FI113561B - Ball valve for closing or adjusting the flow of liquid or gas in pipe systems, has ring located at center of ball inside symmetrical valve housing to protect ball at welding seam at body halves - Google Patents

Abstract

The ball valve includes two valve body halves (11a,11b) formed from widened (40a,40b) pipe ends with cold worked shoulders (34) for valve ring springs (14a,14b) and good quality unmachined sealing faces for gasket rings (13a,13b) of the ball (12). The body halves form a symmetrical valve housing the welding seam (19). At the seam at the edges of the body halves are tapered cuts that form a conical opening when the halves are brought together, into which the tapered end of a stem (30) bushing (15) can be perpendicularly fitted. A protective ring (21) located at the center of the call inside the valve housing protects the ball at the welding seam between the body halves and at the welding seam between the valve housing and the stem bushing. An independent claim is included for a method of manufacturing the above ball valve.

Description

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BALL VALVE AND ITS ASSEMBLY METHOD

The invention relates to a ball valve having a body welded to one of the two body halves, a ball inside the body with an annular seal, a shoulder formed on the body half for a spring, ball seal or other member, 10 and for opening, closing or adjusting the ball valve.

Ball valves are used in liquid or gas pipelines to shut off or control the flow. The ball valve can be connected to the piping in a variety of ways, such as by welding, threading or flange connections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One known weldable ball valve comprises a ball, extension tubes on both sides 20, and a body tube on top of the ball and extension tubes. The ball valve body is formed by reducing both ends of the body tube to the extension tubes · ';. and the ends of the main tube are welded to the extension tubes. The i ': valve housing between the extension tubes for the ball is made, for example, by: •: * ·: the ends facing each other being narrowed, then machined into the shoulder thus formed.; ..: the sealing housings required by the ball seals. Alternatively, the ends of the extension tubes are welded - separate rings into which the ball seal housings are machined.

. . In known ball valves, shrinkage of the extension tubes causes the valve; t * * The diameter of the flow port varies. This, in turn, causes harmful eddies to the flow through the valve ·; · * 30 and prevents effective cleaning of the piping by mechanical means. Then: · When the main tube is reduced with the ball and extension tube seal housing inside the main tube, the grease needed for the reduction is not completely removed during washing.

'The grease remaining on the valve parts again reduces the quality of the weld.

'·' 35 In the assembly of a known ball valve, after welding the body, the sleeve of the pivoting spindle is welded to the opening of the body tube and the spindle with its seals and bearings 2 113561 is mounted on the inside of the body tube. However, in this case, the size of the main tube limits the maximum length of the spindle and spindle to a relatively small size.

The ball is mounted inside the valve body nozzle usually after the ends 5 have been reduced. However, in some valves, the ball may need to be mounted in the main tube even before its ends are shrunk, so that the ball no longer fits into the main tube after the reduction. However, in this case, when the tube is reduced, the ball inside it can easily knock. On the other hand, ball knocking can cause harmful valve malfunctions and even seal damage.

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The ball valve is assembled by placing the ball and extension pipes on both sides of the body tube, with sealing housings complete with springs, support plates and seals. When the mandrel is pressed against the interposed ball, the springs in the seal housing are compressed. Thereafter, however, the force exerted on the extension tubes is slightly reduced until the compression force of the springs pressing against the ball is the desired amount. The ends of the frame pipe are then welded to the extension pipes.

However, in the assembly method described above, it is very difficult to obtain the spring forces that compress the ball from both sides during assembly welding, so that the compression force is correct even after welding. It is due to e.g. variations in the manufacturing tolerances and surface quality of the components to be assembled. Also, deformations and friction between the various parts that occur during welding are uncontrollable in this configuration.

• ··· 25 It may well happen that some ball valves made in this way leave too much spring force on the ball. If the valve is still subjected to large variations in temperature and pressure during operation, the ball will be squeezed by an excessively high spring force initially: the seal will be applied with sufficient force to cause the valve to jam. Excessive clamping force can also cause the ball edge to cut a piece of seal against the ball 30 when the valve is opened or closed and the valve is broken. In both cases, the valve is unusable.

First, the manufacturing tolerances of the tubular and extension tubes 35 are difficult to keep within the desired range because of the rapid wear of the tools used to shape the tubes. The rapid wear is due, in particular, to the The very high surface pressures generated during the pressing step 3 113561 naturally wear out the tools quickly and even cause them to break, which means that the pressing tools need constant maintenance.

