Abstract:
A ball valve employing a flush inlet in the ball and a flush exhaust port in the valve body for communication with the ball valve port when the ball is oriented to allow source fluid to enter the ball valve port through the flush inlet is disclosed. The ball valve allows for convenient back flushing of an optional filter or located in the ball valve port and subsequent expulsion of debris flushed from the optional filter from the valve body through the flush exhaust port. The disclosed ball valve also allows for a simple method of collected fluid samples when a sample collector is connected to the flush exhaust port. The disclosed valve also operates to completely arrest fluid flow from the first end of the valve body to the second end in a manner similar to valve known in the prior art.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant, Donald Loloff, a U.S. citizen, claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60,881,045 filed on Jan. 17, 2007 entitled “Ball Valve”, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a ball valve design in which the ball of the valve incorporates a flush port drilled through one side of the ball perpendicular to the fluid flow direction, and wherein the valve body incorporates a flush exhaust port for communication with the flush port when the valve is in the flush position. The combination of the flush port in the valve ball and the flush exhaust port in the valve body allow for back-flushing of an optional filter in the ball and subsequent expulsion through the flush exhaust port of any debris that have accumulated on the filter. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
     
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       Brief Description of the Drawings 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates one example of a full port ball valve of the prior art. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates one example of a standard port ball of the prior art. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3A  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position A as viewed from the first end. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3B  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position A as viewed from the side with the flush exhaust port. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3C  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position A as viewed from the second end. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3D  provides a cross-sectional view of the Ball Valve in position A along the longitudinal axis of a fluid conduit connected to the Ball Valve. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position B as viewed from the first end. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4B  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position B as viewed from the side with the flush exhaust port. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4C  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position B as viewed from the second end. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4D  provides a cross-sectional view of the Ball Valve in position B along the longitudinal axis of a fluid conduit connected to the Ball Valve. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4E  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position B as viewed from the side without the flush exhaust port. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position C as viewed from the first end. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5B  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position C as viewed from the side with the flush exhaust port. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5C  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position C as viewed from the second end. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5D  provides a cross-sectional view of the Ball Valve in position C along the longitudinal axis of a fluid conduit connected to the Ball Valve. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5E  shows the disclosed Ball Valve in position C as viewed from the side without the flush exhaust port. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Element Listing 
       [0021]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Element Description 
                 Element Number 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Diameter of Port in Full Port Ball Valve 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Diameter of Fluid Conduit 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Intentionally Left Blank 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Diameter of Port in Standard Port Ball 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 Valve 
               
               
                   
                 Flush Inlet 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Intentionally Left Blank 
                 6 
               
               
                   
                 Ball 
                 7 
               
               
                   
                 Ball Valve 
                 8 
               
               
                   
                 First End 
                 9 
               
               
                   
                 Valve Body 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Second End 
                 11 
               
               
                   
                 Flush Exhaust Port 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 Filter 
                 13 
               
               
                   
                 Valve Handle 
                 14 
               
               
                   
                 Ball Valve Port 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 Fluid Conduit 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Typically, the port  15  in a ball valve  8  comes in three configurations: full port, standard port, and reduced port. In a full port configuration, the cross-sectional area of the ball valve port  15  is equal in shape and size to the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit  16 . In a standard port configuration, the cross-sectional area of the ball valve port  15  is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit  16  and not necessarily the same shape as that of the fluid conduit  16 . In a reduced port configuration, the cross-sectional area of the ball valve port  15  is typically two pipe sizes smaller than the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit  16 , but not necessarily the same shape. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional full port ball valve as found in the prior art. The diameter of the port in the full port ball valve  1  is equal to the diameter of the fluid conduit  2  adjacent the valve. Also, both the shape of the ball valve port  15  and the shape of the fluid conduit  16  are circular. The equal diameters yield equal cross-sectional areas for the fluid conduit  16  and the ball valve port  15  according to the geometric relation for a circle, 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               CA 
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       Diameter 
                       2 
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   2 
                 
