is formed through the riyht end s~ valve housing 11.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in some cases, port 16 may be the inlet port, and port 13 may be the outlet port. This is especially true lf, or as shown, the valve seal assembly as illustrated at 17 ls a balanced seal assembly .
- lOS910~i A ball 18 is rotatably supported about the common axis of aligned stub shafts 19 and 20 which are fixed to a generally spherical valve body 21 having a spherical surface of revolution 22 about the ccmmon axis of stub shafts 19 and 20.
The spherical surface 22 is uninterrupted except for a hole 23 whlch extends completely through valve body 21. Hole 23 is defined by a cylindrical surface that has a symmetrical axis which passes through and ls perpendicular to the common axis of stub shafts 19 and 20.
Stub shaft 19 is sealed to valve housing 11 by an O-ring 24 which is positioned in an O-ring groove 25 in valve housing 11.
- Stub shaft 19 has an integral portion 26 whlch is rotatable in roller bearings 27 retained in a race 28. A washer 29 is sli~able on stub shaft portion 26.
Stub shaft 19 also has a portion 30 inte~alwith valve body 21 around which a cam 31 is fixed by a pin 32 press fit in a bore 33 ln valve body 21.
In the position shown, the entire surface of valve body 21 lnside seal assembly 17 is uninterrupted because the hole 23 exeends generally perpendi-cular to the longitudinal axis of the valve 10 through the center of valve body 21 horizontally in the plane of the drawing as shoum in Fig. 1.
The seal assembly includes rings 34 and 35 which, except for details, may be substantially identical. The said details will be described hereinafter.
Rings 34 and 35 may be slidable upon a cylinder 36 in an axial direction thereon, if desired. Ring 34 must be so slidable. Cylinder 36 is sealed to a cylindrical pro)ection 37 of fitting 12 by an O-ring 38 retained in an O-ring groove 39 in cylindrical pro~ection 37.
,: , , A s~t ~f lcaf springs are provlded between rin~ 34 and 35; how~v~r, these leaf springs ar~ shown and described hereinafter, and are not shown in Fig. 1 for clarity. The leaf springs provide a force upon seal assembly 17 when the valve body 21 is in open position. The leai springs are relatively 5 weak to decrease necessary torque for opening or closing the valve 10 by rotatlon of the stub shaft 19 in one or the other of the dlrections in which it is rotatable.
On the Dther hand, a helically coiled spring 40 is provided to substantially increase the force on the seal assembly 17 to lncrease seal pressure against 10 spherlcal surface 22 when the valve ls closed, as shown ln Fig. 1.
Spring 40 ls always maintalned in compresslon between an annular surface 41 of fltting 12 and rlng 34.
In the positlon shown in Flg. 1, substantially identical pro~ections 42 and 42' extend through notches 43 and 43' in ring 35. However, the size and location of cam 31 prevents pro~ections 42 and 42' from supplying any sub-stantial force or any force to move ring 34 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. A
maximum force is t hus lmpressed upon seal assembly 17 by spring 40 through ring 34, the leaf springs not shown in Fig. 1 and the r~ng 35. The seal ascembly17 is thus pressed against spherical surface 22 with a maximum force because, as stated previously, the valve body 21 has been tu~ned by stub shaft 19 to its closed position.
For clarity, the seal assembly 17 is descrlbed in greater detail in con-nectlon with Fig. 3. Cylinder 36 has a flange 44 against which ring 35 abuts.
Cylinder 36 also has a flange 45 integral therewlth, and a rlng 46 fixed thereto.
A sealing ring 47 and abackup ring 48 are fixed in the space between ring 46 and flange 4 S against the lower surface of flange 44 O
, As shown in Flg. 1, stub shaft 20 has a portion 30' whlch may be ldentical to portion 30. A cam 31' ls als~ provided whlch may be ldentlcal to cam 31, and a pin 32' ls provided which may be ldentical to pln 32 and pressfltin abore, n~t shown, in valve body 21 ldentical to bore 33, cam 31' belng slidable over pin 32'. Pro~ections 42 and 42' are slidable in grooves 49 and 49' ln valve h~using 11.
