초록 ▼

A ball valve assembly of the quarter-turn type for use in isolating an electronic level transmitter comprising a valve body having an inner chamber, an inlet or tank-side port, an outlet or transmitter side port, a valve body axis defined by the inlet and outlet ports, and a substantially spherical

A ball valve assembly of the quarter-turn type for use in isolating an electronic level transmitter comprising a valve body having an inner chamber, an inlet or tank-side port, an outlet or transmitter side port, a valve body axis defined by the inlet and outlet ports, and a substantially spherical ball valve member having an inner surface forming a through passage mounted in the chamber for selective rotation between an open position and a closed position. The present invention allows for flushing the diaphragm face of a level transmitter with the ball valve member in an open position via a purge port positioned on the valve body and a purge passage connecting the through passage and a seating face portion of the outer surface of the ball valve member. The present invention is provided with a full port opening through the ball valve assembly for enhancing the accuracy of level transmitter readings and valve backflush capabilities. The present invention has a handle with a distal end having a longitudinal axis positioned offset from the valve body axis at an angle of about forty-five degrees when the ball valve member is in its respective open and closed positions so that the valve assembly may be positioned and operated within a small recess area formed in tank wall insulation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A ball valve assembly comprising,a ball valve body having an inner chamber, an inlet port, an outlet port in communication with said chamber for fluid flow therethrough, and a transmitter side flange and a tank side flange for mounting said ball valve assembly, each said flange having a horizonta