It is also a consequence of the difficulty of compressing the valve parts and the problems in the tools 5 that the shrinkage of the ends of the body tube is not very precise. This leaves a fairly large clearance between the main pipe and the extension pipes. When the assembly welding of these parts is performed by low welding with two welding torches simultaneously with the valve body rotating about its longitudinal axis, the weld does not become welded and the quality of the welding joint varies greatly.

10

In known ball valves, the spindle-ball joint is usually made such that the ball has a groove that fits into the spindle wedge at the end of the spindle. However, since there must be a sufficiently large clearance in the joining of the parts, due to manufacturing tolerances, the clearance may become too large. When the handle attached to the spindle of such a valve is rotated, the ball 15 does not closely follow the movement of the handle. In this case, the operation of the valve is inaccurate, since the angle of rotation of the ball is smaller than the corresponding angle of the wedge key and its associated handle. Because of the clearance, these parts also wear out when the valve is used, which further increases the clearance.

20 Ball valve specifications are usually marked on a sticker attached to the valve body. However, in an insulated valve, the valve body remains hidden within the insulation, whereby the valve:,:. · The specifications are no longer readable. Even when the ball valve is, for example, between two • ', pipelines, the information is not visible when the sticker is on the side of the main pipe. Label retention •: ·: Clinging to the valve is also uncertain.

·: ·: 25. "'. U.S. Patent No. 2,573,177 discloses a ball valve, the body of which is made of two pieces to be welded together. The valve body halves are made, ·.: By forging or molding in a hot mold. set of metal diaphragm rings acting as a spring and seal. Such a valve; ' 30, however, cannot work very well because it is not possible with metal seals to seal the valve.

t '. _ In the valve of the publication, an air gap is left between the two halves of the hull, at which the hull halves are welded to each other. Although the welding seam is not extended · 35 through the pieces to be completely welded, during welding the welding splashes fly from the gap between the body halves to the surface of the ball, damaging it. Also for this reason 4 113561 this valve cannot work properly. In addition, the welding seam between the halves of the valve, which does not extend through, is structurally weak.

In the valve, the spindle sleeve is welded with a small weld to the body after welding the two halves together. Because there is also an air gap at this junction, welding splashes may enter through the gap into the surface of the ball and damage it.

U.S. Patent Nos. 3,460,802 discloses a ball valve with a body made of two welded castings. Such a structure is only suitable for large 10 valves. The structure and configuration of the valve is complicated and complicated by the fact that all the joints of the castings forming the valve body halves must always be machined before being joined together.

The ball valve of the publication has a machined shoulder on the joint surface of the body halves which centers the body halves before joining them. At the same time, there is also a machined welding slot at the junction. In the weld seam, access of welding splashes to the surface of the ball is prevented by a machined edge flange over which the weld seam does not extend. Again, the weld is weak because it does not extend all the way through.

20 When the molded body halves of the publication's ball valve are welded to each other, the body must be machined with the spindle sleeve connection surface. The cast spindle sleeve must also be machined, with:,: the joint surface and the shoulder that comes into contact with the machined joint surface. The spindle sleeve is then welded to the frame with small welds.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel ball valve which does not have the drawbacks described above.

i: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VALVE OF THE INVENTION

The ball valve according to the invention is characterized by: · that at the weld joint joining the halves of the ball valve body, the ball and: ""; at least one ball protection element, such as a ring, truncated ring or part of a ring; . support, · · 35 - and that said spacer is a splash guard during welding of the body halves together.

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Embodiments of a Valve of the Invention

An advantageous embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention is characterized in that the ball valve between the ball and the body is a tube, a plate bent ring, a broken ring or part of a ring that protects the ball at the welding seam between the at the weld between the frame.

Another advantageous embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention is characterized in that the ball valve between the ball and the body is an annular bent ring, a cut off ring or a part of a ring whose edges are bent into flanges directly supported on the inner surface of the ball valve body.

A third preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention is characterized in that in the ball valve the spacer between the ball and the body is pressed against a seam or at a distance from both the ball and the inner surface of the ball valve body so that the

A fourth preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of the ball valve between the ball and the body:. · The spacer has a gap and / or most preferably a circular opening at the spindle welded to the ball and • ': a possible auxiliary shaft, which spindle and / or auxiliary shaft is most preferably a circular rod.

