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US20100327196A1 - Purging Mechanism for a Hemi-Wedge Valve ...

Author: Hou

Jul. 07, 2025

USA1 - Purging Mechanism for a Hemi-Wedge Valve ...

USA1 - Purging Mechanism for a Hemi-Wedge Valve - Google Patents

Purging Mechanism for a Hemi-Wedge Valve Download PDF

Info

Publication number: USA1
Authority: US; United States
Prior art keywords: fluid; valve; outlet; housing; hemi
Prior art date: -06-30
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.): Abandoned

Application number

US12/495,360

Inventor

Thomas G. Hill, Jr.

William C. Rhinehart

Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)

Innovex Downhole Solutions Inc

Original Assignee

Tejas Res and Engr LP

Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)

-06-30

Filing date

-06-30

Publication date

-12-30

-06-30 Application filed by Tejas Res and Engr LP filed Critical Tejas Res and Engr LP

-06-30 Priority to US12/495,360 priority Critical patent/USA1/en

-07-08 Assigned to TEJAS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING, LP reassignment TEJAS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING, LP ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HILL, THOMAS G., JR, MR., RHINEHART, WILLIAM C., MR.

-12-30 Publication of USA1 publication Critical patent/USA1/en

-04-25 Assigned to TEAM OIL TOOLS, LP reassignment TEAM OIL TOOLS, LP CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TEJAS RESEARCH & ENGINEERING, LP, TEJAS COMPLETION SOLUTIONS, LP

-05-22 Assigned to CAPITAL ONE LEVERAGE FINANCE CORP. reassignment CAPITAL ONE LEVERAGE FINANCE CORP. SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: TEAM OIL TOOLS, L.P.

-11-09 Assigned to TEAM OIL TOOLS, L.P. reassignment TEAM OIL TOOLS, L.P. RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CAPITAL ONE BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION

Status Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Images

Classifications

- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K1/00—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
- F16K1/24—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with valve members that, on opening of the valve, are initially lifted from the seat and next are turned around an axis parallel to the seat
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K5/00—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary
- F16K5/06—Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary with plugs having spherical surfaces; Packings therefor
- F16K5/—Packings
- F16K5/—Composite packings