1. A ball valve assembly comprising,a ball valve body having an inner chamber, an inlet port, an outlet port in communication with said chamber for fluid flow therethrough, and a transmitter side flange and a tank side flange for mounting said ball valve assembly, each said flange having a horizontal centerline and at least two upper bolt holes located about forty-five degrees above said centerline and at least two lower bolt holes located about forty-five degrees below said centerline,a ball valve member mounted in said chamber, said ball valve member having an inner surface forming a through passage, an outer surface including a first sealing face and a second sealing face, and a purge passage having a first end formed in said inner surface and a second end formed in said second sealing face, and,means for selectively rotating said ball valve member between an open position wherein said inlet port, said outlet port, and said through passage are in fluid alignment, and a closed position wherein said first sealing face is in sealing engagement with said inlet port to prevent fluid flow therethrough and said second sealing face is in sealing engagement with said outlet port. 2. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said ball valve body further comprises a purge port positioned on said valve body to allow fluid communication between said purge port, said purge passage, said through passage, and said outlet port when said ball valve member is in said closed position; and to allow fluid communication between said purge port, said purge passage, said outlet port, and said inlet port when said ball valve member is in said open position. 3. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said purge passage is located concentrically about a purge passage axis passing through said outlet port when said ball valve member is in an open position. 4. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 3 wherein said purge port is located concentrically about a purge port axis passing through said second end of said purge passage when said valve member is in an open position. 5. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said purge port is a threaded female national pipe tapered (FNPT) port. 6. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 2 wherein said inlet port, said outlet port, and said through passage are located concentrically about a valve body axis when said valve member is in an open position. 7. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 6 wherein said inlet port, said outlet port, and said ball valve member have substantially cylindrical inner surfaces. 8. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 7 wherein said cylindrical inner surfaces of said inlet port, said outlet port, and said ball valve member have a uniform diameter of not less than about 76 millimeters. 9. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 6 wherein said ball valve body has a maximum length of about 118 millimeters measured along said valve body axis. 10. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 6 wherein said means for selectively rotating comprises a control lever assembly having a ball valve stem rotatably mounted in a vertical valve stem hub formed in said valve body, means for mounting said ball valve member to a lower end of said ball valve stem, and a handle operatively mounted at its proximal end to an upper end of said ball valve stem. 11. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 10 wherein said handle has a distal end having a longitudinal axis that is offset from said valve body axis about forty five degrees when said ball valve member is in an open position and a closed position. 12. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said tank side flange further comprises two bolt slots located from about twenty-five degrees to about twenty-seven degrees above said centerline. 13. A ball valve assembly for isolating a level transmitter, said assembly comprising a ball valve body having an inner chamber and a longitudinal valve body axis defined by an inlet port and an outlet port, a substantially spherical ball valve member rotatably disposed in said chamber, said ball valve member being moveable between a closed position where a portion of said ball valve member is in sealing engagement with said inlet port to prevent fluid flow therethrough to an open position where said inlet port, said outlet port, and said ball valve member define a cylindrical opening through said ball valve assembly, wherein said cylindrical opening has a uniform minimum diameter of about 76 millimeters and said valve body has a maximum length of about 118 millimeters measured along said body axis; said ball valve assembly further comprising means for flushing a diaphragm face of a level transmitter connected to said outlet port, wherein said means for flushing comprises a purge port positioned on said valve body and a cylindrical purge passage formed in said ball valve member, said purge passage communicating with said purge port and said opening when said ball valve member is in an open position. 14. A ball valve assembly-as described in claim 13 wherein said purge passage has a longitudinal purge passage axis passing through said outlet port when said ball valve member is in an open position. 15. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 13 wherein said purge passage is positioned so that a purge media passing through said purge passage is directed toward said outlet port upon exiting said purge passage. 16. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 13 wherein said ball valve member has an outer surface, said purge passage has an end formed in said outer surface, and said purge port is located concentrically about a purge port axis aligned with said end when said ball valve member is in an open position. 17. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 13 wherein said purge port is a threaded female national pipe tapered (FNPT) port. 18. A ball valve assembly for isolating a level transmitter, said assembly comprising:a ball valve having an inner chamber, a longitudinal valve body axis defined by an inlet port and an outlet port, a ball valve member rotatably disposed within said chamber, and means for selectively rotating said ball valve member between an open position and a closed position;wherein said means for rotating comprises a handle having a proximal end operatively connected to said ball valve member, and a distal end having a longitudinal axis that is positioned offset from said valve body axis at an angle of about forty five degrees when said ball valve member is in an open position;wherein said ball valve member has an inner surface forming a through passage, an outer surface including a first sealing face and a second sealing face, and a purge passage having a first end formed in said inner surface and a second end formed in said second sealing face;wherein said ball valve body further comprises a purge port positioned on said valve body to allow fluid communication between said purge port said through passage, said purge passage, and said outlet port when said ball valve member is in said closed position, and to allow fluid communication between said purge port, said purge passage, said outlet port, said through passage, and said inlet port when said ball valve member is in said open position;wherein said purge port is located concentrically about a purge port axis passing through said second end of said purge passage when said valve member is in an open position. 19. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 18 wherein said longitudinal axis of said distal end of said handle is positioned offset from said valve body axis at an angle of about forty five degrees when said ball valve member is in a closed position. 20. A ball valve assembly as described in claim 18 wherein said purge passage is located concentrically about a purge passage axis passing through said outlet port when said ball valve member is in an open position. 21. A bal l valve assembly as described in claim 18, wherein said inlet port, said outlet port, and said through passage are located concentrically about a valve body axis when said valve member is in an open position. 22. A ball assembly as described in claim 21 wherein said inlet port, said outlet port, and said ball valve member have substantially cylindrical inner surfaces of not less than about 76 millimeters. 23. A ball assembly as described in claim 22 wherein said ball valve body has a maximum length of about 118 millimeters measured along said valve body axis. 24. A ball valve assembly for isolating a level transmitter, said assembly comprising a ball valve body having an inner chamber, a longitudinal valve body axis defined by an inlet port and an outlet port, a ball valve member rotatably disposed within said chamber, and means for selectively rotating said ball valve member between an open position and a closed position wherein said means for rotating comprises a handle having a proximal end operatively connected to said ball valve member, and a distal end having a longitudinal axis that is positioned offset from said valve body axis at an angle of about forty five degrees when said ball valve member is in an open position, wherein said ball valve body further comprises a purge port positioned on said valve body to allow fluid communication between said purge port, said through passage, said purge passage, and said outlet port when said ball valve member is in said closed position; and to allow fluid communication between said purge port, said purge passage, said outlet port, said through passage, and said inlet port when said ball valve member is in said open position.