Patent ID: 6698712
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: E21B,F16K

Abstract:
A ball valve assembly, comprising:a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port, a passageway there-between for transmitting fluid, and at least one of an open valve hydraulic port and a closed valve hydraulic port; a ball within the valve body having a through port therein and a spherical exterior surface, the ball being rotatable within the valve body for rotation between an open position and a closed position; a seat ring within the valve body for sealing engagement with the spherical exterior surface of the ball when the ball is in the closed position and fluid pressure is upstream or downstream of the ball; a support ring for engaging the exterior surface of the ball when the ball is in the closed position and supporting the ball when fluid pressure is upstream of the ball; an actuator sleeve surrounding the ball and axially moveable within the valve body for rotating the ball between the open position and the closed position, hydraulic pressure in the at least one hydraulic port moving the actuator sleeve axially within the valve body; a first seal between the seat ring and the actuator sleeve; a second seal between the support ring and the actuator sleeve; a third seal between the actuator sleeve and the valve body; a fourth seal between the seat ring and the valve body; a fifth seal between the support ring and the valve body; and the fourth seal having a diameter greater than the first seal such that fluid pressure within the seat ring exerts a force on the first seal and the fourth seal which is transmitted to the seat ring in an axial direction toward the ball.