When you choose components for your fluid or pneumatic systems, you may have the choice of more than one valve type. For example, some applications may work with gate, needle, or check valves, while others may work best with plastic or brass ball valve applications. Ball valves offer many benefits, and they may be perfect for your needs. Let’s discover some of the things they can do.
How Do Ball Valves Work?
Ball valves work with just one-fourth of a turn. A typical plastic or brass ball valve assembly has a handle with inlet and outlet sides. The handle is connected to a stem that connects to a round ball. The ball (with a hole in the middle) is the perfect size to form a seal inside the chamber. When you turn the handle, the ball rotates, and the hole allows fluid through. Return the handle to its original position, and the ball rotates, closing off the flow of fluid.
Types of Ball Valves
Ball valves can be operated manually or automatically. For example, a check valve uses a ball mechanism and a spring which only allows fluid to enter the inlet port. When flow stops, the spring forces the ball against the housing and seals it off.
Benefits
You can find a quality plastic or brass ball valve for an affordable price at many suppliers. However, the best suppliers are manufacturers that also can produce custom valves for your business. Here are more benefits.
Size
Ball valves don’t take up a lot of room, and their design can help you save space. This is an important consideration for many industrial applications today.
Ease of Use
Ball valves are simple to use, and because they only require one-fourth of a turn, they can be operated quickly. There is no need to spend time twisting the handle.