# US 10,502,333 B2 · Ball valve with components integrated into the ball member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,333 B2 - Document ID: US10502333B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/823,412 - Filed: 2017-11-27 - Published: 2018-05-31 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-28 - Assignees: Red-White Valve Corp. - Applicants: Red-White Valve Corp. - Inventors: Giovanni Rizzio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502333B2 ## CPC - F16K 15/1823: {for ball check valves} - B01D 29/071: {with curved filtering elements (B01D29/072, B01D29/073 take precedence)} - B01D 35/04: Plug, tap, or cock filters {filtering elements mounted in or on a faucet} - F16K 5/0605: {with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means} - F16K 15/1848: {Check valves combined with valves having a rotating tap or cock} - F16K 51/00: Other details not peculiar to particular types of valves or cut-off apparatus - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Embodiments provide a ball valve with components integrated into a ball member of the ball valve. The ball member includes an integrated regulating element, which may be a check valve, a pressure or flow regulating valve, or a filter. The components integrated into the ball member are positioned entirely within ends of the ball member such that the ball member can rotate to assume open and closed positions of the ball valve. The components integrated into the ball member can be configured to be removable from the ball member, for example by hand and without the use of tools, or can be configured to prohibit removal once coupled to the ball member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ball valve comprising: a valve body and two ports; a ball member configured to be inserted in the valve body, the ball member having a passage extending from a first end to a second end of the ball member, and a groove in the passage; a regulating element separate from the ball member and configured to be inserted in the passage of the ball member; and a retainer for coupling the regulating element to the ball member, wherein the retainer is expandable to be received in the groove of the passage; wherein the ball member comprises a stop separate from the retainer that limits insertion of the regulating element into the passage, and wherein when the retainer is positioned in the groove of the passage, an entire length of the regulating element is located between the first end and the second end of the ball member and the regulating element is restricted from being removed from the ends of the ball member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the regulating element is a flow regulating valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the regulating element is a filter for filtering particulates from a fluid or gas flowing through the ball valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises resilient tabs configured to be received in the groove of the passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises resilient tangs, wherein the tangs are compressible towards each other, and wherein when the tangs are compressed towards each other, an outer diameter of the retainer is reduced. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ball valve of claim 5, wherein the tangs are compressible by hand. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the regulating element and the retainer are monolithic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ball valve of claim 1, wherein the regulating element and the retainer are separate parts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ball valve of claim 8, wherein the retainer is insertable into the passage of the ball member from outside the ball member after the regulating element is fully inserted in the passage. ### Claim 10 An integrated ball and check valve comprising: a valve body and two ports; a ball member configured to be inserted in the valve body, the ball member having a bore extending from a first end to a second end of the ball member, a first retention element, and a second retention element spaced apart from the first retention element; and a check valve having one or more retention members, the check valve configured to be inserted in the bore of the ball member, wherein the first retention element of the ball member projects into the bore and is configured to retain the check valve inside the first end of the ball member, wherein the first retention element is a lip of the ball member adjacent the first end of the ball member, wherein the second retention element of the ball member is configured to engage at least one of the one or more retention members of the check valve to allow insertion of the check valve from the second end of the ball member and retain the check valve inside the second end of the ball member, and wherein the second retention element of the ball member is a groove in the ball member projecting away from the bore. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The integrated ball and check valve of claim 10, wherein when the ball member is located inside of the valve body, the ball member is configured to be rotated to close the integrated ball and check valve and the check valve is configured to be rotated when the ball member is rotated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The integrated ball and check valve of claim 10, wherein the second retention element of the ball member is spaced apart from the first end and the second end of the ball member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The integrated ball and check valve of claim 10, wherein the one or more retention members of the check valve comprises at least one flange configured to be received in the groove of the bore. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The integrated ball and check valve of claim 10, wherein the one or more retention members of the check valve comprises a plurality of flanges configured to be received in the groove of the bore. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The integrated ball and check valve of claim 10, wherein the groove extends in a circumferential direction around the bore. ### Claim 16 An integrated check valve and ball valve comprising: a valve body and two ports; a ball member configured to be inserted in the valve body, the ball member having a first end and a second end and a bore extending therethrough; and a check valve having a housing, one or more retention members around a circumference of the housing, and a cavity adjacent the one or more retention members; and a moveable core member inside the housing, the check valve configured to be inserted into the bore of the ball member from the second end of the ball member, wherein the check valve is movable from a first configuration in which the check valve is outside the second end of the ball member, to a second configuration in which the check valve is located between the first end and the second end of the ball member, and wherein the one or more retention members comprise one or more resilient tabs configured to be deflected into the cavity by the ball member when the check valve is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The integrated check valve and ball valve of claim 16, which further includes a groove that projects into the ball member and is engageable by the one or more resilient tabs to restrain the check valve against movement from the second configuration to the first configuration.