US 11,732,812 B1
Ball valve with integral seal retraction
Andrew T. Ouellet, Kent, WA (US); Kevin A. Westhoff, Kent, WA (US); and Tyler J. Baker, Kent, WA (US)
Assigned to Blue Origin LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed by Blue Origin LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/823,867.
Application 17/823,867 is a continuation of application No. 17/026,876, filed on Sep. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,460,117.
Int. Cl. F16K 5/06 (2006.01); F16K 5/20 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 5/0689 (2013.01) [F16K 5/0605 (2013.01); F16K 5/0684 (2013.01); F16K 5/204 (2013.01); Y10T 137/0508 (2015.04)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for constructing a ball valve, comprising:
disposing a seal seat within a valve housing; and
retaining, upon a rotating ball contained within the valve housing, a non-planar seal comprising a first section and second section separated by a first intervening transition zone, wherein the first section of the non-planar seal is oriented at a different angle than the second section of the non-planar seal such that the seal defines at least two planes,
wherein the seal seat and non-planar seal are oriented so that the first section and second section of the seal fully contact a mating surface of the seal seat when the ball valve is in a closed position, and wherein the non-planar seal does not contact a portion of the mating surface of the seal seat when the ball valve is in an open position, wherein the first section, the second section, and the first intervening transition zone collectively create a twist in the non-planar seal.