Ball valve

Abstract

The invention is a ball valve having an open position enabling a flow of a medium and a closed position blocking the flow of the medium, the ball valve comprising a ball valve casing (10a) having an inlet and an outlet, a ball (12a) arranged in a ball valve casing (10a) and has a through hole adapted for passing the medium therethrough and a ball-turning slot, and a ball stem (18) extending into the ball-turning slot of the ball (12a) and configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis, the ball (12a) being rotatable between an open position and a closed position of the ball valve by rotating the ball stem (18). The invention is characterised in that the ball valve further comprises a sealing-positioning member (14) arranged in the ball valve casing (10a) surrounding the ball (12a), and an abutting member (16) arranged non-rotatably in the ball valve casing (10a) to be seated against the sealing-positioning member (14), has an inside circular rim, and comprises an abutment member disposed along the inside circular rim, said abutment member defining a first and a second abutment surface located at a distance from the rotational axis of the ball stem (18), the distance being greater than half of the radius of the inside circular rim, and in the open position of the ball valve the ball stem (18) abuts against one of the first and the second abutment surfaces, while in the closed position of the ball valve it abuts against the other one of the first and the second abutment surfaces.

Description

[0001] BALL VALVE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a ball valve having an open position enabling a flow of a medium and a closed position blocking the flow of the medium.

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] Ball valves are widely applied for controlling the flow of a fluid medium, for example for stopping and directing the flow, and for controlling the flow rate. The fluid medium can be for example a gas or a liquid. Ball valves typically have two end stop positions, one of which completely blocks the path of the flowing medium (closed position), while in the other position the medium may flow approximately freely (open position).

[0006] The prior art contains ball valves with various configurations. For example, US 1 ,906,266 discloses a ball valve that can be serviced from above and can be rotated between two end stop positions. In the technical solution according to the document, an element (a key) fitting into a slot located at the top of the ball presses the ball to the bottom of the ball valve casing (housing), thereby preventing particles of the medium from entering between the ball and the casing (housing) of the ball valve.

[0007] The technical solution according to US 3,591 ,134 also discloses a ball valve that can be opened and serviced from above. According to the document, such an element (member) is disposed between the ball stem and the ball that is rotated together with the ball stem and the ball but its shape is not circular, so it abuts against the casing (housing) of the ball valve at predetermined positions, these abutment positions defining the open and closed states of the ball valve.

[0008] EP 0217993 discloses a ball valve wherein a plate is included between the ball and the ball stem, wherein the plate rotates together with the ball and the ball stem. An annulus section with a central angle of 90 degrees is cut out at the rim of the plate, enabling a 90-degree rotation of the ball valve.

[0009] US 4,936,545 also discloses a ball valve wherein a plate (flange) is included between the ball and the ball stem. However, in the case of the technical solution according to this document the plate (flange) is fixed at a predetermined position, and comprises at its centre a cutout that allows the ball stem to rotate at a given angle, i.e., until the projection of the ball stem fitting into the slot of the ball abuts against the cutout. The cutout is located in the immediate vicinity of the rotational axis of the ball stem.

[0010] US 6,431 ,520 B1 also discloses a ball valve that can be serviced from above, wherein the ball and the ball stem are made as an integral piece, and a plate arranged above the ball stem comprises a cutout against which the upper portion of the ball stem may abut. The abutment points are located within a close range of the rotational axis of the ball stem also in this case.

[0011] Similarly, in WO 01 / 57421 , a plate with a central cutout allowing a 90-degree rotation is included in the ball valve between the ball and the ball stem, wherein the plate is arranged at a fixed position, and the ball stem is able to rotate with respect to it only in a range that corresponds to the cutout. The cutout is located within s close range of the rotational axis of the ball stem also in this case.

[0012] A common drawback of a larger group of the known technical solutions is that the abutment points defining the end stop positions of the ball valve are located within a close range of the rotational axis of the ball stem, very close to the rotational axis. With this configuration, the end stop positions can only be defined relatively inaccurately, considering that due to the close proximity to the rotational axis any small seating inaccuracies may cause larger deviations in respect of the position of the ball (which has a larger size).

[0013] Another problem related to the known technical solutions is that in many cases the ball is not only rotated by the ball stem but it is also pressed against the inner wall of the ball valve casing to improve sealing, in which case moving / rotating the ball requires exerting larger forces, which in certain circumstances may lead to the premature wear or failure of certain ball valve components, or may shorten the service life of the ball valve and may increase maintenance frequency.

[0014] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the light of the known technical solutions there is a need for a ball valve that has well-defined closure positions and can be serviced and maintained easily. The problem to be solved by the technical solution according to the invention is to provide a ball valve that eliminates the drawbacks of prior art solutions to the greatest possible extent.

[0016] The primary task to be solved by the invention is to provide a ball valve mechanism that provides well-defined end stop positions and abutment, thus ensuring that in the closed position no leakage occurs during use, and in the open position there is no unintended reduction of flow throughput.

[0017] A further task to be solved by the invention is to provide a ball valve that can be maintained and serviced easily.

[0018] The objects according to the invention have been fulfilled by providing the ball valve according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0019] The advantage of the technical solution according to the invention is that it provides well-defined end stop positions and abutment, thus ensuring that in the closed position no leakage occurs during use, and in the open position there is no unintended reduction of flow throughput.

[0020] It has been recognised that, by placing the stop positions and abutment surfaces further away from the rotational axis of the ball valve, the end stop positions of the ball valve can be set more accurately, i.e. , with lower uncertainty, compared to the known technical solutions. Furthermore, this also reduces potential overloading and excess torque when switching between the end stop positions of the ball valve, which also reduces the chance of damage to the ball valve, and it is also possible to set the ball valve to each of its end stop positions in an easily reproducible manner.

[0021] The advantages of the invention include that it can be easily maintained and serviced, preferably through an opening at the top, through which certain components of the ball valve can be removed, i.e., the ball valve according to the invention can be serviced or repaired without dismounting it, thereby reducing the risk of damage and failure associated with dismounting and remounting. In addition to that, downtime can also be reduced in such a way, because instead of replacing the entire ball valve only a potentially damaged / failed element has to be removed or replaced. It has also been recognised that it is not desirable to press the ball against certain portions of the casing, i.e. , it is more preferable to maintain a “floating” position of the ball. As a result of that, the ball can be turned under smaller force, and the friction occurring at the ball is also smaller, which may also extend the service life of the ball valve.