Definitions

the present invention relates to ball type or hemi-wedge valves designed for use in pipelines such as those used for conveying oil or gas from wells to other facilities such as storage tanks, production facilities, etc.
a hemi-wedge valve is distinguishable from a typical ball type or gate valve in that it employs a curved wedge formed as a tapered section rotatable through the fluid path.
this invention is directed to an arrangement for preventing the buildup of foreign material in the interior of a ball or hemi-wedge type valve.
valves are known for use in gas and oil pipelines.
Typical valves include hemi-wedge valves, ball valves, gate valves, and plug valves.
Oil and gas contain different types of contaminates such as black powder. Additionally precipitates often form in gas transmission pipelines after continuous use, especially where ambient temperatures vary widely or where daytime temperatures are hot. The precipitates form a very fine powder whose microscopic particles are very hard. These particles attach to the inner surface of the pipeline.
pigs In order to clean the interior of the pipelines, devices known as pigs are placed in the pipeline and pressurized fluid is used to push the pig (which is a plug that closely engages the wall of the pipeline) along the pipeline to dislodge the particles from the inner surface of the pipe and discharge the particles from the pipeline through outlets spaced along the pipeline.
the inlets and outlets for the pigs are isolated from the main transmission pipelines by large valves, such as a ball or gate valve.
the above mentioned particles, which are dislodged from the interior surface of the pipeline work their way into the seals and clearances of the valve, eventually causing it to either malfunction or fail.
the present invention utilizes a flow of secondary flow through the valve body to purge the particles from sealing surfaces and clearances within the valve body.
the fluid is circulated at a pressure greater than that of the main fluid in the pipeline and is isolated from the main flow path in the open and closed positions of the valve. This technique is especially effective when used in conjunction with the three piece valve core design of the hemi wedge valve as will be explained in greater detail below.
FIG. 1 is a top view of a hemi-wedge valve according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of a hemi-wedge valve in the closed position.
FIG. 3 is a schematic of the valve shown in FIG. 1 placed in a pipeline with supporting equipment.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention as applied to a conventional ball valve shown in the open position.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the ball valve of FIG. 4 shown in the closed position.
FIG. 1 illustrates a specific embodiment of a hemi-wedge valve to which the invention had been applied.
the valve body 20 includes an inlet 2 and outlet 3 for the main fluid flow which is being regulated by the valve.
the valve also includes a hemi-wedge valve element 7 which includes an upstream valve surface 31 and a downstream valve surface 30 .
Valve seat seals are provided at 12 and 10 respectively.
the hemi-wedge valve of FIG. 1 has a core member that defines the main fluid flow path through the valve.
the valve member includes three portions, 4 , 5 , and 6 .
Upstream portion of valve core member 4 includes a seal 16 that engages a surface at the inlet 2 .
Intermediate valve core member 5 has an outer cylindrical portion 51 that receives a reduced diameter portion 52 of valve core member 4 .
Valve core member 5 also has a stepped portion 59 that forms a chamber for a seal 53 between valve core members 4 and 5 .
Valve portion 6 also includes a sealing ring 12 .
hemi-wedge valve member 7 The downstream surface of hemi-wedge valve member 7 is in sealing contact with seal 10 which is supported by valve seat member 8 .
seal 10 which is supported by valve seat member 8 .
a unique feature of a hemi-wedge valve is that the valve member 7 has a thickness that increases from its leading edge to its tailing edge as the valve closes. This in conjunction with the three piece valve core construction as described above, results in a closing force being applied to both sides of the valve member 7 .
the present invention provides for a flow of secondary fluid within the housing of the valve.
an inlet port 61 for the secondary fluid is formed in the housing and an outlet port 62 is formed in the housing for exit of the secondary fluid from the valve housing.
the secondary fluid inlet and outlet may be located anywhere in the housing.
the inlet and outlet secondary fluid ports are isolated from the main fluid flow when the valve is in the open or closed position.
Other hemi-wedge valves to which the present invention may be applied are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,962,911 and 7,357,145, the contents of both disclosures being expressly incorporated herein.
Hemi-wedge valve 20 located in a fluid pipeline 130 as described above.
a fluid supply tank 101 is provided.
the fluid can be pressurized by a pump 102 connected to inlet port 61 .
the fluid tank could be constructed at a higher elevation with respect to the pipeline and a pressure increasing pump provided if needed.
fluid under pressure from the pipeline could be diverted to the upper portion of the purging fluid tank as shown at 120 to pressurize the contents of the tank by exerting a force on a flexible diaphragm or a piston within the tank as is well known in the art. If the fluid in the pipeline is a gas and the purging fluid is a liquid, then the diaphragm or piston would not be needed.
a filter 103 and a variable choke valve 104 are also provided in a return conduit 106 .
two pressure sensors 110 , 111 are provided at the upstream and downstream sections of hemi-wedge valve 20 .
a third pressure sensor 107 is placed in the return conduit 106 .
Information from the three sensors is sent to a microprocessor 113 .
Microprocessor 113 analyzes the information and regulates variable choke valve 104 as necessary to maintain the pressure of the secondary liquid above that in the main flow line.
Microprocessor 113 is also used to monitor the position of the valve actuator 112 , and to turn pump 102 on and off.
Power for the microprocessor may be provided by conventional land power lines or by a battery 114 that is connected to a charging solar cell 115 as is known in the art. Furthermore the microprocessor may be connected to a satellite link 116 for sending and receiving information and commands as is known in the art.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the invention as applied to a conventional ball valve 200 .
Ball valve 200 has a main fluid inlet 202 and outlet 203 .
the ball valve 205 has a central bore 206 to provide a flow path for the main fluid.
Valve seats 212 and 210 are provided and include seals 213 and 211 as shown in FIG. 4 .
Valve 200 includes an inlet 261 and outlet 262 formed in the housing 215 for circulation of a secondary fluid for purging and cleaning of the internal parts of the valve.
Ball valve 200 is positioned in a pipeline in the same manner as hemi-wedge valve 20 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3 .

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Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
Lift Valve (AREA)
Details Of Valves (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a technique of purging unwanted particles from the interior of a valve body. Inlet and outlet ports are formed in the valve housing to allow for circulation of the fluid within the valve body. The flow path of the fluid is isolated from the main fluid flow path when the valve is in the open or closed position. Additionally the pressure of the fluid is at a level higher than that of the main fluid flow.

