Methods of use & valves with multi-directional ball check

Abstract

A method for controlling fluid flow in a stream, the method including using a valve, the 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; and such a method for producing an exit stream from a valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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 ball valve, the ball 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 comprising a ball,   the ball having a ball passageway therethrough and the ball positionable in fluid communication with the main passageway of the valve,   the ball passageway having a first flow port at a first end of the ball passageway and a second flow port at a second end of the ball passageway, the first end spaced apart from the second end,   a ball check movably disposed within the ball in the ball passageway, the ball check having a maximum diameter,   the ball having a ball seat against which the ball check can seat to close off the ball passageway to fluid flow to prevent fluid flow through the first flow port,   the main passageway of the body having a flow portion between the first flow port and the ball check, the flow portion having a flow portion dimension, the flow portion dimension smaller than the maximum diameter of the ball check so that the ball check is not passable through the flow portion and is not passable out of the ball,   the ball member having retaining structure at the second flow port to retain the ball check and prevent the ball check from exiting from the ball member through the second flow port, the retaining structure secured to the ball,   the ball positionable in three positions, the three positions including a first position, a second position, and a third position, each of the three positions different from the other two positions, the ball selectively rotatable to one of the three positions,   the first position different from the second position, the first position different from the third position and comprising a run position in which the ball is positioned permitting fluid flow in a first direction through the valve from the first flow port to the second flow port and fluid flow in a second direction through the valve from the second flow port to the first flow port,   the second position different from the first position, the second position different from the third position, the second position comprising a bypass position in which the ball is positioned permitting fluid flow in the second direction through the valve from the second flow port to the first flow port, and   the third position different from the second position, the third position different from the first position, the third position comprising a closed position in which the ball is positioned to close the valve to fluid flow,   wherein the ball 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 in both the first position and in the second position,   wherein the retaining structure is a plate secured within the ball, the plate having a shape that is generally a flat cylinder, the plate having open area through which fluid flowing through the ball passageway is flowable,   the plate further comprising   a ring and a central member, the central member extending across the ring, and   the open area comprising two opposed flow openings, each flow opening between a portion of the ring and a portion of the central member, and   selectively controlling the valve to control a flow of fluid in the flow stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the valve further comprising
 a stem, a portion of the stem extending through the valve body and rotatable therein, the stem having an end,   the ball having a recess for receiving and holding the end of the stem,   the end of the stem within the recess.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , the valve further comprising
 the ball valve comprising a trunnion ball valve,   the trunnion ball valve having a trunnion structure enabling rotation of the ball,   the trunnion structure comprising an upper trunnion and a lower trunnion,   the ball having an upper bore, the upper trunnion having a lower end, the lower end disposed within the upper bore,
 the ball having a lower bore, the lower trunnion having an upper end, the upper end disposed within the lower bore. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the valve further comprising
 the retaining structure is a plate secured within the ball, the plate having a shape that is generally a flat cylinder, the plate having an open area through which fluid flowing through the ball passageway is flowable.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the valve further comprising
 a groove in the ball,   a clip in the groove holding the plate within the ball.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , the valve further comprising
 the clip is a snap ring that holds the plate in place.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , the valve further comprising
 the snap ring is an open ring.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the valve further comprising
 the ball 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 method of  claim 1 , the valve further comprising
 the ball is movable from the first position to the second position to cause fluid flowing in the valve to flush contaminants from within the valve.   
     
     
         10 . 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, he valve comprising a ball valve,   the ball 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 comprising a ball, 
   the ball having a ball passageway therethrough and the ball positionable in fluid communication with the main passageway of the valve,   the ball passageway having a first flow port at a first end of the ball passageway and a second flow port at a second end of the ball passageway, the first end spaced apart from the second end,   a ball check movably disposed within the ball in the ball passageway, the ball check having a maximum diameter,   the ball having a ball seat against which the ball check can seat to close off the ball passageway to fluid flow to prevent fluid flow through the first flow port,   the main passageway of the body having a flow portion between the first flow port and the ball check, the flow portion having a flow portion dimension, the flow portion dimension smaller than the maximum diameter of the ball check so that the ball check is not passable through the flow portion and is not passable out of the ball,   the ball having retaining structure at the second flow port to retain the ball check and prevent the ball check from exiting from the ball through the second flow port, the retaining structure secured to the ball,   the ball positionable in three positions, the three positions including a first position, a second position, and a third position, each of the three positions different from the other two positions, the ball selectively rotatable to one of the three positions,   the first position different from the second position, the first position different from the third position and comprising a run position in which the ball is positioned permitting fluid flow in a first direction through the valve from the first flow port to the second flow port and fluid flow in a second direction through the valve from the second flow port to the first flow port,   the second position different from the first position, the second position different from the third position, the second position comprising a bypass position in which the ball is positioned permitting fluid flow in the second direction through the valve from the second flow port to the first flow port, and   the third position different from the second position, the third position different from the first position, the third position comprising a closed position in which the ball is positioned to close the valve to fluid flow,   wherein the ball 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 in both the first position and in the second position,   wherein the ball is movable from the first position to the second position to cause fluid flowing in the valve to flush contaminants from within the valve,   the retaining structure comprising a plate and a guide seat, the guide seat projecting inwardly from the ball passageway,   the guide seat having an inner surface, part of the inner surface defining an end of a recess, and   part of the plate abutting part of the guide seat, and   selectively controlling the valve to control a flow of fluid in the flow stream.   
     
