Ball valve

Abstract

A ball valve (100) comprising a ball valve body (10), a valve stem assembly (30), and a cap (40); the ball valve body (10) comprises a valve body (11) and a valve core ball (12), the valve body (11) comprises a first flow port (111) and a second flow port (112), and the valve core ball (12) is mounted within the valve body (11); the valve stem assembly (30) has a connecting end (301) and a driving end (302), the driving end (302) is located outside the valve body (11), and the connecting end (301) passes through the valve body (11) and is connected to the valve core ball (12); the cap (40) is connected to the valve body (11), and the cap (40) is provided with a through hole (410); when the cap (40) is connected to the valve body (11), the driving end (302) of the valve stem assembly (30) passes through the through hole (410) and extends toward the outside of the valve body (11).

Description

ball valve

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application filed on February 18, 2025, with application number 202520263654.7, entitled "Ball Valve", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the technical field of refrigeration systems, and in particular to a ball valve. Background Technology

[0004] Ball valves are commonly used in refrigeration systems, such as air conditioning systems, to control the flow of refrigerant.

[0005] The ball valve includes a valve seat, a valve stem, and a valve cap. The valve stem extends outward through the valve seat, and the valve cap is detachably mounted on the valve seat to completely cover the portion of the valve stem that extends beyond the valve seat. Currently, when operating a ball valve, the valve cap must first be removed from the valve seat, and then the valve is opened or closed by rotating the valve stem. Because the entire valve cap needs to be removed from the valve seat during actual operation, the process is complex and prone to loss. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to various embodiments of this application, a ball valve is provided.

[0007] A ball valve includes: a ball valve body comprising a valve body and a valve core ball, the valve body including a first flow port and a second flow port, the valve core ball being rotatably mounted in the valve body for controlling the flow / stop between the first flow port and the second flow port; a valve stem assembly having a connecting end and a driving end, the driving end being located outside the valve body, the connecting end being rotatably inserted through the valve body and connected to the valve core ball; and a cap detachably connected to the valve body, the cap having a through hole; when the cap is connected to the valve body, the driving end of the valve stem assembly passes through the through hole and extends outward toward the valve body.

[0008] In one embodiment, the valve stem assembly includes a valve stem and a valve cap, the connecting end is disposed on the valve stem, both the valve stem and the valve cap are provided through the through hole, and the driving end is disposed on the valve cap.

[0009] In one embodiment, the ball valve further includes a valve seat, and the cap is threadedly connected to the valve seat, and the cap surrounds the valve seat in the length direction of the valve stem to form a limiting chamber; the valve cap is at least partially disposed in the limiting chamber and circumferentially limited by the valve stem, and the valve cap can be locked or unlocked on the valve seat under the control of the cap.

[0010] In one embodiment, the cap has a pressing portion, which surrounds the valve seat to form the limiting chamber; wherein, the valve cap has a valve cap edge, which is received in the limiting chamber and abuts against the pressing portion.

[0011] In one embodiment, the ball valve further includes a washer fitted onto the valve stem and abutting against the valve seat and the edge of the valve cap, respectively.

[0012] In one embodiment, the valve cap further has a screwing body that is rotatably inserted through the cap; wherein the screwing body is fitted onto the valve stem and circumferentially limited by the valve stem.

[0013] In one embodiment, the valve seat has an abutment limiting block;

[0014] Along the circumferential direction of the valve stem, the abutting and limiting block can abut against the valve stem to limit the rotation angle of the valve stem relative to the valve seat; along the length direction of the valve stem, the abutting and limiting block abuts against the valve stem to limit the valve stem into the valve seat.

[0015] In one embodiment, the ball valve body further includes two connecting pipes, both of which are made of stainless steel; the two connecting pipes are arranged on both sides of the valve body and connected to the valve body respectively; one of the connecting pipes is connected to the first flow port, and the other connecting pipe is connected to the second flow port.

[0016] In one embodiment, the ball valve body further includes an air nozzle, which is mounted on one of the connecting pipes and communicates with the connecting pipe; wherein the air nozzle is made of stainless steel.

[0017] In one embodiment, the ball valve further includes a mounting plate fixedly connected to the valve body, and the ball valve can be installed and fixed via the mounting plate.

[0018] It is understandable that a mounting plate is used to install and fix the ball valve in the air conditioning system, which makes it easier to assemble and apply the ball valve in the air conditioning system.

[0019] Details of one or more embodiments of this application are set forth in the following drawings and description. Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become apparent from the specification, drawings, and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the conventional technology, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a ball valve provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a partial structural breakdown of the ball valve provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a ball valve provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part P in Figure 3.

