An operating valve includes a valve chamber which is formed in a main body having a passage, a valve body which is housed in the valve chamber and has a passage corresponding to the passage of the main body, a rotary shaft which is detachably connected to the valve body, an operating member which operates a rotation of the rotary shaft, and a bias member which biases the rotary shaft to a position of the valve body.

A hydraulically balanced assembly is provided. The assembly includes: a valve body defining a tapered axial passageway; and a rotor having a tapered outer diameter such that the rotor has a first portion having a wider diameter and a second portion having a smaller diameter, the rotor being dimensioned to fit within the axial passageway of the valve body, the rotor further defining a rotor axial passageway having a first passageway portion and second passageway portion, the rotor further defining a first and second port, where each of the first and second ports provide fluid communication between the tapered outer diameter and the rotor axial passageway, wherein the first and second portions define openings having different cross-sectional areas where the first passageway portion is located in a first portion of the rotor and a second passageway portion is located in the second portion of the rotor and the difference in cross-sectional areas between the first passageway portion and second passageway portion and the amount of taper of the outer diameter of the rotor are related according to the Landrum relation.

A hydraulically balanced assembly is provided. The assembly includes: a valve body defining a tapered axial passageway; and a rotor having a tapered outer diameter such that the rotor has a first portion having a wider diameter and a second portion having a smaller diameter, the rotor being dimensioned to fit within the axial passageway of the valve body, the rotor further defining a rotor axial passageway having a first passageway portion and second passageway portion, the rotor further defining a first and second port, where each of the first and second ports provide fluid communication between the tapered outer diameter and the rotor axial passageway, wherein the first and second portions define openings having different cross-sectional areas where the first passageway portion is located in a first portion of the rotor and a second passageway portion is located in the second portion of the rotor and the difference in cross-sectional areas between the first passageway portion and second passageway portion and the amount of taper of the outer diameter of the rotor are related according to the Landrum relation.

A hydraulic port includes: a body defining a first passageway, the first passageway defining a first port at an outer surface of the body; a first thin member located on the body and surrounding the first port, the first thin member being configured to flex away from the first passageway when pressurized fluid flows through the first port.

A rotary valve capable of high flow rates, minimal pressure drop, and rapid actuation is presented. According to one aspect, the rotary valve is characterized by a unique pressure balancing system operating on the rotary spool of the valve to reduce side force caused by pressure at the flow ports. According to another aspect, the rotary valve is characterized by a unique internal shiftable blocking spool in response to a failure condition or a modulating signal. According to another aspect, a unique interface is provided for sealing a port of a rotary valve to an outer surface of a rotary spool. According to another aspect, the rotary valve is characterized by a unique interface provided for sealing a port to an outer surface of the rotary spool. According to another aspect, a rotary valve is characterized by a unique three-way three-or-more-position configuration. According to another aspect, a rotary valve is characterized by a unique four-port three-position configuration.

A rotary valve capable of high flow rates, minimal pressure drop, and rapid actuation is presented. According to one aspect, the rotary valve is characterized by a unique pressure balancing system operating on the rotary spool of the valve to reduce side force caused by pressure at the flow ports. According to another aspect, the rotary valve is characterized by a unique internal shiftable blocking spool in response to a failure condition or a modulating signal. According to another aspect, a unique interface is provided for sealing a port of a rotary valve to an outer surface of a rotary spool. According to another aspect, the rotary valve is characterized by a unique interface provided for sealing a port to an outer surface of the rotary spool. According to another aspect, a rotary valve is characterized by a unique three-way three-or-more-position configuration. According to another aspect, a rotary valve is characterized by a unique four-port three-position configuration.

Provided is a ball-type flow stopper, a ball valve assembly, and a method. The ball-type flow stopper, in one aspect, includes a spherical contoured body, the spherical contoured body having a closed face, the closed face including a spherical seal area configured to engage with a valve seat of a ball valve assembly. The ball-type flow stopper, according to this aspect, further includes a flow port extending entirely through the spherical contoured body orthogonal with the closed face, and a slot extending into the closed face of the spherical contoured body to form a pressure activated cantilever feature, the slot beginning at a point inside of the spherical seal area. The ball-type flow stopper, according to this aspect, additionally includes a rotation support member extending from the spherical contoured body and aligned orthogonally to the flow port and the spherical seal area.

Provided is a ball-type flow stopper, a ball valve assembly, and a method. The ball-type flow stopper, in one aspect, includes a spherical contoured body, the spherical contoured body having a closed face, the closed face including a spherical seal area configured to engage with a valve seat of a ball valve assembly. The ball-type flow stopper, according to this aspect, further includes a flow port extending entirely through the spherical contoured body orthogonal with the closed face, and a slot extending into the closed face of the spherical contoured body to form a pressure activated cantilever feature, the slot beginning at a point inside of the spherical seal area. The ball-type flow stopper, according to this aspect, additionally includes a rotation support member extending from the spherical contoured body and aligned orthogonally to the flow port and the spherical seal area.

A valve device comprises a valve, housing, first and second seals. The valve includes a shaft, a rotor connected to the shaft in a first direction, and a first flow path having a first opening. The housing includes a space accommodating the valve, and a second flow path having a second opening in the space. The first seal is between an outer surface of the rotor and an inner surface of the space, and includes a first portion in the first direction and a second portion in a second direction. The second seal is in the second direction, and is between an outer surface of the valve and an inner surface of the space. The valve has a communication path connecting another space with the first flow path, the another space being surrounded by the outer surface of the valve, inner surface of the space, second portion, and second seal.

A valve device comprises a valve, housing, first and second seals. The valve includes a shaft, a rotor connected to the shaft in a first direction, and a first flow path having a first opening. The housing includes a space accommodating the valve, and a second flow path having a second opening in the space. The first seal is between an outer surface of the rotor and an inner surface of the space, and includes a first portion in the first direction and a second portion in a second direction. The second seal is in the second direction, and is between an outer surface of the valve and an inner surface of the space. The valve has a communication path connecting another space with the first flow path, the another space being surrounded by the outer surface of the valve, inner surface of the space, second portion, and second seal.