Systems and methods for rising stem ball valves

A ball valve system, comprising:

• a body having an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a ball within the body between the upstream end and the downstream end, the ball being rotatable about a vertical axis to move between a closed position and an open position;
• a stem movable so as to translate in an actuation direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis, the stem including a linearly-extending recess at a proximal portion of the stem;
• and
• a guide pin extending within the recess of the stem, the guide pin and the recess being configured to prevent rotation of the stem when the stem moves in the actuation direction without rotating, to actuate the ball, the guide pin having a first end that has a first opening and a second end, opposite to the first end, that has a second opening, wherein the first and second openings are in fluid communication with each other and the second end is in fluid communication with the recess so as to form a lubrication port.

A valve system, comprising:

• a body having an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a ball provided between the upstream end and the downstream end, the ball being rotatable about a vertically-extending axis of rotation to move between a closed position and an open position;
• a vertically-translateable stem including a pair of opposed guide surfaces at a distal portion of the stem that each extend about 90 degrees along a circumference of the stem;
• a pin configured to rotate the ball, wherein the pin is rotatable with the ball, in contact with the ball, and in contact with one guide surface of the pair of opposed guide surface, so as to rotate the ball without rotating the stem;
• a valve seat retainer secured to the body;
• and
• a valve seat ring secured to the valve seat retainer with a mechanism that includes one or more protrusions that are removeably received by one or more axially-extending recesses, and including a portion configured to contact a surface of the ball, the valve seat ring being removable from the valve seat retainer.

A ball valve system, comprising:

• a body having an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a ball within the body between the upstream end and the downstream end, the ball being rotatable about a vertical axis to move between a closed position and an open position;
• a stem movable in an actuation direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis, the stem including a recess at a proximal portion of the stem;
• and
• a guide pin extending within the recess of the stem, wherein the guide pin forms a lubrication port to supply lubrication to the stem.