English:
[0001] Ball valves or plug valves are well known in the art. Ball valves for inline, two port applications, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,183,073 generally comprise a valve body defining a straight flow path between a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port. A rotatable ball or spherical plug having a single bore through its center is sealingly seated within the valve body. A stem extending through the valve body is attached at its lower end to the ball. A hand lever is typically attached to the other end of the stem. To open the ball valve so that fluid is permitted to flow through the fluid passage of the valve body, the handle is turned so as to align the single bore through the ball with the fluid passage of the valve body. To close the valve so that no fluid is permitted to flow through the passage, the handle is rotated in the opposite direction such that the single bore through the ball is at a right angle or 90 degrees to the fluid passage of the valve body. Because the handle or ball must be rotated 90 degrees to fully open or fully close the ball valve, such ball valves are commonly referred to as“quarter turn” ball valves.
[0002] Ball valves with two or more bores through the ball are also known in the art, but such ball valves are used in connection with 4 way - 4 port valves as shown in FIGs. 1 A and 1B and as disclosed in CN203948711 and DE19740392. Accordingly, there is a need for an inline, two port ball valve that will permit the valve to be fully opened and fully closed with a l/8-tum.
[0003] FIGs. 1 A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a prior art 4-way / 4 port valve with a 1/8- turn ball valve in the open and closed position, respectively.
[0004] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an inline, two port, l/8-turn ball valve.
[0006] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the ball valve of FIG. 2 as viewed along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the valve in the open position.
[0007] FIG. 4B is another cross-sectional view of the ball valve of FIG. 2 as viewed along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the valve in the closed position.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a ball valve.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration showing liquid product applied intermittently to each side of a seed using the ball valve of FIG. 5.
[0010] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an inline, two port, 1/8 turn ball valve assembly 10. FIG. 3 is an isometric partial cross- sectional view of the ball valve assembly 10 of FIG. 2. As best viewed in FIG. 3, the ball valve assembly 10 comprises a valve body 12 having a longitudinal axis 14 and a transverse axis 16. A fluid passage 18 extends through the valve body 12 coaxial with the longitudinal axis 14 such that the two ports, i.e., an inlet port 20 and an outlet port 22, are inline. An operating stem 24 is rotatably journaled in the valve body 12 coaxial with the transverse axis 16. The operating stem 24 is fixedly joined at a lower end to a generally spherical ball valve 30 which is seated in a valve seat 32 within the valve body 12. In this embodiment, the bores 34, 36 are shown extending through the ball valve 30 intersecting one another at approximately 90 degree angles along a plane coincident with the longitudinal axis 14. Annular sealing rings 38 fluidly seal the ball valve 30 within the valve seat 32. An actuator 40 may be coupled to the upper end of the operating stem 24 to cause rotation of the operating stem 24 in either direction (i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise) as indicated by arrow 42. The rotation of the stem 24 causes the ball valve 30 fixed thereto to rotate within the valve seat 32.
[0011] FIG. 4A shows the valve 10 in the open position with the bore 34 aligned with the fluid passagel8 of the valve body 12, thus permitting fluid to flow through the valve. FIG. 4B shows the valve 10 in the closed position with the ball valve 30 rotated 1/8 of a turn or about 45 degrees such that both bores 34, 36 are out of alignment with the fluid passage 18, thus preventing fluid to flow through the valve. It should be appreciated that with the two bores 34, 36 positioned at 90 degree angles from one another allows the valve to be fully opened or fully closed with a 1/8- turn or about a 45 degree angular rotation of the ball valve 30 in either direction. It should also be appreciated that the stem 24 and ball valve 30 may be rotated in 1/8 incremental turns in a singular direction (i.e. continuously clockwise or continuously counterclockwise) to open and close the valve. Alternatively, rather the rotating in a singular direction, the stem 24 and ball valve 30 may be rotated 1/8 turn in one direction (e.g., clockwise) and then in the reverse direction (e.g., counterclockwise) to open and close the valve.