[0022] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example with reference to the following drawings, where

[0024] Fig. 1 is an exploded drawing of a preferred configuration of a ball valve according to the invention,

[0025] Fig. 2A is a side view of the ball valve according to Fig. 1 ,

[0026] Fig. 2B is a section of the ball valve of Fig. 2A,

[0027] Fig. 3A is a side view of a ball valve casing according to Figs. 1 and 2A,

[0028] Figs. 3B and 3C are transversal and longitudinal sections of the ball valve casing of Fig. 3A,

[0029] Fig. 3D is a top plan view of the ball valve casing of Fig. 3A,

[0030] Figs. 4A and 4B are sections of a ball according to Fig. 1 ,

[0031] Fig. 4C is a top plan view of the ball according to Figs. 4A and 4B,

[0032] Fig. 4D is an underside view of the ball according to Figs. 4A and 4B,

[0033] Figs. 4E and 4F are sections of a ball having another preferred configuration, Fig. 4G is a top plan view of the ball according to Figs. 4E and 4F, Fig. 4H is an underside view of the ball according to Figs. 4E and 4F,

[0034] Fig. 5A is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a sealing-positioning member of the ball valve according to the invention,

[0035] Fig. 5B is a side view of the sealing-positioning member according to Fig. 5A, Fig. 50 is a top plan view of the sealing-positioning member according to Fig. 5A,

[0036] Fig. 6A is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of an abutting member of the ball valve according to the invention,

[0037] Fig. 6B is a semi-sectional view of the abutting member according to Fig. 6A, Fig. 6C is an underside view of the abutting member according to Fig. 6A, Fig. 7A is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a ball stem of the ball valve according to the invention,

[0038] Fig. 7B is an underside view of the ball stem of Fig. 7A,

[0039] Fig. 7C is a top plan view of the ball stem of Fig. 7A,

[0040] Fig. 7D is an underside view of the ball stem according to Fig. 7A,

[0041] Fig. 7E is a schematic drawing of an abutting member and a ball stem fitted together,

[0042] Fig. 8A is a semi-sectional view a preferred embodiment of a cover of the ball valve according to the invention,

[0043] Fig. 8B is a top plan view of the cover according to Fig. 8A,

[0044] Fig. 9A is an exploded view of another preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention,

[0045] Fig. 9B is a section of the ball valve casing of the ball valve according to Fig. 9A,

[0046] Fig. 9C is a side view of the ball of Fig. 9A,

[0047] Fig. 9D is a section of the ball of Fig. 9C,

[0048] Figs. 10A, 11 A, 12A, 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, 17A, 18A, and 19A show preferred embodiments of the ball valve according to the invention with various inlet and outlet connectors, and

[0049] Figs. 10B, 11 B, 12B, 13B, 14B, 15B, 16B, 17B, 18B, and 19B show respective sectional views of the ball valve casings of the ball valves of Figs. 10A, 11 A, 12A, 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, 17A, 18A, and 19A.

[0050] MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0051] In the drawings, identical or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals. Similarly, elements designated by different letters after identical reference numerals (e.g. ball valve casing 10a, 10b) have the same basic functionalities and the elements differ from each other only minimally, along well-defined features, which differences will be emphasised in the description; in all other aspects, these elements have the same features.

[0052] Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention. The ball valve according to the invention comprises a ball valve casing 10a that is adapted for receiving further components of the ball valve and for connecting the ball valve to a pipe network or pipeline. The ball valve casing 10a will be described in more detail in relation to Figs. 3A-3D. Figs. 9B, 10B, 11 B, 12B, 13B, 14B, 15B, 16B, 17B, 18B and 19B depict further preferred ball valve casings 10b-10l that differ from each other primarily in the configuration of the connectors on their inlet and outlet sides.

[0053] The ball valve according to the invention further comprises a ball 12a and a sealingpositioning member 14 that can be arranged to surround the ball 12a. The ball 12a has a through hole 121 extending along the direction of flow of the medium to enable the medium to pass through the ball 12a. Features of the ball 12a will be described in more detail in relation to Figs. 4A-4D. Figs. 4E-4H depict another ball 12b with a preferred configuration, wherein a further ball 12c is depicted in Figs. 9C-9D. The ball 12b preferably has a draining functionality, while the ball 12c is preferably configured to receive a sensor suited for measuring the flow of the medium. Preferred features of the balls 12a, 12b, 12c will be discussed in more detail in relation to the description of the corresponding figures.

[0054] The sealing-positioning member 14 is preferably adapted for bringing the ball 12a in a position required for the operation of the ball valve according to the invention, and for providing adequate sealing around the ball 12a by surrounding the ball 12a. In order that the ball valve according to the invention can be serviced and maintained easily, access must also be provided to the ball 12a. In the ball valve according to the invention, the sealing-positioning member 14 also contributes to this by its multielement configuration, i.e. , the elements can be separated from each other and can be fitted around the ball 12a. In the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 1 , the sealingpositioning member 14 preferably comprises two identical elements, between which the ball 12a can be placed and the ball 12a can be inserted into the ball valve casing 10a together with the sealing-positioning member 14. Similarly, when the ball valve according to the invention is disassembled, the ball 12a can be removed from the ball valve casing 10a together with the sealing-positioning member 14, and then the ball 12a can be accessed after separating the two elements of the sealing-positioning member 14. As it will be discussed in more detail in relation to Figs. 5A-5C that depict the sealing-positioning member 14 in a more detailed way, the sealing-positioning member 14 preferably comprises a protrusion 142 or protrusions 142 which position the sealing-positioning member 14 in its desired position in the ball valve casing 10a.

[0055] In the ball valve, a abutting member 16 is preferably seated against the sealingpositioning member 14 with the primary purpose of determining well-defined stop positions of operation of the ball valve, preferably an open position and a closed position of the ball valve. A preferred configuration of the abutting member 16 will be described in more detail in relation to Figs. 6A-6D.

[0056] The ball 12a is rotated by means of a ball stem 18. Rotation of the ball stem 18 and thus the ball 12 is limited by the abutting member 16 against which the ball stem 18 abuts (i.e., with which the ball stem 18 is in contact), preferably both in the open position of the ball valve and in the closed position of the ball valve. Thereby, the ball valve can only be operated between the positions determined by the abutting member 16, while it is also provided that the ball stem 18 and thus the ball 12a cannot be rotated past the predetermined terminal positions. This also ensures the stable, reliable usability of the ball valve. The relative position and the operation of the abutting member 16 and the ball stem 18 are illustrated in more detail in Fig. 7E.

[0057] The ball stem 18 can be preferably provided with one or more ball stem seals 20 that are arranged in seal groove(s) 184 formed in the ball stem 18. A preferred embodiment of the ball stem 18 is depicted in more detail in Figs. 7A-7D; further features of the ball stem 18 will be discussed in relation to these figures.

[0058] The ball valve casing 10a is closed by a cover 24; wherein a cover seal 22, expediently an O-ring, is preferably arranged between the ball valve casing 10 and the cover 24. The cover 24 is preferably configured such that the ball stem 18 is passed through it and is preferably connected to a turn lever 26. A preferred embodiment of the cover 24 is depicted in more detail in Figs. 8A-8B.

[0059] The ball valve according to the invention can be operated preferably by moving the turn lever 26, and the ball 12a can be brought into a position corresponding to an operating state of the ball valve, i.e., it can be preferably moved between the open and closed state of the ball valve, via rotating the ball stem 18 by turning the turn lever 26. The ball stem 18 and the turn lever 26 are preferably releasably joined together, for example by a bolt 28. Figs. 9A, 10A, 11 A, 12A, 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, 17A, 18A, and 19A show further preferred embodiments of the ball valve according to the invention that will be discussed in more detail in relation to the corresponding figures.