; ·; 25. ' A fifth preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention is characterized by it. - that the half of the ball valve body is a pipe having one end extended by cold forming to a part of the valve body, 30 - and that the spacer is positioned inside the ball valve body at the weld seam between the expanded 'ends of the pipes.

*. A sixth preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention is; ''. characterized in that the half of the ball valve body is a tube with an extended end formed with a conical notch for the conical end of the spindle sleeve, and that an opening or notch of the annular spacer is disposed at the notch of the body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention also relates to a method of assembly wherein a spring and 5 ring seals are placed against the shoulders formed on both sides of the frame, .

10 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ASSEMBLY METHOD OF THE INVENTION

The ball valve assembly method of the invention is characterized in that, prior to pressing the halves of the ball valve body together, at least one ball guard is provided between the ball and the body, such as a ring, truncated ring or ring portion.

15 EMBODIMENTS OF THE ASSEMBLY METHOD OF THE INVENTION An advantageous embodiment of the ball valve assembly method of the invention is characterized in that, prior to joining the ball valve body together ,! that the spindle sleeve and any auxiliary shaft are placed in connection with the body,. that the body halves are welded together,. .: 25 - and that the spindle sleeve and any auxiliary shaft are welded to the frame.

Another advantageous method of assembling a ball valve according to the invention. the embodiment is characterized in that: - before assembly of the ball valve, curved conical cuts are made at the edges of the expanded parts 30 of the body half: * - that the body of the ball valve is positioned against each other such that curved cones the cuts come in the same position, whereby they form a round hole where the end of the spindle sleeve is inserted, 35: between the ball and the body a spacer, which is a plate-like ring, a broken ring or a part of the ring , 7 113561, and that the connection of the ball valve body halves and the spindle sleeve connection to the hull halves is most preferably performed in one continuous welding operation, wherein the spacer protects the ball both when welding the body halves together and welding the mandrel sleeve.

5

A third preferred embodiment of the ball valve assembly method of the invention is characterized in that prior to joining the ball valve body halves between the ball and the body, a spacer such as a ring, a broken ring or a 10 ring portion is inserted, placed against each other and welded together, after which the spacer acts as an intermediate support for the ball ring seals.

The ball valve of the invention is substantially simpler and less expensive to manufacture and assemble than known valves. This is due to the fact that the ball valve according to the invention has fewer parts, less machining surfaces and fewer work stages than known valves. Due to the small number of parts, the ball valve of the invention is also of a shorter construction length than the known ball valves. Due to the above reasons, the need for 20 raw materials is also lower than known valves.

• ·

• .0 APPLICATION EXAMPLES

. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

LIST OF FIGURES

* ·

Figure 1 is a side view of a ball valve according to the invention. a vertical section.

• t

Fig. 2 corresponds to Fig. 1 and shows in vertical section one of the ball valves; · '30 embodiments.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the halves of the ball valve body of Figure 1 and the spindle sleeve prior to the welding step.

_ '. Figure 4 is a top view of the ball valve of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 corresponds to Fig. 3 and shows a top view of another embodiment of a ball valve.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the valve body ring of a ball valve.

Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 6 and shows another embodiment of the ring.

Figure 8 corresponds to Figure 6 and shows a third embodiment of the ring.

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Fig. 9 schematically shows an extension of the end of a ball valve body tube.

Fig. 10 corresponds to Fig. 1 and shows a third embodiment of a ball valve.

Figure 11 is an axonometric view of a ball valve valve body ring in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

Figure 12 corresponds to Figure 11 and shows a fifth embodiment of the ring.

Figure 13 corresponds to Figure 1 and shows a fourth embodiment of a ball valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The body of the ball valve 10 of Figure 1 is formed by welding together two identical body tubes 11a and 11b, the other end 40a and 40b of which is expanded by cold forming. Non-machined shoulders 34a and 34b are formed between the straight parts of the frame tubes 11a and 11b and the expansion parts 40a and 40b for annular seals and annular springs 14a and 14b. When the body tubes 11a and 11b are connected to each other by a weld seam 19, their expansion portions 40a and 40b form a valve body for the ball 12. Fig. 1 does not show the connecting means of the ball valve 10 for connecting the valve to the piping. All known methods of connection to piping, such as welding, flange connection or threaded connection, can be used as the connection element.

