Patent ID: 8365755

Claim:
A ball valve isolator ( 5 ), comprising: a housing ( 15 ) provided with a first flow passage ( 29 ) located between an inlet ( 30 ) and an outlet ( 31 ); a ball valve ( 60 ) including a ball portion ( 63 ) that is located in the first flow passage ( 29 ), wherein the ball portion ( 63 ) defines a second flow passage ( 65 ) that is aligned with the first flow passage ( 29 ) when the ball valve ( 60 ) is actuated to an open position; a first isolator ( 40 ) located, at least in part, within the housing ( 15 ), wherein the first isolator ( 40 ) substantially blocks the inlet ( 30 ) when the first isolator ( 40 ) is actuated to a closed position; a second isolator ( 41 ) located, at least in part, within the housing ( 15 ), wherein the second isolator ( 41 ) substantially blocks the outlet ( 31 ) when the second isolator ( 41 ) is actuated to a closed position; and a cover 82 that is secured to an end of the housing ( 15 ) and defines a first isolator accommodating bore ( 83 ) provided with a first diameter ( 84 ) and a second isolator accommodating bore ( 85 ) provided with a second diameter ( 86 ), wherein: at least a portion of the first isolator ( 40 ) is provided with a diameter ( 48 ) that measures greater than the first diameter ( 84 ) of the first isolator accommodating bore ( 83 ), whereby the cover ( 82 ), while secured to the housing ( 15 ) prevents, at least a portion, of the first isolator ( 40 ) from being removed from within the housing ( 15 ); and at least a portion of the second isolator ( 41 ) is provided with a diameter ( 48 ) that measures greater than the second diameter ( 86 ) of the second isolator accommodating bore ( 85 ), whereby the cover ( 82 ), while secured to the housing ( 15 ) prevents, at least a portion, of the second isolator ( 41 ) from being removed from within the housing ( 15 ).