John S Piscitelli

US Patent:

56719116, Sep 30, 1997

Filed:

Aug 7, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/689222

Inventors:

John Samuel Piscitelli - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Amcast Industrial Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

F16K 11087

US Classification:

25131514

Abstract:

A by-pass ball valve, defining first, second and third ports lying respectively n three parallel planes, is made using two forged parts, a valve body and an elbow element, to reduce the number of operations required to seal the valve to one sealing operation. A valve control stem is mounted on the side of the valve and rotated through only 90. degree. to facilitate switching the fluid path through the valve between a first path from the first port to the second port and a second path from the first port to the third port. The first port may be directed in a first direction with the second and third ports directed in second and third directions, respectively. However, it is currently preferred to have the second direction be the same as the third direction and to have all three directions lying in a single plane which is perpendicular to the three parallel planes of the first, second and third ports. While the elbow element may be used directly to secure the ball valve and ball seals within the valve body, to facilitate assembly of the valve and to provide an auxiliary seal, a rotary ball valve retaining bonnet is secured within the valve body and includes an auxiliary seal which is engaged and crushed, to the extent necessary, by the elbow element to properly orient the elbow element relative to the valve body prior to sealing the valve.