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Title: Ball valve for valving abrasive fluids
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A ball valve assembly for valving abrasive fluids comprising a. a metal body member, said body member having an inlet bore, an outlet bore, and a generally spherical interior chamber adapted to receive a ball member, b. a generally spherical metal ball valve member contained in said body member interior chamber and rotatable about an axis with respect to said body member, said ball valve member having a bore therethrough, c. means for providing resistance of said valve assembly to deterioration by the action of abrasive fluids to be valved thereby, said means comprising (i) a tubular inlet insert located within said inlet body bore, said inlet insert having a passageway formed therethrough, (ii) a tubular valve member insert located in said ball valve member bore, said valve member insert having a passageway formed therethrough, (iii) a tubular outlet insert located within said body outlet bore, said outlet insert having a passageway formed therethrough, each of said inserts being formed of abrasion-resistant material, d. means for rotating said valve member with respect to said body member from an open position wherein said passageways are aligned and fluid may flow therethrough, through a throttling position, to a closed position wherein portions of said valve member insert block the passage of fluid from said inlet insert passageway to said valve member passageway and portions of said valve member insert and portions of said outlet insert block the passage of fluid from said valve member insert passageway to said outlet insert passageway, and e. said valve member insert having arcuate sections formed at the ends thereof adjacent said outlet insert and said inlet insert, the arcuate section of said valve member insert adjacent said inlet insert having a length greater than or equal to the diameter of the inlet insert passageway and the arcuate section of said valve member insert adjacent said outlet insert cooperating with an arcuate section of said outlet insert which has a length greater than the diameter of the valve member insert passageway. 2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said abrasion resistant material is selected from the group consisting of ceramic material, hard metals, soft rubber material, and abrasion resistant synthetic plastic material. 3. An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said abrasion resistant material is a ceramic material, and wherein said ceramic material is selected from the group consisting of boron carbide, silicon carbide, and aluminum oxide. 4. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the arcuate end section of said valve member insert adjacent said outlet insert is pressed into sealing engagement therewith, and wherein the arcuate end section of said valve member insert adjacent said inlet insert is spaced from said inlet insert a small distance. 5. An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein a clearance is provided between said ball valve member and said body member to allow for thermal expansion of said valve member. 6. An assembly as recited in claim 5 further comprising a purge fluid connection on said body member in fluid communication with the clearance between said ball valve member and said body member and the space between said valve member insert and said inlet insert, said purge fluid connection adapted to be connected to a source of purge fluid under pressure. 7. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said passageways is D2 and wherein the diameter of said generally spherical ball member is D1, and wherein D1 is substantially greater than D2 so that the angle of deflection of abrasive fluid during throttling is small. 8. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said valve member comprises a valve stem extending from said valve member through said body member, said valve stem being sealed with respect to said body member. 9. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said tubular inserts has walls of the same thickness, and wherein the diameters of each of said passageways is the same. 10. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for removably affixing said inserts within said bores so that said inserts may be replaced when worn. Other info: Inventors: Kindersley, Peter G. (Glen Falls, NY, US) Application Number: 583291 Filing Date: 1975-06-03 Publication_date: 1976-10-12 Assignee: Kamyr Valves, Inc. (Glens Falls, NY) Primary Class(es): 137/240 137/375, 251/315.03, 251/315.04, 251/315.15, 251/315.16 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Schwadron, Martin P. Assistant Examiner: Gerard, Richard Attorney: Cushman, Darby & Cushman |
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