                 × 
                 π 
               
             
             , 
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    where CA is the cross sectional area of the circle. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a conventional standard port ball valve as found in the prior art. The diameter of the port in a standard port ball valve  4  is smaller than the diameter of the fluid conduit  2  adjacent the valve. In  FIG. 2 , the ball valve port  15  and the fluid conduit  16  appear as though the shape of both is circular, though not all standard port ball valves employ a circular shaped port. 
         [0025]    Conventional reduced port ball valves as found in the prior art (not shown) are similar to conventional standard port ball valves. A cut-away diagram for a conventional reduced port ball valve would appear similar to  FIG. 2 , but the difference between the diameter of the ball valve port  4  and the diameter of the fluid conduit  2  would be more exaggerated than the difference between the two dimensions in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]    Often, ball valves are designed with fluid flow characteristics being of paramount importance. Pressure drop across the valve, volumetric flow rate through the valve at a given fluid pressure, and fluid turbulence generated by fluid passage through the valve are often optimized so that fluid flow through the open valve mimics as closely as possible fluid flow through the fluid conduit  16 . Occasionally, ball valves are designed so that the ball valve port  15  changes the fluid flow characteristics in some predetermined manner, such as lowering fluid pressure or volumetric flow rate at a specified fluid pressure. 
         [0027]    The disclosed ball valve  8  provides for a simple means with which to back-flush the ball valve  8 . The ball  7  is outfitted with a flush inlet  5 . The flush inlet  5  is oriented perpendicular to the fluid flow through the ball valve  8  (i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ball valve port  15 ), and is in direct communication with the ball valve port  15  in the ball  7  (as is best shown in  FIGS. 3D ,  4 D, and  5 D). This design allows for fluid flow from the flush inlet  5  into the ball valve port  15  and vice versa. Only one side of the ball  7  is fashioned with a flush inlet  5  so that the ball valve  8  is still capable of completely arresting fluid flow between the first end  9  and the second end  11  of the valve body  10 . In the embodiments disclosed and pictured herein, the diameter of the flush inlet  5  and of the flush exhaust port  12  are both less than the diameter of the ball valve port  15 ; however, the respective diameters are not limited to the embodiments pictured herein and may be determined by the particular application of the disclosed ball valve  8 . For example, the diameter of the flush exhaust port  12  may be greater than the diameter of the ball valve port  15 , as may the diameter of the flush inlet  5 . Furthermore, although circular in the embodiments pictured herein, the cross-sectional shape of the flush inlet  5 , ball valve port  15 , and flush exhaust port  12  may be of any convenient cross-sectional shape for the particular application. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3A  shows the flush inlet  5  viewed from the first end  9  with the ball valve  8  in position A. Rather than fully arresting fluid flow within the valve body  10 , as a ball valve from the prior art would do in this position, in position A the disclosed ball valve  8  directs fluid from the first end  9  into the flush inlet  5 , through the ball valve port  15 , and out the flush exhaust port  12  in the valve body  8 , which is best shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3D . A filter  13  may be placed within the ball valve port  15  in any embodiment of the disclosed ball valve. As shown in the embodiments pictured herein, the filter  13  is conical in shape positioned towards the first end  9  when the ball valve  8  is in position B (described in detail below and best shown in  FIG. 4D ). Such placement and shape of the filter  13  (optional) as shown in the embodiments pictured herein is contemplated when the first end  9  is fashioned as the fluid inlet and the second end  11  is fashioned as the fluid outlet during normal fluid flow. However, the shape, material, and/or precise location of the filter  13  in no way limit the scope of the present invention, and such specifications are limited only by the particular application for which the ball valve  8  is used. For example, the filter  13  (optional) may be made of a wire-screen mesh, a cellulosic-fiber material, or any other material known to those skilled in the art that is suitable for the application. Furthermore, in an embodiment not shown herein the filter  13  (optional) may be shaped substantially as a disk so that the filter  13  (optional) has the same cross-sectional area as the ball valve port  15 . Additionally, in an embodiment not shown herein the filter  13  (optional) may be configured as a replacement cartridge allowing removal and disposal or maintenance. 
         [0029]    A fluid conduit, such as piping, may be affixed to the flush exhaust port  12  and routed to a desired location, or the flush exhaust port  12  may simply remain open, as in the embodiments pictured herein. In position A, the ball valve port  15  is in communication with the flush exhaust port  12  to allow for fluid flow from the ball  7  out the flush exhaust port  12 .  FIG. 3C  shows the ball valve  8  in position A from the second end  11 , from which it is apparent that the ball  7  completely prevents fluid flow from the first end  9  to the second end  11  and from the second end  11  to the first end  9  when in position A. This is because when in position A, the ball valve port  15  is not in fluid communication with the second end  11 . 
         [0030]    By rotating the valve handle  14  ninety degrees counterclockwise, the ball valve  8  is moved from position A to position B.  FIG. 4A  shows the ball valve  8  viewed from the first end  9  in position B. In position B the flush inlet  5  is adjacent the side of the valve body  10  without the flush exhaust port  12 , which is best seen in  FIG. 4D  (and which may be seen externally in  FIG. 4E ). The side of the ball  7  without the flush inlet  5  is adjacent the side of the valve body  10  with the flush exhaust port  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4D , so that no fluid may exit the valve body  10  except through either the first end  9  or the second end  11 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 C, and  4 D, in position B, fluid flows through the valve body  10  from either the first end  9  to the second end  11  through the filter  13  (optional) in the ball valve port  15 , or from the second end  11  to the first end  9  through the filter  13  (optional) in the ball valve port  15 , depending on whether the first end  9  or the second end  11  is oriented to provide the fluid inlet into the valve body  10 . 