     
         11 . A method for producing an exit stream, the exit stream comprising a stream exiting a valve, the method comprising
 transmitting fluid in a flow stream to a valve to receive the fluid,   controlling the fluid from the flow stream using the valve, and   selectively operating the valve to produce the exit stream that flows from the valve,   the valve comprising a ball valve,   the ball 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 comprising a ball,   the ball having a ball passageway therethrough and the ball positionable in fluid communication with the main passageway of the valve,   the ball passageway having a first flow port at a first end of the ball passageway and a second flow port at a second end of the ball passageway, the first end spaced apart from the second end,   a ball check movably disposed within the ball in the ball passageway, the ball check having a maximum diameter,   the ball having a ball seat against which the ball check can seat to close off the ball passageway to fluid flow to prevent fluid flow through the first flow port,   the main passageway of the body having a flow portion between the first flow port and the ball check, the flow portion having a flow portion dimension, the flow portion dimension smaller than the maximum diameter of the ball check so that the ball check is not passable through the flow portion and is not passable out of the ball,   the ball member having retaining structure at the second flow port to retain the ball check and prevent the ball check from exiting from the ball member through the second flow port, the retaining structure secured to the ball,   the ball positionable in three positions, the three positions including a first position, a second position, and a third position, each of the three positions different from the other two positions, the ball selectively rotatable to one of the three positions,   the first position different from the second position, the first position different from the third position and comprising a run position in which the ball is positioned permitting fluid flow in a first direction through the valve from the first flow port to the second flow port and fluid flow in a second direction through the valve from the second flow port to the first flow port,   the second position different from the first position, the second position different from the third position, the second position comprising a bypass position in which the ball is positioned permitting fluid flow in the second direction through the valve from the second flow port to the first flow port, and   the third position different from the second position, the third position different from the first position, the third position comprising a closed position in which the ball is positioned to close the valve to fluid flow,   wherein the ball 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 in both the first position and in the second position,   wherein the retaining structure is a plate secured within the ball, the plate having a shape that is generally a flat cylinder, the plate having open area through which fluid flowing through the ball passageway is flowable,   the plate further comprising   a ring and a central member, the central member extending across the ring, and   the open area comprising two opposed flow openings, each flow opening between a portion of the ring and a portion of the central member.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the valve further comprising
 a stem, a portion of the stem extending through the valve body and rotatable therein, the stem having an end,   the ball having a recess for receiving and holding the end of the stem,   the end of the stem within the recess.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , the valve further comprising
 the ball valve comprising a trunnion ball valve,   the trunnion ball valve having a trunnion structure enabling rotation of the ball,   the trunnion structure comprising an upper trunnion and a lower trunnion,   the ball having an upper bore, the upper trunnion having a lower end, the lower end disposed within the upper bore-,   the ball having a lower bore, the lower trunnion having an upper end, the upper end disposed within the lower bore.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , the valve further comprising
 the retaining structure is a plate secured within the ball, the plate having a shape that is generally a flat cylinder, the plate having an open area through which fluid flowing through the ball passageway is flowable.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the valve further comprising
 a groove in the ball,   a clip in the groove holding the plate within the ball.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the valve further comprising
 the clip is a snap ring that holds the plate in place.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the valve further comprising
 the snap ring is an open ring.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , the valve further comprising
 the ball is movable from the first position to the second position to cause fluid flowing in the valve to flush contaminants from within the valve.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , the valve further comprising
 the ball is movable from the first position to the second position to cause fluid flowing in the valve to flush contaminants from within the valve.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising
 selectively rotating the ball so that the exit stream exits the valve from one of either the first flow port or the second flow port.