[0025] Reference numerals: 100, ball valve; 10, ball valve body; 11, valve body; 111, first flow port; 112, second flow port; 12, valve core ball; 13, connecting pipe; 131, connecting copper sleeve; 14, air nozzle; 20, valve seat; 21, abutting limit block; 30, valve stem assembly; 301, connecting end; 302, driving end; 31, valve stem; 32, valve cap; 321, valve cap edge; 322, screwing body; 40, cap; 410, through hole; 401, limit chamber; 41, pressing part; 50, gasket; 60, mounting plate; 101, sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "located on" another component, it can be directly located on the other component or may have an intervening component. When a component is considered to be "located on" another component, it can be directly located on the other component or may have an intervening component. When a component is considered to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly fixed to the other component or may have an intervening component.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The terms "and" and "or" as used herein include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0029] The ball valve 100 that this application seeks to protect specifically refers to a manual ball valve used in an air conditioning system.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, a ball valve 100 provided in one embodiment of this application includes a ball valve body 10, a valve stem assembly 30, and a cap 40. The ball valve body 10 includes a valve body 11 and a valve core ball 12. The valve body 11 includes a first flow port 111 and a second flow port 112. The valve core ball 12 is rotatably installed inside the valve body 11 and is used to control the flow / stop between the first flow port 111 and the second flow port 112. The valve stem assembly 30 has a connecting end 301 and a driving end 302. The driving end 302 is located outside the valve body 11, and the connecting end 301 is rotatably inserted inside the valve body 11 and connected to the valve core ball 12. The cap 40 is detachably connected to the valve body 11 and has a through hole 410. When the cap 40 is connected to the valve body 11, the driving end 302 of the valve stem assembly 30 passes through the through hole 410 and extends outward toward the valve body 11.

[0031] As can be seen from the above, the ball valve 100 of this application has a drive end 302 on the valve stem assembly 30 located outside the cap 40, which allows the operator to directly apply the drive end 302 on the valve stem assembly 30 extending out of the cap 40 to perform the valve opening and closing operation on the ball valve 100. In this process, it is not necessary to remove the entire cap 40. This not only facilitates the operator's valve opening and closing operation on the ball valve 100, but also avoids the loss of the cap 40.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, in one embodiment, the ball valve body 10 further includes two connecting pipes 13, which are arranged on both sides of the valve body 11 and connected to and communicate with the valve body 11 respectively; one connecting pipe 13 is connected to the first flow port 111, and the other connecting pipe 13 is connected to the second flow port 112. This allows external refrigerant to be introduced into the valve body 11 through one of the connecting pipes 13, pass through the valve core ball 12, and then be discharged outward through the other connecting pipe 13. During this process, the rotation of the valve core ball 12 within the valve body 11 can be used to control the connection or disconnection between the two connecting pipes 13.

[0033] In this embodiment, both connecting pipes 13 are made of stainless steel. Utilizing the properties of stainless steel, the connecting pipes 13 of the ball valve 100, compared to brass pipes, reduce weight and overall gravity, facilitating handling and transport. This also simplifies the manufacturing process of the connecting pipes 13 and reduces refrigerant heat loss during operation. The connecting pipes 13 can be manufactured by cutting stainless steel pipes, resulting in carbon emissions over their entire lifecycle being approximately 32% of those of brass ball valves, thus achieving greater energy efficiency. It should be noted that the heat loss of the ball valve 100 in this application is reduced by 1 / 7 compared to existing brass ball valves.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, in one embodiment, two connecting pipes 13 are respectively connected to and communicate with connecting copper sleeves 131 at the ends away from the valve body 11. This utilizes the material properties of the connecting copper sleeves 131 to facilitate the assembly and connection of the ball valve 100 with heat exchange tubes (not shown) in an air conditioning system. Here, the connecting copper sleeves 131 can be first fitted onto the connecting pipes 13 and then connected to the connecting pipes 13 by welding.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, in one embodiment, the ball valve body 10 further includes a nozzle 14, which is installed on one of the connecting pipes 13 and connected to the connecting pipe 13; so that after the ball valve 100 is repaired in the air conditioning system, refrigerant can be injected into the ball valve 100 through the nozzle 14.

[0036] In this embodiment, the nozzle 14 is made of stainless steel. This material property of stainless steel can reduce the weight of the nozzle 14 compared to a brass nozzle, and reduce the heat loss when the nozzle 14 is injected with refrigerant.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in one embodiment, the ball valve 100 further includes a valve seat 20, and a cap 40 is threadedly connected to the valve seat 20.