Valve housing 11 also includes a disk 50 which is trapped between a snap rlng 51 and shoulders 52 and 53. Disk 50 is sealed wlth a cylindrical portion 54 of valve houslng 11 by an O-ring 55 that is posltioned in an O-ring groove 56 of dlsk 50. Disk 50 again carries roller bearings 57 in a race 58 in which stub shaft 20 is rotatable. Washers 59 and 60 are slidable over stub shaft 20 and have a wave spring 61 therebetween.
When the ball valve 10 of Fig. 1 is employed t~ turn on and shut off natural gas under a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch, 10 pounds per square inch or less than 10 pounds per square inch, stub shaft 19 may be turned with the finger. Alternatively, stub shaft 19 may be provided with a square portlon 62 on which any conventional knob may be fixed by a set screw. In this case too, the knob may be turned manually.
Still further, any hydraulic or other semi-automatic or automatic valve actuator may be employed. For example, that shown in U. S. Patent No. 3,880,054 may be employed.
As shown in Fi~. 2, a set of leaf springs 63 are provided between rings 34 and 35. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, groove 49' is formed by valve housing pro~ections 64 and 65. In Fig. 2, note will be taken that cam 31 (closed pDsition) does not extend sufficiently far to depress ring 34 to the , 105~10~
left, as vi~wed in Flg. 2. On the ~ther hand, in Fi~. 4, cam 31 takes atll the pressure Df spring 40 ~ff Df leaf springs 63. Sealing ring 47 (Fig. 3) with valve body 21 in the Dpen position, is thus pressed against spherical surface 22 with the smaller fDrce provided by the springs 63, the larger f~rce being `5 supplied to sealing ring 47 by spring 40 when cam 31 is in the position shown in Fig. 2.
As hinted previously, ring 34 may be identical tD ring 35 except for notches 43 and 43'. Ring 35 is shown ln Fig. 7 havin~ leaf sprlngs 66 fixed thereto by rivets 67.
An enlarged view ~f oneleaf sprlng 66 shown in Fig. 7 is shown in - Flg. 5 at 68 having a hole therethrough at 69 through which one of the rivets 67 may be pro~ected and peened over. Leaf spring 68 is also shown in Flg. 6.
When the valve 10 is in closed position, rings 34 and 35 take the positions shown in Fig. 8, and a leaf spring 70 ls coMpressed to a positlon 15 whlch may be as sh~wn in Fig. 8.
When the valve 10 is in open position, rings 34 and 35 may take the position as shown in Fig. 9, and a leaf spring 71 maY take the pDsition shown in Fig. 9.
Each of the leaf springs 68, 70 and 71 have bPell given individual 20 reference numerals; however, each one of these leaf springs is one of the leaf springs 66 and one of the set 63L
Stops, not shown, may be provided for one or ~oth of the stub shafts 19 and 20 shown in Fig. 1, if desired. Alternativelyr stops may be provided by or on any semi-automatlc or automatic actuator, hydraulic or otherwisei, 25 mounted in a f~xed position relative to valve housing 11 and engaging portlon 62 of stub shaft 19.
_,,,_, ... .. ... ... . .
lOS9~06 In another alternatlve, stub shaft 19 may, ~f deslred, with housing 11, be provlded wlth corresponding lndlcla t~ indicate whether the valve 10 is open or is closed.
The use of leaf springs for the springs 66 of Fig. 7 is not critical. Coil 5 springs or other springs may be provided, if desired.
Notches 43 and 43' in ring 35 are optional. If desired, pro~ections 42 and 42' may be located at a position outslde the outside àiameter of ring 35, and then may engage ring 34, which can have a d'ameter larger than that of the outside dlameter of rlng 35. Leaf springs 66 shown in Fig. 7 or other such 10 springs need not be employed on rlng 35, but may al$o be employed on ring 34.In this case, ring 34 may or may not have a larger outside diameter than the outslde diameter of ring and notches may not or may be provided in ring 35, r~espectively.
, ,, . i
This invention relates to fluid flow control devices, and more particularly to a valve having a wear-resistant seal assembly and requir-ing small opening and/or closing forces.
In the past, seal wear in a valve has been a function of seal pressure.