[0012] In operation, the actuator 40 will preferably be configured to limit the rotation of the stem 24 and ball valve 30 to 1/8 of a turn or approximately 45 degrees upon each actuation to ensure that the valve is either in a fully open or fully closed condition. In one embodiment, a magnet 45 can be disposed on stem 24 or valve body 12 and Hall effect sensors 47 can be disposed on valve body 12 or stem 24 opposite the magnet 45. When the magnet 45 and Hall effect sensors are aligned (indicating alignment of one of the bores 34, 36 with the passage 18) it may indicate a zero position for the ball valve 30 and the actuator 40 that drives the rotation of stem 24 for calibrating a percent of rotation. A ball valve configured in this manner will allow for faster opening and closing of the valve under operating conditions thereby providing more precise timing and control of fluid flow through the valve. One exemplary use for such a ball valve is in the application of agricultural chemicals to a field. By providing faster opening and closing of the valve, an operator is better able to control the application of chemicals to minimize over spraying and under-spraying.
[0013] In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, rather than the bores 34, 36 intersecting one another at 90 degree angles such that the bore openings are equally spaced, it may be desirable to not have the bore openings equally spaced. A benefit of such configuration is that it allows both a smaller angle of rotation (and thus a shorter time period) between alignment of a bore opening with the outlet port 22 of the ball valve body 12 and a greater angle of rotation (and thus a longer time period) between alignment of the other bore openings with the outlet port 22 of the ball valve body 12. A practical application of a valve with such a configuration is to have the rotation of the ball valve 30 timed to deposit liquid to each side of a seed deposited in a seed furrow during planting operations but not onto the seed such as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, referring to FIG. 5, the first bore 34 has a first open end 34-1 and a second open end 34-2, and the second bore 36 has a third open end 36-1 and a fourth open end 36-2, with small angle al between the first open end 34-1 and the third open end 36-1 and small angle a2 between the second open end 34-2 and the fourth open end 36-2 and larger angle bΐ between the third open end 36-1 and second open end 34-2 and larger angle b2 between the fourth open end 36-2 and the first open end 34-1. Referring to FIGs. 5 and 6 together, assume liquid product is being applied within a seed furrow as the planter deposits seeds in the seed furrow as the planter advances in a forward direction of travel indicated by arrow 50 in FIG. 6. Although not shown in FIG. 6, it should be appreciated that a liquid delivery tube is aligned with the seed furrow and the ball valve is disposed along the liquid delivery tube. The liquid delivery tube is in fluid communication with a liquid product source delivering liquid product to the inlet port 22 of the ball valve assembly 10. As the planter advances in the forward direction of travel 50, the ball valve 30 is rotated by the actuator 40 at a rotation rate corresponding to the speed of the planter and the population rate at which the seed is being planted. For purposes of this example, it is assumed that the ball valve 30 is being rotated in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5, although it should be appreciated that the rotation could be in the clock-wise direction or the actuator40 may rotate back and forth between a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. The first open end 34-1 of the first bore 34 is timed to be in alignment with the outlet port 22 and passage 18 of the ball valve body so liquid product is delivered to the seed furrow rearward of the deposited seed 60-1 (designated by strip“A” in FIG. 6). The flow of the liquid product from the liquid delivery tube is interrupted prior to reaching the deposited seed 60-1 as the ball valve rotates into the closed position through the angle al. As the planter continues in the forward direction of travel, the actuator 40 continues to rotate the ball valve 30 at the rotation rate. As the third end 36-1 of the second bore 36 rotates into alignment with the outlet port 22 and passage 18 of the ball valve body 12, the liquid product is again delivered to the seed furrow forward of the deposited seed 60-1 (designated by strip“B” in FIG. 6). As the actuator 40 rotates the ball valve 30 into the closed position through the angle bΐ, the flow of the liquid product from the delivery tube is once again interrupted. As the planter continues to advance in the forward direction of travel, liquid product is again delivered into the seed furrow rearward of the next deposited seed 60-2 as the second open end 34-2 of the first bore 34 moves into alignment with the outlet port 22 and passage 18 of the ball valve body 30 (designated by strip“C” in FIG. 6). As the ball valve 30 rotates into the closed position through the angle a2, the flow of the liquid product is interrupted prior to reaching the next deposited seed 60-2. The liquid product is again delivered to the furrow as the fourth end 36-2 of the second bore 36 rotates into alignment with the outlet port 22 and passage 18 of the ball valve body 12 (designated by strip“D” in FIG. 6). The liquid product from the liquid delivery tube is once again interrupted as the ball valve 30 rotates into the closed position through the angle b2. This process is repeated with respect to each of the deposited seeds in the seed furrow as the planter advances in the forward direction of travel.
