Water ball valve device: elements and principle of operation

There are water taps of various designs in every home. The most popular are ball mechanisms, invented 100 years ago. They are easy to install and affordable. The consumer is presented with a number of execution options with functional and design differences. You can handle the repair of all varieties with your own hands if you know the device of a ball-type water tap and its main parts.

Speaking of ball valves, it is worth separating the concepts of "water tap" and "mixer". Both varieties are united by a common structural element for them - a locking or regulating part in the form of a body of revolution of a rounded configuration.

Actions to shut off the pipeline or adjust the flow are performed by rotating this element around its conditional central axis.

A huge range of taps for water supply allows you to choose a device for any water supply system with optimal parameters and external design

Taps can either be installed between the elements of the water supply system, or be the end point of the pipeline. In the first case, the devices are called shut-off devices, and in the second they play the role of water-folding devices and most often are well-known mixers.

A mixer is a mechanism for mixing water and regulating its temperature, while a straight-through valve can only regulate the amount of pressure. Shut-off ball valves are divided into straight-through, i.e. installed in a straight section of the pipeline, angular, i.e. located in the section with a change in the direction of flow by 90º, and on a three-way, i. e. supplying flow to two inlets.

Due to the simplicity of the design, the ball valve rarely breaks down, it is extremely easy to repair and install

Valves with ball valves are used in water supply and heating circuits. According to the parameters of the throughput, the cranes used in thermal systems are divided into:

• Full bore... Ball devices, in which the diameter of the outlet of the ball plug, it is the gate, is equal to the diameter of the pipeline on which the valve is installed.
• Reduced. Plumbing fixtures in which the diameter of the outlet of the ball plug is less than the same size of the pipeline in most cases by one standard size.

Reduced-type cranes allow you to shut off the heating line quickly, but without the threat of water hammer formation.

By the type of connection to the water supply system:

• Threaded. Fittings with internal or external tapered or cylindrical threads. Mounted by screwing on sleeves or screwing in branch fittings. The most common type in public utilities is easy to install and allows for easy repairs.
• Combined. Devices equipped with internal and external threads. On the one hand, they are connected by means of a coupling with an internal thread, on the other with a nipple fitting.
• Welded... They are mounted by welding. With an impeccable design, the connections provide perfect tightness, do not require periodic adjustment of the position of the couplings, like the previous version. However, they are inconvenient to repair, because together with them it is necessary to dismantle part of the pipeline.
• Flanged. Installed with flanges on critical pipelines. They can be repeatedly dismantled with subsequent installation. Periodically check the bolt tightening of the flanges.

In autonomous water supply systems, conventional threaded devices are most often used, which make it possible to assemble a pipeline of any complexity from all known types of pipes or their combination.

Ball valves are produced with external and internal threads, allowing them to be connected to the pipeline by means of couplings or fittings (+)

By the type of housing:

• all-welded, the body of which is a single structure;
• collapsible, when the body elements are bolted together and can be easily disassembled.

The first type of products is considered the most reliable, but in the event of a malfunction, such a device cannot be repaired. Collapsible cranes are more likely to fail, but can be easily repaired.

By the type of liquid passed through:

• for cold water up to + 35º С;
• for hot water up to + 90º С.

The devices are controlled using a lever or butterfly valve. The choice of a valve with a specific control method depends on the location of the fittings and the preferences of the owner. Lever valves are often installed in the central sections of the pipeline, with "butterfly" - on the branches of the system.

Ball faucets are installed in kitchens, bathrooms and are the end points of the water supply system.

There are a lot of options for wiring the water supply system inside the house, but in all cases, ball valves are installed on the sites as shut-off valves (+)

The device and principle of operation of ball valves

The body of the shut-off device is a piece of pipe, expanded in the middle part. A seat made of sealing material is installed in the expansion, inside of which there is the main element - a ball, it is also a shutter or plug. The ball can rotate freely inside the seat. In the stop valves, it has only one through hole.

Regulators and flow diverting valves can have 2 or 3 holes. If the tap serves to regulate the pressure of hot or cold water, then there are two holes, if the device is a mixer, then there are three holes.

The ball valve is actuated by turning a lever to which a ball valve with a hole is connected through the stem. By expanding the hole relative to the axis of the pipeline, we open / close the passage to the medium or pass it partially

The principle of operation is very simple: when the axis of the hole in the ball is aligned with the axis of the valve body, water will begin to flow from it. Those. when the plug is deployed so that its hole coincides with the direction of the pipeline, as if continuing it. In this position, the flow of liquid, steam, gas passes through the pipeline, including through the valve, freely.

