Importance

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Abstract

A ball valve including a valve housing having a fluid flow passage extending therethrough and terminating in ports for connection to a fluid conduit, the passage being intersected by an actuator opening in the housing a defining a valve chamber thereat, the opening having a shoulder intermediate its ends. An actuator is journalled in the opening and has a shaft including a threaded portion extending past the shoulder toward the chamber and terminating in a keyed-type end within the chamber and a nut of smaller size than one of the ports is threaded on the threaded portion after introduction into the chamber through the one port to retain the actuator on the housing. The nut bears against the shoulder. A valve ball has a bore extending therethrough and a keyway type groove in a side thereof. The ball is smaller than the one port and is disposed in the chamber by axial introduction through the port with the keyway type groove being oriented to slip fit about the keyed type end of the actuator shaft to couple the ball to the actuator. Stops are provided for limiting rotation of the actuator relative to the housing to prevent loosening of the nut and a fitting is received in the one port for narrowing the same to a size less than the ball to prevent loss of the ball through the port.

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First Claim