Valves and valve actuation – Rotary valves – Ball valve
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-19
2001-07-31
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Valves and valve actuation
Rotary valves
Ball valve
C251S192000, C251S315160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267353
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to valves and, more particularly, to a self draining ball valve with an adjustable bonnet and floating valve seat arrangement.
2. Description of the Invention Background
Over the years, a variety of different types of valves for controlling the flow of fluids, vapors, slurries, etc. in pipelines or conduits have been developed. Examples of such flow control valves are globe valves, gate valves, diaphragm valves and ball valves. Each of these types of valves generally have different flow and pressure characteristics due to their different configurations. For example, in a globe valve, the flowing fluid must make abrupt turns in the body, which results in a higher pressure loss than is experienced when using a gate valve wherein the fluid is permitted to flow directly through a straight opening in the valve. Globe valves are commonly used where close regulation of flow is desired and gate valves are used in applications wherein little flow resistance through the valve is desirable.
A diaphragm valve is typically equipped with a flexible member or diaphragm that is either opened or closed by pressure applied to the diaphragm. Because such valves tend to retain little or no fluid within the valve when the valve is closed, they are often employed by the pharmaceutical industry to control fluids that may culture undesirable or harmful bacteria within the valve if such fluid is permitted to remain in the valve for a period of time. However, diaphragm valves are not particularly well-suited for high fluid flow applications. Furthermore, if the diaphragm should rupture or break, there is generally no way of stopping the fluid from leaking through the valve.
Ball valves typically comprise a housing member that contains a ball-shaped flow control member that is rotatably supported within the housing by seats oriented on each side of the flow control member. A cylindrical passage is provided through the ball-shaped member to permit the fluid to flow through the valve. Ball valves, therefore, are generally suited for use in higher flow applications than are diaphragm valves. However, when a conventional ball valve is closed, fluid may be undesirably trapped within the flow control member passage and/or between the valve seats and the housing.
In addition, in many valves, and in ball valves in particular, it is desirable to be able to selectively adjust the orientation of the flow control member within the housing to compensate for seat wear and wear of the flow control member. It will be appreciated that if the flow control member is not properly supported within the valve, seat wear and wearing of the flow control member can be exacerbated. In existing valve designs, a portion of the flow control member extends through a portion of the housing to enable the flow control member to be selectively actuated. Such arrangement, however, does not permit the flow control member to be adjusted axially within the housing to ensure that the flow control member is properly supported within the housing.
Therefore, there is a need for a valve for controlling the flow of fluid within conduits that does not trap fluid within the valve when the valve is closed.
There is a further need for a valve with the above-mentioned characteristics that can accommodate higher fluid flow rates than those flow rates commonly associated with diaphragm valves of comparable sizes.
There is still another need for a flow control member that could be retrofitted into an existing ball valve for reducing the likelihood of trapping fluid within the valve when the valve is closed.
Yet another need exists for a valve wherein the axial position of the flow control member can be selectively adjusted from the exterior of the valve.
Another need exists for a valve wherein seat wear and flow control member wear can be compensated for without requiring the valve to be disassembled in order to replace the worn components.
An additional need exists for a valve that has a selectively adjustable bonnet assembly.
Still another need exists for a valve that has the above-mentioned characteristics that is relatively easy to manufacture, assemble, install, and adjust.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one form of the present invention, there is provided a valve that includes a valve body that has an inlet port that defines an inlet axis and an outlet port that defines an outlet axis that is not coaxial with the inlet axis. The valve body also has a flow control chamber between the inlet and outlet ports that has a bottom surface that is substantially coplanar with a bottom surface of the outlet port. The valve further includes a flow control member that is operably supported within the flow control chamber.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a valve that includes a valve body that has an inlet port and an outlet port. The valve further includes a flow control member that has a flow passage extending therethrough. The flow control member is movably supported within the valve body such that the flow control member can be selectively oriented within the valve body to at least one first position wherein fluid is permitted to pass through the flow passage from the inlet port to the outlet port and a second position wherein the fluid is prevented from passing from the inlet port to the outlet port. The valve also includes an actuator portion protruding from the flow control member. The valve further includes a bonnet that rotatably supports at least a portion of the actuator portion therein. The bonnet is movably supported on the valve body to enable the flow control member to be selectively axially moved within the valve body.
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a valve that includes a valve body that has an inlet port and an outlet port and a flow control chamber between the inlet and outlet ports. A flow control member is operably supported within the flow control chamber and is selectively movable between a closed position and at least one open position. A movable seat is supported within the valve body, such that when the flow control member is open and a fluid is flowing therethrough, the movable seat is biased in a first direction to establish a fluid passage between the movable seat and the valve body and when the flow control member is closed, the movable seat is biased in a second direction to establish a seal between the movable seat and the valve body.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a self-cleaning and a self-draining valve that, when mounted in a pipeline oriented at conventional slopes, does not trap fluid therein when the valve is closed.
Another feature of the subject invention is to provide an arrangement that permits the axial position of the flow control member within the housing to be selectively adjusted.
Yet another unique feature provided by the floating seat arrangement of the present invention is to enable the valve to be “self-cleaning” and sanitary. That is, as fluid passes through the valve when the valve is open, the fluid cleans the spaces behind and in front of the seat thereby preventing the accumulation of fluid, dirt, debris around the seat.
Accordingly, the present invention provides solutions to the shortcomings of prior valve arrangements. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, however, that these and other details, features and advantages will become further apparent as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments proceeds.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3122352 (1964-02-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 3157380 (1964-11-01), Sivyer
patent: 3333813 (1967-08-01), Rabe
patent: 3464449 (1969-09-01), Morton
patent: 3542338 (1970-11-01), Scaramucci
patent: 3674052 (1972-07-01), Hartman et al.
patent: 3893469 (1975-07-01), Baker
patent: 3941351 (1976-03-01), Graham
patent: 3951380 (1976-04-01), Oliva-Bonino
patent: 4214732 (1980-07-01), Kinders
Friedline Gary W.
Graham Kenneth R.
Kromer Michael W.
Keasel Eric
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
PBM, Inc.
Shaver Kevin
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