Description

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ball type or hemi-wedge valves designed for use in pipelines such as those used for conveying oil or gas from wells to other facilities such as storage tanks, production facilities, etc. A hemi-wedge valve is distinguishable from a typical ball type or gate valve in that it employs a curved wedge formed as a tapered section rotatable through the fluid path. In particular this invention is directed to an arrangement for preventing the buildup of foreign material in the interior of a ball or hemi-wedge type valve.
2. Description of Related Art
Different types of valves are known for use in gas and oil pipelines. Typical valves include hemi-wedge valves, ball valves, gate valves, and plug valves. Oil and gas contain different types of contaminates such as black powder. Additionally precipitates often form in gas transmission pipelines after continuous use, especially where ambient temperatures vary widely or where daytime temperatures are hot. The precipitates form a very fine powder whose microscopic particles are very hard. These particles attach to the inner surface of the pipeline.
In order to clean the interior of the pipelines, devices known as pigs are placed in the pipeline and pressurized fluid is used to push the pig (which is a plug that closely engages the wall of the pipeline) along the pipeline to dislodge the particles from the inner surface of the pipe and discharge the particles from the pipeline through outlets spaced along the pipeline. The inlets and outlets for the pigs are isolated from the main transmission pipelines by large valves, such as a ball or gate valve. The above mentioned particles, which are dislodged from the interior surface of the pipeline, work their way into the seals and clearances of the valve, eventually causing it to either malfunction or fail.
To overcome the buildup of harmful particles in valve bodies as described above, the present invention utilizes a flow of secondary flow through the valve body to purge the particles from sealing surfaces and clearances within the valve body. The fluid is circulated at a pressure greater than that of the main fluid in the pipeline and is isolated from the main flow path in the open and closed positions of the valve. This technique is especially effective when used in conjunction with the three piece valve core design of the hemi wedge valve as will be explained in greater detail below.
FIG. 1 is a top view of a hemi-wedge valve according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of a hemi-wedge valve in the closed position.
FIG. 3 is a schematic of the valve shown in FIG. 1 placed in a pipeline with supporting equipment.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention as applied to a conventional ball valve shown in the open position.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the ball valve of FIG. 4 shown in the closed position.
FIG. 1 illustrates a specific embodiment of a hemi-wedge valve to which the invention had been applied. The valve body 20 includes an inlet 2 and outlet 3 for the main fluid flow which is being regulated by the valve. The valve also includes a hemi-wedge valve element 7 which includes an upstream valve surface 31 and a downstream valve surface 30. Valve seat seals are provided at 12 and 10 respectively. The hemi-wedge valve of FIG. 1 has a core member that defines the main fluid flow path through the valve. In this example of a hemi-wedge valve, the valve member includes three portions, 4, 5, and 6. Upstream portion of valve core member 4 includes a seal 16 that engages a surface at the inlet 2. Intermediate valve core member 5 has an outer cylindrical portion 51 that receives a reduced diameter portion 52 of valve core member 4. Valve core member 5 also has a stepped portion 59 that forms a chamber for a seal 53 between valve core members 4 and 5. Valve portion 6 also includes a sealing ring 12.
The downstream surface of hemi-wedge valve member 7 is in sealing contact with seal 10 which is supported by valve seat member 8. A unique feature of a hemi-wedge valve is that the valve member 7 has a thickness that increases from its leading edge to its tailing edge as the valve closes. This in conjunction with the three piece valve core construction as described above, results in a closing force being applied to both sides of the valve member 7.
This design in and of itself tends to minimize the buildup of particulate material in the sealing components of the valve. In addition, in order to prevent buildup of particulate material, the present invention provides for a flow of secondary fluid within the housing of the valve. As shown in FIG. 1, an inlet port 61 for the secondary fluid is formed in the housing and an outlet port 62 is formed in the housing for exit of the secondary fluid from the valve housing. The secondary fluid inlet and outlet may be located anywhere in the housing. As shown, it can be seen that the inlet and outlet secondary fluid ports are isolated from the main fluid flow when the valve is in the open or closed position. Other hemi-wedge valves to which the present invention may be applied are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,962,911 and 7,357,145, the contents of both disclosures being expressly incorporated herein.
A system for supplying the secondary purging fluid will now be described by reference to FIG. 3. Hemi-wedge valve 20 located in a fluid pipeline 130 as described above. A fluid supply tank 101 is provided. In the embodiment shown, the fluid can be pressurized by a pump 102 connected to inlet port 61. Alternately the fluid tank could be constructed at a higher elevation with respect to the pipeline and a pressure increasing pump provided if needed. Also as a third embodiment, fluid under pressure from the pipeline could be diverted to the upper portion of the purging fluid tank as shown at 120 to pressurize the contents of the tank by exerting a force on a flexible diaphragm or a piston within the tank as is well known in the art. If the fluid in the pipeline is a gas and the purging fluid is a liquid, then the diaphragm or piston would not be needed. A filter 103 and a variable choke valve 104 are also provided in a return conduit 106.
In order to make sure that the pressure of the secondary fluid is greater than that of the fluid in the pipeline, two pressure sensors 110, 111 are provided at the upstream and downstream sections of hemi-wedge valve 20. A third pressure sensor 107 is placed in the return conduit 106. Information from the three sensors is sent to a microprocessor 113. Microprocessor 113 analyzes the information and regulates variable choke valve 104 as necessary to maintain the pressure of the secondary liquid above that in the main flow line. Microprocessor 113 is also used to monitor the position of the valve actuator 112, and to turn pump 102 on and off.
Power for the microprocessor may be provided by conventional land power lines or by a battery 114 that is connected to a charging solar cell 115 as is known in the art. Furthermore the microprocessor may be connected to a satellite link 116 for sending and receiving information and commands as is known in the art.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the invention as applied to a conventional ball valve 200. Ball valve 200 has a main fluid inlet 202 and outlet 203. The ball valve 205 has a central bore 206 to provide a flow path for the main fluid. Valve seats 212 and 210 are provided and include seals 213 and 211 as shown in FIG. 4. Valve 200 includes an inlet 261 and outlet 262 formed in the housing 215 for circulation of a secondary fluid for purging and cleaning of the internal parts of the valve. Ball valve 200 is positioned in a pipeline in the same manner as hemi-wedge valve 20 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3.
Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention, except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.