When the ball valve is turned 90º, the passage for water, steam, gas is blocked by the side on which there are no holes. In this position, the flow of the medium completely stops, because it abuts against the solid wall of the gate. However, this simple device can also regulate the flow parameters. At a 45º turn, for example, the current will only be half closed.

A rod connected to a lever is used to control the ball. O-rings are located on both sides of the stem. The hole in the body through which the stem passes is also equipped with a washer and an O-ring.

The single-lever ball mixer is equipped with a plug with two holes for the passage of cold and hot water and another hole for the outlet of the mixed jet (+)

Ball valves are made of brass or various steel grades. Brass devices are considered more reliable, their service life exceeds 10 years. Steel products are very rarely used in everyday life, mainly used for industrial pipeline systems.

More recently, manufacturers have begun to produce taps, the body of which is made of high-strength plastic. Unlike brass devices, such devices are not subject to corrosion and are much cheaper. The only drawback of plastic products is that they cannot be used for hot water.

All O-rings are made of high-density rubber, these are the "weakest" points of the valve, which cause leaks, but can be easily replaced using a conventional repair kit

These cranes are most widely used in everyday life. A feature of their design is that the ball is not rigidly connected to the stem and can move under the action of water, pressing against the O-ring, thus sealing the valve. The floating ball is used in mechanisms whose nominal size does not exceed 20 cm. Such devices are installed in internal water and heat supply systems. A floating ball mechanism is also installed in almost all domestic and imported household faucets.

The body of cranes with a floating ball can be either welded or dismountable. Sealing elements can be of different hardness. Small household appliances are usually collapsible and have soft seals.

Floating gate valves are installed on lines with a diameter of up to 200 mm with a constant movement of the working medium. The ball under the pressure of the medium is pressed against the sealing rings, sealing the valve (+)

There are valves in which the shut-off element is fixed on the axis of the stem, and the seals are pressed against the ball using tie bolts or springs. The trunnion is equipped with bearings to facilitate closing / opening. This design is the most reliable, but due to its high cost, it is used extremely rarely in everyday life and usually in the most critical areas of the water supply system.

Ball valves marking

Each manufacturer has its own range of manufactured valves, but all Russian-made products, as well as imported devices sold on the territory of the Russian Federation, comply with GOST 52760. This standard regulates the marking of shut-off and control equipment, which includes ball valves. The marking must include:

• nominal bore (nominal diameter), designated by the abbreviation DN;
• nominal pressure indicator - PN;
• the value of the design (working) pressure;
• an arrow indicating the direction of movement of the water;
• maximum operating temperature;
• release date.

In accordance with GOST 4666, devices made of cast iron are black, stainless steel - blue (blue). Hot water taps are marked in red.

Today, more than four thousand standard sizes of cranes are produced for various needs; devices of small diameter are used in domestic water supply systems (+)

Installation and operation of cranes

The ball faucet device makes it easy to install it yourself wherever you need it. The crane must be installed in such a place that during operation it does not interfere and is not subjected to mechanical stress. At the same time, unimpeded access to the crane should be provided in case of operation control, correction of removable damage and dismantling if replacement is necessary.

The locking device is mounted on metal or plastic pipes according to the following algorithm:

1. The old tap is removed (if any), the thread is cleaned from the remains of tow and sealant.
2. A tight winding of the thread seal is made.
3. A new, suitable locking device is screwed on. Please note that the thread on which the product is screwed must not be rotten, it must have at least four turns. Otherwise, it is necessary to replace the entire pipe or part of it.

When installing a water supply system from scratch, first of all, it is necessary to outline the place where the tap will be mounted. Then the pipe is cut at this point, a corresponding thread is made, onto which the locking device is screwed.

In both cases, before installation, pay attention to the arrow indicating the direction of flow and be sure to observe this condition. Before screwing on the tap, it is recommended to wrap the thread with FUM tape. This will provide the most reliable sealing possible.

After installation, it is necessary to check the functionality of the locking device. To do this, you need to turn on the water and check for leaks, gradual formation of drops, smudges. It is also necessary to make sure that nothing interferes with the control of the crane, i.e. the lever or "butterfly" has a free play.