The opening and closing forces required for a valve have also been a func-tion of such pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the device of the present invention, the above-10 described and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing fluid flow control apparatus comprising: a housing sealed ex-cept for a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a ball valve movably mounted on said housing inside thereof and having an external surface including at least a sealing portion, said sealing portion being spherical, said ball 15 valve having a hole extending completely therethrough, said hole having an axis approximately extending between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet in one position of said ball valve, said ball valve being mounted inside said housing in a manner such that the same may be rotated about an -axis extending approximately through the center of said spherical surface portion and approximately normal to said ball valve hole axis, said hole opening into said housing through said ball valve spherical surface por-tion; an annular first seal having a diameter greater than that of said -~
opening and surrounding the same and everywhere spaced therefrom when said ball valve is in said one position thereof; variable force means mounted on said housing inside thereof actuable to apply a force to said first ~ -seal to hold the same in engagement with at least a portion of said ~., " ~ " , -` lOSglO6 Amendment F. F. Domyan et al. 5-4, S/N 265,271 filed Nov. 9, 1976 Page 2a spherical surface portion, said first seal being in engagement with said spherical surface portion over the entire circumference of said seal al-ternately at said one rotational position of said ball valve or at another rotational position thereof different from said one position, said ball valve closing off the space inside said first seal circumference when said ball valve is rotated to said other position thereof; and control means mounted inside said housing, responsive to rotation of said ball valve and connected to said variable force means to actuate the same in a manner to change the magnitude of said force applied to said first seal while it is in contact with said ball when said ball valve is rotated from said one position thereof to said other position thereof, and vice versa, wherein said control means is constructed to cause said applied force to be less than said ball valve is in said position thereof than it is when said ball valve is in said other position thereof, and wherein said variable force means includes first and second cylinders, one of said cylinders being tele-scopically sealed into the other, said first cylinder being flxed relative to said housing, said second cylinder having a second seal mounted there-on, a ring slidable on the outside of said second cylinder, a spring coiled around said first cylinder, a stop at one end of said coiled spring fixed relative to said housing, said coiled spring being held in compression between said stop and one side of said ring, said ring being slidable on said second cylinder, spring means weaker than said coiled spring between said ring and said first seal, said control means including cam means fixed relative to said ball valve in a position such that, when said ball valve is rotated to said one position thereof, said cam means moves said ring to remove the load of said coiled spring on said spring means, and ~ -2a-",, ~,, h"
': ' ' 1 Amendment 1059~0~
F. F. Domyan et al. 5-4, S/N 265,271 filed Nov. 9, 1976 Page 2b said spring means applies a first force to said first seal holding the same in contact with said ball valve spherical surface portion, said cam means being fixed to said ball valve in a position to release said ring and to allow the force of said coiled spring to act in tandem with said spring means in a manner to cause said first seal to engage said ball valve with a second force greater than said first force when said ball valve is rotated to said other position thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention: ~ -Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 1--1 shown in Fig. 2, through a ball valve in closed position and constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, taken on the line 2--2 of the ball valve shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the ball valve of -Fig. 1 with the valve thereof in open position;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the valve in open position;
-2b-,........................................... . .
lOS9106 Fig. 5 is a rear elevational vlew of one of several leaf sprlngs employed in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the leaf spring shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a notched ring with eight leaf springs fixed thereto, each of the said leaf sprin~s being of the shape lllustrated in Figs. 5 and 6;
Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a pair of rings between which a leaf spring is deflected when the valve of Figs. 1-3 is in closed posltlon, the view of Fig. 8 belng taken on the line ~--8 shown in Flg. 7: and Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the pair of rings also shown in Fig. 8 between which a leaf spring is deflected when the valve of Flgs.1-3 is in open positi~n, the view of Fig. 9 being taken on the line 9--9 shown ln Flg. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE E~EFERRED EMBODIMENT
In Fig. 1, the ball valve of the present invention is illustrated at 10 having a valve housing 11 with a fitting 12 having an inlet port 13. Fitting 12 is flxed to valve housing 11 and is also sealed around the circumference thereof by an O-ring 14 in an O-rir~groo-~e 15in an extemal surface of fitting 12. An outlet port 16 is formed through the riyht end s~ valve housing 11.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in some cases, port 16 may be the inlet port, and port 13 may be the outlet port. This is especially true lf, or as shown, the valve seal assembly as illustrated at 17 ls a balanced seal assembly .
- lOS910~i A ball 18 is rotatably supported about the common axis of aligned stub shafts 19 and 20 which are fixed to a generally spherical valve body 21 having a spherical surface of revolution 22 about the ccmmon axis of stub shafts 19 and 20.