In the ball valve 10 of Figure 1, before welding the body tubes 11a and 11b together, a balloon 12 is provided in the valve housing formed by the expansion portions 40a and 40b, on both sides thereof: annular seals 13a and 13b and annular springs 14a and 14b. Ring seals 13a /. and 13b are most preferably a hard and slip plastic such as Teflon. The ring springs 14a and 14b supported on the body shoulders 34a, 'and 34b press the seals 13a and 13b against the surface of the ball 12 with a force of desired magnitude so that the smooth sanded ball 12 and the ring seals 13a and 13b are sealed. The gaps between the non-machined inner surfaces of the thermoplastic ring seals 13a and 13b and the frame tubes 11a and 11b are sealed by O-ring seals 31a and 31b disposed in the grooves formed in the ring seals 13a and 13b.

; The ball 12 of the ball valve 10 is rotated by the spindle 30, which is a straight rod of advantageous manufacture 30, which is by no means limited in length. Only the surface required by the joint 12 of the spindle 12 and the spindle 30 and the surfaces required by the joint 29 of the handle 29 at the opposite end of the spindle 30 are machined into the *** rotary bar formed by the mandrel 30. The spindle 30 does not require a shoulder used in known spindles to prevent the spindle from projecting. Therefore) <· '; The spindle according to the invention saves a considerable amount of machining work and raw material. the spindle

t · I

'·' '35 There will also be no spindle weakening groove which increases spindle diameter in known spindles.

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The mandrel 30 is welded to the ball 12 by a weld seam 41 such that the shell 12 of the ball 12 remains intact and the joint is free of play. The welding joint 41 between the mandrel 30 and the ball 12 is advantageous in that it does not need to puncture the shell of the ball 12. In known ball valves, the connection between the mandrel and the ball is made by inserting a wedge key formed at the end of the mandrel 5 into a groove in the ball surface. Due to the closed structure, the liquid conveyed through the ball valve 10 does not enter the spaces above and below the ball 12 between the ball 12 and the body tubes 11a and 11b, as in the known ball valves. It has been found that impurities in the fluid trapped between the ring seals in the ball valve body may impair valve function. It is particularly harmful if water is allowed into these 10 spaces, since the water itself does not escape even if the valve itself and the piping connected to it are emptied. Leaving a partially water-filled valve in freezing conditions can cause serious damage to the valve when frozen. The situation is complicated by the fact that the user of the valve cannot see if there is water left in the valve.

In spherical valve 10 of Fig. 1, spindle 30 is disposed in spindle sleeve 15 which is welded to body of spherical valve 10 by welding seam 20. Since the body of spherical valve 10 is symmetrical opposite. The seals 32a and 32b between the mandrel 30 and the mandrel sleeve 15, which are most preferably O-20 ring seals, and the spacer plate 33 therebetween are located in the seal housing formed at the upper part '' S of the mandrel sleeve 15. The seals 32a and 32b are pressed into place by a bearing bushing 28 positioned around the mandrel 30, which is tightened in place by the mandrel 30 * *. *. with a locking ring 24. The bearing sleeve 28 is most preferably conical, whereby the upper part of the spindle 30 can be sealed without play. The locking ring 24 also receives the forces exerted on the spindle 30 ,,, · 25 and directed towards the ball 12.

I t »" * The disclosed ball valve 10 avoids the disadvantages of the known solutions. In known ball valves, the sealing sleeve at the top of the spindle is cylindrical. In the worst case, the cone bearing 28 according to the invention, which is tightened in place by the locking ring 24, the spindle 30 is completely free of play and the O-ring operates under ideal conditions.

'' There is also the possibility of retightening in the structure.

At the opposite end of the sphere 12 of the spindle 30 is connected a handle 29 which is locked in place by a screw 42. The tip projection 43 of the handle 29 is formed as an indicator showing the position of the ball valve 10 open, closed or partially open. The position of the ball 12 of the ball valve 10 and the handle 10113561 attached thereto can be read from the identification plate 17 attached to the spindle sleeve 15, which also contains the specifications of the ball valve 10. The identification plate 17 has an opening where the projection 43 at the end of the handle 29 is placed. Thus, the identification plate 17 also acts as a stop for the extreme positions of the opening and closing movements of the handle 29. By means of the identification plate 17, the handle 29 can also be adjusted to the intermediate positions between the opening and closing positions. Since the identification plate 17 is located at a distance from the body 11 of the ball valve 10, the identification information of the ball valve 10 is easily readable even when the body 11 of the ball valve 10 is covered with heat insulation.