[0060] Fig. 2A shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention in an assembled state. As can be seen in Fig. 2A, the cover 24 of the ball valve is connected to the ball valve casing 10a, and accordingly it is possible to move (i.e., rotate) the ball 12a by turning the turn lever 26 that is affixed to the ball stem 18 by the bolt 28. The ball valve according to the invention therefore has a compact, easily operable configuration which, depending on the type of the inlet connector 102a located at the inlet 110 of the ball valve casing 10a and on the type of the outlet connector 103a located at the outlet 111 thereof can be connected to various corresponding pipes or conduits. In the embodiment according to Fig. 2A, the inlet connector 102a and the outlet connector 103a are both flare type connectors, but the ball valve casing 10a can be implemented by applying any type of inlet connector 102a and outlet connector 103a (even of mutually different sizes and / or types) corresponding to the location where the ball valve is to be installed or used.

[0061] Fig. 2B shows a sectional view of the ball valve according to Fig. 2A, depicting all the components shown in Fig. 1 . In Fig. 2B there can be clearly seen for example that the sealing-positioning member 14 fills the space between the ball 12a and the ball valve casing 10a, so it holds the ball 12a in a stable, centred position, and ensures that in the open position of the ball valve the medium can flow between the inlet 110 and the outlet 111 of the ball valve exclusively through the ball 12a. In all other cases the sealing-positioning member 14 prevents the medium from passing through the ball valve.

[0062] Fig. 2B also illustrates that the appropriately centred arrangement of the ball 12a is also facilitated by a centring pin 101 provided in the ball valve casing 10a. As can be seen also in Fig. 3D, the centring pin 101 preferably has a circular configuration and fits in the positioning hole 122 formed at the bottom of the ball 12a.

[0063] As can be seen in Fig. 2B, a projection 182 of the ball stem 18 fits in a ball-turning slot 123 of the ball 12a, but preferably the projection 182 does not extend as far as the bottom of the ball-turning slot 123, so the ball stem 18 does not push down the ball 12a. This has the advantage that the ball 12a is able to rotate more easily, i.e., with a smaller resistance, which reduces the chance of the ball 12a getting stuck and also the chance of potential failures.

[0064] To ensure that the ball 12a can be manually turned simply and easily, the ball stem 18 is attached to the turn lever 26, preferably applying a bolt 28, such that the ball stem 18 and the turn lever 26 cannot be rotated with respect to each other.

[0065] The stop positions, i.e. , the open and closed positions of the ball valve are provided by the assembly of the ball stem 18 and the abutting member 16. The relative position of the abutting member 16 and the ball stem 18 is best illustrated in Fig. 7E. The bottom face of the abutting member 16 is preferably seated on the upper face of the sealingpositioning member 14. The ball stem 18 abuts against the abutment members 161 (see Fig. 6A) of the abutting member 16, which also helps to ensure that the ball stem 18 cannot put pressure on the ball 12a from above. The height of a ring member 163 of the abutting member 16 is preferably determined such that it fills the region between the sealing-positioning member 14 and the cover 24, which ensures that in the assembled state the components of the ball valve cannot be displaced in a vertical direction, and thus the ball 12a remains in a stable position inside the ball valve casing 10a, i.e., it does not have vertical “play”.

[0066] The appropriate sealing of the cover 24 is provided by a cover seal 22 arranged between the cover 24 and the ball valve casing 10a, and on the other hand by a ball stem seal 20 arranged between the ball stem 18 and the cover 24.

[0067] In Figs. 3A-3D, the ball valve casing 10a of a preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention is shown in various views. Fig. 3A is a front view of the ball valve casing 10a, Fig. 3B is a sectional view thereof taken transversely to the flow direction of the medium flowing through the ball valve, Fig. 3C is a longitudinal sectional view of the ball valve casing (taken parallel to the flow direction of the medium flowing through the ball valve), and Fig. 3D is a top plan view thereof.

[0068] The ball valve casing 10a comprises an inlet 110 adapted for introducing a medium and an outlet 111 adapted for discharging the medium. Preferably, the dimensions (for example, the diameter) and the configuration of the inlet 110 and the outlet 111 are identical to each other. The ball valve casing 10a has an inlet connector 102a at the inlet 110 and an outlet connector 103a at the outlet 111 ; with the help of the inlet connector 102a and the outlet connector 103a the ball valve according to the invention can be connected to various pipes and pipe networks. In the embodiment according to Figs. 3A-3D, the inlet connector 102a and the outlet connector 103a are both flare connectors. The ball valve casing 10a may of course have inlet connectors 102a and outlet connectors 103a of diverse types and dimensions; the type and dimensions of the inlet connector 102a and the outlet connector 103a can be different or identical for the same ball valve casing 10a. In Figs. 9A-19B further examples of different configurations of the ball valve casing 10a are depicted; these examples will be described in detail later on.

[0069] The ball valve casing 10a further comprises an access hole 112 through which the components of the ball valve according to the invention can be inserted in the ball valve casing 10a and can be removed therefrom. Through the access hole 112 the ball valve according to the invention can be repaired or serviced without disconnecting the connectors and joints, which eliminates potential failures associated with dismounting and remounting the entire ball valve. The access hole 112 preferably comprises a bolt thread 105 that fits against the cover 24 capping the ball valve, and thus the cover 24 can be easily removed and refastened.

[0070] In order to appropriately position the ball 12a discussed in relation to Fig. 1 , the ball valve casing 10a comprises a centring pin 101. As can be seen in Fig. 3D, the centring pin 101 is preferably implemented as a circular rim and is adapted for holding the ball 12a of the ball valve in an appropriate position in all operational positions (i.e. , in the open and in the closed positions) of the ball valve, and during the transitions between the operational positions. Therefore, the centring pin 101 having a circular configuration preferably guides the ball 12a during its rotations between the open and closed positions of the ball valve, facilitating an accurate and reliable operation of the ball valve.

[0071] The easy mounting or fitting of the ball valve is also provided by a guide slot 104 of the ball valve casing 10a that preferably guides further components of the ball valve. As can be seen in Fig. 3D, the ball valve casing 10a preferably has four guide slots 104 that are arranged symmetrically with respect to the flow direction of the medium. More preferably still, the four guide slots 104 are not arranged in a centrally or rotationally symmetrical fashion, and thereby the location of the guide slots 104 provides guiding concerning the flow direction of the medium and the insertion direction and orientation of certain components of the ball valve.

[0072] Preferably, each of the guide slots 104 has a semi-arcuate configuration, but slot configurations of other shapes can also be implemented. As can be seen in Fig. 3D, the guide slots 104 have a mutually identical configuration, but in certain preferred embodiments guide slots 104 of different configurations can also be included.