The spherical surface 22 is uninterrupted except for a hole 23 whlch extends completely through valve body 21. Hole 23 is defined by a cylindrical surface that has a symmetrical axis which passes through and ls perpendicular to the common axis of stub shafts 19 and 20.
Stub shaft 19 is sealed to valve housing 11 by an O-ring 24 which is positioned in an O-ring groove 25 in valve housing 11.
- Stub shaft 19 has an integral portion 26 whlch is rotatable in roller bearings 27 retained in a race 28. A washer 29 is sli~able on stub shaft portion 26.
Stub shaft 19 also has a portion 30 inte~alwith valve body 21 around which a cam 31 is fixed by a pin 32 press fit in a bore 33 ln valve body 21.
In the position shown, the entire surface of valve body 21 lnside seal assembly 17 is uninterrupted because the hole 23 exeends generally perpendi-cular to the longitudinal axis of the valve 10 through the center of valve body 21 horizontally in the plane of the drawing as shoum in Fig. 1.
The seal assembly includes rings 34 and 35 which, except for details, may be substantially identical. The said details will be described hereinafter.
Rings 34 and 35 may be slidable upon a cylinder 36 in an axial direction thereon, if desired. Ring 34 must be so slidable. Cylinder 36 is sealed to a cylindrical pro)ection 37 of fitting 12 by an O-ring 38 retained in an O-ring groove 39 in cylindrical pro~ection 37.
,: , , A s~t ~f lcaf springs are provlded between rin~ 34 and 35; how~v~r, these leaf springs ar~ shown and described hereinafter, and are not shown in Fig. 1 for clarity. The leaf springs provide a force upon seal assembly 17 when the valve body 21 is in open position. The leai springs are relatively 5 weak to decrease necessary torque for opening or closing the valve 10 by rotatlon of the stub shaft 19 in one or the other of the dlrections in which it is rotatable.
On the Dther hand, a helically coiled spring 40 is provided to substantially increase the force on the seal assembly 17 to lncrease seal pressure against 10 spherlcal surface 22 when the valve ls closed, as shown ln Fig. 1.
Spring 40 ls always maintalned in compresslon between an annular surface 41 of fltting 12 and rlng 34.
In the positlon shown in Flg. 1, substantially identical pro~ections 42 and 42' extend through notches 43 and 43' in ring 35. However, the size and location of cam 31 prevents pro~ections 42 and 42' from supplying any sub-stantial force or any force to move ring 34 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1. A
maximum force is t hus lmpressed upon seal assembly 17 by spring 40 through ring 34, the leaf springs not shown in Fig. 1 and the r~ng 35. The seal ascembly17 is thus pressed against spherical surface 22 with a maximum force because, as stated previously, the valve body 21 has been tu~ned by stub shaft 19 to its closed position.
For clarity, the seal assembly 17 is descrlbed in greater detail in con-nectlon with Fig. 3. Cylinder 36 has a flange 44 against which ring 35 abuts.
Cylinder 36 also has a flange 45 integral therewlth, and a rlng 46 fixed thereto.
A sealing ring 47 and abackup ring 48 are fixed in the space between ring 46 and flange 4 S against the lower surface of flange 44 O
, As shown in Flg. 1, stub shaft 20 has a portion 30' whlch may be ldentical to portion 30. A cam 31' ls als~ provided whlch may be ldentlcal to cam 31, and a pin 32' ls provided which may be ldentical to pln 32 and pressfltin abore, n~t shown, in valve body 21 ldentical to bore 33, cam 31' belng slidable over pin 32'. Pro~ections 42 and 42' are slidable in grooves 49 and 49' ln valve h~using 11.
Valve housing 11 also includes a disk 50 which is trapped between a snap rlng 51 and shoulders 52 and 53. Disk 50 is sealed wlth a cylindrical portion 54 of valve houslng 11 by an O-ring 55 that is posltioned in an O-ring groove 56 of dlsk 50. Disk 50 again carries roller bearings 57 in a race 58 in which stub shaft 20 is rotatable. Washers 59 and 60 are slidable over stub shaft 20 and have a wave spring 61 therebetween.
When the ball valve 10 of Fig. 1 is employed t~ turn on and shut off natural gas under a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch, 10 pounds per square inch or less than 10 pounds per square inch, stub shaft 19 may be turned with the finger. Alternatively, stub shaft 19 may be provided with a square portlon 62 on which any conventional knob may be fixed by a set screw. In this case too, the knob may be turned manually.
