Dual airbag compliance device for ball and seat lapping

An apparatus for lapping a ball and seats of a ball valve, the apparatus comprising:

• a body;
• a first carriage assembly positioned on said body, said first carriage assembly comprising:
• a plate;
• a seat spindle assembly having a frame, a seat spindle motor, and a seat tooling adapter plate, said seat spindle assembly adapted to hold and rotate one of the seats;
• and
• an airbag assembly comprising a first airbag and a second airbag, said airbag assembly connected to said plate and to said frame of said seat spindle assembly, said airbag assembly adapted to adjust a position of said seat spindle assembly relative to said plate of said first carriage assembly;
• a second carriage assembly positioned on said body, each of said first carriage assembly and said second carriage assembly being adjustable relative to said body;
• and
• a ball frame positioned on said body between said first carriage assembly and said second carriage assembly, said ball frame adapted to hold and rotate the ball.

An apparatus for rotating a seat relative to a ball in a ball valve lapping machine, the apparatus comprising:

• a seat spindle assembly having a frame, a seat spindle motor, and a seat tooling adapter plate, said seat spindle assembly adapted to hold and rotate the seat;
• an airbag assembly having a first airbag and a second airbag, said airbag assembly connected to said frame of said seat spindle assembly, said airbag assembly adapted to apply a set contact force between the seat and the ball;
• and
• a linear compensator affixed to said frame and to said seat tooling adapter plate, said seat tooling adapter plate being restricted to float in a single plane by said linear compensator, said linear compensator comprising:
• a top plate;
• a middle plate;
• a first set of rails positioned between said top plate and said middle plate, said first set of rails allowing for movement of said middle plate relative to said top plate in a first direction in said single plane;
• a bottom plate rigidly connected to said seat tooling adapter plate;
• and
• a second set of rails positioned between said middle plate and said bottom plate, said second set of rails allowing for movement of said bottom plate relative to said middle plate in a second direction in said single plane, said second direction being perpendicular to said first direction.