Abstract: A rotary ball valve assembly including an elongate valve body, a first passage having a transverse pin and an elongate key of a rotatable actuator extending therein, a lower valve seat, and a ball member resting on the lower valve seat. A pair of slots are formed on the exterior of the ball member normal to the longitudinal axis of the passage extending therethrough, which slidably engage the pin and key when the ball member rests on the lower valve seat. By rotating the ball member one quarter turn by the key of the actuator the ball member is moved downwardly to compress the elastomeric ring which partially defines the lower seat. An upper ring shaped valve seat is disposed on the first passage above the ball member. The upper surface of the valve seat is in abutting contact with a segmented ring that has an upwardly and inwardly tapered external side surface and an internal side surface that tapers upwardly and outwardly.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for hydraulically actuated devices is disclosed herein. The mechanism includes a slotted lock shaft coaxially mounted with respect to a piston assembly, the piston assembly being disposed in a hydraulic cylinder. The lock shaft has end faces or shoulders which engage a portion of a shaft associated with the piston assembly to lock the piston assembly and the ram shaft in a predetermined position. The lock shaft has a configured surface which cooperates with a configured surface of the piston assembly for unlocking the mechanism. The locking mechanism is described for use with a ram type blowout preventer but can be used with various types of hydraulically actuated devices.