[0073] Figs. 4A-4D depict in various views a preferred embodiment of the ball 12a applicable in the ball valve according to the invention comprising a through hole 121 . In Figs. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D, respectively, the ball 12a is shown in a sectional view taken parallel to the axis of the through hole 121 , in a sectional view perpendicular to the axis of the through hole 121 , in a plan view, and in an underside view.

[0074] The through hole 121 allows the medium to pass through the ball 12a in the open position of the ball valve, in which the through hole 121 is in a position that connects the inlet 110 with the outlet 111. The diameter of the through hole 121 is preferably determined in accordance with the diameter of the inlet 110 and outlet 111 such that the ball 12a and the through hole 121 thereof affect the flow of the medium only to a negligible extent in the open position of the ball valve. The diameter of the through hole 121 is preferably the same as the diameter of the inlet 110 and / or of the outlet 111.

[0075] The ball 12a comprises a positioning hole 122 adapted for positioning it in the ball valve casing 10a. The positioning hole 122 is preferably located at the bottom portion of the ball 12a (see Fig. 4D), such that it does not hinder the formation of the through hole 121 and that it does not contact the medium passing through the through hole 121 (see Figs. 4A and 4B). The dimensions and configuration of the positioning hole 122 preferably match the dimensions and shape of the centring pin 101 arranged in the ball valve casing 12a. Through the cooperation of the centring pin 101 and the positioning hole 122 the ball 12a is located in a centred fashion in the ball valve casing 10a that is appropriate for the operation of the ball valve. The centring pin 101 and the positioning hole 122 preferably have circular configuration, as it can be seen in Fig. 4D, which allows the ball 12a to rotate inside the ball valve casing 10a, and thus the ball 12a can be rotated inside the ball valve casing 10a between the operational positions required for the operation of the ball valve.

[0076] The ball 12a further comprises a ball-turning slot 123. As an example, the ball stem 18 according to Fig. 1 is adapted to fit into the ball-turning slot 123 and to help the turning of the ball 12a between the use positions required for the operation of the ball valve. The bottom portion of the ball-turning slot 123 preferably has a semi-arcuate configuration; the radius of curvature of the bottom portion of the ball-turning slot 123 is for example identical to the radius of the ball 12a, as can be seen in the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 4B. The ball 12a may of course be implemented applying a different slot configuration. The depth of the ball-turning slot 123 is limited by the constraint that, as can be seen in Figs. 4A and 4B, the ball-turning slot 123 should not reach the through hole 121 .

[0077] Figs. 4E-4H depict a ball 12b with a preferred configuration that can be applied in the embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention that is capable of draining the medium from the ball valve. Preferably, the ball 12b also has a through hole 121 , a positioning hole 122, and a ball-turning slot 123, which have features and alternatives identical to the features and alternatives discussed above in relation to the ball 12a.

[0078] In addition to that, the ball 12b also has a drain hole 124 that is preferably connected to the positioning hole 122 via a pass-through opening 125, and that is adapted for draining the medium, for example water, from the ball valve. This is advantageous because a medium held inside the ball valve for a prolonged time may cause a failure of the ball valve. For example, in the case of a ball valve applied with a water medium, expansion due to freezing may cause the failure of the ball valve or may damage it, so it is preferable if it is possible to drain the medium from the ball valve when the frost approaches. In the case of a ball valve having a draining functionality, preferably in addition to applying the ball 12b, it is also expedient to provide the ball valve casing 10a with an appropriate hole through which the medium can be removed (drained) from the ball valve casing 10. Accordingly, the ball valve casings 10e-10I (see Figs. 12B-19B) are preferably provided with a drain opening 108 that is adapted for draining from the ball valve according to the invention the medium exiting through the drain hole 124 of the ball 12b, the pass-through opening 125 and the 122 positioning hole, thereby preventing potential damage. The ball valve according to the invention may of course be implemented applying balls 12a, 12b configured differently from the configuration discussed above.

[0079] By way of example, Figs. 9C-9D depict a further ball 12c having a preferred configuration that, compared to the ball 12a, has an additional sensor bore 126. The sensor bore 126 provides a connection between the positioning hole 122 and the through hole 121 , thus enabling the introduction of a sensor, for example a temperature sensor, into the medium and allowing the gathering of further information on the medium with the help of the sensor. The sensor is preferably arranged in the ball valve according to the invention such that it does not hamper the usability of the ball valve. For example, the sensor bore 126 is formed concentrically with respect to the positioning hole 122, which allows unhindered rotatability of the ball 12c. Furthermore, it is preferred to arrange the sensor in the ball valve such that it does not hamper the flow of the medium through the ball valve in the open position of the ball valve. Further features of the ball 12c are identical to the features discussed above in relation to the ball 12a, including their potential alternatives.

[0080] Figs. 5A-5C depict in various views a preferred embodiment of the sealing-positioning member 14 of the ball valve according to the invention, wherein Fig. 5A is a front view of the sealing-positioning member 14, Fig. 5B is a side view, and Fig. 5C is a top plan view thereof.

[0081] The function of the sealing-positioning member 14 is to hold the ball 12a in an appropriate position inside the ball valve casing 10a, and to provide sealing between the ball 12a and the ball valve casing 10a such that the medium can only flow between the inlet 110 and the outlet 111 in the open position of the ball valve, and to ensure that even in the open position of the ball valve the medium can only flow along the proper path - namely, through the through hole 121 of the ball 12a - and in a controlled manner. The sealing-positioning member 14 holds the ball 12a in the ball valve casing 10a in a “floating” position such that the ball 12a does not come into direct contact with the ball valve casing 10a.

[0082] The sealing-positioning member 14 has a through hole 141 to allow the flow of the medium in the open position of the ball valve. The two ends of the through hole 141 are arranged to fit, respectively, against the inlet 110 and the outlet 111 of the ball valve casing 10a. The sealing-positioning member 14 is provided with protrusions 142 adapted to fit in the guide slots 104 of the ball valve casing 10a; the number and location of the protrusions 142 of the sealing-positioning member 14 is identical to the number and location of the guide slots 104 of the ball valve casing 10a. The mutual fitting of the guide slots 104 and protrusions 142 preferably provides that the sealingpositioning member 14 can be inserted in the ball valve casing 10a in such a fashion that the through hole 141 of the sealing-positioning member 14 fits against the inlet 110 and the outlet 111 of the ball valve casing 10a.

[0083] For easy assembly and serviceability, the sealing-positioning member 14 has more than one sealing-positioning member portions 14’, i.e., in the preferred embodiment according to Figs. 5A-5C, it has two sealing-positioning member portions 14’ that are preferably mutually congruent. The advantage of making the sealing-positioning member 14 from more than one sealing-positioning member portions 14’ is that the sealing-positioning member portions 14’ can be fitted around the ball 12a while they are still outside the ball valve casing 10a, and the sealing-positioning member 14 can be placed in the ball valve casing 10a together with the ball 12a. Similarly, during servicing the sealing-positioning member 14 can be removed from the ball valve casing 10a together with the ball 12a, and then certain sealing-positioning member portions 14’ of the sealing-positioning member 14 can be removed from around the ball 12a, and the ball 12a and / or the sealing-positioning member portions 14’ can be individually inspected, cleaned, replaced, etc. In the preferred embodiment according to Figs. 5A- 5C, the sealing-positioning member 14 is divided into two parts along a flat surface 143.