         [0031]    By rotating the valve handle  14  ninety degrees counterclockwise from position B, the ball valve  8  is placed in position C, which correlates to position A in some aspects.  FIG. 5A  shows the ball valve  8  from the first end  9  in position C. In position C, the ball  7  completely prevents fluid flow from the first end  9  to the second end  11  and from the second end  11  to the first end  9 , as is best shown in  FIG. 5D .  FIG. 5B  shows the ball valve  8  from the side of the valve body  10  with the flush exhaust port  12 , which communicates with the ball valve port  15  in this position.  FIG. 5C  shows the ball valve  8  from the second end  11  in position C where the flush inlet  5  is visible. In position C, rather than completely arresting fluid flow within the valve body  10 , as a ball valve from the prior art would in this position, the disclosed ball valve  8  directs fluid from the second end  11  into the flush inlet  5  and out of the valve body through the exhaust flush port  12 , which is best shown in  FIGS. 5B ,  5 C, and  5 D. The side of the valve body  10  without the fluid exhaust port  12  is shown in  FIG. 5D  with the ball valve  8  in position C. 
         [0032]    The difference between position A (shown in  FIGS. 3A-3D ) and position C (shown in  FIGS. 5A-5E ) hinges on whether the first end  9  or the second end  11  is connected to the source fluid and the position of the optional filter  13 . It is contemplated that the embodiments pictured herein are most likely to be used in a system wherein the fluid inlet is connected to the first end  9  and the fluid outlet is connected to the second end  11 . If the first end  9  is connected to the source fluid and thereby provides the inlet of the source fluid into the valve body  10 , then the fluid will flow from the first end  9  through the filter  13  (optional) in the ball valve port  15  to the second end  11  when the ball valve is in position B, which correlates to a fully open position. 
         [0033]    Position A provides for a back-flush of the filter  13  (optional) in the ball valve port  15  in the embodiment pictured herein. When the embodiment pictured is in position A (best shown in  FIG. 3D ) the source fluid will enter the valve body  10  from the first end  9 , flow through the flush inlet  5  into the ball valve port  15 , through the filter  13  (optional) in the direction opposite of the fluid flow through the filter  13  (optional) when in position B, and exit the valve body  10  along with any debris collected on and subsequently flushed from the filter  13  (optional) through the flush exhaust port  12 . That is, when the ball valve  8  is in position A, the fluid will travel through the filter  13  (optional) in the ball valve port  15  in a direction substantially opposite to the direction that the fluid travels through the filter  13  (optional) when the ball valve  8  is in position B, thereby creating a back-flush of the filter  13  (optional) for removal of debris collected in the filter  13  (optional) when the ball valve  8  is open in position B. 
         [0034]    Position C closes off the fluid source from the valve body  8  by blocking fluid entry into the first end  9  and thereby closes the ball valve  8  so that fluid cannot travel from the first end  9  to the second end  11 , which correlates to a closed position. As is known to those skilled in the art, the disclosed ball valve is a bi-directional valve that can achieve the same objective whether the first end  9  or the second end  11  is connected to the fluid inlet, in which position A and position C would perform the opposite functions, depending on the location of the optional filter  13 , which is best seen in a comparison of  FIGS. 3D and 5D . 
         [0035]    The disclosed ball valve  8  may be manually operated or it may be automated via an electric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or other means known to those skilled in the art (not shown). The disclosed ball valve  8  may also be integrated into a program logic controller (PLC) that may be programmed to actuate the ball valve  8  at certain time intervals or if certain predetermined conditions are met, such as a set pressure differential or a set volumetric flow-rate. The PLC may be integrated with a database to tabulate the actuation of the ball valve  8  to determine the optimal number of filter  13  (optional) flushes for a set of conditions. The information from the ball valve  8  or the ball valve&#39;s limit switches (not shown) may be relayed to the system operator or the associated computer system, as is well known to those skilled in the art, by transmission means such as electrical conduit, wireless transmitters using radio frequencies (which may be Bluetooth enabled), microwave frequencies, or other transmission means that are known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0036]    The preceding elements may also be used to facilitate an automated sampling system. In such a system, a filter  13  would most likely not be placed within the ball valve port  13  and a fluid conduit would likely be connected to the flush exhaust port  12  and routed to a desired sample collection location (not shown). The system could be automated through a PLC so that the ball valve  8  is set to actuate at certain times for a predetermined length, thereby facilitating a sample at a particular time of a particular volume. In another configuration, not shown herein, the actuation of the ball valve  8  by the PLC may be connected to a sensor (not shown) internal or external to the piping system which the ball valve is a part of and wherein a pre-determined condition such as temperature, concentration of ingredients, and or presence of a system contaminant such as  E. coli  in a food processing stream or benzene in a water stream would result in actuation of ball valve  8  by the PLC to either capture a sample of the material in the piping system or allow for removal of a contaminant from the piping system. 
         [0037]    The ball valve port  15  in the embodiments pictured herein is contemplated to be a full port configuration. However, other configurations (such as standard port or reduced port) may be used in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0038]    It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended to apply to all similar apparatuses providing for a three-way ball valve. Accordingly, modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention.