The Apollo 72-140 series carbon steel high-pressure two-piece inline ball valve has a lever handle and female National Pipe Taper (NPT) threads on both ends. The valve body is made of carbon steel for strength and greater hardness than stainless steel, and the ball and stem are made of stainless steel 316 for greater corrosion resistance than standard steel. This valve has a zinc-plated heavy duty steel lever handle with a vinyl sleeve for manual on/off control. Reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (RPTFE) seats reduce the risk of leakage. The valve (except for the 2-inch size) is full port for reduced friction; its inner diameter is the same as the inner diameter of the pipe it connects to for maximum operating efficiency. The 2-inch size valve is standard (or regular) port for reduced valve size and cost. This valve has a zinc phosphate coating for corrosion protection, and NPT threads for creating tighter seals than straight threads. The maximum pressure rating is 3000 pounds per square inch (gauge) (psig) for water, oil, and gas (WOG) and 150 psig for saturated steam, and the temperature range is -20 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This ball valve is for use in water lines, processing plants, and automotive applications and meets standard MSS SP-110 for quality assurance.
Ball valves use a spherical disc to control the flow between pipes, tubes, or hoses. Flow is allowed when the hole that pierces the ball-shaped disc is in line with the inlet and outlet of the valve. Flow is blocked when the ball is horizontally swiveled 90 degrees, so that the hole of the ball is perpendicular to the opening of the valve. Ball valves can be referred to as full port or reduced port (also known as regular or standard port) depending on the inner diameter of the valve. A ball valve is full port if the hole of the ball is the same size as the inner diameter of the connecting pipeline (resulting in lower friction) and is reduced port if the hole of the valve is one pipe size smaller than the pipe, resulting in less flow through the valve than through the shaft of the pipe. Ball valves may have a handle or lever that aligns with the ball’s position (open or closed) for manual operation. They are primarily used in air, gas, liquid, and steam applications.
Apollo manufactures ball, mixing, and relief valves, actuators, water gauges, marine fittings, heating and plumbing products, and backflow prevention devices. The company, founded in 1928 and headquartered in Matthews, NC, meets International Organization for Standardization ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and makes products that meet ISO and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.
