Abstract: A coupling for use in a rotary Ball valve having a spherical ball with a passageway therethrough controlling the flow of fluid through the valve. The coupling is particularly suited for use with non-metallic, for example, ceramic, spherical balls which are rotated by torque applied to a metallic actuator shaft extending from the valve body. The coupling includes a plurality of depressions and protrusions formed at the interface of the non-metallic and metallic components. The depressions and protrusions are positioned away from the central axis of the spherical ball. A cushion is interposed between the metallic and non-metallic components to further disperse the force applied to the non-metallic component so that as torque is applied to the shaft the non-metallic component is rotated without breakage thereof.

Abstract: A valve trim cage assembly for anti-cavitation control valves comprises a plurality of concentrically nested, cylindrical sleeves with fluid flow constricting annular channels defined between adjacent sleeves. Each sleeve has an indentical multiplicity of radial plenum holes contained therein which serve as expansion chambers, each plenum hole intersecting at least one flow constricting channel to provide tortuous fluid flow paths of alternating expansion plenum holes and constricted annular channels radially through the cage assembly. The cross sectional area of the channels increase from sleeve to sleeve in the direction of fluid flow to provide staged and gradually decreasing pressure reduction as the flow proceeds through the cage assembly. The area of the plenum holes is much greater than the total cross sectional area of all annular channels intersecting the plenum hole such that the channels are always flow restricting and the plenums are expansion chambers.