Ball valve
The disclosed embodiments include ball valves having integrated seats. The integrated seats are included in a ball body assembly of a valve body. The ball body assembly may rotate with respect to the valve body to open or close the valve. The integrated seats may contact walls of a bore to sealingly close the valve.
1. A ball valve, comprising:
a first ball body assembly, comprising:
a first ball body having a first outer wall defining a first ball shape of the first ball body, a first annular groove recessed into the first outer wall and extending around a first portion of the first outer wall, and a first hollow annular seat disposed in the first annular groove; and
a valve body having a fluid passage in fluid communication with the first ball body assembly, wherein the first ball body assembly is disposed inside the valve body and is configured to rotate relative to the valve body to open and close the fluid passage, and the first ball body comprises a first fluid chamber configured to use fluid pressure to bias the first hollow annular seat outwardly from the first ball body.
2. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the first annular seat comprises a plurality of annular steps, the first annular groove comprises a plurality of annular grooves disposed therein, or a combination thereof.
3. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the first ball body assembly comprises a second annular groove recessed into the first outer wall and extending around a second portion of the first outer wall, and a second hollow annular seat disposed in the second annular groove.
4. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the first ball body assembly comprises a first hollow annular spring disposed in the first annular groove between the first ball body and the first hollow annular seat, and wherein the first hollow annular spring is configured to provide a spring force to bias the first hollow annular seat outwardly from the ball body.
5. The ball valve of claim 4 , wherein the first ball body assembly comprises a first seat ring disposed in the first annular groove between the first ball body and the first hollow annular seat, and wherein the first seat ring is configured to limit displacement of the first hollow annular seat relative to the first ball body.
6. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the first hollow annular seat and the first valve body comprise metal surfaces that seat against one another.
7. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid chamber is disposed along the first annular groove between the first ball body and the first hollow annular seat.
8. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the first ball body assembly comprises a first annular seal disposed in the first annular groove between the first ball body and the first hollow annular seat.
9. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the first annular groove comprises first inner and outer annular walls extending in crosswise directions relative to one another, wherein the first inner annular wall extends inwardly from the first outer wall of the first ball body at a first radius, and the first outer annular wall extends inwardly from the first outer wall of the first ball body at a second radius greater than the first radius.
10. The ball valve of claim 9 , wherein the first inner annular wall and the first outer annular wall are perpendicular to one another.
11. The ball valve of claim 1 , comprising a second ball body assembly, wherein the second ball body assembly comprises a second ball body having a second outer wall defining a second ball shape of the second ball body, a second annular groove recessed into the second outer wall and extending around a second portion of the second outer wall, and a second hollow annular seat disposed in the second annular groove; wherein the second ball body assembly is disposed inside the valve body and is configured to rotate relative to the valve body to open and close the fluid passage.
12. A system, comprising:
a ball body having an outer wall defining a ball shape of the ball body, and a first annular groove recessed into the outer wall and extending around a portion of the outer wall;
a first hollow annular seat disposed in the first annular groove of the ball body, wherein the first hollow annular seat is configured to substantially seal a fluid passage of a valve body when the ball body is in a closed position; and
a first fluid chamber disposed along the first annular groove between the ball body and the first hollow annular seat, wherein the first fluid chamber is configured to use fluid pressure to bias the first hollow annular seat outwardly from the ball body.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first hollow annular seat comprises a plurality of annular steps, the first annular groove comprises a plurality of annular grooves disposed therein, or a combination thereof.
14. The system of claim 12 , comprising a first hollow annular spring disposed in the first annular groove between the ball body and the first hollow annular seat.
15. The system of claim 12 , comprising a first seat ring disposed in the first annular groove between the ball body and the first hollow annular seat, wherein the first seat ring is configured to limit displacement of the first hollow annular seat relative to the ball body.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first annular groove comprises first inner and outer annular walls extending in crosswise directions relative to one another, wherein the first inner annular wall extends inwardly from the outer wall of the ball body at a first radius, and the first outer annular wall extends inwardly from the outer wall of the ball body at a second radius greater than the first radius.
17. A system, comprising:
a seat assembly, comprising:
a hollow annular seat having an outer surface opposite from an inner surface, wherein the inner surface is configured to mount within an annular groove on a ball body; and
a biasing feature disposed along the inner surface of the annular seat, wherein the biasing feature is configured to bias the annular seat to move over a distance outwardly from the annular groove of the ball body, and the biasing feature comprises a fluid chamber.
18. The system of claim 17 , comprising a seat ring recessed into the annular seat along the inner surface, wherein the seat ring is configured to limit displacement of the annular seat relative to the ball body, and the seat assembly is configured to substantially seal a fluid passage of a valve body when the ball body is in a closed position.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the biasing feature comprises an annular spring.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the hollow annular seat comprises a plurality of annular steps.
21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the hollow annular seat comprises first and second annular side walls extending in crosswise directions relative to one another, wherein the first annular side wall extends inwardly from the outer surface to the inner surface at a first radius, and the second annular side wall extends inwardly from the outer surface to the inner surface at a second radius greater than the first radius.