Fluid control valve

An arrangement for controlling the flow of fluid through a fluid control valve having a ball rotatably fixed in a passageway through a body, and having an end cap disposed in the passageway, the ball having a through hole allowing for a first flow rate therethrough, the ball being positioned adjacent to and in contact with an integral annular downstream seat, the downstream seat forming part of the end cap, the arrangement comprising:

• a. means within the ball for allowing a second flow rate smaller than the first flow rate through the passageway;
• b. means for changing the position of the through hole with respect to the passageway to change the flow rate through the passageway;
• and
• c. means upstream of the ball for reducing pressure differential at the integral seat.

A fluid control valve comprising:

• a. a body defining a cylindrical passageway for the fluid, the passageway extending through the body, the passageway having a first section and a second section adjacent to the first section, the first section having a first diameter at the point immediately adjacent to the second section, the second section having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the passageway having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis defining a first axis;
• b. an end housing sealingly affixed to the second section, the end housing having a passage extending through the end housing, the passage through the end housing having a first portion, the first portion having a diameter equal to the second diameter, the first portion being contiguous with, and sealingly affixed to the second section, the passage further having a second portion adjacent to the first portion, the second portion having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter, the end housing further having an integral downstream sealing seat disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the downstream seat having an internal diameter equal to the third diameter, and the passage through the end housing having a longitudinal axis substantially identical to the first axis;
• c. a ball rotatably disposed in the second section and the first portion at approximately the point where the second section and the first portion join, the ball having:
• (i) a second axis extending through the center of the ball, the second axis substantially perpendicular the first axis;
• (ii) a first cylindrical through hole having a central longitudinal axis defining a third axis, substantially perpendicular to the second axis, the first hole having a fourth diameter;
• and
• (iii) a second through hole at an angle to the first through hole, the second through hole having a central longitudinal axis defining a fourth axis, the second hole having a cylindrical inlet segment having a fifth diameter, the fifth diameter being less than the fourth diameter, the second hole having a cylindrical outlet segment having a sixth diameter, the sixth diameter less than the fourth diameter;
• and
• d. an annular upstream seat disposed in the second section, positioned between and in contact with the first section and the ball, the seat having an internal diameter smaller than the first diameter and larger than the third diameter.