Still further, any hydraulic or other semi-automatic or automatic valve actuator may be employed. For example, that shown in U. S. Patent No. 3,880,054 may be employed.
As shown in Fi~. 2, a set of leaf springs 63 are provided between rings 34 and 35. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, groove 49' is formed by valve housing pro~ections 64 and 65. In Fig. 2, note will be taken that cam 31 (closed pDsition) does not extend sufficiently far to depress ring 34 to the , 105~10~
left, as vi~wed in Flg. 2. On the ~ther hand, in Fi~. 4, cam 31 takes atll the pressure Df spring 40 ~ff Df leaf springs 63. Sealing ring 47 (Fig. 3) with valve body 21 in the Dpen position, is thus pressed against spherical surface 22 with the smaller fDrce provided by the springs 63, the larger f~rce being `5 supplied to sealing ring 47 by spring 40 when cam 31 is in the position shown in Fig. 2.
As hinted previously, ring 34 may be identical tD ring 35 except for notches 43 and 43'. Ring 35 is shown ln Fig. 7 havin~ leaf sprlngs 66 fixed thereto by rivets 67.
An enlarged view ~f oneleaf sprlng 66 shown in Fig. 7 is shown in - Flg. 5 at 68 having a hole therethrough at 69 through which one of the rivets 67 may be pro~ected and peened over. Leaf spring 68 is also shown in Flg. 6.
When the valve 10 is in closed position, rings 34 and 35 take the positions shown in Fig. 8, and a leaf spring 70 ls coMpressed to a positlon 15 whlch may be as sh~wn in Fig. 8.
When the valve 10 is in open position, rings 34 and 35 may take the position as shown in Fig. 9, and a leaf spring 71 maY take the pDsition shown in Fig. 9.
Each of the leaf springs 68, 70 and 71 have bPell given individual 20 reference numerals; however, each one of these leaf springs is one of the leaf springs 66 and one of the set 63L
Stops, not shown, may be provided for one or ~oth of the stub shafts 19 and 20 shown in Fig. 1, if desired. Alternativelyr stops may be provided by or on any semi-automatlc or automatic actuator, hydraulic or otherwisei, 25 mounted in a f~xed position relative to valve housing 11 and engaging portlon 62 of stub shaft 19.
_,,,_, ... .. ... ... . .
lOS9~06 In another alternatlve, stub shaft 19 may, ~f deslred, with housing 11, be provlded wlth corresponding lndlcla t~ indicate whether the valve 10 is open or is closed.
The use of leaf springs for the springs 66 of Fig. 7 is not critical. Coil 5 springs or other springs may be provided, if desired.
Notches 43 and 43' in ring 35 are optional. If desired, pro~ections 42 and 42' may be located at a position outslde the outside àiameter of ring 35, and then may engage ring 34, which can have a d'ameter larger than that of the outside dlameter of rlng 35. Leaf springs 66 shown in Fig. 7 or other such 10 springs need not be employed on rlng 35, but may al$o be employed on ring 34.In this case, ring 34 may or may not have a larger outside diameter than the outslde diameter of ring and notches may not or may be provided in ring 35, r~espectively.
