Abstract: A valve particularly intended to act as a water key for a musical wind instrument comprises a ball 17 captively mounted inside a housing 15 and a spring 18 which biases the ball 17 into an inlet aperture 12 of the valve. An annular actuator 20 extends around the housing 15 and comprises a plurality of projections 21 which extend radially inwardly through the housing 15, the inner ends of the projections 21 surrounding the ball 17. In use, when the actuator 20 is pushed in any radial direction, the projections 21 dislodge the ball 17 from the inlet aperture 12 to open the valve and to allow fluid to pass into the valve through the inlet aperture 12 and out an aperture 16 in the valve, When the actuator 20 is released, the ball 17 returns to its normal position under the spring bias to close the aperture 12. The valve is simple in construction and provides a reliable seal when closed, which is not prone to wear.

Abstract: A valve particularly intended to act as a water key for a musical wind instrument comprises a ball 17 captively mounted inside a housing 15 and a spring 18 which biases the ball 17 into an inlet aperture 12 of the valve. An annular actuator 20 extends around the housing 15 and comprises a plurality of projections 21 which extend radially inwardly through the housing 15, the inner ends of the projections 21 surrounding the ball 17.