The ball valve 10 of Figure 1 has a ring 21 or ring portion disposed in the valve body of the ball 12 between the body 11 and 12, the rim flanges 44a and 44b of which are supported by annular seals 13a and 13b. In this way, the seals 13a and 13b made of plastic are provided with a counter-support which prevents the ring springs 14a and 14b from pressing the seals 13a and 13b too strongly into the gap between the ball 12 and the extension portions 40a and 40b of the tubing 11a and 11b.

15

The rim flanges 44a and 44b of the ring 21 are also supported on the inner surfaces of the expansion members 40a and 40b of the expansion tubes 40a and 40b of the ball valve 10 so that an air gap 45 remains between the rim 21 and the body of the ball valve 10. The other essential function of the ring 21 is to act as a protective cover for the ball 20 when welding the body tubes 11a and 11b together. The air gap 45 between the ring 21 and the body of the ball valve 10 is also advantageous because in this case the ring 21 • cannot weld to the body 11 of the ball valve 10 during the welding step. In this case, the ring 21 is shaped in another way as shown below.

25

The ball valve 10 is assembled so that first the two frame tubes 11a and 11b. ·,; in the expanded portions 40a and 40b against unmachined shoulders 34a and 34b are placed 'annular springs 14a and 14b and annular seals 13a and 13b. Then the ball 12 and the mandrel 30 welded thereto and the guard ring 21 placed around the ball 12 are placed, · 30 between the main tubes 11a and 11b and the extended parts 40a and 40b of the main tubes are pressed together. Spindle sleeve 15 is placed around spindle 30 and tapered lower end of spindle sleeve 15. is inserted into a conical hole formed by the body tubes 11a and 11b ''. conical notches formed at the edges of the expanded portions 40a and 40b, such as plasma or laser cuts. Also, the corresponding conical surface 35 of the spindle sleeve 15 can be either machined or cut by plasma or laser cutting.

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Due to the conical nature of the holes formed in the spool sleeve 15 and the body tubes 11a and 11b, the spool sleeve 15 is perpendicular to the body of the ball valve 10 and is located at a desired distance from the longitudinal centerline of the ball valve 10. Thereafter, the expanded ends 40a and 40b of the body tubes 11a and 11b and the spindle sleeve 15 are welded together in one continuous welding step. The welding method used is by-pass welding, in which the weld seam 19 extends at all points throughout the seam. The welding process is most preferably plasma or laser welding, but other methods such as TIG welding are also possible. The over-welding may be accomplished because the shield ring 21 is at all weld seams as a shield for the ball 12. In this case, any spattering of the welding 10 may not damage the surface 12 of the ball. Through welding, the joints between the body and the spindle sleeve are strong and the valve also becomes very tight. Because of the tightness, the scope of the valve according to the invention is clearly wider than that of known weldable ball valves and the valve can be used e.g. gas pipelines.

The construction of the ball valve 10 of Figure 1 is also particularly robust. The annular seals 13a and 13b of the ball 12 remain well in place because they are pressed by the annular springs 14a and 14b on both sides against the flanges 44a and 44b of the support and weld protection ring 21 in the valve housing. However, it does not impede the elasticity of the ring seals 13a and 13b so that at the same time the compressive force exerted on the ball 12 of the seals 13a and 13b is also suitably sized. For the compression force exerted by the seals 13a and 13b on the ball 12 to be: correct, the essential dimension in the structure is the distance between the shoulders 34a and 34b of the body tubes 11a and 11b. This dimension, together with the precision of parts manufacturing, are ** ** essential but still manageable in production. Therefore, the connection surfaces of the extension tubes 40a and 40b of the trunking pipes * · 11a and 11b can also be provided with greater precision. ". 25 to achieve either plasma or laser cutting.

The torque required for turning the handle 29 of the ball valve 10 according to the invention is smaller and the turning movement of the handle 29 is smoother due to the ring springs 14a and 14b; 'Correct tension and the design of the ring seals 13a and 13b. The seals 32a; 30 of the spindle 30 and the conical bearing sleeve 28 remain well in place because they are locked: "": by the locking ring 24 which also receives the forces parallel to the spindle 30 'facing the ball 12. it is necessary to machine a groove that would result in a notch effect that weakens the mandrel 30. The mandrel 30 may be a relatively thin • '· rotary bar.In contrast, the known mandrels have several notches and therefore have to be substantially thicker.

