Valve member for a floating ball valve
AssigneeValve Innovations, LLC
InventorJohn P. Scaramucci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve member including a pair of substantially hemispherical shell components fixed together to form a substantially spherical, hollow shell. The shell has an exterior surface, an interior surface, and two opposing annular openings. The valve member further includes a sleeve having a first end and a second end. The sleeve is positioned between the annular openings of the shell to define a central bore between the annular passages. The sleeve is in contact with and fixed to the shell solely at the first end and the second end thereof in a way that a continuous void is defined between the sleeve and the interior surface of the shell from the first end of sleeve to the second end of the sleeve.
Claims13
A valve member, comprising:
- a pair of substantially hemispherical shell components fixed together to form a substantially spherical, hollow shell, the shell having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and two opposing annular openings;
- and
- a sleeve having a first end and a second end, the sleeve positioned between the annular openings of the shell to define a central bore between the annular passages, the sleeve in contact with and fixed to the shell solely at the first end and the second end thereof in a way that a continuous void is defined between the sleeve and the interior surface of the shell from the first end of sleeve to the second end of the sleeve.
A valve, comprising:
- a body assembly having a valve chamber and an inlet passage and an outlet passage in communication with the valve chamber;
- a valve member positioned in the valve chamber and movable between an open position and a closed position, the valve member comprising:
- a pair of substantially hemispherical shell components fixed together to form a substantially spherical, hollow shell, the shell having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and two opposing annular openings;
- and
- a sleeve having a first end and a second end, the sleeve positioned between the annular openings of the shell to define a central bore between the annular passages for providing fluid communication between the inlet passage and the outlet passage when the valve ember is in the open position, the sleeve in contact with and fixed to the shell solely at the first end and the second end thereof in a way that a continuous void is defined between the sleeve and the interior surface of the shell from the first end of sleeve to the second end of the sleeve;
- a first seat extending about the inlet passage and engaging the valve member;
- and
- a second seat extending about the outlet passage and engaging the valve member.
A method of forming a valve member, comprising:
- fixing a pair of substantially hemispherical shell components together to form a substantially spherical, hollow shell, the shell having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and two opposing annular openings;
- and
- positioning a sleeve having a first end and a second end between the annular openings of the shell to define a central bore between the annular openings so that the sleeve is in contact with and fixed to the shell solely at the first end and the second end thereof in a way that a continuous void is defined between the sleeve and the interior surface of the shell from the first end of sleeve to the second end of the sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.