[0038] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, in one embodiment, the valve stem assembly 30 includes a valve stem 31 and a valve cap 32. A connecting end 301 is disposed on the valve stem 31. Both the valve stem 31 and the valve cap 32 are provided with through holes 410. A driving end 302 is disposed on the valve cap 32. The valve stem 31 is rotatably disposed within the valve seat 20. Here, two sealing rings 101 are fitted on the portion of the valve stem 31 located inside the valve seat 20, so that the valve stem 31 can be assembled and sealed with the valve seat 20 through the two sealing rings 101. It should be noted that the above-mentioned "the valve stem 31 is rotatably disposed within the valve seat 20" specifically means that the valve stem 31 is disposed through the valve seat 20, and the valve stem 31 can rotate relative to the valve seat 20.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2, in one embodiment, the valve seat 20 has an abutment limiting block 21. Along the circumferential direction of the valve stem 31, the abutment limiting block 21 abuts against the valve stem 31, limiting the rotation angle of the valve stem 31 relative to the valve seat 20. In other words, the ball valve 100 can limit the maximum rotation angle of the valve stem 31 by utilizing the abutment between the abutment limiting block 21 and the valve stem 31. This provides an operational indication for opening and closing the ball valve 100, facilitating the operator's operation. Here, two abutment limiting blocks 21 are configured, symmetrically arranged with respect to the centerline of the valve seat 20, enabling the ball valve 100 to limit rotation during opening and closing.

[0040] As shown in Figure 2, in one embodiment, along the length direction of the valve stem 31, the abutment limiting block 21 abuts and limits the valve stem 31 to limit the valve stem 31 into the valve seat 20. This achieves the assembly limitation between the valve stem 31 and the valve seat 20, so as to facilitate the assembly of the valve stem 31 and the valve seat 20 on the valve body 11.

[0041] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, in one embodiment, the cap 40 is threadedly connected to the valve seat 20, and the cap 40 and the valve seat 20 enclose a limiting chamber 401 along the length of the valve stem 31. The ball valve 100 also includes a valve cap 32, which is at least partially disposed within the limiting chamber 401 and circumferentially limited by the valve stem 31. The valve cap 32 can be locked or unlocked on the valve seat 20 under the control of the cap 40. In other words, the valve cap 32 is always limited to the valve seat 20 by the limiting chamber 401 and is unaffected by the cap 40's ability to unlock the valve cap 32 on the valve seat 20.

[0042] As can be seen from the above, by utilizing the threaded connection between the cap 40 and the valve seat 20, and by using the limiting chamber 401 formed by the positions of the cap 40 and the valve seat 20 to limit the valve cap 32, when the operator performs the opening and closing operation of the ball valve 100, the operator can first loosen the cap 40 from the valve seat 20 to release the locking of the valve cap 32 on the valve seat 20. Then, the operator can rotate the valve core ball 12 in the valve body 11 by turning the valve cap 32, thereby achieving the switching of the opening and closing operation of the ball valve 100. During this process, there is no need to remove the valve cap 32, which can avoid the loss of the valve cap 32 and facilitate the operator's opening and closing operation of the ball valve 100.

[0043] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in one embodiment, the cap 40 has a pressing portion 41, which, together with the valve seat 20, forms a limiting chamber 401. The valve cap 32 has a valve cap edge 321, which is received within the limiting chamber 401 and abuts against the pressing portion 41. That is, the valve cap edge 321 of the valve cap 32 is limited to the valve seat 20 by the pressing portion 41 on the cap 40, and can be locked onto the valve seat 20 under the pressure of the pressing portion 41. Here, the cap 40 can specifically be configured as a nut.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4, in one embodiment, the ball valve 100 further includes a washer 50, which is fitted onto the valve stem 31 and abuts against the valve seat 20 and the valve cap edge 321, respectively. That is, the valve cap edge 321 and the valve seat 20 transmit force through the washer 50, which improves the stability when the pressing part 41 on the cap 40 locks the valve cap edge 321 onto the valve seat 20.

[0045] As can be seen from the above, the ball valve 100 of this application can achieve external sealing between the valve seat 20 and the valve stem 31 by utilizing the threaded connection structure between the cap 40 and the valve seat 20, and the contact surface formed between the gasket 50 and the valve seat 20 when the gasket 50 is pressed and limited to the valve seat 20, thereby achieving the purpose of preventing the ball valve 100 from leaking.

