It is an object of the present invention to provide a Ball Valves, having a one-piece body and a valve member of composite construction, which is free from the above noted disadvantage and in which the stem sealing means can readily be serviced without disconnecting the valve from the installation in which it is fitted and whilst the valve is under internal fluid pressure.

According to the invention there is provided a Ball Valves comprising a single-piece body having a first axis and a second axis transverse to said first axis, the body having an inlet and an outlet opening aligned along said first axis of said body, a chamber defined within said body intermediate said inlet and outlet openings and communicating therewith, a ball-shaped valve member disposed in said chamber and having a passage extending therethrough, means supporting said valve member for rotation in said chamber, about said second axis of said body, between a position in which said passage extends in alignment with said inlet and outlet openings along said first axis and a position in which said passage extends transversely to said first axis and said valve member cuts off said inlet opening from said outlet opening, the valve further including an operating stem for said valve member, a stem passage being formed through said body along said second axis, an operating stem for said valve member, means mounting said stem for rotation in said body about said second axis, interengaging coupling means on said stem and said valve member entraining said valve member for rotation with said stem, abutment means on said stem for preventing, by engagement with abutment means on said body, removal of said stem from said body by movement of the stem axially from the body along said second axis, said stem, from said abutment means thereon to the end of the stem outside the body part, being of a size to pass along the stem passage past said abutment means on said body, whereby in assembly of the valve said stem can be fitted into said stem passage by passing the stem through one of said openings into said chamber and extending the stem through said stem passage from the interior of said chamber, the valve further including sealing means for sealing said valve stem with respect to the body,BALL VALVES said sealing means being disposed on the side of said abutment means further from said chamber and being accessible from the exterior of said body whereby, in use, said sealing means can be replaced without disconnecting the valve body from any associated pipe fittings while the stem is prevented from blowing out of the valve body by said abutment means on the stem and body.

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