AU674154B2

AU674154B2 - Improved top entry-in-line ball valve

Info

Publication number: AU674154B2
Application number: AU46148/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruce Raymond Guy
Original assignee: DAVIES SHEPHARD Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Elster Metering Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1992-05-05
Filing date: 1993-09-06
Publication date: 1996-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-06
Also published as: AU4614893A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patent Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: S S* Names(s) of Applicant(s): Actual Inventor(s): "i 11 1 Our Address for service is:; C PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK 4 Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street MELBOURNE, Australia 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVED TOP ENTRY, IN-LINE BALL VALVE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 1 5355L IMPROVED TOP ENTRY, IN-LINE BALL VALVE This invention relates to an improved top entry, in-line ball valve.

In recent times, water supply authorities have established new procedures for the connection of water-supply services to properties. In such procedures, operational difficulties due to defective jumper valves are to be overcome by use of in-line ball valves which have the added advantage of enabling full bore flow.

Ball valves, at least in some forms, enable servicing without the need for their disconnection from a supply line. The present invention is directed to a ball valve which facilitates such servicing.

A ball valve according to the invention has a valve housing containing a valve ball for controlling fluid flow between inlet and outlet arms of, and projecting from, the housing by which the valve is connectable into a fluid line; an actuator by which the ball is rotatable between an open position for the valve in which a bore through the ball is in line with a respective bore of each arm, and a closed 0.*0* S 15 position for the valve in which the bore of the ball is out of communication with the bore of at least one arm; the ball and actuator are insertable into and removable from the housing as an assembly via an opening (herein referred to as a top :i opening) of the housing; and retaining means by which the assembly is releasably retained in the housing; wherein the assembly includes sealing means which provides a substantially fluid-tight seal with the valve ball which substantially prevents fluid flow through the valve when the valve ball is in the closed position for the valve; the actuator has a non-rotatable body portion, to which the sealing means is releasably secured, and an actuator stem which extends through the body portion to engage the valve ball to enable rotation of the valve ball between said open and closed positions by rotation of the stem in the body portion; the sealing means, has an external form complementary to, and providing a neat fit in, a chamber of the housing in which the valve ball is rotatable; the sealing means has two parts, each defining a part-hemispherical sealing surface, the valve ball and the sealing means being inter-fitted such that the ball is retained in a couled relationship with the actuator; and wherein the valve ball is engaged by the sealing surface of each of said parts of the sealing SC C WINW\VORISIMtON%*ESY'DEYP4JAE DOC I. I

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means by frictional engagement there between which provide said substantially fluid tight seal while enabling rotation of the valve ball.

As indicated, the sealing means has an external forn. 'omplementary to, and providing a neat fit in, the chamber of the valve housing in which the ball is rotatable. Thus, with a chamber of cylindrical form, the sealing means may have an external, substantially cylindrical form. Other forms are possible for the chamber and sealing means, such as a frusto-conical form which decreases in cross-section away from the open top of the housing. Also, the chamber and sealing means can be of other than circular cross-section as viewed from the open top of the housing.

The valve ball and the sealing means are inter-fitted such that the ball is retained in a coupled relationship with the actuator. For this, the sealing means may define a shell in which the ball is rotatable. Where the sealing means defines such shell, the ball preferably is rotatable in the shell, within a part- 15 spherical, internal sealing surface of the sealing means enclosing the ball. In arrangements in which the sealing means is releasably secured to a non-rotatable body portion of the actuator, securement of the sealing means to that body portion and location of the ball by such sealing surface preferably retains the ball in coupled relationship with the actuator.

20 In an alternative arrangement, the ball may be releasably secured to the actuator, such as by an axially interfitting tongue and groove coupling between the ball and actuator, and a transverse pin through such coupling. In such arrangement, the sealing means again may comprise a shell in which the ball is rotatable, with the shell defining a part-spherical sealing surface for the ball. The location of the ball within the shell thus can retain the sealing means in relation to the actuator, given the coupling between the ball and the actuator.

The sealing means preferably is of a relatively rigid, low friction material which facilitates rotation of the ball therein with a substantially fluid tight seal between the ball and the sealing means.