[0084] The sealing-positioning member 14 further comprises a central opening 144 that is formed in the upper portion of the sealing-positioning member 14 and is adapted to ensure that the ball-turning slot 123 is freely accessible at the upper portion of the ball 12a for turning the ball 12a. As it was set forth in relation to Fig. 1 , the ball 12a can be turned with the help of a ball stem 18 fitted into the ball-turning slot 123 of the ball 12a. The central opening 144 preferably has at least such a size that the ball-turning slot 123 can be accessed through it in its entirety by the ball stem 18.

[0085] Figs. 6A-6C depict in various views a preferred embodiment of the abutting member

[0086] 16 of the ball valve according to the invention, where Fig. 6A is a top plan view of the abutting member 16, Fig. 6B is a semi-sectional view of the abutting member 16, and Fig. 6C is an underside view of the abutting member 16.

[0087] The abutting member 16 includes a ring member 163 that preferably comprises an outside circular rim 166 on its outside and preferably has an inside circular rim 167 on its inside. The abutting member 16 has at least one abutment member 161 disposed along its inside circular rim 167, the abutment member 161 defining a first abutment surface 165a and a second abutment surface 165b. The first abutment surface 165a and the second abutment surface 165b are arranged in a radial direction with respect to the ring member 163 farther from the centre of the inside circular rim 167 than half of the radius of the inside circular rim 167, that is, the first abutment surface 165a and the second abutment surface 165b are located, in their entirety, farther from the centre than half of the radius of the inside circular rim 167. More preferably, the first abutment surface 165a and the second abutment surface 165b are located farther from the centre than two-thirds of the radius of the inside circular rim 167. The first abutment surface 165a and the second abutment surface 165b define stop or abutment positions corresponding to the open and closed positions of the ball valve according to the invention.

[0088] The abutting member 16 according to Figs. 6A-6C preferably comprises two abutment members 161 that are located diametrically oppositely (centrally symmetric), i.e., at 180° with respect to each other along the inside circular rim 167 of the ring member 163. The two abutment members 161 are configured such that the first abutment surfaces 165a collectively define a first position (for example, open or closed position) of the ball valve according to the invention, the second abutment surfaces 165b collectively defining a second position (for example, closed or open position) of the ball valve according to the invention. The two first abutment surfaces 165a and the two second abutment surfaces 165b defining, respectively, the first and second (or open and closed) positions collectively define more accurately defined stop positions, which facilitates the accurate operation of the ball valve according to the invention.

[0089] The abutment member 161 can be made integrally with the ring member 163, or preferably the abutment member 161 is connected to the ring member 163 in a manner known from the prior art, such as by adhesive bonding, welding, etc. The height of the abutment member 161 preferably does not exceed the height of the ring member 163; as can be seen in Fig. 6B, for example, the height of the abutment member 161 does not exceed half or two-thirds of the height of the ring member 163.

[0090] The abutting member 16 is provided with a protrusion 162 along the outside circular rim 166 of the ring member 163, more preferably, with protrusions 162 corresponding in number to the number of the guide slots 104 of the ball valve casing 10a, wherein the protrusions 162 are arranged matching the shape and the arrangement of the guide slots 104, and thus they help the proper-orientation insertion of the abutting member 16 into the ball valve casing 10a. As can be seen in Fig. 6B, the height of the protrusions 162 preferably does not exceed the height of the ring member 163, more preferably, the height of the protrusions 162 also does not exceed the height of the abutment members 161 , for example, the height of the protrusions 162 is approximately half the height of the abutment member 161. Preferably, the bottom portions of the abutment member(s) 161 , the protrusion(s) 162, and the ring member 163 lie in the same plane.

[0091] As can be seen in Fig. 6C, one or more cutouts 164 can also be formed in the bottom face of the ring member 163, by way of example in order to reduce the weight of the abutting member 16, wherein the cutouts 164 are preferably located on the bottom face of the ring member 163. In the case of a abutting member 16 made by injection moulding, 3D-printing or a similar fashion, the cutouts 164 can be made directly during production, or can be subsequently cut out from the material of the abutting member 16.

[0092] Figs. 7A-7D depict in various views a preferred embodiment of the ball stem 18 of the ball valve according to the invention, where Fig. 7A is a front view of the ball stem 18, while Fig. 7B is a side view, Fig. 7C is a top plan view, and Fig. 7D is an underside view thereof.

[0093] The ball stem 18 comprises a stem member 186 and a circular plate 183 that is preferably arranged transversely to the axis of the stem member 186. One or more seal grooves 184 are preferably formed on the stem member 186, preferably for receiving a ball stem seal 20, for example an O-ring, that is adapted for sealing the ball stem 18 against the cover 24 in the ball valve according to the invention. In the preferred embodiment according to Figs. 7A-7B, two seal grooves 184, adapted for receiving a respective ball stem seal 20, are formed on the stem member 186.

[0094] In the ball valve according to the invention, the primary function of the ball stem 18 is to rotate the ball 12a into a position that corresponds to the use position of the ball valve. To this end, the ball stem 18 comprises a tongue 181 having a projection 182 configured to fit into the ball-turning slot 123 of the ball 12a. The width of the tongue 181 and the width of the projection 182 preferably match the width of the ball-turning slot 123. The shape of the projection 182 is not exactly semi-arcuate, i.e. , it is slightly flattened, and is configured such that the projection 182 does not fill the entire depth of the ball-turning slot 123, i.e., such that in the assembled state of the ball valve the bottom portion of the projection 182 is spaced apart from the bottom portion of the ballturning slot. The advantage of the spacing between the projection 182 and the ballturning slot 123 is that the ball stem 18 does not apply a downward pressure on the ball 12a, as a result of which the ball 12a can freely rotate inside the ball valve. Therefore, the ball stem 18 and the projection 182 thereof are preferably adapted solely for turning the ball 12a.

[0095] The stem member 186 of the ball stem 18 is preferably passed through the cover 24 that can also be seen in Fig. 1 , such that the ball stem 18 can be connected for example to the turn lever 26. The ball stem 18 and the turn lever 26 can be interconnected for example by means of a bolt 28 that can preferably be secured in a bolt bore 188 formed in the ball stem 18. Of course, instead of the bolt 28 any other releasable connections known in the art can be applied for interconnecting the ball stem 18 and the turn lever 26 or another element allowing the rotation of the ball stem 18. To prevent the rotation of the ball stem 18 with respect to the turn lever 26, in addition to the connection implemented by applying the bolt 28 the basically cylindrical stem member 186 of the ball stem 18 may also comprise a connection member 187 that has a non-cylindrical configuration, for example it may be formed from the stem member 186 by circularsegment shaped cutouts. The turn lever 26 preferably has a configuration matching the connection member 187, and the shape-fit between the connection member 187 and the turn lever 26 also contributes to providing that the ball stem 18 and the turn lever 26 cannot be rotated with respect to each other, and thus the ball valve according to the invention can be operated reliably. The ball stem 18 is preferably made as a single piece, or is fixedly assembled from more than one pieces, which ensures that the entire ball stem 18 is rotated when the turn lever 26 according to Fig. 1 is turned.

