Fluid handling – Systems – With flow control means for branched passages
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-07-03
Fox, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Systems
With flow control means for branched passages
C137S625470, C251S315140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253791
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a ball valve comprising a one piece housing opposed bearing points for supporting a ball which is inserted into the housing from outside thereof.
In the case of ball valves of the generic type provided with a one-piece housing, the ball is inserted into the housing via a fluid opening. In order to be able to rotate the ball accommodated in the housing, which can be equated with the operation of the ball valve, in the normal case a pin is provided which is connected to the ball in a force-fitting and/or positive manner, is led to the outside through the wall of the housing and is provided with an operating lever at the end. The pin connected to the ball simultaneously acts as a bearing pin which supports the ball on one side. In order to seal off the ball with respect to the fluid openings (inlets and outlets) of the ball valve, provision is made for screw-in elements of the hollow cylindrical design, whose end faces are provided with annular spherical seals. These screw-in elements are screwed into internal threads in the fluid openings, so that the spherical seals rest snugly on the ball. The disadvantage with ball valves designed this way is that the seals also have to absorb lateral forces from the ball, since the ball has the tendency to escape laterally when the fluid openings are closed, as a result of the prevailing fluid pressure. Since the ball is mounted only on one side and the spherical seals, because of their principle, have to be resilient, these lateral forces cause lateral movements of the ball, which may lead to leaks in the valve. In addition, such seals are subject to excessively high wear. Moreover, ball valves of this type are suitable only for comparatively low fluid pressures.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a ball valve of the type described above in such a way that the ball valve effects reliable sealing with long-term stability and, moreover, is simple and cost-effective to produce.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing object is achieved by the present invention wherein a ball valve is provided with a one-piece housing in which a ball is accommodated such that it can rotate. In addition to an upper bearing point, the ball valve has a lower bearing point, which is located diametrically opposite the first. The ball and the housing are matched to each other in such a way that the ball can be inserted into the housing from the outside via a fluid opening. In order to fix the ball inserted into the housing, provision is made for screw-in elements which have a spherical seal on the front side.
The ball valve of the embodiment described above is provided with a second bearing for the ball, by means of which lateral movements of the ball can largely be prevented, with the intention that the ball can still be inserted into the housing from the outside in a simple way.
Further features of the invention are described in the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2734715 (1956-02-01), Knox
patent: 3016062 (1962-01-01), Zinniger
patent: 3112758 (1963-12-01), Norton
patent: 3206164 (1965-09-01), Yopp
patent: 4061307 (1977-12-01), Yoshiike et al.
patent: 4103868 (1978-08-01), Thompson
patent: 4572239 (1986-02-01), Koch et al.
patent: 4436202 (1996-11-01), None
Bachman & LaPointe P.C.
Fox John
Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
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