One of the most widely-used devices in hydraulics is the ball valve. While many people are unfamiliar with the name, this piece of equipment touches everyone’s life in countless ways. The ball valve, in its many variations, appears in plumbing controls, hydraulic pressure gauges, vacuum pressure gauges and innumerable other devices.

In the simplest form, the ball valve consists of a spherical chamber containing a metal ball with a hole in it. This ball can be turned by an external handle or some other control. The valve is placed in a pipe carrying water or some other fluid. When the ball is turned so that its hole lined up with the pipe, the fluid can flow through. When it is turned the other way, the fluid is blocked. This type of valve has the advantage of being fully workable even when it has been in one position for many years.

For instance, one of the most common uses for this device is as a cutoff valve for a building’s water supply. In this application, the valve may stay in the open position for decades, only needing to be turned off for very rare repairs. Ball valves are perfect for this purpose because they will operate easily and achieve full cutoff regardless of how long they have been open. This durability is greatest with stainless steel ball valves.

Shoppers looking for a ball valve or any other piece of quality hydraulic equipment can find everything they need at DirectMaterial.com