[0096] The circular plate 183 of the ball stem 18 is configured to be seated on the upper face of the abutment member 161 of the abutting member 16 such that a circular plate outline 189 of the circular plate 183 fits against an inside circular rim 167 of the abutting member 16, and thus the circular plate 183 is able to rotate inside the ring member 163 in a range allowed by the abutment members 161.

[0097] Fig. 7E illustrates a relative position of the abutting member 16 and the ball stem 18, showing the open and closed positions of the ball valve according to the invention. As was already discussed above, the circular plate outline 189 of the circular plate 183 of the ball stem 18 fits accurately against the inside circular rim 167 of the abutting member 16 along which the ball stem 18 can rotate with respect to the abutting member 16. When in the assembled state of the ball valve the abutting member 16 and the ball stem 18 are fitted together, the projection 182 of the ball stem 18 reaches as far as the ball 12a through an inner opening defined by the ring member 163 of the abutting member 16, however, the circular plate 183 lays on top (abuts against) the abutment members 161 , and thus the ball stem 18 is not able to push down the ball 12a, i.e., it can only rotate it. When the circular plate 183 lays on top the abutment member 161 , not only the projection 182 of the ball stem 18 but also the tongue 181 thereof are located in the inner opening of the ring member 163; however, due to the abutment member 161 the ball stem 18 is not able to rotate by 360° inside the ring member 163, as the tongue 181 abuts against the first abutment surface 165a or the second abutment surface 165b located at the radial extremities of the abutment member 161. In Figs. 7A and 7D the location of the portions of the tongue 181 abutting against the first abutment surface 165a or against the second abutment surface 165b can be observed. The first abutment surface 165a may contact (abut against) the first ball stem abutment surface 185a of the tongue 181 of the ball stem 18, while the second abutment surface 165b may abut against the second ball stem abutment surface 185b. In case the ball valve according to the invention comprises two abutment members 161 , a respective first ball stem abutment surface 185a and a respective second ball stem abutment surface 185b are located at each of the two sides of the tongue 181.

[0098] As can be seen in Fig. 7E, the abutment member 161 is configured such that the ball stem 18 is able to rotate by maximum 90° between the first abutment surface 165a and the second abutment surface 165b. It can also be well observed in Fig. 7E that the first abutment surface 165a and the second abutment surface 165b are located as far as possible from the rotational axis of the ball stem 18. This has the advantage that the two extreme positions of the ball valve (i.e., the open and closed positions) are well-defined, i.e., the ball valve cannot be rotated past its predetermined extreme positions even by applying extremely large forces or torques, because the abutment between the ball stem 18 and the abutting member 16 occurs at an extreme point located far from the axis, so it is not possible to subject the ball valve to such torques which would cause damage to the ball valve due to excessive rotation. As a result of this, the prolonged reliable operation of the ball valve according to the invention is ensured. The application of two abutment members 161 further facilitates that the ball stem 18 can be rotated between the two predetermined end stop positions, because the tongue 181 abuts simultaneously at two points against the two first abutment surfaces 165a or the two second abutment surfaces 165b, i.e., along the two first ball stem abutment surfaces 185a or the two second ball stem abutment surfaces 185b.

[0099] In Figs. 8A and 8B, a preferred embodiment of the cover 24 is depicted in more detail in various views. On the left and on the right of Fig. 8A, respectively, there is shown a side view and a sectional view of the cover 24, while Fig. 8B shows it in a top plan view.

[0100] The cover 24 comprises a central opening 241 for passing the ball stem 18 therethrough, through which central opening 241 the ball stem 18 can be connected to an element adapted for rotating it, such as a turn lever 26. The cover 24 further comprises a connection 242, preferably a threaded connection, that is adapted for providing connection to the ball valve casing 10a. Further, a seal groove 243 adapted for receiving a cover seal 22 arranged between the cover 24 and the ball valve casing 10a is formed in the cover 24. The cover 24 is seated against the ball valve casing 10a preferably along a rim 244, which for example prevents the cover 24 from pressing the ball stem 18 against the ball 12a. A protrusion 245 is preferably formed at the upper portion of the cover 24, which facilitates the attachment of the cover 24 to the ball valve casing 10a, and the removal of the cover 24 from the ball valve casing 10a. In the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 8B, the protrusion 245 preferably has a hexagonal shape that can be grabbed manually or with a tool, for example with a wrench, and can be rotated in the appropriate direction for opening or closing the cover 24. Additionally, information related to the ball valve according to the invention, for example its type, size, or operating instructions can be included on the cover 24, in the form of an adhesively bonded sticker, or can be formed of the material of the cover.

[0101] Fig. 9A illustrates another preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention in an exploded view. The embodiment shown in Fig. 9A differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 1 in that it comprises a ball valve casing 10b and a ball 12c.

[0102] A sectional view of the ball valve casing 10b is shown in Fig. 9B. Like the ball valve casing 10a, the ball valve casing 10b comprises a flare connector both as an inlet connector 102a at the inlet 110 and as an outlet connector 103a at the outlet 111 , the connectors preferably having identical dimensions and configuration. The ball valve casing 10b is further provided with a lead-seal bore 106 and a sensor bore 107 for receiving, respectively, a lead seal and a sensor 30, for example a temperature sensor or calorimeter. The sensor 30 is preferably connected to the ball valve casing 10b via a seal 21 .

[0103] The ball 12c is shown in side view and sectional view in Fig. 9C and Fig. 9D, respectively. To enable the sensor 30 of the ball valve casing 10b to also measure data related to the medium, the ball 12c is preferably provided with a sensor bore 126 that is connected to the positioning hole 122; more preferably, the sensor bore 126 is located concentrically with the positioning hole 122 such that the sensor 30 potentially introduced into the ball 12c does not hamper the rotation of the ball 12c, i.e. , does not hamper the operation of the ball valve.

[0104] In relation to further components and features the ball valve according to Fig. 9A is identical to the ball valve according to Fig. 1 . Fig. 10A shows a third preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention in an exploded view. The ball valve according to Fig. 10A comprises a ball valve casing 10c that differs from the ball valve casing 10b according to Fig. 9A only in that it comprises an inlet connector 102b, preferably an inside / outside connector, at the inlet 110. Considering that a sensor 30 can be preferably connected to the ball valve casing 10c according to Fig. 10A, the ball valve comprising a ball 12c configured to receive the sensor 30 (see Figs. 9C-9D).

[0105] In relation to further components and features the ball valve according to Fig. 10A is identical to the ball valves according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 9A.