Claims (9)

1. A valve comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a main flow path connecting the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; a rotatable hemi-wedge valve closure member mounted within the housing; a valve body core defining a portion of the flow path; a downstream portion of the valve body core having a first sealing surface; the upstream portion of the outlet having a second sealing surface; and the hemi-wedge rotatable between an open position allowing for the unobstructed flow of fluid through the valve and a closed position in which the upstream surface of the hemi-wedge engages the first sealing surface and the downstream surface of the hemi-wedge engages the second sealing surface, a secondary fluid inlet port in the housing for connection to a source of a second fluid under pressure, a secondary fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the secondary fluid inlet port for returning the pressurized secondary fluid to its source, the fluid inlet port and outlet ports being isolated from the main flow path when the valve is in the open or closed position. 2. The valve of claim 1 further including a fluid tank with fluid located therein, a pump connected between the secondary fluid inlet port and the fluid tank, and a return conduit connected between the secondary outlet port and the fluid tank for recirculating the fluid back to the tank. 3. The valve of claim 2 further including a filter and an adjustable choke valve in the return conduit. 4. The valve of claim 2 further including a branch conduit located between the main fluid pipeline and the fluid tank to pressurize the contents of the tank. 5. The valve according to claim 2 further including pressure sensors at the inlet and outlet portions of the valve, a pressure sensor in the return conduit, a microprocessor that receives electrical signals from the pressure sensors, said microprocessor operable to regulate the variable choke valve to maintain the pressure of the secondary fluid higher than the main fluid flowing through the valve. 6. The valve according to claim 6, further including a battery connected to the microprocessor, and a solar panel charging mechanism connected to the battery for recharging the battery. 7. A valve compromising: a housing having fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a main flow path connecting the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; a rotatable ball valve closure member mounted within the housing; the upstream portion of the outlet having a sealing surface; and the ball valve rotatable between an open position allowing for the unobstructed flow of a fluid through the valve and a closed position; an inlet port in the housing for connection to a source of a second fluid under pressure, the fluid inlet port being isolated from the flow path when the valve is in the open or closed position; and a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the inlet port for returning the second fluid under pressure to its source. 8. A valve comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a main flow path connecting the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; a rotatable hemi-wedge valve closure member mounted within the housing; the upstream portion of the outlet having a sealing surface; the hemi-wedge rotatable between an open position allowing for the unobstructed flow of fluid through the valve and a closed position, fluid inlet port in the housing for connection to a source of a second fluid under pressure, a secondary fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the secondary fluid inlet port for returning the pressurized secondary fluid to its source, the fluid inlet port and outlet ports being isolated from the main flow path when the valve is in the open or closed position. 9. A method of cleaning the interior of a valve body comprising: forming inlet and outlet ports for a secondary fluid in the valve body; isolating the inlet and outlet ports from the main fluid flow path when the valve is in the open or closed position; supplying a fluid to the inlet port at a pressure greater than that of the main fluid; and returning the fluid to a reservoir tank. US12/495,360 -06-30 -06-30 Purging Mechanism for a Hemi-Wedge Valve Abandoned USA1 (en)