The parts of the sealing means preferably abut or are closely adjacent substantially on a diametrical plane of the ball. That plane most preferably is one S containing the rotational axis of the ball.

7.7, I ,L ,Ju SC C iWlNWORDSfl'IMONISYDNEYTP4614 E DOC In one practical arrangement, the sealing means is of overall cylindrical form, but of two parts which are opposed on a longitudinal aial plane of the cylinder. Each part, on an internal surface thereof which faces the other part, defines a part-hemispherical sealing surface in which the ball is rotatable. F3ch part has an opening from that sealing surface to its external surface such that, with the ball in the open position for the valve, the bore of the ball is in communication with the bore of each arm of the housing through the opening of a respective part of the sealing means.

A number of arrangements are possible for securement of the sealing means to the actuator. Particularly in the case of sealing means as detailed in the immediately preceding paragraph, the non-rotatable body of the actuator may define a keyway which extends at right angles to the axis of rotation of the ball, S"most preferably in substantially parallel relationship to the bore of the ball when the latter is in the open position for the valve. The keyway most preferably serves to retain the sealing means by each part of the latter having a dove-tail section which is complementary in shape to the keyway. Each part of the sealing means thus is able to be secured to the actuator body, by sliding its dove-tail section along the keyway, so as to enclose the ball between the two parts.

Other arrangements are possible for securing the sealing means to the 20 actuator, either directly or via engagement with the ball. Thus, axial pins of the actuator may locate firmly in grooves or recesses in the 9 SC C WINWORlSIMONLSYDNE YP4614C DOC sealing means. Alternatively, one part of the sealing means may have pins which locate firmly in grooves or recesses bores of the other part, to secure the parts together around the ball.

Reference now is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a valve, showing the valve in respective half-sections at right angles to each other (as in Figure 4); Figure 2 is a full diametrical section of the housing alone;

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"Figure 3 is a plan view of the components of the oo valve other than the housing; and *00, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the other

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15 components, taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3.

The drawings show a valve 10, having a housing 12, 0:00 *go* an actuator assembly 14 and a retaining member 16. Some features of valve 10 really will be understood by those familiar with conventional ball valves. Thus, initial 20 brief description will simply summarise the broad overall .9 o S arrangement, while the description throughout will be with 0 reference to the orientation of valve 10 as shown in Figure i.

Valve 10 is connectable in-line by arms 18, each defining a bore 19 communicating with chamber 20 of housing 12. Assembly 14 is retained in housing 12 by .threaded engagement of annular retaining nut 16 in the open top of housing 12. Nut 16 is received around the reduced diameter portion of annular body 24 of assembly 14, to engage shoulder 26 of body 24 and clamp body 24 against shoulder 28 of housing 12. Body 24 has two diametrically opposed, depending locating members 30 and, as each member 30 is received in a respective recess 32 formed in the inner surface of wall 34 of housing 12, body 24 is constrained against rotation relative to housing 12. An O-ring 36 located in a groove around body 24, below shoulder 26, provides a fluid-tight seal between housing 12 and assembly 14, around the open top of housing 12.

An actuator 38 is rotatable in body 24 for rotating 2898L 5 valve ball 40, to open to close valve 10. Actuator 38 has a stem 42 journalled in body 24, with an O-ring 44 in a groove around stem 42 providing a fluid-tight seal between stem 42 and body 24. A circlip 45, located in radially aligned grooves in stem 42 and body 24, prevents unintended removal of actuator 38 from body 24. A depending flange 46 on stem 42 locates in a slot 48 in ball 40, such that the latter is rotatable with actuator 38 to bring bore 40a of ball 40 into, or out of, alignment with bores 19. Actuator 40 has a tab 49 by which it is rotatable.

a low Valve 10 is required to have a seal around ball which substantially prevents fluid flow therethrough, between arms 18, when ball 40 is out of alignment with 15 bores 19, i.e. when the valve is closed. Valve 10 has sealing means for this purpose, with this being removable from housing 12 as part of assembly 14, to facilitate in-line servicing of valve In the arrangement illustrated, sealing is provided by a pair of sealing members 50, each of similar form, S Members 50, together, provide a seal around ball 14, to substantially prevent flow between bores 19 when valve is closed. However, members 50 also serve to retain ball in relation to flange 48 of actuator 38. They also are coupled to body 24 such that, upon removal of nut 22, assembly 14 is removable from housing 12 as a unit.

