Valve having reduced operating force and enhanced throttling capability

A flow control valve element, comprising:

• a sphere-shaped valve ball, the inlet comprising an inlet lip;
• an outlet formed in the valve ball, the outlet opposing the inlet, and comprising an outlet lip, at least one of the inlet lip and the outlet lip comprising a blend radius flow passage edge formed between an internal surface of a hollowed out portion and external surface of the valve ball, and at least one of the inlet lip and the outlet lip comprising a flow passage edge, the flow passage edge disposed generally parallel to the fluid flow when the valve ball is disposed in a fully open position, the flow passage edge comprising a second thickness dimension that is less than a first thickness dimension of a valve ball wall proximate to the at least one of the inlet lip and the outlet lip, the first thickness dimension defined by the hollowed-out portion and the exterior surface of the valve ball;
• and the hollowed-out portion
• extending between the inlet and the outlet, the hollowed-out portion comprising an ellipsoid segment of an ellipsoid defined by rotating an ellipse about its semi-major axis:
• the semi-major axis is greater than the semi-minor axis of the ellipse;
• and
• the direction of flow through the valve ball lies along the semi-major axis when the valve ball is disposed in a fully open position.

A flow control valve ball, comprising:

• a generally spherically-shaped topology;
• an inlet;
• an outlet, the outlet opposing the inlet;
• a hollowed-out portion extending between the inlet and the outlet, the hollowed-out portion defined by an ellipsoid segment of an ellipsoid comprising a first semi-principal axis, a second semi-principal axis, and a third semi-principal axis:
• the first semi-principal axis is greater than both the second semi-principal axis and the third semi-principal axis;
• and a path of fluid flow through the hollowed-out portion lies along the first semi-principal axis when the valve ball is disposed in a fully open position;
• a pair of opposing flats, the flats respectively comprising a first flat portion formed in the external portion of the ball and an opposing second flat portion formed in the hollowed-out portion of the ball;
• and
• a wall defined by the internal and external portions of the ball, the wall having a wall thickness dimension proximate one or more of the inlet and the outlet,
• wherein at least one of the inlet and the outlet comprises a lip, the lip comprising a flow passage edge, the flow passage edge disposed generally parallel to a fluid flow direction when the valve ball is disposed in a fully open position, the lip comprising a flow passage width which is less than the wall thickness dimension proximate one or more of the inlet and the outlet.