Ball control valves having three-dimensional tortuous path flowpaths

A valve body for use in a valve housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the valve body comprising:

• an outer surface that is of a spherical configuration, the outer surface including a closed region, a pair of restricted regions and a pair of free flow regions, the closed region including a continuous surface without any openings formed therein, each restricted region including a plurality of passageway openings each being in communication with an internal passageway, and each free flow region being in communication with a common free flow opening;
• the valve body being moveable relative to the valve housing between a closed position, a restricted flow position, and a free flow position;
• in the closed position, the closed region is in alignment with at least the fluid inlet, and the pair of restricted regions and the pair of free flow regions are out of alignment with the fluid inlet to prevent fluid flow between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
• in the restricted flow position, at least a portion of each of the plurality of restricted regions is moved into fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to facilitate fluid communication therebetween;
• and
• in the free flow position, the pair of free flow regions are moved into fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to facilitate fluid communication therebetween.