초록 ▼

A valve ball physically configured to minimize rotational forces imparted to the ball by fluid pressure acting thereon in flow throttling positions of the ball. In part, the physical configurations that produce the desired effect include a hollowed out ball interior and recessed areas on the ball ou

A valve ball physically configured to minimize rotational forces imparted to the ball by fluid pressure acting thereon in flow throttling positions of the ball. In part, the physical configurations that produce the desired effect include a hollowed out ball interior and recessed areas on the ball outer surface that allow fluid flow past the ball exterior when it is partly open.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A valve ball having a generally spherical outer surface, a through passage with a passage longitudinal axis and a passage peripheral surface that defines a ball inner surface, said ball having a rotational axis that intersects and extends perpendicular to said passage longitudinal

[ We claim:] [1.] A valve ball having a generally spherical outer surface, a through passage with a passage longitudinal axis and a passage peripheral surface that defines a ball inner surface, said ball having a rotational axis that intersects and extends perpendicular to said passage longitudinal axis and a transverse axis that intersects and extends perpendicular to both said rotational axis and said passage longitudinal axis, said outer surface having opposite recessed areas intersected by said transverse axis on opposite sides of said passage longitudinal axis, said recessed areas having outer surface profiles, said inner surface having inner surface profiles that are located opposite from and substantially correspond to said outer surface profiles, said passage having opposite passage openings that intersect said generally spherical outer surface, and said recessed areas being spaced from said passage openings so that said generally spherical outer surface includes generally spherical outer surface portions that extend between said recessed areas and said passage opening.