Ball Valve and Method of Operating the Same

摘要

A ball valve comprises a selectively movable valve seat on its ball plug that is pressure actuated. The ball valve also comprises a moveable upstream valve seat that can selectively be seated by pressure actuation. The upstream valve seat thereafter will remain seated until the pressures upstream and downstream of the upstream valve are equalized.

主权项

1. A ball valve comprising a housing and a ball plug, the housing comprising a primary fluid passageway and an annular valve seat, the primary fluid passageway extending through the housing, the ball plug being positioned within the primary fluid passageway of the housing and comprising a main body portion, a pair of trunnions, a primary fluid passageway, and a valve seat, the trunnions pivotally connecting the ball plug to the housing in a manner such that the ball plug can pivot to and between an open position and a closed position relative to the housing, the primary fluid passageway of the ball plug extending through the main body of the ball plug, the ball valve being configured and adapted to allow fluid to flow through the annular valve seat of the housing and through the primary fluid passageway of the ball plug and the primary fluid passageway of the housing when the ball plug is in the open position, the valve seat of the ball plug being configured and adapted to engage the annular valve seat of the housing in a manner preventing fluid from passing through the annular valve seat of the housing when the ball plug is in the closed position, the valve seat of the ball plug also being selectively movable relative to the main body portion of the ball plug such that the valve seat of the ball plug can be selectively urged toward the trunnions.