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Cited By (2)

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title USA (en) * -03-03 -11-28 Lapointe Machine Tool Co Reversible hydraulic driving mechanism USA (en) * -12-27 -10-08 Robert R. Reddy Rotary valve with concave seating surface USA (en) * -01-27 -07-06 Eldon E Hulsey Ball-type valve USA (en) * -06-26 -02-08 Hayward Mfg Co Inc Multiport valve USA (en) * -06-30 -10-16 Acf Industries, Incorporated Valve seat for ball valves USA (en) * -10-03 -02-04 Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation Flow control assembly USA (en) * -07-22 -10-17 Sundholm Goeran Apparatus for flushing a piping system USA (en) * -03-27 -10-16 Soderberg Research & Development, Inc. Hemi-wedge valve USA (en) * -02-21 -04-13 Texaco Inc. Adjustable well choke mechanism USA (en) * -10-09 -12-07 Grove Valve And Regulator Company Valve with dual durometer ball seal USA (en) * -07-20 -04-08 Nevrekar; Venkatesh R. Gate valve USA (en) * -03-13 -07-13 Mccarty; Wilfred L. Automatic flush system for water lines USB2 (en) * -10-05 -06-17 J.V.P. Inc. Valve having an inner washing structure USB2 (en) * -03-04 -04-15 Hemiwedge Valve Corporation High-pressure, hemi-wedge cartridge valve USB2 (en) * -02-26 -08-17 Applied Materials, Inc. Method and apparatus for controlling gas flow to a processing chamber

- -06-30 US US12/495,360 patent/USA1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (15)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title WOA1 (en) * -04-14 -10-20 Omni Valve Company, Llc Self-cleaning double block and bleed valve USB2 (en) -04-14 -08-27 Omni Valve Company, Llc Self-cleaning double block and bleed valve USB2 (en) -04-14 -02-23 Omni Valve Company, Llc Self-cleaning double block and bleed valve KRB1 (en) * -11-22 -03-29 주식회사 보야 Powder protecting 3way valve WOA1 (en) * -11-22 -05-31 주식회사 보야 Powder protecting three-way valve TWIB (en) * -11-22 -03-11 南韓商寶惹股份有限公司 Powder protecting three-way valve USB2 (en) -11-22 -05-03 Boya Co., Ltd. Powder protecting three-way valve

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description

Mopar Mystery Motor: The Ball-Stud Hemi - Hot Rod Magazine

Text and Photography: Al Kirschenbaum

YIYUAN contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

Finally, after 15 years of fruitless rumors, faithful Dodge and Plymouth fans can frolic in fact. A decade and a half down a now twisty road, a brand-new old Chrysler V8 has surfaced again. And all those tantalizing tales of a mythical Mopar muscle motor—the legendary Ball-Stud Hemi—can now be confirmed. Unfortunately, what you're looking at here is now truly one-of-a-kind. Like many of the corporation's production performance motors, Chrysler's Ball-Stud Hemi engine succumbed to bad timing in the early Seventies. A combination of conditions including emissions and economy considerations, underwriters investigations, and mounting corporate financial pressures, made what could have become America's number one boulevard brawler into a fatal victim of circumstance—instead of King of the Street.

