US 2004/0069968 A1Published application

Rotatable seal for ball valve

AssigneeBanjo, Inc.

InventorMark E. Gillen

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A ball valve assembly having two end bodies selectively detachable from each other with each end body defining a fluid conveying bore is provided. A rotatable ball valve element is disposed within the end bodies and defines a central passage having an axis, with the rotatable ball valve element having an open position in which the central passage is aligned with the fluid conveying bores and a closed position in which the passage is not aligned with the fluid conveying bores. The ball valve assembly also includes a pair of seals, with a seal disposed in each end body and in selective abutting engagement with the rotatable ball valve element. The structure of the rotatable ball valve element is controlled such that the ball valve assembly is assembled with the ball in an open position, thereby substantially eliminating the significant force normally required for assembly of the ball valve assembly.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A valve assembly for controlling a flow of fluid, comprising:

a first end body defining a fluid conveying bore;
a second end body selectively detachable from said first end body and defining at least one fluid conveying bore;
a rotatable valve element having a radius, said rotatable valve element having a first position wherein said first end body fluid conveying bore and said second end body fluid conveying bore are not in fluid communication, and a second position, wherein said first end body fluid conveying bore and said second end body fluid conveying bore are in fluid communication;
and
at least a pair of seal members, a first said seal member disposed in said first end body and a second said seal member disposed in said second end body, said seals structured and arranged to substantially prevent fluid flow when said rotatable valve element is in said first position, each said seal defining a seal contact area with a corresponding portion of said rotatable valve element wherein said radius of said rotatable valve element contacts said seal when said rotatable valve element is in its said first position;
said rotatable valve element defining a passage having an axis, an axial distance being defined between a line perpendicular to said axis and said seal contact area and a radial distance being defined between said axis and said seal contact area, said radial distance being perpendicular to said axial distance;
wherein a ratio of said radial distance to said axial distance has a numerical value of less than 1.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.