Single flanged end ball valve of unitary construction

Details Single flanged end ball valve of unitary construction Single flanged end ball valve of unitary construction

2002-03-14

2003-12-02

Fox, John (Department: 3753)

Fluid handling

Systems

With flow control means for branched passages

C251S315140

Reexamination Certificate

active

06655412

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
This invention relates generally to ball valves, and more particularly to a flanged end ball valve of unitary construction.
Traditionally, a ball valve is used in plumbing and heating applications to shut off the flow of water or other fluid during replacement or repair of an in-line appliance or piece of equipment, such as a circulating pump. As shown in
FIG. 1
, typically, a ball valve used in a plumbing and heating application includes a separate flange
2
, a conventional ball valve
4
, and a copper nipple
6
and copper adapter
8
that connect the flange
2
to the conventional ball valve
4
. The ball valve
4
is attached to the plumbing or heating system with copper tubing
10
. The in-line appliance (not shown) is attached to the flange
2
. Alternatively, an iron nipple
12
has been used to connect the flange
2
to the ball valve
4
, and a copper adapter
14
has been used to connect the ball valve
4
to the copper tubing
10
, as shown in FIG.
2
.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, in the conventional methods, there are several potential leak paths. Also, there are areas of galvanic action between dissimilar metals. Further, installation of the flange, the nipples, and the adapters in this type of configuration is time consuming and expensive.
The conventional method shown in
FIG. 3
includes an iron flange
16
that includes a screwdriver slot ball valve. The flange
16
is connected to a second iron flange
18
. A copper adapter
20
connects the iron flange
18
to copper tubing
10
. In this configuration, since the flange
18
is made of iron, there is an area of galvanic action between the iron flange
18
and the copper adapter
20
. Also, there are several potential leak paths. Further, this configuration is complex, which increases the cost and installation time.
FIG. 4
shows another conventional configuration. This configuration includes an iron flange
30
connected to a copper tube
32
via a copper adapter
34
. In this conventional configuration, it is not possible to isolate an in-line appliance, thereby making repair and replacement of the in-line appliance burdensome. Also, there are several potential leak paths. Further, there are areas of galvanic action between the copper adapter
34
and the iron flange
30
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a ball valve unit that reduces the cost and time required to replace in-line appliances such as pumps.
The ball valve unit of the present invention also reduces the number of joints and flanges, thereby reducing the volume of the plumbing system and the number of leakage paths.
Further, the present invention also provides a ball valve unit that prevents the cracking of brittle iron flanges and prevents galvanic action.
The present invention comprises a main section, a flange for connecting the ball valve unit to an appliance, wherein the flange is integrally formed with the main section, a ball valve, a chamber formed in the main section for accommodating the ball of the ball valve, and a handle for actuating the ball valve.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1350362 (1920-08-01), Decker
patent: 3591131 (1971-07-01), Carlson
patent: 3674052 (1972-07-01), Hartman et al.
patent: 3770016 (1973-11-01), Johnstone et al.
patent: 4089345 (1978-05-01), Eberhardt
patent: 4103868 (1978-08-01), Thompson
patent: 4206904 (1980-06-01), Dante
patent: 4342444 (1982-08-01), Sonderman
patent: 5632300 (1997-05-01), Isringhausen
patent: 5857717 (1999-01-01), Caffrey
patent: 6296229 (2001-10-01), Giacomini

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