US 11,906,076 B2
Ball control valves having three-dimensional tortuous path flowpaths
Stephen Freitas, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Ruben Mendoza, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Daniel A. Watson, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Shane Gillette, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Raymond R. Newton, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Robert Taylor, Birmingham (GB); and Tom Morton, Birmingham (GB)
Assigned to CONTROL COMPONENTS, INC., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Filed by Control Components, Inc., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/731,800.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/185,813, filed on May 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0356951 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 47/04 (2006.01); F16K 1/22 (2006.01); F16K 5/06 (2006.01); F16K 5/20 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 5/06 (2013.01) [F16K 1/22 (2013.01); F16K 5/20 (2013.01); F16K 47/04 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve body for use in a valve housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the valve body comprising:
an outer surface that is of a spherical configuration;
a flow opening extending diametrically from one side of the outer surface to an opposing side of the outer surface, the flow opening being in coaxial alignment with a free flow axis;
a plurality of flow control passageways, each flow control passageway having an outer surface opening at the outer surface and extending diametrically from one side of the outer surface to an opposing side of the outer surface, at least one of the plurality of flow control passageways having at least one segment that is of a tortuous configuration;
the valve body being moveable relative to the valve housing between a closed position, a restricted flow position, and a free flow position;
in the closed position, the flow opening and all of the plurality of flow control passageways are out of alignment with both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to prevent fluid flow therebetween;
in the restricted flow position, at least one of the plurality of flow control passageways is moved into fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to facilitate fluid communication therebetween; and
in the free flow position, the flow opening is moved into fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to facilitate fluid communication therebetween.