Patent ID: 7971855

Claim:
A stemless ball valve comprising: (a) a first flange; (b) a second flange; (c) a ball; (b) two ball seals; (c) a guide sleeve; (d) an inner housing; (e) an inner magnetic cartridge comprising a plurality of inner magnets; (f) an outer housing comprising a plurality of outer magnets; (g) two axis pins; and (h) two travel pins; wherein the ball lies between the first and second flanges with a ball seal on either side of the ball; wherein the axis pins each comprises a first end and a second end, and the first end of each axis pin is fixedly attached to the ball; wherein the second end of one of the two axis pins is lodged into a notch in the first flange and the second end of the other axis pin is lodged into a notch in the second flange; wherein the inner housing lies between the inner magnetic cartridge and the outer magnets of the outer housing; wherein the first and second flanges are fixedly attached to the inner housing; wherein a handle is attached to the outer housing, and when the handle is turned, the outer magnets of the outer housing cause the inner magnetic cartridge to rotate in the same direction as the handle; wherein the guide sleeve is fixedly attached to the inner magnetic cartridge such that when the inner magnetic cartridge rotates, the guide sleeve also rotates; wherein the guide sleeve surrounds the ball and comprises two channels; wherein the travel pins each comprises a first end and a second end, and the first end of each travel pin is fixedly attached to the ball; wherein the second end of one of the travel pins is situated in one of the channels in the guide sleeve, and the second end of the other travel pin is situated in the other channel in the guide sleeve; wherein as the guide sleeve rotates, the travel pins move up and down within the channels in the guide sleeve, thereby causing the ball to rotate.