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In the ball valve 42 10 of the invention, the torque is constant and relatively low regardless of the operating conditions. It is due to e.g. and the shape of the ring springs 14a and 14b and the seals 13a and 13b which provide the ball 12 with a relatively uniform pressure. Thanks to the support ring 21, the seals 13a and 13b also remain well seated with respect to the body 11 of the ball valve 10. In known ball valves, the reciprocating motion of the seals consumes the seals, reducing their service life. The support ring 21 also serves to protect the ball 12 and the seals 13a and 13b during welding.

Figure 2 shows a ball valve 10 whose body is formed by joining together by cold forming an expanded body tube 11 and a machined body member 23. The body member 23 is machined with an internal thread 46 and also with a valve body and a shoulder 34a, i.e. corresponding parts cold formed in the body tube 11. It is essential to the machined body 23 that the assembly weld seam 19 does not come near or near the thread 15 46, as in known ball valves, where uncontrolled deformation of the thread occurs due to the seam proximity. At the weld seam 19, between the body of the ball valve 10 and the ball 12, there is provided a support and protective ring 21 according to the invention, which supports the ring seals 13a and 13b and protects the ball 12 during welding.

20: For example, a frame with a flange connection can also be machined as described above. All these alternative body parts can be combined so that the '': ball valve has one body half cold-formed from pipe, machined and •: * · * threaded or machined and flanged. The other body half can be: 25 either similar to the opposite body Half or even any of the above There are several different raw material options for body halves, such as, ·,: cold-formed pipe, machined casting, etc. It is essential to the structure! However, the valve housing has an invention between the ball and the ball valve body. Support and protection ring according to I '.

..!: '30:: Figure 3 schematically shows the ball valve body and spindle sleeve joined together,', before the welding step. In this embodiment, both halves 11a and. 11b are tubes having one end 40a and 40b expanded by cold forming.

'* The expanded ends 40a and 40b are aligned for welding. An incoming weld 35 is designated by reference numeral 19. For connection to the body of the mandrel 15, the lower end of the mandrel 15 is formed as a cone. The opposite edges of the frame tubes 11a and 11b are provided with conical notches which together form a conical opening for the conical end of the spindle sleeve 15 13 113561. The 15 forthcoming welds on the Karaholsk are designated 20.

Figure 4 is a top view of a ball valve 10 according to the invention.

5 The identification plate 17 is located at the top of the spindle sleeve at a distance from the body of the ball valve 10 so that the identification plate 17 can be read while the ball valve body is covered with insulation.

The tip projection 43 of the handle 29 is formed as a pointer whose position indicates whether the ball valve 10 is open or closed. The tip projection 43 is located in the opening 47 in the tag plate 17 so that the tag plate 43 also acts as a stop for the extreme positions of the opening and closing movements 10 of the handle 29.

Fig. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of a ball valve 10 which is a control valve. The possibility of adjusting the valve is achieved by placing a metal or artificial adjusting plate in front of the ball opening between the ring spring and the ring seal 15. The figure shows the structure of the ball valve 10 with respect to the identification plate 17. Also, the control identification plate 17 is located at the upper end of the spindle sleeve at a distance from the body of the ball valve 10 so that the control identification plate 17 is easily legible even if the body of the ball valve is covered with insulation. The various adjustment positions of the ball are limited by the screw and nut in the groove of the identification plate so that the presetting value of the valve is shown on the identification plate. By deforming the opening of the adjustment plate in the ball valve housing 20, the desired adjustment property is achieved.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the valve housing of the ball valve 10 of Fig. 1: a ring 21 which protects the ball 12 during welding and serves as a support between the seals 13a and • * 13b of the ball 12. The ring 21 has an opening for the mandrel 30. The ring 21 is bent from the plate 25 so that its edges are turned into flanges 50a and 50b against the inner surfaces of the body 11 of the ball valve 10 against which the seals 13a and 13b of the ball 12 rest.

The height of the flanges 50a and 50b is dimensioned such that the ring 21 does not touch it. By varying the height of the flanges 50a and 50b, the surface of the ring 21 can be either fixed on or off the inside surface of the body 11 of the ball valve 10, leaving an air gap 45 between the ball 12 and the body 11 as shown in FIG. The welding method used for the body halves 11a and 11b depends on whether or not the protective ring 21 is mounted '' on or off the inner surface of the body 11 of the ball valve 10.

35

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the guard and support ring 21, in which the flanges 50a and 50b for the seals 13a and 13b of the ball 12 are pivoted inwards. Hereby, the surface 21 of the ring 14 113561 21 is directly connected, without air gap, to the inner surface of the body 11 of the ball valve 10 at the weld 19.