During the late Sixties, Chrysler's 426 Street Hemi had already claimed supremacy on America's avenues. But the big, heavy 8-barrel engine's relatively limited production volume (approximately were fitted to Dodges and Ply-mouths between and ) made the motor expensive both to produce and to buy. At the same time, the corporation's mass-produced big-inch engines (the 383/400 and the 440) were uneconomically based on two completely different short-block assemblies. Chrysler considered the Ball-Stud Hemi as an attempt to correct all of these limiting conditions.

But because the engineering efforts behind the ball-stud-style rocker arm engine were relatively short-lived, the project got minimal exposure. Few folks even knew much about the motor back then. And now, 18 years later, even less seems to be remembered.

HOT ROD recently stumbled on what is strongly suspected to be the sole surviving sample of the Ball-Stud Hemi at Dick Landy Industries ( Bahama St., Northridge, CA , 818/). Long-time Mopar flogger Landy has a considerable collection of Dodge and Plymouth parts that includes some pretty peculiar pieces for the old V8's. But this all-iron Chevy Rat motor-style assembly has got to be his oddest hardware ever.

Similar in approach and in external appearance to the big-block Stovebolt scheme, Chrysler's Ball-Stud Hemi plan was to build a pair of high-volume, low cost, high-performance powerplants based on a common low-deck cylinder block. Their proposed 400 and 440-cubic-inchers would share many of the characteristics of the ball-stud rocker equipped stagger-valve, semi-hemi Chevys and Fords, including their limitations. In addition, the BS Hemi's redesigned rocker arrangements would trim both weight and costs, and they'd help make the engine fit better in a wider range of cars.

Intended for assembly-line production somewhere between and , the Ball-Stud Hemi was tentatively scheduled to replace three different blocks and two distinct cylinder head designs with one common casting of each. Chrysler went with the hemispherical combustion chamber approach primarily out of corporate tradition, but the built-in plusses of a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, big valves, and crossflow chambers made that design decision an easy one.

In backtracking the data on this engine, we also learned that some designers wanted to revise both motors' displacement slightly. A few extra cubes for the big-incher would, they reasoned, make the "444" designation an image-enhancer as well as an improved marketing tool. And bumping the smaller motor to 400 inches from 396 made sense for rather obvious reasons. Without exception, everyone emphasized that these were, without question, production powerplants, rather than any sort of race engines.

At first, this latest Chrysler V8 barely ran as well as their existing wedges. But in time, it turned out to be better than the A134 4-barrel 440 and not quite as good as the A102 8-barrel Street Hemi. From start to finish, there was maybe a year of development work involved in the project, with an emphasis on the heads, port design, and performance refinements. The best estimates indicate that there may have been as many as a dozen BSH engines built, or possibly as few as three. Although it never got into the endurance phases of testing, dyno development did become promising. And at least one Ball-Stud motor was reportedly fitted to an engineering mule (a '69 B body Plymouth automatic).

Again, a variety of factors combined, in late '69, to grind the project to a halt. Aside from stricter emissions requirements and their negative effects on driveability, a general de-emphasis on performance made continuing development work difficult. And because quite a bit of new and different machinery would have been required to produce the Ball-Stud Hemi, costs were also escalating. This was at a time when the corporation was experiencing the severe financial stresses that almost crippled the company during the next decade.

Thanks to Dick Landy and the crew at DLI, HOT ROD was able to stand by while the world's one-and-only Ball-Stud Hemi was partially disassembled. During the process, Dick was quick to point out that while most of the experimental extra-duty parts developed by the Corporation for performance duty usually looked like handmade, one-off developmental hardware, this engine appeared to be a finished piece.

Every last component in the Ball-Stud combination looked like production was right around the corner. But it just goes to show you how quick the auto industry can take a turn for the worse. The photos that follow reveal some of the thinking and tinkering that went into what could have been one of the most memorable milestone musclemotors of all time—Chrysler's Ball-Stud Hemi.

CYLINDER HEADS

Bolted to the top of the cylinder head on partially ball-shaped threaded studs, the engine's rocker arm setup was both a radical departure from other Chrysler V8 designs as well as the source of the engine's development name. In addition to its corporate A279 engineering designation, the project was known only as the Ball-Stud Hemi. Unofficially, we're told the engine was also affectionately referred to as the BS Hemi.

