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US 10,837,562 B2Granted
Ball valves with lattice structures and methods of manufacture
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsEmanuel John Gottlieb, Gopalakrishna Srinivasamurthy Magadi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ball for use within a ball valve includes an outer wall, an inner wall that defines a central bore, and a lattice structure positioned within an interior space defined between the outer wall and the inner wall. The ball may include one or more flow conditioners positioned within the central bore. The ball may be formed via an additive manufacturing process.
Claims20
A ball for use within a ball valve, comprising:
- an outer wall;
- an inner wall that defines a central bore;
- and
- a first lattice structure positioned within an interior space defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the first lattice structure comprises a grid of cells interconnected with one another and coupled to the inner and outer walls along the central bore at least in a central area midway between opposite ends of the central bore, and the grid of cells comprises a plurality of cells disposed one after another in a first direction from the outer wall to the inner wall,
- wherein the first lattice defines a plurality of open spaces within the grid of cells, the open spaces arranged parallel with the central bore of the inner wall, and
- wherein at least some of the open spaces extend within the interior space between inner surfaces of the outer wall.
3 more elements
A ball valve, comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a ball positioned within the housing and configured to rotate to adjust the ball valve between an open position and a closed position, wherein the ball comprises an outer wall, an inner wall that defines a central bore that enables fluid flow across the ball valve while the ball valve is in the open position, and a first lattice structure that extends between the outer wall and the inner wall;
- wherein the first lattice structure comprises a grid of cells interconnected with one another and coupled to the inner and outer walls along the central bore at least in a central area midway between opposite ends of the central bore, and the grid of cells comprises a plurality of cells disposed one after another in a first direction from the outer wall to the inner wall,
- wherein the grid of cells defines a plurality of open spaces therein, the open spaces arranged parallel with the central bore of the inner wall, and
- wherein at least some of the open spaces extend within the interior space between inner surfaces of the outer wall.
3 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a ball valve configured to mount in a valve body having a fluid passage, wherein the ball valve is configured to move between an open position and closed position in the valve body, wherein the ball valve comprises:
- an outer wall;
- an inner wall that defines a central bore, the central bore interconnected with the fluid passage when the ball valve is in the open position;
- and
- a lattice structure positioned within an interior space defined between the outer wall and the inner wall, wherein the lattice structure comprises a grid of cells interconnected with one another and coupled to the inner and outer walls along the central bore at least in a central area midway between opposite ends of the central bore, and the grid of cells comprises a plurality of cells disposed one after another in a first direction from the outer wall to the inner wall, the grid of cells defining open spaces therebetween, wherein the open spaces are parallel to the central bore of the inner wall, and
- wherein at least some of the open spaces extend within the interior space between inner surfaces of the outer wall.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.