[0046] In this embodiment, the gasket 50 is made of plastic. This utilizes the material properties of plastic to buffer the force transmission between the valve seat 20 and the valve cap edge 321, preventing wear caused by their interaction. Specifically, the gasket 50 can be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or perfluoropropylene (PFPP).

[0047] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the valve cap 32 also has a screwing body 322, which is rotatably mounted through the cap 40. The screwing body 322 is fitted onto the valve stem 31 and circumferentially limited by the valve stem 31. This allows the operator to manually operate the ball valve 100 by manipulating the screwing body 322, facilitating the control of the ball valve 100. Here, "the screwing body 322 is rotatably mounted through the cap 40" specifically means that the screwing body 322 passes through the cap 40, and that the screwing body 322 can rotate relative to the cap 40.

[0048] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, in one embodiment, the ball valve 100 further includes a mounting plate 60, which is connected to the valve body 11. The ball valve 100 can be installed and fixed via the mounting plate 60, facilitating its application in an air conditioning system. Here, the mounting plate 60 is fixed to the valve body 11 by welding, and it can also be fixed to the air conditioning system using bolts on both sides.

[0049] As can be seen from the above, when assembling the ball valve 100 of this application, the sealing ring 101 can be first fitted onto the valve stem 31, and then one end of the valve stem 31 can be inserted and engaged with the valve core ball 12; then the valve seat 20 can be fitted onto the valve stem 31, and the valve stem 31 can be positioned by the abutting limit block 21 on the valve seat 20 and the valve stem 31; then the valve seat 20 can be fixed onto the valve body 11; then the gasket 50 and the valve cap 32 can be fitted onto the part of the valve stem 31 that extends out of the valve seat 20 in sequence, and finally the cap 40 can be used to press and fix the valve cap 32.

[0050] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0051] Those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any appropriate changes and variations made to the above embodiments within the spirit and essence of this application fall within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

Claims

1. A ball valve, characterized in that Ball valves include: The ball valve body includes a valve body and a valve core ball. The valve body includes a first flow port and a second flow port. The valve core ball is rotatably mounted in the valve body and is used to control the flow / stop between the first flow port and the second flow port. A valve stem assembly has a connecting end and a driving end, the driving end being located outside the valve body, and the connecting end being rotatably inserted through the valve body and connected to the valve core ball; A cap is detachably connected to the valve body, and the cap is provided with a through hole; When the cap is connected to the valve body, the drive end of the valve stem assembly passes through the through hole and extends outward toward the valve body.

2. The ball valve of claim 1, wherein, The valve stem assembly includes a valve stem and a valve cap, the connecting end is disposed on the valve stem, both the valve stem and the valve cap are provided through the through hole, and the driving end is disposed on the valve cap.

3. The ball valve of claim 2, wherein, The ball valve also includes a valve seat, and the cap is threadedly connected to the valve seat. The cap and the valve seat enclose a limiting chamber in the length direction of the valve stem. The valve cap is at least partially disposed in the limiting chamber and is circumferentially limited by the valve stem. The valve cap can be locked or unlocked on the valve seat under the control of the cap.

4. The ball valve of claim 3, wherein, The cap has a pressing part, and the pressing part and the valve seat enclose the limiting chamber; The valve cap has a valve cap edge, which is received in the limiting cavity and abuts against the pressing part.

5. The ball valve of claim 4, wherein, The ball valve also includes a washer, which is fitted onto the valve stem and abuts against the valve seat and the edge of the valve cap, respectively.

6. The ball valve of claim 2, wherein, The valve cap also has a screwing body, which is rotatably inserted through the cap. The screwing body is fitted onto the valve stem and is circumferentially limited by the valve stem.

7. The ball valve of claim 3, wherein, The valve seat has an abutment limiting block; Along the circumferential direction of the valve stem, the abutting limiting block can abut against the valve stem to limit the rotation angle of the valve stem relative to the valve seat.

8. The ball valve of claim 1, wherein, The ball valve body also includes two connecting pipes, both of which are made of stainless steel; the two connecting pipes are arranged on both sides of the valve body and connected to the valve body respectively; One of the connectors is connected to the first flow port, and the other connector is connected to the second flow port.

9. The ball valve of claim 8, wherein, The ball valve body also includes an air nozzle, which is installed on one of the connecting pipes and communicates with the connecting pipe; The air nozzle is made of stainless steel.

10. The ball valve of claim 1, wherein, The ball valve also includes a mounting plate, which is fixedly connected to the valve body, and the ball valve can be installed and fixed through the mounting plate.

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