| CPC F16K 5/0657 (2013.01) [F16K 27/067 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |
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1. A cryogenic ball valve, comprising:
a valve body comprising a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port having a respective axis;
a valve body extension delimiting, together with the valve body, a valve inner chamber and defining a valve top entry opening;
a removable bonnet closing the top entry opening;
a closure member assembly removably received in the valve body and comprising a ball closure member, a sealing seat, and a support cage supporting the ball closure member and the sealing seat,
wherein the ball closure member is configured to rotate relative to the valve body, the support cage, and the sealing seat between a valve open position, in which the ball closure member allows a fluid flow through the valve body, and a valve closed position, in which the ball closure member sealingly engages the sealing seat and prevents a fluid flow through the valve body;
an extended stem comprising a first end connected to the ball closure member and a second end protruding from the inner chamber through the removable bonnet;
a thermal insulation assembly removably received in the inner chamber and configured to thermally separate a first region of the inner chamber adjacent to the valve body from a second region of the inner chamber adjacent to the top entry opening,
wherein the closure member assembly, the stem, and the thermal insulation assembly form a removable unit configured to be inserted/removed in one piece into/from the inner chamber through the top entry opening,
wherein the support cage comprises a cup-shaped element having a lateral wall laterally surrounding the ball closure member and comprising a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port respectively coaxial with the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port of the valve body, and a bottom wall supporting the ball closure member,
wherein the lateral wall of the cup-shaped element comprises, at an outer side thereof, at least one first contact surface, and the valve body comprises, at an inner side of a lateral wall thereof, at least one second contact surface,
wherein the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface do not cross the axes of the fluid inlet ports and of the fluid outlet ports of the cup-shaped element and of the valve body, and
wherein the at least one first contact surface and the at least one second contact surface abut against each other preventing displacements of the closure member assembly and the valve body relative to each other in a peripheral direction thereof.
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