Valves with multi-directional ball check

Abstract

A valve with a valve body in which is rotatably mounted a valve member, the valve member having therein a ball check for selectively preventing fluid flow through the valve. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve comprising
 a valve body with a main passageway therethrough for fluid flow through the valve,   a valve member positioned rotatably in the valve body for controlling fluid flow in the main passageway, the valve member having a member passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the main passageway of the valve,   the member passageway having a first flow port at a first end of the member passageway and a second flow port at a second end of the member passageway, the first end spaced apart from the second end,   a ball check movably disposed within the valve member in the member passageway,   the valve member having a ball seat at the first flow port against which the ball check can seat to close off the member passageway to fluid flow to prevent fluid flow through the valve, and   the valve member having retaining structure at the second flow port to retain the ball check and prevent the ball check from exiting from the valve member through the second port.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the retaining structure is at least one projection projecting inwardly from the valve member. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the retaining structure is a plate secured to the valve member, the plate having open area through which fluid is flowable. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 3  further comprising a snap ring releasably securing the plate to the valve member. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the member passageway, the ball check, and the retaining structure are sized so that desired fluid flow is permitted through the valve and around the ball check. 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the valve member is selectively rotatable to
 a first position permitting fluid flow in a first direction through the valve from the first flow port to the second flow port, 
 a second position permitting fluid flow in a second direction through the valve from the second flow port to the first flow port, and 
 a third position in which the valve is closed to fluid flow. 
 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 6  wherein the ball check is movable to close off flow when the valve member is in one of the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 6  wherein the valve member is movable from the first position to the second position to cause fluid flowing in the valve to flush contaminants from within the valve. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the valve member is a ball valve member. 
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the valve member is a plug valve member. 
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the valve member is disposed between a top trunnion and a bottom trunnion, the trunnions for facilitating rotation of the valve member. 
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the valve member has a ball opening through which the ball check is insertable into the valve member and an insert for disposition in the ball opening to prevent the ball check from exiting from within the valve member. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 1  further comprising
 rotation structure exterior to the valve body and connected to the valve member for selectively rotating the valve member, and 
 stop structure on the valve body for limiting movement of the rotation structure. 
 
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 1  further comprising
 rotation structure exterior to the valve body and connected to the valve member for selectively rotating the valve member, and 
 locking structure for interacting with the rotation structure to lock the valve member is a selected position. 
 
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein
 the member passageway has a recess for holding the ball check when fluid is flowing through the valve. 
 
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein
 the member passageway and the main passageway are in alignment such that flowing fluid flows in one direction through the valve. 
 
     
     
         17 . A valve comprising
 a valve body with a main passageway therethrough for fluid flow through the valve,   a valve member positioned rotatably in the valve body for controlling fluid flow in the main passageway, the valve member having a member passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the main passageway of the valve,   the member passageway having a first flow port at a first end of the member passageway and a second flow port at a second end of the member passageway, the first end spaced apart from the second end,   a ball check movably disposed within the valve member in the member passageway,   the valve member having a ball seat at the first flow port against which the ball check can seat to close off the member passageway to fluid flow to prevent fluid flow through the valve,   the valve member having retaining structure at the second flow port to retain the ball check and prevent the ball check from exiting from the valve member through the second port,   the member passageway, the ball check, and the retaining structure sized so that desired fluid flow is permitted through the valve and around the ball check when the ball check is not seated against the ball seat,   the valve member is selectively rotatable to a first position permitting fluid flow in a first direction through the valve from the first flow port to the second flow port, a second position permitting fluid flow in a second direction through the valve from the second flow port to the first flow port, and a third position in which the valve is closed to fluid flow, and   the ball check movable to close off flow when the valve member is in one of the first position and the second position, and   the member passageway and the main passageway aligned so that flowing fluid flows in one direction through the valve.   
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 17  wherein the valve member is movable form the first position to the second position to cause fluid flowing in the valve to flush contaminants from within the valve. 
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 17  wherein
 the member passageway has a recess for holding the ball check when fluid is flowing through the valve. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling fluid flowing in a flow stream, the method comprising
 transmitting fluid in a flow stream to a valve to receive the flow stream, the valve comprising a valve body with a main passageway therethrough for fluid flow through the valve, a valve member positioned rotatably in the valve body for controlling fluid flow in the main passageway, the valve member having a member passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the main passageway of the valve, the member passageway having a first flow port at a first end of the member passageway and a second flow port at a second end of the member passageway, the first end spaced apart from the second end, a ball check movably disposed within the valve member in the member passageway, the valve member having a ball seat at the first flow port against which the ball check can seat to close off the member passageway to fluid flow to prevent fluid flow through the valve, and the valve member having retaining structure at the second flow port to retain the ball check and prevent the ball check from exiting from the valve member through the second port, and   selectively moving the valve member to a selected position to control flow of the fluid with the valve.