, ,, . i
Claims
1. Fluid flow control apparatus comprising: a housing sealed ex-cept for a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a ball valve movably mounted on said housing inside thereof and having an external surface including at least a sealing portion, said sealing portion being spherical, said ball valve having a hole extending completely therethrough, said hole having an axis approximately extending between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet in one position of said ball valve, said ball valve being mounted inside said housing in a manner such that the same may be rotated about an axis extend-ing approximately through the center of said spherical surface portion and approximately normal to said ball valve hole axis, said hole opening into said housing through said ball valve spherical surface portion; an annular first seal having a diameter greater than that of said opening and surround-ing the same and everywhere spaced therefrom when said ball valve is in said one position thereof; variable force means mounted on said housing inside thereof actuable to apply a force to said first seal to hold the same in engagement with a least a portion of said spherical surface portion, said first seal being in engagement with said spherical surface portion over the entire circumference of said seal alternately at said one rotational posi-tion of said ball valve or at another rotational position thereof different from said one position, said ball valve closing off the space inside said first seal circumference when said ball valve is rotated to said other posi-tion thereof; and control means mounted inside said housing, responsive to rotation of said ball valve and connected to said variable force means to actuate the same in a manner to change the magnitude of said force applied to said first seal while it is in contact with said ball when said ball valve is rotated from said one position thereof to said other position thereof, and vice versa, wherein said control means is constructed to cause said applied force to be less when said ball valve is in said one position thereof than it is when said ball valve is in said other position thereof, and wherein said variable force means includes first and second cylinders, one of said cylinders being telescopically sealed into the other, said first cylinder being fixed relative to said housing, said second cylinder having a second seal mounted thereon, a ring slidable on the outside of said second cylinder, a spring coiled around said first cylinder, a stop at one end of said coiled spring fixed relative to said housing, said coiled spring being held in compression between said stop and one side of said ring, said ring being slidable on said second cylinder, spring means weaker than said coiled spring between said ring and said first seal, said control means including cam means fixed relative to said ball valve in a position such that, when said ball valve is rotated to said one position thereof, said cam means moved said ring to remove the load of said coiled spring on said spring means, and said spring means applies a first force to said first seal holding the same in contact with said ball valve spheri-cal surface portion, said cam means being fixed to said ball valve in a position to release said ring and to allow the force of said coiled spring to act in tandem with said spring means in a manner to cause said first seal to engage said ball valve with a second force greater than said first force when said ball valve is rotated to said other position thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US63019475A | 1975-11-10 | 1975-11-10 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1059106A true CA1059106A (en) | 1979-07-24 |
Family
ID=24526185
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA265,271A Expired CA1059106A (en) | 1975-11-10 | 1976-11-09 | Valve |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5286535A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU1914976A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1059106A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2650803A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2330932A1 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1072854B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7612122A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011062830A1 (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2011-05-26 | Kohler Co. | Plumbing fixture with flush valve actuator and methods of calibrating same |
Families Citing this family (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB8319853D0 (en) * | 1983-07-22 | 1983-08-24 | Forsac Valves | Ball valve for pipeline |
| FR2576080B1 (en) * | 1985-01-11 | 1987-03-20 | Europ Propulsion | SPHERICAL SHUTTER VALVE |
| US4566482A (en) * | 1985-06-27 | 1986-01-28 | Stunkard Gerald A | Top entry trunnion ball valve |
| DE3824919A1 (en) * | 1987-08-14 | 1989-02-23 | Gen Electric | Ball valve |
| FR2685750B1 (en) * | 1991-12-27 | 1994-04-01 | Propulsion Ste Europeenne | DOUBLE ELASTICITY RETRACTABLE SEAL VALVE. |
| GB9313372D0 (en) * | 1993-06-29 | 1993-08-11 | T K Valve Ltd | Ball valve |
| DE4342358A1 (en) * | 1993-12-11 | 1995-06-14 | Borsig Kugelhahn Gmbh | Ball cock with spherical plug |
| FR2891341B1 (en) * | 2005-09-29 | 2011-04-22 | Vanatome | SPHERICAL ROTATING SHUTTER VALVE |
-
1976
- 1976-10-29 AU AU19149/76A patent/AU1914976A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-11-02 NL NL7612122A patent/NL7612122A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1976-11-06 DE DE19762650803 patent/DE2650803A1/en active Pending
- 1976-11-09 IT IT2912476A patent/IT1072854B/en active
- 1976-11-09 CA CA265,271A patent/CA1059106A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-11-09 FR FR7633728A patent/FR2330932A1/en active Granted
- 1976-11-09 JP JP13459976A patent/JPS5286535A/en active Pending
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011062830A1 (en) * | 2009-11-17 | 2011-05-26 | Kohler Co. | Plumbing fixture with flush valve actuator and methods of calibrating same |
| US8555428B2 (en) | 2009-11-17 | 2013-10-15 | Kohler Co. | Plumbing fixture with flush valve actuator and methods of calibrating same |
| US9611633B2 (en) | 2009-11-17 | 2017-04-04 | Kohler Co. | Plumbing fixture with flush valve actuator and methods for calibrating same |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2330932B3 (en) | 1979-07-20 |
| AU1914976A (en) | 1978-05-04 |
| JPS5286535A (en) | 1977-07-19 |
| NL7612122A (en) | 1977-05-12 |
| DE2650803A1 (en) | 1977-05-12 |
| IT1072854B (en) | 1985-04-13 |
| FR2330932A1 (en) | 1977-06-03 |
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