US 12,259,738 B2
Systems and methods for operating a ball valve
Gabriel Young, Colorado Springs, CO (US); and William T. Ball, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Assigned to WCM Industries, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed by WCM Industries, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/303,009.
Application 18/303,009 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/334,342, filed on May 28, 2021, granted, now 11,639,757.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/045,502, filed on Jun. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0251673 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G05D 3/10 (2006.01); F16K 5/06 (2006.01); F16K 31/04 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 3/10 (2013.01) [F16K 5/0652 (2013.01); F16K 31/042 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for reducing resistance of a ball valve, the system comprising:
a ball valve, comprising a ball with a bore;
an actuator, operatively connected to the ball valve, and configured to rotate the ball of the ball valve; and
pulse generator circuitry, operatively connected to the actuator and configured to:
generate a first pulse having a duration and a first polarity;
provide the first pulse to the actuator to rotate the ball of the ball valve by an amount based on the duration of the first pulse and a direction based on the first polarity, wherein the first pulse is configured so that, when the ball valve is in a closed state before rotation of the ball by the amount, the ball valve remains in the closed state after rotation of the ball by the amount.