Fig. 8 shows a third embodiment of the guard and support ring 21 made by, for example, machining. The shape of the cross-section of the ring 21 is such that its edges have support surfaces for the seals 131 and 13b of the ball 12 to be placed on both sides thereof. If the ring is of rigid material, it is advantageous to split it into two parts for assembly.

Fig. 9 schematically shows an extension of the main pipe 11 of the ball valve 10 according to the invention. The starting material used is a metal tube 11, the other end 40 of which is expanded by cold forming. For shaping, the tube 11 is inserted into the mold 51, after which the smooth surface mandrel 52 entering the tube extends the end 40 of the tube 11 against the walls of the mold 51. The inner surface 15 of the extension 40 of the tube 11 is then obtained directly as a finished smooth sealing surface.

If it is desired to remove from the finished body 11 the stresses caused by cold forming to the metal, then the body 11 will be heat treated after the forming. In known valves, tension in the body members cannot be removed because then the finished valve and its seals would have to be heat treated, which is not possible.

Fig. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a ball valve 10 according to the invention, wherein '': a spindle 30 connected to the welding seam 41a on one side of the sphere 12 and an auxiliary shaft 53 for the auxiliary spindle 53 on the opposite side of the sphere 12; The shaft 11 is connected to the body 11 by a welding seam 20b, the end of which may be either open or closed. The auxiliary shaft 53 has corresponding seals 32c, a bearing sleeve 28b and,, a locking ring 24b as the spindle sleeve 15. The structure with auxiliary shaft 53 is advantageous in large ball valves 10 because only floating ball 12 with spindle 30 would cause: forces.

30

According to the invention, the ball valve 10 provided with an auxiliary shaft 53 is assembled in the same manner as without auxiliary shaft. The difference is that while the spindle sleeve 15 is connected to the body 11, so does l. a shaft sleeve 54 is also attached thereto. Their assembly welding can be performed as a * continuous welding step.

35

In large ball valves 10, the welding shield ring 21 and the ring supports 44a and 44b of the seals 13a and 13b of the ball 12 can also be made separate, since in one piece 15 the 113561 ring would become unreasonably wide. Thus, for example, the annular supports 44a and 44b of the seals 13a and 13b may be directly attached to the inner surface of the body 11 of the ball valve 10.

Fig. 11 shows a ring 21 extending between the ball valve body 11 and the ball 12 according to the invention for the purpose of protecting the ball 12 and its seals 13a and 13b during assembly welding of the body tubes 11a and 11b and the spindle sleeve 15. The edges of the ring 21 also serve as support responses to the ball seals 13a and 13b on both sides thereof.

Ring 21 has an opening 48 for spindle 30. Further, the ring 21 has a cut-out point 49 at the opening 48 because in the assembly step, the parts of the ring 21 which are on different sides of the cut-off point can be bent away from one another. The ball 12 is then placed inside the ring 21 and the spindle 30 welded to the ball in the opening 48. The assembly 12 formed by the ball 12, the mandrel 30 and the ring 21 is then housed in the valve housing formed by the expansion portions 40a and 40b of the body halves 11a and 11b. Even before this, annular springs 14a and 14b and ring seals 13a and 13b are provided for the ball 12 against the shoulders 34a and 34b of the body halves 11a and 11b.

Figure 12 shows another embodiment of ring 21. This ring 21 has a spindle 30: 20 in addition to the opening 48a, but also another opening 48b for the auxiliary shaft 53. If the ring 21 is of rigid material, then it is also advantageous to make a similar 'cut-off' to the opening 48b as to the opening 48a. The ring then consists of two parts: • 1 to facilitate assembly of the ball valve 10.

Figure 13 shows a ball valve 10 which is also a control valve. The adjustment feature of the valve is achieved by inserting an adjusting plate 16 with a suitable aperture between the annular spring 14a and the seal 12 of the ball 12. Such a structure is advantageous because of the pressure of the ball 12 against the seal 13a. The clearance between ball 12 and adjusting plate 16 is then maintained: · 30 unchanged.

At the same time, a screw 25 tightened by a nut 26 is connected to the identification plate 17 of the ball valve 10, which

• I

serves as a stop for movement of the handle 29 of the ball valve 10. Further, in this embodiment, there is a shield 21 between the ball 12 and the body 11 without bendable edges.

