Patent ID: 9322242
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: E21B,F16K

Claim Text:
1. A ball valve assembly comprising: a pipe section having an axial bore for enabling fluid flow therethrough in use; a valve ball having an internal conduit, the valve ball being mounted within the pipe section and being for rotation with respect to the pipe section between an open position in which fluid within the axial bore may flow through the internal conduit and a closed position in which the internal conduit is inaccessible to fluid within the axial bore; a device configured to rotate the valve ball, the device being located radially outside the axial bore; an encapsulation positioned to receive the valve ball and having portions located radially between the pipe bore and the device configured to rotate the valve ball, such that the encapsulation prevents fluid within the axial bore from accessing the device configured to rotate the valve ball; and a hydraulic fluid line, wherein the device comprises a piston actuated by hydraulic fluid pressure within the hydraulic fluid line; and wherein the pipe section comprises a failsafe fluid path in fluid connection with the bore, such that in the event of a loss of hydraulic fluid pressure within the hydraulic fluid line, fluid flows from the bore through the failsafe fluid path to force one or more crossheads to move towards the valve ball causing the valve ball to rotate into the closed position.