Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for determining the temperature of an operating fluid media in an HVAC system. An integral temperature sensor, mounted within an actuator of an actuator-driven HVAC valve, senses the temperature of a valve body of the HVAC valve. The temperature of a fluid media within the HVAC valve is determined from the temperature of the valve body. A processor within the actuator configures the actuator to function in either a direct acting mode, or alternatively in a reverse acting mode, as a function of the temperature of the valve body as sensed by the integral temperature sensor. The actuator is adapted for attachment to the HVAC valve in such a manner that the temperature sensor is placed in operative thermal contact with the valve body by the act of attaching the actuator to the HVAC valve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for reducing the torque required to reposition a valve member of a ball valve, by maintaining continuous fluid communication between a cavity surrounding the valve member and an upstream flow-through end of a valve body of the ball valve, regardless of the alignment of the valve member with respect to the upstream flow-through end of the valve body. The continuous fluid communication is provided by a seal bypass passage that is defined alternatively, by the valve body, an upstream seal, or by one or more holes passing through an outer wall of the valve member that faces toward the upstream flow-through end of the valve body when the valve member is in the closed position.