Two-way valves have been around for many years now, and are a simple but effective solution to controlling the flow of fluids. They often have a dedicated inlet and outlet, although some are operated interchangeably, with the inlet sometimes being the outlet and vice versa. But what exactly makes it such a good product, and why is it so popular?
A Simple Yet Effective Solution
Although developed a few years prior by a different individual, ball valves were patented in 1945, as shared in an article by The Plumbing Info. However, despite this product’s age, the actual design has only slightly varied since then, and the original concept is still widely utilized.
These parts work by controlling the amount of water that can flow through the chamber, by turning a drilled ball perpendicular or parallel to the pipeline. When perpendicular to the flow, it blocks the fluid from transferring through. When parallel, it freely allows fluid to travel through the center. This simple yet effective solution to flow control has become the most popular technique for shutting off and controlling the flow of liquids.
Specialized Types of Two-Way Designs
While the ball design may be old, advances in the concept have yielded fantastic results, such as L variant, which can more accurately control the amount of fluid flowing through the chamber. However, even these more advanced versions still utilize the same basic principle – with only small differences to accommodate various needs.
As you can see, there are important advantages when it comes to two-way ball valves: a great diversion from the old standard has made a big difference in our capabilities when it comes to plumbing and controlling the flow of fluids.
