Abstract: A ball valve has a valve body with a bonnet bore communicating with a through fluid bore. An unyielding valve seat is fixed in the valve body at a location surrounding the axis of the fluid bore. A bonnet with a stem bore extending therethrough is received in the bonnet bore. The bonnet is adjustable within the bonnet bore to shift the axis of the stem bore transversely with respect to the fluid bore axis. A stem is rotatably received in the stem bore. A ball with a passageway extending therethrough is carried by the stem and located in the through fluid bore. The center of the ball is offset with respect to the rotational axis of the stem. During initial assembly of the valve components, the ball is located in a closed position against the seat by selected adjustment of the bonnet in the bonnet bore coupled with rotation of the stem. The bonnet is then fixed in the bonnet bore.

Abstract: This invention relates to a ball valve having a valve body with a bonnet bore communicating with a through fluid bore. A valve seat in the valve body surrounds the fluid bore axis. A bonnet with a stem bore extending therethrough is received in the bonnet bore. An operating stem is journalled for rotation in the stem bore. A ball is connected to the stem and located in the fluid bore. The ball has a through passageway. Rotation of the stem causes the ball to rotate eccentrically between an open position at which the ball is spaced from the valve seat with its through passageway aligned with the fluid bore, and a closed position at which the ball blocks the fluid bore by being wedged into sealing engagement with the valve seat. The ball is externally contoured to provide both a clearance from the valve body to accommodate its eccentric rotation, and a stop which is engageable with the valve body to positively locate the ball in its open position.

Abstract: For use in an air brake system for a railroad car having at least three pipe sections, a valve and actuator assembly manually operable from opposite sides of the car for selectively interconnecting the pipe sections, having a valve housing with three ports leading to an interior valve chamber containing a ball element. The ports are adapted for connection to the pipe sections and the ball element is rotatable within the valve chamber about the axis of an operating stem which protrudes to the exterior of the valve housing. The ball element has communicating passages arranged to communicate with the ports in any one of four different combinations depending on the rotative displacement of the ball element. The ports not communicating with ball element passages are closed. An actuator housing is attached to the valve housing and defines an actuator chamber separate from the valve chamber.