A ball valve system includes a body having an upstream end and a downstream end and a ball within the body between the upstream end and the downstream end, the ball being rotatable about a vertical axis to move between a closed position and an open position. The ball valve assembly includes a stem movable in an actuation direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis, the stem including a recess at a proximal portion of the stem, a guiding member extending within the recess of the stem, the guiding member being configured to prevent rotation of the stem or cause rotation of the stem, and a lubrication port in fluid communication with the recess.

A two-piece valve shell (body and bolted-on top bonnet having external fins to dissipate heat) structure reduces possible leakage paths while also providing a top-side ball/stem installation/removal path (when the bonnet piece is not present) to facilitate initial valve assembly as well as subsequent inspection/removal of the ball/stem and other valve internals for conducting valve maintenance without requiring the valve body to be removed from its process connections. In some implementations, a second/bottom bonnet is also attached to the body such that it covers another opening to the ball cavity.

A ball valve system includes a body having an upstream end and a downstream end and a ball within the body between the upstream end and the downstream end, the ball being rotatable about a vertical axis to move between a closed position and an open position. The ball valve assembly includes a stem movable in an actuation direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis, the stem including a recess at a proximal portion of the stem, a guiding member extending within the recess of the stem, the guiding member being configured to prevent rotation of the stem or cause rotation of the stem, and a lubrication port in fluid communication with the recess.

The invention relates to a valve, in particular an expansion valve, for controlling a fluid flow, having a valve housing with an accommodation space and at least two fluid ducts connected to the accommodation space, having an opening which runs perpendicularly to the fluid ducts and opens into the accommodation space, wherein a sealing ring holder with a valve means is situated in the accommodation space, wherein the sealing ring holder with the valve means held therein can be inserted into the accommodation space through the opening, and wherein the valve means is positioned rotatably in the sealing ring holder by means of at least two sealing rings. The invention also relates to a sealing ring holder.

A two-piece valve shell (body and bolted-on top bonnet) structure reduces possible leakage paths while also providing a top-side ball/stem installation/removal path (when the bonnet piece is not present) to facilitate initial valve assembly as well as subsequent inspection/removal of the ball/stem and other valve internals for conducting valve maintenance without requiring the valve body to be removed from its process connections. Internal wetted valve surfaces are coated with tantalum to provide a tantalum ball valve suitable for use as a sulfuric acid feed valve in severe high-temperature high-pressure industrial processes such as HPAL processes. Sealing cavities created by spaced-apart body-to-bonnet and/or stem-to-bonnet sealing structures can be inertly pressurized to hermetically isolate the sealing structures from ingress/leakage of corrosive process materials.

A ball valve includes a body and a ball subassembly. The body includes a first bore extending partially through the body from a first flange of the body along a first axis, the flange defining an opening, a second bore extending in along a second axis from the first bore to a second flange, wherein the second axis is transverse to the first axis, and a third bore extending along the second axis, opposite the second bore, from the first bore to a third flange. The ball subassembly is configured to be inserted into first bore of the body through the opening. The ball subassembly includes a ball having a ball bore extending through the ball. The ball is configured to rotate about the first axis to open and close the ball valve such that the ball bore is substantially aligned with the second axis when the ball valve is open, and wherein the ball bore is substantially transverse to the second axis when the valve is closed.

A rotary valve is provided for use in highly corrosive and abrasive applications. The valve includes a valve body and an adapter coupled to one end of the valve body, thereby defining an inlet, an outlet, and a valve interior in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The valve also includes a floating ball element pivotably mounted in the valve interior via a valve stem to control fluid flow through the valve, a first valve seat movably disposed in the valve interior, and a second valve seat removably disposed in the valve interior. The first valve seat is biased toward the ball element to sealingly engage a first portion of the ball element. The second valve seat is configured to sealingly engage a second portion of the ball element and is clamped between a surface of the valve body and a surface of the adapter.

A top entry ball valve includes a housing with a central cavity communicating with two bores co-axial along a first axis. A ball valve element is rotatably mounted within the cavity for rotation about a second axis. The valve element includes a through bore; first and second seat assemblies, mounted within the co-axial bores, respectively; first and second gear assemblies engaged with the seat assemblies, respectively; and first and second rotatable drives engaged with the gear assemblies respectively. The gear assemblies are configured to move the seat assemblies along the first axis in a first direction away from the valve element when the drives are rotated in a first direction, and to move the seat assemblies along the first axis in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, when the drives are rotated in the opposite direction, to bring the seat assemblies into sealing contact with the valve element.

A top entry trunnion mounted rotary ball valve suitable for safe in-line maintenance, comprising a main valve body having an upstream and a downstream ball seat assembly, the ball seat assemblies further comprising a soft insert seal, a ball seat, a seat retainer and a plurality of compression springs in between the ball seat and the seat retainer. A guiding groove on the cylindrical surface of each of the ball seats, having a first end and a second end at an axial distance equal to or more than the measure of retraction required so as to get the mechanical clearance adequate to remove or assemble the ball member, the angular span between the first end and the second end of the guiding groove can be less than 180 degrees or more than 360 degrees, depending on the overall size of rotary ball valve, in order to be able to manually retract in the ball seats. Each ball seat is retracted in the recess, with the aid of a guide assembly, by using a straight rod, against a force Fc of the compression springs and the mechanical clearance is created between the ball member and the soft insert seal, to remove or assemble the ball member and or any or all components from or inside the valve body. An angle of grove a, which is an angle between the flange and the guide groove, is kept of relatively of low value for big sized valves whence an angular span of guiding groove becomes relatively higher so that the required axial distance, which is equal to or more than the measure of retraction required so as to get the mechanical clearance adequate to remove the ball member, is attainable between the first end of the groove and the second end of the groove, by a Force Ft apply-able by a person of normal physique, and vice versa for a small sized valve. The rotary ball valve cannot be put in operation inadvertently if the ball seats are in retractable or retracted position.

An installation assembly for installing and/or removing a ball into and/or from a valve body of a top entry ball valve includes a valve body having at least one blind bore disposed on an opposite side of the ball chamber from the entry opening and a ball installation tool adapted to interact with the blind bore so as to compress a spring disposed inside the ball chamber substantially axially. A top entry ball valve is arranged with such a valve body. The ball installation tool may be used to install and/or remove a ball from the valve body.