[0014] While the ball valve assembly 10 is depicted in the drawing figures with the inlet and outlet ports 20, 22 having flanges 44 for bolting to a fluid conduit or pipe (not shown) with mating flanges, it should be appreciated that, depending on the application, the flanges may be eliminated and the inlet and outlet ports 20, 22 may be internally threaded or externally threaded to threadably couple to a tube, conduit or pipe, or the inlet and outlet ports 20, 22 may include or be adapted to connect to a conduit with compression fittings or any other suitable coupling means.
[0015] Additionally, while the valve body 12 is depicted in the drawing figures as being fabricated from individual component fixed together by weldments and/or fasteners, it should be appreciated that the valve body 12 may be a unitary body that is cast or molded from any suitable materials depending on the application, including, but not limited to metal or plastic.
[0016] Furthermore, rather than an actuator 40 to rotate the operating stem 24 for opening and closing the valve, a lever or hand wheel may be attached to the stem for rotation manually by hand. In such an embodiment, marking (not shown) can be placed on the valve body 12 to align with the lever to indicate the alignment of the bores 34, 36 with the fluid passage 18 to indicate whether the valve is in either a fully open or fully closed condition.
[0017] Also, while illustrated with two bores 34, 36; ball valve 30 may be fabricated with three bores with the central axis of each of the three bores intersecting at an angle of 60 degrees such that a 1/12th rotation of the ball valve in either direction of rotation from the fully open position moves the ball valve to the fully closed position and vice-versa. Alternatively, the ball valve 30 may be fabricated with four bores with the central axis of each of the four bores intersecting at an angle of 45 degrees such that a 1/16th rotation of the ball valve in either direction of rotation from the fully open position moves the ball valve to the fully closed position and vice-versa. Alternatively, the ball valve 30 