S As coupled to body 24, members 50 together have an overall external form which is substantially complementary to that of chamber 20 of housing 12. In the arrangement shown, chamber 20 is of substantially uniform circular cross-section, when viewed from the open top of housing 12. Members 50 together are of an overall substantially cylindrical form, such as to be a neat sliding fit into chamber 20. However, taken separately, each member 50 has an external form substantially corresponding overall to a half-cylinder.

Each member 50, in the arrangement illustrated, occupies one half of chamber 20 to a respective side of an axial plane of housing 12 perpendicular to arms 18. Also, while each member has such half-cylindrical external form 2898L 6 overall, each has an opening 52 in-line with the bore 19 of the respective arm 18. Also, internally, each member has an internal surface which defines a half-spherical recess 54 in which the ball 40 is a neat sealing fit enabling rotation of ball 40. Except insofar as each member 50 has a bore 42 and recess 54, members 50 may substantially fill chamber 20 below body 24. However, as indicated, ball 40 is rotatable by means of depending flange 46 of actuator 38 being received in slot 48 in ball 40. Thus, members 50 need to be shaped at their upper ends to leave a clearance through which flange 46 extends so and is rotatable.

9*99 The opening 52 in each member 50 preferably is of substantially the same size and form as bore 40a of ball 15 40. In the illustrated arrangement, each of openings 52 99..

and bore 40a is of the same circular form.

In the illustrated arrangement, each member 50 is coupled to member 24 by inter-engagement with depending members 30 of member 24. In that arrangement, each member 20 30 is of segment form when viewed from below, having an o arcuate external surface 30a, and a linear chordal surface 99.9 30b. However, surfaces 30b are mutually inclined upwardly ,a:,and outwardly, so as to define a re-entrant keyway therebetween. The upper end of each member 50 is configure to define a dove-tail portion 56 which is complementary to keyway defined by members 30. Thus, on *bo presenting each member 50 laterally towards member 24, from a respective direction, each dove-tail portion 56 is receivable into a respective end of the keyway, and thereby secured in relation to member 24 against movement in a direction axially of assembly 14.

The arrangement of valve 10 is such that it readily is able to be serviced without the need to disconnect housing 12 from a line into which it is fitted. Thus, by removal of nut 16, assembly 14 can be drawn axially out of housing 12. Assembly 14 then can be serviced or repaired prior to being returned to housing 12; with a plug being inserted into housing 12, if required, while such servicing is effected. Alternatively, on removal of assembly 14 for servicing or repair, a replacement 2898L 7 assembly 14 can be inserted and nut 16 refitted; with the removed assembly 14 being used in a different valve when serviced or repaired. In each case, assembly 14 is able to be fitted and removed as a unit, without the need for removal of housing 12 from a line in which it is provided. Also, while the need for removal of the valve housing from such line is obviated with some other top entry valves, these suffer from the disadvantage of necessitating separate removal and fitting of actuator components and seal members, thereby substantially increasing the time and difficulty for their removal and e.

correct refitting.

Housing 12, nut 16, and body 24, actuator 38, ball 40, seals 36,44 and circlip 45 can be made of conventional materials. Members 50 preferably are of low friction plastics material such as nylon, PTFE or nitrile (NBR); the latter being the preferred material. However, members alternatively can be of a suitable ceramic material but, where of a ceramic, they preferably have a coating of 20 such low friction plastics material, or of other low SS 55 S* friction material.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