Because a preliminary engineering decision had been made to retain the standard B-engine (383/400/440-cid) head bolt pattern, the design of the Ball-Stud Hemi head's exhaust ports was badly hampered. Although the head wanted a direct flow path (like the 426 Hemi), the exhaust port used an S shaped twist to sneak around some outboard head bolts. As it turned out, the head bolt pattern was revised slightly toward the end of the project to try to straighten out the port.

Unfortunately, however, the early design plan had already dictated some of the heads' other tooling, and out-bound airflow remained considerably restricted. This resulted in a chamber arrangement that's not really a true Hemi (where the valves are laterally opposed, rather than slightly offset as they are here). Compared to the Hemi, port area was greater on the intake side (3.575 square-inches) and less (2.488 square inches) in the exhaust port. The engineers involved felt that had they been able to relocate more of the cylinder head fasteners, they could have had a ball-stud rocker engine that was every bit as good as the 426 motor.

In contrast to an in-line valve engine, the Ball-Stud Hemi's intake valves are located closest to the intake manifold side of the head, while the exhaust valves are positioned transversely on the opposite, or exhaust manifold side of the casting. This staggered setup orients the canted valves at compound angles to the intake and exhaust ports, and enhances airflow by reducing valve shrouding and eliminating the sharp runner turns involved in in-line valve layouts.

This "polyangle" arrangement also featured equally spaced intake ports (like the Ford 429SCJ, rather than the Chevy Rat motor) for more consistent mixture distribution than in the traditional wedge head port layout. Especially effective with large valve sizes, the canted valve design also allows the domed, or an almost-a-hemi (in this case) combustion chamber. Efforts to squeeze in a centrally located spark plug resulted in the use of 14mm, rather than 18mm, plugs.

Other departures from the traditional wedge head layout included a pair of lube drain-back passages at each end of the casting to channel returning oil to the pan. There are also head bolts at the ends of each bank for improved clamping. In addition, a smaller hex on the external head bolts provides additional clearance for wrenches.

ROCKER GEAR

In the ball-stud rocker pivot setup, the sides of the U-shaped "bathtub" rockers helped maintain alignment, while the fulcrum/stud had a positive-locking shoulder. As in the variety of competitors' motors, the lock nut was simply torqued down to set the valve lash. In production, the heat-treated, ground shoulder would have to be held to close tolerances to stay within the non-adjustable hydraulic tappet's range.

The size of the rockers was, in part, another compromise dictated by the chamber, valve, and pushrod layout that were, in turn, concessions to the original plan to retain the B-wedge head bolt pattern. Although it checks out at an effective 1.58:1, the rocker ratio is 1.6:1. The severe pushrod angles and the resulting rocker-train geometry causes a small loss of lift.

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Lube for the rockers was supplied via the lifters through hollow pushrods. Guide plates were used to hold and align the pushrods with the rocker arms and to guide the rockers in travel to match the angle of their valves. Chrysler did design one other ball-stud rocker arm engine, but the 6-cylinder 245 Hemi was built only in Australia for use in that country.

VALVES

Sized to match the 426 motor (2.25-inch intake, 1.94-inch exhaust), the valves were situated 21 degrees apart (intake canted 15 degrees and exhaust canted 6 degrees from centerline of bore). These locations were the result of idealistic attempts to position the intakes and exhausts directly opposite each other, like the existing 426. Because this wasn't possible, and because the valve seats had to mate with a hemispherically shaped chamber, the valves also ended up canted, rather than positioned square to each other. For comparison, a pair of 426 valves are illustrated here to the right of the BSH valves in the middle, while a set of standard 2.08-inch B wedge intakes and 1.74-inch exhausts are on the left. Multi-groove locks promote exhaust valve rotation.

BLOCK

With the specific structures required by its unique low deck and the extra oil drain-back passages, head bolts, and core plugs, the BS Hemi cylinder block was considered an all-new casting. And although the blocks were considerably different than both of their wedge counterparts as well as the Hemi, a few common features (like the 426/440 journal sizes) were retained. The basic blocks were similar enough for the earliest prototype Ball-Stud motor to use a modified version of an existing wedge casting, but because the block was basically a B wedge, going to 4-bolt or cross-bolted maincaps was not a practical or cost-effective proposition.

Both blocks' large bores made it especially important to have coolant in the water jackets rather than casting sand. This concern over core clean-out led to an additional pair of core holes located at the rear face of the block and another hole at the left front. Clean-out in the BS Hemi was even more critical because of its cast-in oil passages at both ends of the casting.