may be fabricated with five bores with the central axis of each of the five bores intersecting at an angle of 36 degrees such that a l/20th rotation of the ball valve in either direction of rotation from the fully open position moves the ball valve to the fully closed position and vice-versa. It should be appreciated that the ball valve 30 may include more bores up to any number that can be disposed through ball valve 30.

中文:
[0001]球阀或旋塞阀在现有技术中是公知的。比如在美国专利号5,183,073中披露的直通两端口球阀一般包括在流体进口端口与流体出口端口之间限定有直的流动路径的阀体。可转动的球或球形塞密封地位于阀体内,所述球或球形塞具有贯穿其中心的单个孔。穿过阀体延伸的阀杆的下端附接到所述球。手柄一般附接到阀杆的另一端。为了打开球阀以便于允许流体流过阀体的流体通道,转动手柄以使贯穿球的单个孔与阀体的流体通道对准。为了关闭球阀以便于不允许流体流动穿过所述通道,在相反的方向上转动手柄使得贯穿球的单个孔与阀体的流体通道呈直角或90度。因为必须使手柄或球转动90度来完全打开或完全关闭球阀,所以通常称这种球阀为“四分之一转”球阀。
[0002]具有两个或更多个贯穿球的孔的球阀在现有技术中也是公知的,但是这种球阀是与如图1A和1B中所示的以及CN203948711和DE19740392中披露的4通/4端口阀结合使用的。因此,需要一种1/8转就能将阀完全打开和完全关闭的直通两端口球阀。
[0003]图1A和图1B是1/8转球阀分别位于打开和关闭位置中的现有技术4通/4端口阀的示意图。
[0004]图2是直通两端口1/8转球阀的一个实施方式的轴测图。
[0006]图4A是沿着图2的线4-4看到的图2的球阀的横截面视图,示出了该阀处于打开位置。
[0007]图4B是沿着图2的线4-4看到的图2的球阀的另一横截面视图,示出了该阀处于关闭位置。
[0008]图5是球阀的另一个实施方式的横截面视图。
[0009]图6是示出了使用图5的球阀将液体产品间歇地施加到种子每侧的示意图。
[0010]参照这些附图,其中这些视图中相似的附图标记表示相同或相应的部件,图2是直通两端口1/8转球阀组件10的一个实施方式的轴测图。图3是图2的球阀组件10的轴测局部剖视图。正如在图3中最佳看出的,球阀组件10包括具有纵向轴线14和横向轴线16的阀体12。流体通道18穿过阀体12延伸、与纵向轴线14同轴,使得两个端口(即入口端口20和出口端口22)是直通的。操作阀杆24可转动地通过轴颈连接(journaled)到阀体12中,与横向轴线16同轴。操作阀杆24在下端固定连接到位于阀体12内的阀座32中的基本为球形的球阀30。在该实施方式中,示出了孔34、36穿过球阀30延伸,沿着与纵向轴线14一致的平面彼此以大约90度的角度交叉。环形密封环38将球阀30流体密封在阀座32内。可以将致动器40连接到操作阀杆24的上端以使操作阀杆在如箭头42标示的任一方向(即顺时针或逆时针)上转动。阀杆24的转动使与其固定的球阀30在阀座32内转动。
[0011]图4A示出了阀10处于打开位置,其中孔34与阀体12的流体通道18对准,从而允许流体流过该阀。图4B示出了阀10处于关闭位置,其中球阀30转过1/8转或大约45度使得两个孔34、36不再与流体通道18对准,从而阻止流体流过该阀。应该意识到的是,彼此以90度的角度定位的这两个孔34、36允许球阀30通过在任一方向上转动1/8转或大约45度的角度而将该阀完全打开或完全关闭。还应该意识到的可以是,使阀杆24和球阀30在单个方向上递增地转动(即连续地顺时针或连续地逆时针转动)1/8转来打开和关闭该阀。替代性地,代替在单个方向上的转动,可以使阀杆24和球阀30在一个方向(例如顺时针)上转动1/8转,然后在相反的方向(例如逆时针)上转动1/8转来打开和关闭该阀。
[0012]在操作中,致动器40将优选地配置成在每次致动时限制阀杆24和球阀30转动1/8转或大约45度以确保该阀处于完全打开或完全关闭的状态。在一个实施方式中,可以在阀杆24或阀体12上设置磁体45并且可以在阀体12或阀杆24上设置与磁体45相对的霍尔效应传感器47。当磁体45和霍尔效应传感器对准时(表示其中一个孔34、36与通道18对准),这可以表示球阀30和驱动阀杆24转动的致动器40的零位置,以用于校准转动百分比。以这种方式配置的球阀将能够在操作条件下更快打开和关闭该阀,从而能够实现更精确的定时以及对流过阀的流体的控制。这种球阀的一种示例性用途是用在向田地施加农药中。通过实现阀的更快速的打开和关闭,操作人员能够更好地控制农药的施加以将过渡喷洒和不足喷洒的可能性降到最低。
