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An internal blow out preventer is provided that includes a ball valve including a tubular assembly having a central passageway with upper and lower seats mounted therein. A ball is rotatably received between the upper and lower seats and includes an external surface and a central opening, wherein th

An internal blow out preventer is provided that includes a ball valve including a tubular assembly having a central passageway with upper and lower seats mounted therein. A ball is rotatably received between the upper and lower seats and includes an external surface and a central opening, wherein the central opening includes an undercut. A protective coating is applied to both the external surface and the undercut of the ball.

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What is claimed is: 1. An internal blow out preventer comprising: a ball valve comprising: a tubular assembly comprising a central passageway; an upper seat mounted within the tubular assembly; a lower seat mounted within the tubular assembly; a ball rotatably received between the upper and lower s

What is claimed is: 1. An internal blow out preventer comprising: a ball valve comprising: a tubular assembly comprising a central passageway; an upper seat mounted within the tubular assembly; a lower seat mounted within the tubular assembly; a ball rotatably received between the upper and lower seats and comprising an external surface and a central opening defining a fluid passage, said fluid passage having a first diameter, and wherein the central opening further comprises an undercut portion at the junction between the external surface and the central opening, said undercut portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the fluid passage; and a protective coating applied to both the external surface and the central opening of the ball, and which is attached and terminates within the undercut of the ball such that coated undercut portion has a diameter that is substantially the same as the first diameter of the fluid passage. 2. The internal blow out preventer of claim 1, wherein the protective coating comprises a hard protective coating capable of reducing wear between the ball and the seats. 3. The internal blow out preventer of claim 1, wherein the protective coating comprises tungsten carbide. 4. The internal blow out preventer of claim 1, wherein the upper seat comprises a central opening axially aligned with both the central passageway of the tubular assembly and the central opening of the ball; and wherein the central opening of the ball is larger than the central opening of the upper seat. 5. The internal blow out preventer of claim 4, wherein the lower seat comprises a central opening axially aligned with both the central passageway of the tubular assembly and the central opening of the ball; and wherein the central opening of the lower seat is larger than the central opening of the ball. 6. The internal blow out preventer of claim 1, wherein the undercut is in the upper end of the ball. 7. The internal blow out preventer of claim 6, further comprising a lower undercut portion at the junction of the external surface and the central opening in the lower end of the ball, and wherein the protective coating is applied to the external surface and both ends of the central opening such that the protective coating is attached and terminates in both the upper undercut and the lower undercut of the ball such that coated undercut portions have a diameter that is substantially the same as the first diameter of the fluid passage. 8. An internal blow out preventer comprising: a ball valve comprising: a tubular assembly comprising a central passageway; an upper seat mounted in the central passageway of the tubular assembly; a lower seat mounted in the central passageway of the tubular assembly; a ball rotatably received between the upper and lower seats, and comprising a central opening defining a fluid passage, said fluid passage having a first diameter, and an upper contacting surface that contacts a contacting surface of the upper seat, and wherein the central opening comprises an upper undercut portion at the junction between the upper contacting surface and the central opening, said undercut portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the fluid passage, said undercut portion being disposed at an upper end of the ball; and a protective coating applied to the upper contacting surface and the central opening such that the protective coating is attached and terminates in the upper undercut of the ball such that the coated undercut portion has a diameter that is substantially the same as the first diameter of the fluid passage. 9. The internal blow out preventer of claim 8, wherein the protective coating comprises a hard protective coating capable of reducing wear between the ball and the seats. 10. The internal blow out preventer of claim 8, wherein the protective coating comprises tungsten carbide. 11. The internal blow out preventer of claim 8, wherein the upper seat comprises a central opening axially aligned with both the central passageway of the tubular assembly and the central opening of the ball; and wherein the central opening of the ball is larger than the central opening of the upper seat. 12. The internal blow out preventer of claim 11, wherein the lower seat comprises a central opening axially aligned with both the central passageway of the tubular assembly and the central opening of the ball; and wherein the central opening of the lower seat is larger than the central opening of the ball. 13. The internal blow out preventer of claim 8, wherein the ball comprises a lower contacting surface that contacts a contacting surface of the lower seat; and wherein the central opening comprises a lower undercut portion at the junction of the lower contacting surface and the central opening at a lower end of the ball; and wherein the protective coating is applied to each of the upper and lower contacting surfaces and the central opening such that the protective coating is attached and terminates in the upper and lower undercuts of the ball such that coated undercut portions have a diameter that is substantially the same as the first diameter of the fluid passage. 14. An internal blow out preventer comprising: a first ball valve comprising: a first tubular assembly comprising a central passageway; a first upper seat mounted in the central passageway of the first tubular assembly; a first lower seat mounted in the central passageway of the first tubular assembly; a first ball rotatably received between the first upper and lower seats, and comprising a central opening defining a fluid passage, said fluid passage having a first diameter, and an upper contacting surface that contacts a contacting surface of the first upper seat, and wherein the central opening includes an upper undercut portion at the junction between the upper contacting surface and the central opening, said undercut portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the fluid passage, said undercut portion being disposed at an upper end of the first ball; and a first protective coating applied to both the upper contacting surface and the central opening such that the protective coating is attached and terminates in the upper undercut of the first ball such that the coated undercut portion has a diameter that is substantially the same as the first diameter of the fluid passage; and an second ball valve comprising: a second tubular assembly threadably connected to the first tubular assembly and comprising a central passageway; a second upper seat mounted in the central passageway of the second tubular assembly; a second lower seat mounted in the central passageway of the second tubular assembly; a second ball rotatably received between the second upper and lower seats, and comprising a central opening defining a fluid passage, said fluid passage having a first diameter, and an upper contacting surface that contacts a contacting surface of the second upper seat, and wherein the central opening includes an upper undercut portion at the junction between the upper contacting surface and the central opening, said undercut portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the fluid passage, said undercut portion being disposed at an upper end of the second ball; and a second protective coating applied to both the upper contacting surface and the central opening such that the protective coating is attached and terminates in the upper undercut of the second ball such that the coated undercut portion has a diameter that is substantially the same as the first diameter of the fluid passage. 15. The internal blow out preventer of claim 14, wherein the first and second protective coatings each comprise a hard protective coating capable of reducing wear between the ball and the seats. 16. The internal blow out preventer of claim 14, wherein the first and second protective coatings each comprise tungsten carbide.