Rotary ball valve assembly

Abstract

A rotary ball valve assembly including an elongate valve body, a first passage having a transverse pin and an elongate key of a rotatable actuator extending therein, a lower valve seat, and a ball member resting on the lower valve seat. A pair of slots are formed on the exterior of the ball member normal to the longitudinal axis of the passage extending therethrough, which slidably engage the pin and key when the ball member rests on the lower valve seat. By rotating the ball member one quarter turn by the key of the actuator the ball member is moved downwardly to compress the elastomeric ring which partially defines the lower seat. An upper ring shaped valve seat is disposed on the first passage above the ball member. The upper surface of the valve seat is in abutting contact with a segmented ring that has an upwardly and inwardly tapered external side surface and an internal side surface that tapers upwardly and outwardly. The inner side surface of the segmented ring is in contact with a downwardly and inwardly tapered side surface of a rigid locking ring that is removably held in a fixed position in the valve body by a snap ring. When the ball member is in a closed position and subjected to an upward force due to high pressure gas or fluid from therebelow, a substantial portion of this upward force is transmitted laterally to the valve body.