[0106] Fig. 11A illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention, which differs from the ball valves according to Figs. 9A and 10A in that the ball valve casing 10d according to Fig. 11A comprises an inside / outside flare connector as an inlet connector 102c at the inlet 110. A threaded connector 33a is preferably connected to the inlet connector 102c, preferably via a seal 32a, for example an O-ring adapted for use with a threaded connector. Furthermore, a flare nut 34a can be preferably connected to the threaded connector 33a, by means of which the inlet 110 of the ball valve can be connected to a pipe network.

[0107] A cross section of the ball valve casing 10d is depicted in Fig. 11 B. Preferably, the ball valve casing 10d also comprises a lead-seal bore 106 and a sensor bore 107 adapted for receiving a sensor 30, and therefore it is preferable to apply a ball 12c having a sensor bore 126 in the ball valve according to Fig. 11 A. With regard to further components and features, the ball valve according to Fig. 11A is identical to the ball valves according to Figs. 9A and 10A.

[0108] Figs. 12A and 12B depict a fifth preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention. The ball valve according to Figs. 12A and 12B is configured to enable the draining of the medium therefrom. This provides the advantage that, in case the ball valve is used with water as a medium, in locations or periods where / when freezing is possible, the residual medium can be drained from the ball valve, thereby preventing failures resulting from changes in size caused by the change of state of the medium. Therefore, the ball valve according to Figs. 12A and 12B can also be applied as a main water shut-off ball valve. The ball valve according to Figs. 12A and 12B has a ball valve casing 10e comprising a drain opening 108 formed in its bottom portion. The ball valve comprises a ball 12b cooperating with the drain opening 108 that was already described in detail above in relation to Figs. 4E-4H and has a drain hole 124 and a pass-through opening 125 connecting the drain hole 124 with the positioning hole 122. Through the drain hole 124, the pass-through opening 125 and the positioning hole 122 the residual medium remaining in the ball valve can be conveyed to the bottom portion of the ball where it can be drained from the ball valve casing 10e through the drain opening 108.

[0109] Compared to the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 9A, the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 12A has an inlet connector 102a and an outlet connector 103b, the inlet connector 102a being for example an internal threaded connector, while the outlet connector 103 preferably being a flare connector. The outlet connector 103b can preferably be connected to a pipe or pipe network via a seal 32b (for example an O-ring) by means of a flare nut 34b.

[0110] In the preferred embodiment according to Fig. 12A, the ball valve comprises a closure member 26b instead of the turn lever 26 which is also adapted for being rotated between the various positions of the ball valve, but the rotation is preferably performed with a tool. In addition to that, in a manner already set forth in relation Fig. 1 , like the turn lever 26, the closure member 26b is firmly attached to the ball stem 18 such that the closure member 26b and the ball stem 18 cannot be rotated relative to each other. The closure member 26b preferably further comprises a direction indicator.

[0111] With regard to further features, the preferred embodiment according to Figs. 12A and 12B is identical to the features of the embodiments discussed previously.

[0112] Figs. 13A and 13B depict a further preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention which, like the preferred embodiments according to Figs. 12A and 12B, is able to drain the medium from the ball valve. Accordingly, the ball valve according to Figs. 13A and 13B comprises a ball valve casing 10f having a drain opening 108, with a ball 12b adapted for draining the medium being arranged in the ball valve casing 10f. The detailed configuration of the ball 12b was already described in detail in relation to Figs. 4E-4H. The ball valve casing 10f preferably comprises an inlet connector 102a and an outlet connector 103c. The inlet connector 102a is preferably an internal threaded connector, while the outlet connector 103c is a connector being adapted for use with a threaded connector 33a. The threaded connector 33a is connected to the ball valve casing 10f preferably via a seal 32a, and it is also possible to connect a flare nut 34a to the threaded connector 33a.

[0113] Further components of the ball valve according to Figs. 13A-13B are identical to the components according to Figs. 12A-12B.

[0114] Figs. 14A and 14B depict a further preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention which comprises a ball valve casing 10g. Preferably, the ball valve casing 10g also comprises a drain hole 108 through which residual medium can be drained from the ball valve in case a ball 12b is applied. The ball valve casing 10g is preferably provided with an inlet connector 102d and an outlet connector 103a, wherein the inlet connector 102d is preferably a flare connector, and the outlet connector 103a is an internal threaded connector. Together with the inlet connector 102d, a flare nut 34c and a fixing ring 32c can also be applied for connecting the ball valve to a pipeline. Other components shown in Figs. 14A and 14B are identical to their counterparts shown in Figs. 12A-12B and in Figs. 13A-13B, so they are not described in detail again.

[0115] Fig. 15A depicts a preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention that differs from the embodiments shown in Figs. 13A and 14A only in the type of the connectors applied at the inlet 110 and at the outlet 111. The embodiment according to Fig. 15A comprises a ball valve casing 10h having an inlet connector 102d and an outlet connector 103a. A sectional view of the ball valve casing 10h is shown in Fig. 15B. The inlet connector 102 is preferably a flare connector that can be connected for example by applying a flare nut 34c and a fixing ring 32c. The outlet connector 103a is preferably a so-called HDPE connector, which can be connected to a pipe network for example by means of a sealing ring 35 (for example O-ring), a support ring 36, a clamping ring 37, and a clamping nut 38. Further components of the ball valve according to Figs. 15A-15B are identical to the components already described in detail.

[0116] The structure of the ball valve according to 16A is broadly analogous to the ball valve according to Fig. 15A, with the difference that the connectors applied at the inlet 110 and at the outlet 111 are switched over between the two embodiments. Accordingly, the ball valve casing 10i according to Figs. 16A and 16B comprises an HDPE connector as an inlet connector 102e, and a flare connector as an outlet connector 103e. The inlet connector 102e and the outlet connector 103e can be connected to a pipe network or pipeline in a manner set forth in relation to Fig. 15A. Other structural elements and their features shown in Fig. 16A and Fig. 16B are identical to the features already discussed in relation to previous embodiments.

[0117] The ball valve casing 10j of the ball valve according to Fig. 17A comprises an inlet connector 102e and an outlet connector 103f, wherein the inlet connector 102e is preferably an HDPE connector, and the outlet connector 103f is preferably a threaded connector. A cross section of the ball valve casing 10j is depicted in Fig. 17B. Further components of the ball valve according to Figs. 17A-17B and the modes of their connection to conduits or pipes are identical to the components and structural elements already described in relation to the previous figures.

[0118] Fig. 18A depicts a further preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention, having a ball valve casing 10k comprising an inlet connector 102f and an outlet connector 103a; a sectional view of the ball valve casing 10k is shown in Fig. 18B. The inlet connector 102f preferably has a threaded connector configuration, while the outlet connector 103a is preferably an internal threaded connector. Further components of the embodiment according to Figs. 18A-18B and their features are identical to the features already described in relation to the previous figures.