Electric welding is used to mount the device by welding. During the welding process, it is important not to damage the ball mechanism and O-rings. First, one branch pipe is welded, then the second, while in vertical sections the valve should be installed in the "closed" position, and on horizontal sections - "open".

Using a fitting and a lock nut, the ball valve can be installed not only on a metal or plastic pipe, but also to connect pipes made of different materials

The operation of ball mechanisms is not difficult, they are used either in a closed or open state. It is theoretically possible to regulate water supply using a ball valve. However, it should be borne in mind that such a valve is, first of all, a shut-off device and too intensive operation will lead to rapid wear of the seals. It is best to use ball mixers or a needle valve for flow control if the mixer cannot be installed.

Household taps must not be installed where industrial water containing solid impurities passes through the pipes, because they will quickly damage the O-rings, causing the locking device to fail.

Before buying ball control valves for a water supply device, you need to check the plan and determine how many pass-through and swivel pieces are required (+)

Advantages and disadvantages of ball valves

Ball valves are very popular in a wide variety of areas of the economy. They are considered reliable locking devices, are part of the water supply system of a city apartment and a private house. In addition to the reliability and simplicity of the design, products of this type have many other advantages:

• large working resource, long service life;
• rarely break down, easily repaired;
• high degree of tightness, with proper installation, there are no leaks at all;
• convenient use, to shut off the water flow, it is enough to turn or press the lever;
• a huge range of sizes and types;
• ease of installation, you can install it yourself without involving a plumber.

Ball valves have no drawbacks, they are affordable, and each hardware store will offer you several different sizes to choose from. A ball valve mixer will save its owners from the time-consuming and frequent replacement of gaskets, as well as the problems with water leaks that are so common with outdated valve taps.

Ball mixers very rarely fail, the main cause of breakdown is hard water, therefore manufacturers recommend installing water filters in the water supply system

How to choose a ball valve?

As already mentioned, modern manufacturers produce more than 4 thousand different types of ball valves, therefore, for an unprepared buyer, choosing a locking device is a difficult task. When choosing a mechanism, in addition to the main parameter - the throughput diameter, you should pay attention to the following factors:

1. Appearance. A high-quality product has no chips, notches, dents. Its surface is flat, the manufacturer's markings are clearly visible.
2. Allowable pressure. Of the two options, it is better to choose the valve, the maximum allowable pressure, which will be higher. Please note that this indicator for hot water should be at least 20 kg / cm², for cold water - at least 10 kg / cm². The higher the allowable pressure, the better the product will withstand water hammer that periodically occurs in the pipeline.
3. Case execution... To connect household appliances, shower cabins, wiring the water supply system inside the house, it is better to give preference to simpler and more maintainable collapsible taps. For the most critical areas, such as a central water supply, an all-welded body would be the best option.
4. Body material. The highest quality products are made from brass. Be careful! Disguised as a brass faucet, you may be sold a fake silumin, a cheap, low-quality metal. You can identify a fake by weight: a brass faucet is heavy.

Steel products look solid, but they quickly rust and fail. Of course, this does not apply to devices made of "stainless steel", which, however, are quite rare. If only cold water will pass through the tap, then you can choose a plastic product.

To shut off the flow in non-pressure and low-pressure systems transporting drinking water, household non-caustic and storm drains, ball valves made of unplasticized PVC can be used

When choosing a crane, be guided by the average price, too low a cost should alert, because you are probably offered a marriage or a fake made of cheap steel.

As for the cost of ball valves, the most expensive devices are Made in Italy. Spanish, Czech, Hungarian devices are slightly lower in cost. Russian and Ukrainian manufacturers occupy an average price niche, combining quality and reasonable cost.

The most expensive and durable ball valves are made of brass, coated with a chrome or nickel layer, such devices can be operated for a long time at temperatures above one hundred degrees.

The cheapest are traditionally Chinese-made products. The quality of Chinese mechanisms leaves much to be desired, they can only be used as temporary locking devices.

Ball valves videos

Detailed instructions for installing ball valves in steps:

Ball faucet problems:

The ball valve is a useful invention that has greatly simplified the design of a safe water supply system. Installation is hassle-free, no need to call a plumber or use a complex tool. Familiarization with the device of different types of ball faucet will help you to perform a number of simple repair operations with your own hands without the involvement of plumbers.