Hit parade of unique ball valves. Part 1

People have always loved different comparisons and top-lists. There are lists of the best films, ratings of household appliances and so on. So I decided to organize a chart of ball valves of unusual design. So, let's go.

Opens the rating company Bugatti with its valve series Eco-Green.

Ball valve Eco-Green Bugatti

The uniqueness of the product is that its design provides a built-in protection against the development of Legionella bacteria. The shutter element has two holes.

Perforation of Eco-Green ball valve from Bugatti

A part of the working environment passes through them. Thus, performing washing of the stagnant zone under the ball. This zone is a "storehouse" of bacteria. Also, the perforation increases the resistance to rupture of the housing from freezing. Since there is a connection of this same zone with the main space. Expansion from frozen water does not act on the body, but is compensated through the holes. This allows the valve to be operated at an ambient temperature of -20 ° C.

   Number 2 is the valve of the TajoPRO series from the Spanish company ARCO.

TajoPRO from the Spanish company ARCO

Very often installed ball valves remain in a state of inactivity for a long period. Especially it concerns the main valves in the service rooms. And as you know, any ball valve must be turned at least once in 1-2 months. Since there is a danger of "boiling" of the shutter. Accordingly, after a long idle time, a stall occurs when attempting to shut off the valve.

Again, this is possible in systems with a working environment of increased rigidity.

ARCO offers a solution to these problems. The designers of the company developed a crane with two levers. Due to this, the load is rotated into two axes when the shutter is rotated. And the probability of kink of the rod equated almost to zero.

The next exhibit is a product from the company Rubinetteries Bresciane series Eurofly. This valve is not quite a ball. Since the gate element is not a ball, but a disk. This is its peculiarity.

Disk valve

This is the company's proprietary development, which is part of the Bonomi group. This design provides the following advantages:

- Absence of stagnant zones allows to completely removing liquid from the product, preventing freezing;

- The special design of the handle allows smooth closing of the valve. This reduces the likelihood of a water hammer;

- Allows regulating the flow of passing liquid in the required position;

- There is protection against accidental opening / closing.

This model is available in sizes from ½ "to 4".

The next chart's representative is the ball valve of the American company Apollo. Namely, a 5-way crane. The series 78-124 and 78-125.

Many engineers and installers use three-way valves. But five-way - it's decidedly unusual. Apollo is the US market leader. And here such product is supplemented by its large assortment.

Five-way valve Apollo

And today closes the list of the valve from the heart of Europe - a gas cock series Flexum from the Hungarian manufacturer Mofem. Founded back in the distant 1900, the enterprise for a long time specialized in the production of stop valves. Now the main specialization is the production of faucets for the TEKA brand. Nevertheless, the Hungarians can boast something.

This ball valve has a number of unique features. Firstly, it does not consist of two half-hulls. In addition, from a single whole. This solution increases the reliability of the product.

Gas valve with thermostatic set Mofem

Secondly, the valve is equipped with a thermostatic valve for gas supply systems. This is one of the elements of fire safety. The valve is open at an ambient temperature of up to 95 ° C. When it reaches 100 ° C, the device is triggered. In addition, for a short period it blocks the flow of gas.

At the finish, I'll sum up the subtotals. So, in the list are:

 - Ball valve ECO-GREEN series of the Italian company Bugatti with a perforated valve element;

- Ball valve series TajoPRO company ARCO with a double handle;

- Disk valve series Eurofly production plant group Bonomi;

- Concern Apollo and its 5-way cranes of series 78-124 and 78-125;

- Gas ball valve series Flexum, produced in Hungary by Mofem with a single body and thermostatic valve.

To be continued...