[0119] Fig. 19A illustrates a still further preferred embodiment of the ball valve according to the invention, wherein a sectional view of the ball valve casing 101 of the ball valve can be seen in Fig. 19B. The ball valve casing 101 preferably comprises an inlet connector 102f and an outlet connector 103d, the inlet connector 102f preferably being a threaded connector, while the outlet connector 103d is preferably an HDPE connector. As with the embodiments according to Figs. 10A-17A, the ball valve according to Fig. 19A is also suited for draining a medium from the ball valve, and accordingly the ball valve comprises a ball 12b and a drain opening 108. Further structural elements and components of the preferred embodiment according to Figs. 19A-19B, as well as their preferred features were already described in relation to the previous embodiments. In addition to the embodiments set forth above, the ball valve according to the invention can be implemented by applying further types of connectors at the inlet 110 and at the outlet 111 , using connection types suited to the location at which the ball valve is installed. For example, any combination of the connections depicted in Figs. 9A-19A can be applied.

[0120] The mode of industrial application of the invention follows from the features of the technical solution according to the disclosure above. As can be seen from the description above, the invention accomplishes its objective in an extremely advantageous manner compared to the prior art.

[0121] List of reference signs

[0122] 10a,1 Ob, 10c, 10d, 1 Oe,1 Of, 1 Og,1 Oj, 10k, 101 ball valve casing

[0123] 12a, 12b, 12c ball

[0124] 14 sealing-positioning member

[0125] 14’ sealing-positioning member portion

[0126] 16 abutting member

[0127] 18 ball stem

[0128] 20 ball stem seal

[0129] 21 seal

[0130] 22 cover seal

[0131] 24 cover

[0132] 26 turn lever

[0133] 26b closure member

[0134] 28 bolt

[0135] 30 sensor

[0136] 32a, 32b seal

[0137] 32c fixing ring

[0138] 33a threaded connector 34a, 34b, 34c flare nut

[0139] 35 sealing ring

[0140] 36 support ring

[0141] 37 clamping ring

[0142] 38 clamping nut

[0143] 101 centring pin

[0144] 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, 102f inlet connector

[0145] 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, 103e, 103f outlet connector

[0146] 104 guide slot

[0147] 105 bolt thread

[0148] 106 lead-seal bore

[0149] 107 sensor bore

[0150] 108 drain opening

[0151] 110 inlet

[0152] 111 outlet

[0153] 112 access hole

[0154] 121 through hole

[0155] 122 positioning hole

[0156] 123 ball-turning slot

[0157] 124 drain hole

[0158] 125 pass-through opening

[0159] 126 sensor bore

[0160] 141 through hole

[0161] 142 protrusion

[0162] 143 flat surface

[0163] 144 central opening

[0164] 161 abutment member

[0165] 162 protrusion

[0166] 163 ring member

[0167] 164 cutout a first abutment surface b second abutment surface outside circular rim inside circular rim tongue projection circular plate seal groove a first ball stem abutment surfaceb second ball stem abutment surface stem member connection member bolt bore circular plate outline central opening connection seal groove edge protrusion

Claims

CLAIMS1. A ball valve, having an open position enabling a flow of a medium, and a closed position blocking the flow of the medium, the ball valve comprising- a ball valve casing (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f , 10g, 10j, 10k, 101) having an inlet (110) and an outlet (111 ),- a ball (12a, 12b, 12c) arranged in the ball valve casing (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f , 10g, 10j, 10k, 101), wherein the ball (12a, 12b, 12c) has a through hole (121 ) adapted for passing the medium therethrough, and a ball-turning slot (123), and- a ball stem (18) extending into the ball-turning slot (123) of the ball (12a, 12b, 12c) and is configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein the ball (12a, 12b, 12c) is rotatable between the open position and the closed position of the ball valve by rotating the ball stem (18), characterised in that the ball valve further comprises- a sealing-positioning member (14) arranged in the ball valve casing (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g, 10j, 10k, 101) surrounding the ball (12a, 12b, 12c), and- an abutting member (16) arranged non-rotatably in the ball valve casing (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f , 10g, 10j, 10k, 101) to be seated against the sealingpositioning member (14), wherein the abutting member (16) has an inside circular rim (167) and comprises an abutment member (161 ) arranged along the inside circular rim (167), said abutment member (161 ) defining a first abutment surface (165a) and a second abutment surface (165b) located at a distance from the rotational axis of the ball stem (18) that is greater than half of the radius of the inside circular rim (167), and in the open position of the ball valve the ball stem (18) abuts against one of the first abutment surface (165a) and the second abutment surface (165b), while in the closed position of the ball valve it abuts against the other one of the first abutment surface (165a) and the second abutment surface (165b).

2. The ball valve according to claim 1 , characterised in that the ball stem (18) comprises a circular plate (183) configured to abut against the upper face of the abutment member (161 ) and to fit against the inside circular rim (167) of the abuttingmember (16), and a tongue (181 ) configured to be protruding from to the circular plate (183), the tongue (181 ) abutting against the first abutment surface (165a) and the second abutment surface (165a), respectively, in the open and closed positions of the ball valve.

3. The ball valve according to claim 2, characterised in that the tongue (181 ) of the ball stem (18) comprises a projection (182) configured to protrude into the ball-turning slot (123), wherein a bottom of the projection (182) is spaced apart from a bottom of the ball-turning slot (123).

4. The ball valve according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the abutting member (16) comprises two abutment members (161 ) arranged centrally symmetrically in the abutting member (16), which collectively define two first abutment surfaces (165a) and two second abutment surfaces (165b), wherein the open position of the ball valve is defined by the two first abutment surfaces (165a) and the closed position of the ball valve is defined by the two second abutment surfaces (165b), or vice versa.

5. The ball valve according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ball valve casing (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f , 10g, 10j, 10k, 101) comprises a centring pin (101 ) adapted for centring the ball (12a, 12b, 12c) in the ball valve casing (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f , 10g, 10j, 10k, 101), and the ball (12a, 12b, 12c) comprises a positioning hole (122) configured to fit against the centring pin (101 ).

6. The ball valve according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ball (12b) comprises a drain hole (124) that is connected to the positioning hole (122) via a pass-through opening (125).

7. The ball valve according to any of claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the ball (12c) comprises a sensor bore (127) adapted for receiving a sensor, wherein the sensor bore (127) is configured concentrically to the positioning hole (122).

8. The ball valve according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing-positioning member (14) comprises at least two sealing-positioning member portions (14’).

9. The ball valve according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ball valve casing (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f , 10g, 10j, 10k, 101) comprises an access hole (112) configured to be able to receive the ball (12a, 12b, 12c), the sealingpositioning member (14), the abutting member (16), and the ball stem (18).

10. The ball valve according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ball valve casing (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f , 10g, 10j, 10k, 101) comprises an inlet connector (102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, 102f) at the inlet (110), and an outlet connector (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, 103e, 103f) at the outlet (111 ), wherein the inlet connector (102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, 102f) and / or the outlet connector (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d, 103e, 103f) are selected from among the following: flare connector, threaded connector, internal threaded connector, HDPE connector, inside / outside connector.

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