OILING

Because a ball-stud rocker arm system requires a considerable volume of lubricant, concerns over oil drain-back from that area prompted an extra drawdown passage at each end of the heads and block. There were also plans to evaluate the standard-size ⅜-inch oil pump pick-up tube in the endurance testing phases of development, but work on the engine never progressed that far. For reference, the 426 Hemi's sucker pipe measured ½-inch diameter.

PISTONS

Permanent mold cast-aluminum slipper-skirt pistons with an offset pin and autothermic expansion control were designed to permit a close bore fit (less than 0.002-inch) and provide good durability along with excellent oil and compression control. Installed, the piston tops were measured and found to be approximately 0.180-inch above the block deck. Even with relatively deep valve reliefs, DLI's measurement of displaced block and chamber volume indicated a 9.8:1 compression ratio. From what we learned from engineers who were involved in the BSH project, the target ratio for production was more like 10.5:1.

With a moly-filled top set, piston ring design appeared to be consistent with the high-performance 440 wedge engines of the era. The pistons even had a pair of standard-style orientation notches on top to indicate their direction (towards the front) of installation. The unique snap rings shown here were evaluated because of the 426 Hemi's early tendency to pound-out the pins at high rpm. From what we determined, these unusual retainers may have been just one of the many types being tried at the time.

WRIST PINS

The tight fit (less than 0.-inch) and the generous wall thickness of the Ball-Stud motor's full-floating wrist pins may have been dictated by the production-style pistons used. Cast pistons expand at a different rate than forged slugs, and thick-wall pins will also help to support the "flexible" split-skirt piston.

CONNECTING RODS

In order for the same low deck block casting to suit both displacement configurations, the long-stroke version of the Ball Stud motor used the forged con rod shown here in the middle (between a standard 383/440 rod on the left and an OE 426 Hemi rod on the right). The short forged rods were dictated by the lower block height, the location of the piston pin (it couldn't be raised higher without running into the bottom ring), and on the other end, the crank counterweights that were already close to the bottom of the piston skirt.

CHRYSLER'S MYSTERY V8-THE BALL STUD HEMI

CHRYSLER BALL-STUD HEMI

CHRYSLER B-SERIES WEDGE

CHRYSLER STREET HEMI

To retain high-quality metallurgy, the Ball-Stud rods' big ends were finishground rather than bored and finish honed. Landy pointed out that although the short BSH rod used wedge-style ⅜-inch hardware (as opposed to the Hemi's 7/16-inch nuts and bolts), the forging would have made an excellent basis for a performance rod for all of Chrysler's B-based V8's.

CRANKSHAFT AND BEARINGS

With the exception of the length of their rod throws, crankshafts for both versions of the BSH were similarly designed. The large-displacement assembly at DLI had a standard 440 forging that was externally balanced with an offset weighted damper that helps compensate for the odd rod and piston masses.

In a departure from the standard wedge assemblies' Clevite 77 inserts, the Ball-Stud motor used aluminum main bearings (for increased load durability) that were grooved in their top halves only. The alloy inserts are about 20-percent tougher than the standard tri-metal bearings, but they're also more expensive. And because of their poor imbedability, they're not as forgiving as the slightly softer Clevites. Like most of Chrysler's production V8 powerplants, Clevite 77 connecting rod inserts were also used in the Ball-Stud assembly.

INTAKE MANIFOLDING

Another area that was never fully resolved, the BS Hemi's intake manifolding may have ended up considerably different than the hardware shown here. In addition to the dual-plane spread-bore iron casting that was fitted to this particular version of the engine, another dual level design was in the works that fed each bank of cylinders from separate levels of the manifold. Increasingly stricter emissions requirements prevented a dual 4-barrel system from even being considered for the Ball-Stud combinations, but there was talk of using a considerably higher-flow Carter Thermo Quad than had been used before.

EXHAUST MANIFOLDING

Designed with the same port spacing as the 426 Hemi, the header-like exhaust manifold castings were the result of compromises based mainly on assembly line body-drop requirements. Although they were found to be reasonably efficient, they were nowhere near optimum. And although the development program was over before the manifolding was sorted out, testing indicated that there was a power loss attributed to the castings being tried.

Imagine what hot rodders might have done with this engine if it had been produced!

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