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2898L 8

Claims

1. A top entry ball valve, wherein the valve has a valve housing containing a valve ball for controlling fluid flow between inlet and outlet arms of, and projecting from, the housing by which the valve is connectable into a fluid line; an actuator by which the ball is rotatable between an open position for the valve in which a bore through the ball is in line with a respective bore of each arm, and a closed position for the valve in which the bore of the ball is out of communication with the bore of at least one arm; the ball and actuator are insertable into and removable from the housing as an assembly via an opening (herein referred to as a top opening) of the housing; and retaining means by which the assembly is releasably retained in the housing; wherein the assembly includes sealing means which provides a substantially fluid-tight seal with the valve ball which substantially prevents fluid flow through the valve when the valve ball is in the closed position for the valve; the actuator has a non-rotatable body portion, to S 15 which the sealing means is releasably secured, and an actuator stem which extends through the body portion to engage the valve ball to enable rotation of the valve ball between said open and closed positions by rotation of the stem in :i the body portion; the sealing means, has an external form complementary to, and providing a neat fit in, a chamber of the housing in which the valve ball is rotatable; the sealing means has two parts, each defining a part-hemispherical sealing surface, the valve ball and the sealing means being inter-fitted such that the ball is retained in a coupled relationship with the actuator; and wherein the valve ball is engaged by the sealing surface of each of said parts of the sealing means by frictional engagement therebetween which provides said substantially fluid tight seal while enabling rotation of the valve ball.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the chamber is of cylindrical form, and the sealing means has An external, substantially cylindrical form.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein the chamber and the external form of the sealing means each is frusto-conical and decreases in cross-section away from the top opening of the housing. SC C \WINWOR fDZMONELSYDNEYW4614SEDOC S A S 5 *.f 0 *5 a

4. The valve of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said two parts of the sealing means together define a shell in which the ball is rotatable within a part-spherical, internal sealing surface of the sealing means substantially enclosing the ball.

The valve of claim 4 wherein securement of the sealing means to the non- rotatable body portion of the actuator and location of the ball by said internal sealing surface retains the ball in coupled relationship with the actuator.

6. The valve of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ball is releasably secured to the actuator by an axially interfitting tongue and groove coupling betwee- the ball and actuator, and a transverse pin through the coupling.

7. The valve of any or, of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sealing means is of a relatively rigid, low friction material which facilitates rotation of the ball therein with said substantially fluid tight seal between the ball and the sealing means

8. The valve of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the parts of the sealing means abut or are closely adjacent substantially on a diametrical plane of the 15 ball, with said plane containing the rotational axis of the ball.

9. The valve of claim 1, wherein the sealing means is of overall cylindrical form, and said two parts are opposed on a longitudinal axial plane of the cylinder; each part of the sealing means, or an internal surface thereof which faces the other part, defines a said part-hemispherical sealing surface in which the ball is 20 rotatable; and each part has an opening from that sealing surface to its external surface such that, with the ball in the open position for the valve, the bore of the ball is in communication with the bore of each arm of the housing through the opening of a respective part of the sealing means.

The valve of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the non-rotatable body of the actuator defines a keyway which extends at right angles to the axis of rotation of the ball.

11. The valve of claim 10, wherein the keyway is in substantially parallel relationship to the bore of the ball when the latter is in the open position for the valve.

12. The valve of claim 10 or claim 11, where 1 i the keyway serves to retain the sealing means by each part of the latter having a dove-tail section which is N\ complementary in shape to the side of one keyway, such that the sealing means SC C\VINWORDSMONESYDNEYP46148EDOC Lit r 11. is able to be secured to the actuator body, by sliding the dove-tail sections along the kae.'way.

13. The valve of claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 24 October, 1998 6~ 1 PHILLIPS, ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: DAVIS SHEPHARD PTY LIMITED 9 ABSTVACy A top entry ball valve having a valve ;using containing a valve ball for controlling fluid flow between inlet and outlet arms of the housing jy which the valve is connectable into a fluid line; an actuator by which the ball is rotatable between an open position for the valve in which a bore through the ball is in line with a respective bore of each arm, and a closed position for the valve in which the bore of the ball is out of communication with the bore of at least one arm, wherein the ball and actuator are insertable into and removable from the housing as an assembly via an opening (herein as an open top) of the housing; the valve also including retaining means by which the assembly is releasably retainable in relation to the housing and wherein the assembly includes sealing means which provides a seal around the ball such as to substantially prevent fluid flow through the valve when the ball is in the closed 20 position for the valve. *oo* 6 6 6666 66 6 6666 66 6 6 2898L 12