Flow control valve

A valve comprising:

• a housing with a flow passage disposed therein, and the flow passage including an enlarged cavity;
• a ball trapped in said cavity and being free to move between a first position in contact with a first wall and a second position in contact with a second wall;
• said flow passage being unrestrictive to fluid flow when said ball is in said first position but restrictive to fluid flow when said ball is in said second position;
• said flow passage includes a first conduit that opens to said cavity through said first wall;
• said flow passage includes a second conduit that opens to said cavity through said second wall;
• and
• a flow area past the ball when in the second position is an area of a large circle minus an area of a small circle.

A valve comprising:

• a housing with a flow passage disposed therein, and the flow passage including an enlarged cavity;
• a ball trapped in said cavity and being free to move between a first position in contact with a first wall and a second position in contact with a second wall;
• said flow passage being unrestrictive to fluid flow when said ball is in said first position but restrictive to fluid flow when said ball is in said second position;
• said flow passage includes a first conduit that opens to said cavity through said first wall;
• said flow passage includes a second conduit that opens to said cavity through said second wall;
• and
• said cavity has a longitudinal axis offset from said first conduit and said second conduit.

A valve comprising:

• a housing with a flow passage disposed therein, and the flow passage including an enlarged cavity;
• a ball trapped in said cavity and being free to move between a first position in contact with a first wall and a second position in contact with a second wall;
• said flow passage being unrestrictive to fluid flow when said ball is in said first position but restrictive to fluid flow when said ball is in said second position;
• said flow passage includes a first conduit that opens to said cavity through said first wall;
• said flow passage includes a second conduit that opens to said cavity through said second wall;
• and
• said housing includes a first plate that defines said first conduit;
• a second plate that defines said second conduit;
• and
• a third plate positioned between the first plate and the second plate, and including a circumferential portion that defines a portion of said cavity.