[0013]在如图5中示出的一个替代性实施方式中,代替孔34、36彼此以90度的角度交叉从而孔开口间隔相等,孔开口间隔不相等也是可行的。这种结构的好处是能够实现在孔开口与球阀阀体12的出口端口22对准之间更小的转动角度(从而更短的时间周期)和其他的孔开口与球阀阀体12的出口端口22对准之间更大的转动角度(从而更长的时间周期)。具有这种结构的一种实际应用是使球阀30的转动定时成在种植操作过程中使液体喷洒在安置于播种沟内的种子的每侧而不喷到种子上,如图6中所示。因此,参见图5,第一孔34具有第一开口端34-1和第二开口端34-2,第二孔36具有第三开口端36-1和第四开口端36-2,其中,第一开口端34-1与第三开口端36-1之间具有小角度α1,第二开口端34-2与第四开口端36-2之间具有小角度α2,第三开口端36-1与第二开口端34-2之间具有较大角度β1,第四开口端36-2与第一开口端34-1之间具有较大角度β2。同时参见图5和6,假设当播种机在图6中由箭头50标示的前进方向上行进时在播种机将种子安置在播种沟中时将液体产品施加在播种沟内。虽然图6中没有示出,但是应该意识到的是,液体传送管与播种沟对准并且球阀沿着液体传送管布置。液体传送管与向球阀组件10的入口端口22传送液体产品的液体产品源流体连通。当播种机在前进方向50上行进时,致动器40使球阀30以与播种机的速度和播种种子的总体速率对应的转速转动。为了该示例的目的,假设使球阀30在如图5中所示的逆时针方向上转动,不过应该意识到的是,该转动可以在顺时针方向上或者致动器40可以在顺时针与逆时针方向之间往复转动。第一孔34的第一开口端34-1定时成与出口端口22和球阀阀体的通道18对准,从而将液体产品传送到安置的种子60-1后方的播种沟(在图6中由条“A”表示)。来自于液体传送管的液体产品流在到达安置的种子60-1之前被中断,因为球阀转过角度α1到了关闭位置。当播种机在前进方向上继续行进时,致动器40继续使球阀30以所述转速转动。当第二孔36的第三端36-1转动成与出口端口22和球阀阀体12的通道18对准时,再次将液体产品传送到安置的种子60-1前方的播种沟(在图6中由条“B”表示)。当致动器40使球阀30转过角度β1转动到关闭位置时,来自于传送管的液体产品流再一次被中断。当播种机在前进方向上继续行进时,在第一孔34的第二开口端34-2运动成与出口端口22和球阀阀体30的通道18对准时再次将液体产品传送到下一个安置的种子60-2后方的播种沟中(在图6中由条“C”表示)。当球阀30转过角度α2到关闭位置时,液体产品流在到达下一个安置的种子60-2之前被中断。当第二孔36的第四端36-2转动成与出口端口22和球阀阀体12的通道18对准时再次将液体产品传送到播种沟(在图6中由条“D”表示)。当球阀30转过角度β2到关闭位置时来自于液体传送管的液体产品被再次中断。该过程在播种机在前进方向上行进时关于播种沟中的每个安置的种子重复进行。
[0014]虽然在这些附图中绘出的球阀组件10具有入口端口和出口端口20、22,并且这些入口端口和出口端口具有法兰44,所述法兰用于螺栓连接到具有匹配法兰的流体管路或管道(未示出),但是应该意识到的是根据应用情况,可以省去这些法兰,出口和出口端口20、22可以具有内部螺纹或者外部螺纹以便通过螺纹连接到管、管路或管道,或者入口端口和出口端口20、22可以包括压力接头或任何其他合适的连接设施,或者适于利用压力接头或任何其他合适的连接设施连接到管路。
[0015]此外,虽然在这些附图中绘出了阀体12是由焊接件和/或紧固件固定在一起的单个原件制作的,但是应该意识到的是阀体12可以是一个整体,根据应用情况可以是由任何合适的材料(包括但不限于金属或塑料)铸造或模制而成的。
[0016]此外,代替致动器40转动操作阀杆24用于打开和关闭该阀,可以将杆或手轮连接到阀杆用于通过手来手动转动。在这样的实施方式中,可以在阀体12上放置标记(未示出)以与杆对准来表示孔34、36与流体通道18的对准,从而表示该阀是否处于完全打开或完全关闭的状态。
[0017]还有,虽然示出了具有两个孔34、36,但是球阀30可以制作有三个孔,其中这三个孔每个的中心轴线以60度的角度交叉,使得球阀从完全打开的位置在任一转动方向上1/12转的转动使球阀运动到完全关闭位置,反之亦然。替代性地,球阀30可以制作有四个孔,这四个孔每个的中心轴线以45度的角度交叉,使得球阀从完全打开的位置在任一转动方向上1/16转的转动使球阀运动到完全关闭位置,反之亦然。替代性地,球阀30可以制作有五个孔,这五个孔的每个的中心轴线以36度的角度交叉,使得球阀从完全打开位置在任一转动方向上1/20转的转动使球阀运动到完全关闭位置,反之亦然。应该意识到的是,球阀30可以包括更多的孔,可以达到通过球阀30可以设置的任何数量。