Ball valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11732813-B2
Application number	US-202217567983-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2022
Priority date	Jan 4, 2021
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A dielectric insulating insert arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a ball shaft of a motorised ball valve assembly. The insert includes a body of dielectric material to form an insulating layer and having opposing sides from each of which extends an engagement portion having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the ball shaft in torque transfer engagement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dielectric insulating insert arranged to be positioned between a drive shaft and a ball shaft of a motorised ball valve assembly, the insert comprising:
a substrate having opposing sides from each of which extends an engagement portion having a non-circular cross-section and configured to engage, respectively, with the drive shaft and the ball shaft in torque transfer engagement, wherein the engagement portions define a series of lobes;
a dielectric layer formed on the substrate; and
an outer adhesive layer formed on over the dielectric layer on the engagement portions.

2. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the outer adhesive layer is formed of an elastic adhesive.

3. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises aluminium.

4. The insert of claim 3 , wherein the dielectric material comprises a plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) aluminium layer on the substrate.

5. A ball shaft assembly comprising:
a ball shaft; and
an insert as claimed in claim 1 fitted to the ball shaft.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a motor arranged to drive the ball shaft via the drive shaft, the insert located between and in torque transfer engagement with the ball shaft and the drive shaft.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a handle to manually rotate the ball shaft.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the motor is an electric motor.

9. A water supply system comprising:
a ball shaft assembly comprising:
a ball shaft; and
an insert as claimed in claim 1 fitted to the ball shaft.

10. The water supply system of claim 9 , being an aircraft water supply system.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Turek Lukasz
• Sapija Dariusz
• Niewodniczanski Mikolaj
• Zajac Piotr

Classifications

• F16K5/0694 Primary

  Spindle sealings · CPC title

• F16K5/0647 Primary

  Spindles or actuating means · CPC title

• F16K5/0657

  Particular coverings or materials · CPC title

• F16K31/041

  for rotating valves (F16K31/055 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title