# US 9,518,665 B2 · Ball valve for cold fluids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,665 B2 - Document ID: US9518665B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/540,833 - Filed: 2014-11-13 - Published: 2015-05-14 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-14 - Assignees: Hantemp Corporation - Applicants: Charles C. Hansen, III - Inventors: Charles C. Hansen, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518665B2 ## CPC - F16K 5/0689: {between housing and plug} - F16K 5/0605: {with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means} - F16K 5/0647: {Spindles or actuating means} - F16K 5/12: Arrangements for modifying the way in which the rate of flow varies during the actuation of the valve - F16K 35/06: using a removable actuating or locking member, e.g. a key (F16K35/10, F16K35/12 take precedence) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A ball valve including upstream and downstream seats and a ball having a flow opening disposed between the upstream and downstream seats. A flow path is defined through the valve only when the ball is disposed in an open position. In one embodiment, when the ball is disposed in a closed position the upstream seat may intermittently disengage from the ball to relieve hydrostatic expansion of a liquid within the ball resulting an increased pressure that is greater than a pressure within a body cavity of the valve outside the ball. In another embodiment, a distance between the upstream and downstream seats is greater than an outer diameter of the ball and the ball engages only one of the upstream and downstream seats when disposed in the closed position and a pressure differential is defined between the upstream and downstream seats. The upstream and downstream seats may each include a partially spherical sealing surface that may have a crenulate configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve comprising: a body including a bore, an upstream seat disposed within the bore that defines an inlet opening, a downstream seat disposed within the bore that defines an outlet opening, and a ball having a flow opening and disposed within the bore between the upstream and downstream seats, wherein the ball is movable within the body between a closed position and an open position, such that a flow path is defined through the body only when the ball is disposed in the open position, and when the ball is disposed in the closed position the upstream seat intermittently disengages from the ball when a pressure within the ball is greater than a pressure within the inlet opening outside the ball; and wherein the upstream and downstream seats each include a sealing surface having a concave partially spherical contour and one of the sealing surfaces has a crenulate configuration formed therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein a distance between the upstream and downstream seats through a center of the ball is greater than an outer diameter of the ball, when the ball is disposed in the closed position and the upstream seat disengages from the ball. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the flow opening is a singular opening in the ball and said flow opening is defined over more than 90° of a circumference of the ball. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the flow opening is defined by a periphery that is configured such that a lower area of the flow opening, cooperatively defined by an equator of the ball and the periphery disposed below the equator, is greater than an upper area of the flow opening, cooperatively defined by the equator and the periphery above the equator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the flow opening is defined by a periphery that is configured such that approximately 25% of a lower area of the flow opening defined below an equator of the ball is exposed when the ball is moved from the closed position to the open position to define a flow path through the ball before any of an upper area of the flow opening defined above the equator of the ball is exposed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, further comprising a stem housing connected to the body, the stem housing having a corrugated exterior surface configuration and a corrugated interior surface configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, further comprising a piping connection connected to the body adjacent one of the inlet and outlet openings, the piping connection including a wall having a corrugated configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the crenulate configuration is defined by a series of truncated peaks and a valleys. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The valve of claim 8, wherein the series of truncated peaks and the valleys are selected from a group consisting of independently formed truncated peaks and valleys and a single continuous spiraling truncated peak and valley. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, further comprising a stem housing coupled to the body and a stem disposed within the stem housing that engages the ball, the stem including a shoulder having an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the stem housing that is disposed adjacent the ball to sealingly engage the stem housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The valve of claim 10, wherein a biasing element is disposed between the ball and the stem that biases the stem into sealing engagement with the stem housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The valve of claim 10, wherein the stem housing further comprises a seal assembly disposed therein and about an end portion of the stem opposite the ball, the seal assembly including a seal ring, a bushing, and a retaining ring such that the seal ring is replaceable when a pressure is present within the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The valve of claim 10, wherein a biasing element is disposed between the ball and the stem that biases the stem into sealing engagement with the stem housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The valve of claim 10, wherein the stem housing further comprises a seal assembly disposed therein and about an end portion of the stem opposite the ball, the seal assembly including a seal ring, a bushing, and a retaining ring such that the seal ring is replaceable when a pressure is present within the body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The valve of claim 1, wherein the body further includes a stem that engages the ball, the stem including a portion having a reduced cross sectional area configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The valve of claim 15, wherein the reduced cross sectional area configuration is defined in a middle portion of the stem that is disposed between a first end portion disposed adjacent the ball and an opposed second end portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The valve of claim 15, wherein the reduced cross sectional area configuration is selected from a group consisting of a corrugated exterior surface, a series of longitudinally alternating grooves, a series of connected discs, a spring, and a series of longitudinally spirally offset grooves. ### Claim 18 A valve comprising: a body including a bore, an upstream seat disposed within the bore that defines an inlet opening, a downstream seat disposed within the bore that defines an outlet opening, and a ball having a flow opening and disposed within the bore between the upstream and downstream seats; wherein the ball is movable within the body between a closed position and an open position such that a flow path is defined through the body only when the ball is disposed in the open position; wherein a distance between the upstream and downstream seats through a center of the ball is greater than an outer diameter of the ball, wherein the ball engages only one of the upstream and downstream seats when disposed in the closed position and a pressure differential is defined between the upstream seat and the downstream seat; and wherein the upstream and downstream seats each include a sealing surface having a concave partially spherical contour and one of the sealing surfaces has a crenulate configuration formed therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, wherein the ball engages either the upstream or the downstream seat but never both upstream and downstream seats simultaneously when the ball is disposed in the open position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, wherein the flow opening is a singular opening in the ball and said flow opening is defined over more than 90° of a circumference of the ball. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, wherein the flow opening is defined by a periphery that is configured such that a lower area of the flow opening, cooperatively defined by an equator of the ball and the periphery disposed below the equator, is greater than an upper area of the flow opening, cooperatively defined by the equator and the periphery above the equator. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, wherein the flow opening is defined by a periphery that is configured such that approximately 25% of a lower area of the flow opening defined below an equator of the ball is exposed when the ball is moved from the closed position to the open position to define a flow path through the ball before any of an upper area of the flow opening defined above the equator of the ball is exposed. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, further comprising a stem housing connected to the body, the stem housing having a corrugated exterior surface configuration and a corrugated interior surface configuration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, further comprising a stem housing coupled to the body and a stem disposed within the stem housing that engages the ball, the stem including a shoulder having an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the stem housing that is disposed adjacent the ball to sealingly engage the stem housing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, further comprising a piping connection connected to the body adjacent one of the inlet and outlet openings, the piping connection including a wall having a corrugated configuration. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, wherein the crenulate configuration is defined by a series of truncated peaks and a valleys. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The valve of claim 26, wherein the series of truncated peaks and the valleys are selected from a group consisting of independently formed truncated peaks and valleys and a single continuous spiraling truncated peak and valley. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The valve of claim 18, wherein the body further includes a stem that engages the ball, the stem including a portion having a reduced cross sectional area configuration. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The valve of claim 28, wherein the reduced cross sectional area configuration is defined in a middle portion of the stem that is disposed between a first end portion disposed adjacent the ball and an opposed second end portion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The valve of claim 28, wherein the reduced cross sectional area configuration is selected from a group consisting of a corrugated exterior surface, a series of longitudinally alternating grooves, a series of connected discs, a spring, and a series of longitudinally spirally offset grooves.