Claims (10)

16 113561 1. A ball valve (10) having a body welded to one of two body halves (11a, 11b, 23), 5. a ball (12) inside the body with a ring seal (13a, 13b), a shoulder (34) formed on the body half (11) (14), a ball (12) for a ring seal (13) or other member, a spindle sleeve (15) welded to the joint between the body halves (19) and a spindle (30) connected to the ball (12) for turning the ball and opening the ball valve (10); 10 for closing or adjusting, characterized in that, at the welding seam (19) connecting the halves (11a, 11b, 23) of the body of the ball valve (10), at least one ball protection means (21), such as a ring, is cut off a ring or part of a ring on which the ring seals (13a, 13b) on both sides of the ball 15 rest, and said spacer (21) being a protection against splashing of the ball (12) during welding of the body halves (11a, 11b, 23). Ball valve (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacer (21) between the ball (12) and the body (11,23) of the ball valve (10), on which the ring seals (13a, 13b) on both sides of the ball rest, is a tube, plate bent ring,: V; a truncated tire or part of a tire that is also part of other body parts such as * *; ': Between the spindle sleeve (15) and the weld seam (20) between the body and the ball. t ♦ Ball valve (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ball valve. The spacer (21) between the body (12) and the body (11, 23) is a plate bent ring, a tear ring or part of a ring whose edges are bent into flanges (44a, 44b) supported on the inside surface of the ball valve (10) (13a, 13b) are supported directly or via an intermediate member. Γ 30 A ball valve (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that. '. ; the spacer (21) between the ball (12) and the body (11, 23) of the ball valve (10) is closed, · · -, at the seam or at a distance between the body halves (11a, 11b, 23) and both the I ball and the inner surface of the ball valve body such that an air gap (45) is located between the plate-like spacer and the body of the ball valve. Ball valve (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spacer (21) between the ball (12) and the body (11, 23) of the ball valve (10) has a gap and / or a at the spindle (30) and any auxiliary shaft (53), which spindle and / or the auxiliary shaft is most preferably a substantially circular bar. 5 Ball valve (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the body half (11, 23) of the ball valve (10) is a tube, the other end (40) of which is widened to a part of the valve housing and inside the body of the ball valve (10) at the weld (19) between the extended ends (40a, 40b) of the pipes (11a, 11b). Ball valve (10) according to one of Claims 6, characterized in that the body half (11, 23) of the ball valve (10) is a tube having an extended end (40) with a conical notch for the tapered end of the spindle sleeve (15). the opening or notch of the annular spacer (21) is aligned with the notch of the body. A method of assembly of a ball valve (10), wherein a spring (14) and an annular seal (13) are placed against the shoulders (34) formed on both body halves (11a, 11b, 23), and the ball (12) and body halves ( 11a, 11b, 23) are pressed against each other, Y: - in the region of the junction (19) between the body halves (11a, 11b, 23): the spindle sleeve (15), - the body halves (11a, 11b, 23) and the spindle sleeve (15) ), characterized in that at least one ball-protecting spacer (21) is placed between the ball (12) and the body (11), before pressing the body of the ball valve (10) between the halves (11a, 11b, 23), such as a tire, a split tire or a part of a tire on which the ring seals (13a, 13b) on both sides of the ball are supported. .30 An assembly method according to claim 8, characterized in that - before assembling the ball valve (10), the body halves (11a, 11b, 23); arcuate conical cuts at the edges of the expanded members (40a, 40b), - in the assembly of the ball valve (10), the body halves (11a, 11b, 23) are positioned »· against each other so that said extended body members (40a, 40b) *; · 35 formed conical conical cuts at the same position where they together form a circular opening in which the end of the spindle sleeve (15) is placed, 18 113561 so that a spacer (21) is formed between the ball (12) and the body; a part of the ring having a gap or opening at the spindle (30) welded to the ball and that the connection of the body halves (11a, 11b, 23) of the ball valve (10) and the connection of the 5 spindle sleeves (15) (21) protects the ball (12) when welding the body halves together and welding the spindle sleeve to the body. Assembly method according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that an intermediate piece (21) with edge flanges (44a, 44b) is inserted before the ball valve (10) is connected between the body halves (11a, 11b, 23) and the body (12). , such as a ring, a truncated ring or a part of a ring, that the ring seals (13a, 13b) of the ball (12) are placed against the flanges (44a, 44b) of the spacer (21), 15. and that the body halves (11a, after which the spacer (21) acts as an intermediate support for the ring seals (13a, 13b) of the ball (12) and protects the ball against welding splashes. 1 · I I · I »*» t », 9 113561