Double offset ball member usable in ball valves and other flow control applications

A ball member usable in a ball valve, the ball member comprising:

• a first partial sphere having a first surface and a first center of sphere;
• a second partial sphere having a second surface and a second center of sphere, wherein the first and second partial spheres are integrated with one another forming the ball member having a generally spherical outer shape, and wherein the first center of sphere and the second center of sphere are located a distance from one another;
• and
• a bore having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis, wherein the bore extends through the ball member transverse to an axis of rotation of the ball member, wherein the ball valve is opened and closed to fluid flow by rotating the ball member about the axis of rotation.

A method for manufacturing a ball member, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a first curved portion of the ball member by:
• moving a cutting tool toward a workpiece along an axis of the cutting tool;
• rotating the workpiece about 180 degrees about an axis of rotation oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of the cutting tool;
• and
• forming a second curved portion of the ball member by:
• moving a cutting tool toward the workpiece along the axis of the cutting tool;
• rotating the workpiece about 180 degrees about the axis of rotation oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of the cutting tool;
• and
• machining a bore through the first and second curved portions transverse to the axis of rotation.

A ball member usable in a ball valve, the ball member comprising:

• a body segment having a generally rounded shape and an axis of rotation, wherein the body segment comprises:
• a bore having a longitudinal axis, wherein the bore extends through the body segment transverse to the axis of rotation;
• a first sloped surface;
• and
• a second sloped surface, wherein the first and second sloped surfaces comprise a progressively changing radius with respect to the axis of rotation, and
• wherein the ball valve is opened and closed to fluid flow by rotating the body segment about the axis of rotation.