Patent ID: 8322371

Claim:
A ball seat valve, comprising: (a) a valve body with a chamber; (b) a plurality of inlet openings in the chamber, wherein: (i) the plurality of inlet openings together have an inflow area leading into the chamber through which a medium can flow, and (ii) the plurality of inlet openings are connected to one another in parallel to allow the medium to flow through them simultaneously, and (iii) the plurality of inlet openings comprises more than 10 individual inlet openings connected to one another in parallel, and (iv) the plurality of inlet openings are arranged in distinct groups; (c) a seat with an outlet opening leading out of the chamber through the valve body, wherein the outlet opening has an outflow area leading out of the chamber through which the medium can flow; (d) a ball, which is situated in the chamber so as to be displaceable to open up or block the outlet opening; and (e) a wall, situated opposite the seat, that supports the flexible element as an abutment, and wherein at least some of the inlet openings lead through this wall opposite the seat into the chamber.