Ball valve of unitary construction

Abstract

A ball valve unit for shutting off the flow of fluids flowing in heating and plumbing systems. The ball valve unit includes a ball valve and a main section including a flange formed integrally with the main section. A chamber is formed in the main section for receiving the ball of the ball valve. The main section is made of brass in order to prevent galvanic action between ball valve unit and the heating/plumbing system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ball valve unit comprising: 
 a ball section, said ball section defining a stem chamber and a ball chamber, said stem chamber disposed adjacent to and extending outwardly from said ball chamber;    a ball valve including a ball, said ball disposed completely within said ball chamber;    a stem disposed within and extending outwardly from said stem chamber and connected to said ball disposed within said ball chamber, an exposed portion of said stem extending beyond said stem chamber;    a handle connected to said exposed portion of said stem disposed within said stem chamber and connected to said ball, wherein actuation of said handle effects actuation of said ball for operating said ball valve unit;    a drain section substantially adjacent to said ball section; and    a drain valve disposed in said drain section.    
     
     
         2 . The ball valve unit of  claim 1  further including: 
 a flange formed as a continuous portion of at least one of said drain section and said ball section, said ball section including said stem chamber and said ball chamber, wherein said flange, said drain section and said ball section including said stem chamber and said ball chamber being formed as a single piece formed of a rigid material.  
 
     
     
         3 . The ball valve unit of  claim 1 , wherein said drain section and said ball section are made of brass.  
     
     
         4 . The ball valve unit of  claim 1 , wherein said handle is wing-shaped.  
     
     
         5 . The ball valve unit of  claim 1 , wherein said drain valve is deposed between said flange and said ball valve.  
     
     
         6 . The ball valve unit of  claim 1 , wherein said drain valve is disposed adjacent to said ball valve and proximate to an end section of an end of said ball valve unit distal to said flange.