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US 2023/0147345 A1Published application
Ball valve handle, spring loaded
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsRichard J. Adams, Gordon O. Salmela
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring-loaded ball valve includes a spring, a first pin, a second pin, and a handle. The spring is configured to apply pressure to the first pin and second pin when the ball valve is in both the fully open and fully closed positions. The spring applies maximum torque when the ball valve is in the fully open or fully closed position to ensure the valve remains in the fully open or fully closed position.
Claims20
A ball valve comprising:
- a base;
- a first pin configured to remain stationary during actuation of the ball valve;
- a second pin coupled to the base and extending perpendicular to a top surface of the base, wherein the second pin is configured to translate with the base during actuation of the ball valve;
- a handle positioned adjacent and coupled to the base;
- and
- a spring comprising a first coupler, a second coupler, and a continuous curved portion extending between and connecting the first coupler to the second coupler, wherein the first coupler is coupled to the first pin and the second coupler is coupled to the second pin;
- wherein the spring is configured to induce a force on the first pin and the second pin to pull the second pin in a first rotational direction when the ball valve is in a fully open position, and wherein the spring is configured to induce a force on the first pin and the second pin to pull the second pin in a second rotational direction when the ball valve is in a fully closed position.
4 more elements
(canceled)
A spring for use in an assembly, the spring comprising:
- a first coupler positioned at a first end of the spring;
- a second coupler positioned at a second end of the spring;
- and
- a continuous curved portion extending between and connecting the first coupler to the second coupler, wherein the continuous curved portion has a variable thickness between the first coupler and the second coupler, and wherein the continuous curved portion comprises a spiral curve extending from the first coupler to a central axis of the spring, defining one half of the continuous curved portion;
- wherein the continuous curved portion comprises:
- a first section positioned adjacent and coupled to a second section, wherein the first section extends between 0 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the central axis and a thickness of the first section increases from 0 degrees to 90 degrees;
- the second section is positioned adjacent and coupled to a third section, wherein the second section extends between 90 degrees and 180 degrees with respect to the central axis and a thickness of the second section decreases from 90 degrees to 180 degrees;
- the third section is positioned adjacent and coupled to a fourth section, wherein the third section extends between 180 degrees and 270 degrees with respect to the central axis and a thickness of the third section increases from 180 degrees to 270 degrees;
- and
- the fourth section is positioned adjacent and coupled to a fifth section, wherein the fourth section extends between 270 degrees and 0 degrees with respect to the central axis and the fifth section extends between 0 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the central axis and a thickness of the fourth section decreases from 270 degrees to 0 degrees.
7 more elements
(canceled)
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.