Blue Origin, LLC

Kevin A Westhoff

Andrew T Ouellet

Tyler J Baker

Disclosed embodiments include ball valves with an asymmetric seal and seat, to minimize seal wear. In embodiments, a seal is disposed upon a ball with a first and second section, where the first section of the seal is disposed at a different angle from the second section. A seat has a first and second section at different angles that correspond to angles of the first and second section of the seal, respectively, such that the seal fully contacts the seat when the ball is in a closed position. When the ball is rotated to an open position, the different angles of the first and second sections allow the second section of the seal to clear the first section of the seat without contact.

Ball valve with integral seal retraction

A ball valve is disclosed herein. The ball valve can include a non-planar seal disposed upon a rotating ball, the ball and seal contained within a housing, wherein the seal includes a first section and a second section, the first section oriented at a different angle than the second section. The ball valve can further include a mating surface disposed within the housing adjacent to the ball, the mating surface arranged to fully contact the seal when the ball valve is in a closed position, the mating surface including a first section and a second section, the first section oriented at a different angle than the second section. The seal and mating surface can be oriented so that the first section of the seal does not contact the second section of the mating surface when the ball is rotated between a closed position and an open position.

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Kent, WA, United States of America

Kevin A Westhoff