Ball Shutoff Valve for TNT?

[npalen]

3/8" NPT CARBON STEEL 7250 PSI BALL VALVE
Hi guys. Was wondering about adding one of these to the rod end port of the top cylinder on the 3PH assuming that it is zero leakage. Wanting to prevent leakdown and thinking that it might also be useful to control flow rate. Is using a ball valve for flow control useful and trouble free?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

While it should work fine to lock the cylinder in place, I believe that you would find it just about impossible to really use it for flow control. You are way better off with a simple flow restrictor.

 

[bandaidmd]

While it should work fine to lock the cylinder in place, I believe that you would find it just about impossible to really use it for flow control. You are way better off with a simple flow restrictor.

I was also thinking of using a ball valve to "lock" in the tilt when not really using that feature.

hey Brian whats your thoughts about this , How about a ball valve with the ball cross drilled as a restrictor ? Thinking of this as a way to smooth out the loader when using the pallet forts and or a boom pole. The open position would work as normal but the closed position would expose the drilled/restricted section of the ball.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I was also thinking of using a ball valve to "lock" in the tilt when not really using that feature.

hey Brian whats your thoughts about this , How about a ball valve with the ball cross drilled as a restrictor ? Thinking of this as a way to smooth out the loader when using the pallet forts and or a boom pole. The open position would work as normal but the closed position would expose the drilled/restricted section of the ball.

I think that the ball is hardened, and would be VERY difficult to drill that small of a hole in it. Good idea, but very hard to do You could plumb it up to work how you want it though.

 

[bandaidmd]

Good point ,i think i have a old one laying around somewhere that i might run a test on.

It looks like a eyeball maybe the eye surgery center will laser it for me.

 

[J_J]

Why not use something like this.

A needle valve that will let you adjust the flow, or shut off the flow.

3/8 NPT 8 GPM PRINCE WFC-600 IN-LINE FLOW CONTROL

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Why not use something like this.

A needle valve that will let you adjust the flow, or shut off the flow.

3/8 NPT 8 GPM PRINCE WFC-600 IN-LINE FLOW CONTROL

JJ, just curious. Have you or do you use the needle valves? I had them on my smaller tractor for the T&T and they were a pain. But maybe it was just me. All I know is that I did not like them and by far prefer the flow restrictors.

 

[J_J]

There are two types of needle valves. Some restrict in only one direction and full flow in reverse flow.

One might be concerned with how fast a grapple closes, but don't care how fast it opens.

Another type restricts in both directions.

With a set restrictor, the flow is set, and you are limited to that flow.

Using a washer restrictor, you can't shut anything off, and you have to figure out the correct flow. However, they are the cheapest way to restrict anything.

So I think the needle valve serves both functions well.

Some of the needle valves even have color bands so you can return to the previous setting.

A hole in a washer is an orifice, and the needle valve is a variable orifice.

A ball valve is a quick way to open/close a hyd circuit, and does serve a purpose.

 

[npalen]

I was also thinking of using a ball valve to "lock" in the tilt when not really using that feature.

hey Brian whats your thoughts about this , How about a ball valve with the ball cross drilled as a restrictor ? Thinking of this as a way to smooth out the loader when using the pallet forts and or a boom pole. The open position would work as normal but the closed position would expose the drilled/restricted section of the ball.

That's thinking outside the box--adding the restrictor hole! The ball is probably hardened, as Brian mentions, and also chrome plated. I imagine that the hole would require a very smooth chamfer at both ends so as to not damage the packing when it "goes by". I have seen, however, rephrasing hydraulic cylinders with a hole drilled thru the barrel wall with a cap welded over the hole(s). This is probably an even more severe application as the pistons seals go back and forth over the hole while under high pressure. I believe it was the Cessna AG cylinders back in the 70's that had a coined indentation inside the bore for the same purpose.

 

[bandaidmd]

Why not use something like this.

A needle valve that will let you adjust the flow, or shut off the flow.

3/8 NPT 8 GPM PRINCE WFC-600 IN-LINE FLOW CONTROL

maybe one of those color coded ones would work but i wouldn't want the hassle of adjusting it each time i wanted to slow down the flow.