Patent ID: 8262061
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
1. A ball valve for controlling fluid flow, comprising: a housing configured to define a cam element positioned on a floor of the chamber, wherein the cam element includes an oval shape with a hollow portion that introduces flexibility to the oval shape; a ball positioned in the chamber, and configured to be rotatable in the chamber from a fully open condition to a closed condition sealing off fluid flow through the throughbore, the ball having a left arm and a right arm and a slot between each arm, wherein a terminal portion of each arm is positioned adjacent the cam element so that the cam element is positioned in the slot; wherein the cam element is shaped so that, when the ball is rotated from the open condition to the closed condition, the cam element forces the arms through three distances of separation from each other, a first distance of separation in which the arms are spaced a first distance from each other, when the ball has undergone no rotation from the fully open condition; a second distance of separation in which the arms are spaced a second distance from each other, when the ball has undergone some rotation from the fully open condition towards the closed condition but has not reached the closed condition; a third distance of separation in which the arms are spaced a third distance from each other, and in which the ball has undergone rotation to the closed condition; wherein, the third distance is greater than the first distance, and the second distance is greater than the third distance.