Angle ball valves

Good time of the day, dear reader! The piping systems that supply heat, gas and water to our apartments and houses include many locking and regulating devices, various shaped elements. Limited space in bathrooms and kitchens, interior design features dictate their requirements for the placement of these elements and their number.

In this case, the corner faucet becomes the best option for connecting household plumbing fixtures. It can be immediately installed in the place where the pipes are fed at an angle, without cluttering the structure with additional fittings.

Purpose and scope

Products can be installed as locking devices in any engineering systems, as well as for:

division into sections of heating risers,
pump switching - on bypasses;
convenient dismantling of batteries;
adjusting the drying temperature of the heated towel rail;
bleeding air in the heating system (instead of Mayevsky's air taps);
connections of flexible piping of mixers, washing machines, water heaters, gas stakes and stoves to supply pipelines (gas and water supply);
connections of supply pipes to air conditioning and ventilation units;
in places where pipelines are turned for the transportation of food solutions, oil products, chemicals.

Features of ball valves for heating radiators

Ball valves have a number of features:

A corner faucet with an American for a radiator works according to a very simple principle: to supply fluid, the valve turns in one direction, and to stop circulation, in the other. The ball valve adjusters must be turned completely to avoid damaging the seal. A faulty tap should be replaced at the earliest opportunity.
When reducing the pressure, you need to check the device for clogging and clean it, if necessary. To minimize the likelihood of clogging, the system must be equipped with a cleaning filter.
Ball valves allow you to adjust the intensity of the water flow, which makes it possible to use them in several areas - heating, air conditioning and ventilation.
In addition to reliability and structural simplicity, ball valves are distinguished by the possibility of being used as a shut-off valve - i.e. using these devices, you can equip the system so that its individual sections or elements can be repaired without interrupting the operation of the entire circuit.

The autonomous heating has a problem related to the airing of the heating circuit. To solve this problem, you need to use air vents that are installed directly on the radiators.

Such cranes work due to a cotter pin located inside the part. When closed, the cotter pin hermetically closes the radiator and prevents the movement of the coolant outside of it. If it is necessary to bleed air, the valve is opened with a suitable tool (some devices can be opened by hand).

Characteristics

The main technical characteristics are the following product parameters:

nominal bore diameter - from 15 to 50 mm;
maximum working pressure - from 10 to 16 atm .;
type of connection to pipelines - coupling, flanged, welded or combined (one of the nozzles is welded);
type of thread - internal or external;
type of control of the locking element - handle - butterfly or lever;
body parts material;
operating temperature range - from -20 ° C to 150 ° C (depends on the material used for the manufacture of the device);
seal tightness class.

The main dimensions of the products can be determined from the table:

The design of the product provides convenient installation when installing plumbing and heating systems. Our assortment includes various standard sizes of American-equipped corner cranes. The available variety of products allows you to buy an angle crane with an American for quick execution of the planned installation operations. The brass valve body is resistant to water, steam and all kinds of non-aggressive liquids.

The compact American corner faucet is equipped with a removable butterfly-shaped adjusting handle, which allows you to mount shut-off valves in a confined space. All products in our range are certified and tested by the quality control service. A high-quality American corner crane is capable of trouble-free service for several decades. Careful execution of the threaded connection has a positive effect on the speed of installation and the tightness of the systems in use. The wear-resistant American ball valve has a long service life based on the impeccable technical performance of the components. The perfect fit of the metal ball ensures easy movement when closing the valves and guarantees the tightness of the pressurized system. When installing heating systems, the angle valve 1/2 with an American valve provides the possibility of periodic dismantling of the radiator for service.

The use of angled devices helps to optimize the design of piping systems for various functional purposes. Small-sized angular ball valve American is in demand when installing systems with a complex configuration. A non-standard device can be installed without difficulty in a narrow opening or niche. The reliable American angular ball valve is designed for repeated use without deterioration of the primary characteristics. The use of filter elements helps to increase the stability of the operating system by minimizing sedimentary processes. Reducing the amount of impurities in the coolant or tap water helps to reduce the load on the surface of the ball that blocks the flow of the working fluid.

In comparison with standard options of shut-off valves, an angle ball valve with an American one helps to simplify installation due to the use of a more convenient type of connections. Our assortment includes products that differ in nominal diameter, installation dimensions and functional characteristics. You can buy a corner crane with an American for quick installation of standard and non-standard configuration systems from us. Brass products are resistant to corrosion, temperature extremes and high humidity. Durable shut-off valves are a reliable component of water supply networks and heating systems for residential buildings and public buildings.

What materials are they made of

A similar product can be made from:

brass and bronze. They serve for a longer period, as they are almost not subject to scale formation;
of stainless steel. Despite the high strength and anti-corrosion properties of the material itself, stainless steel faucets quickly become covered with scale, which negatively affects their service life;
plastic - mainly installed on plastic pipelines. Although plastic is a less strong material than metal, this type of reinforcement is considered to be quite durable;
silumin (an alloy of aluminum and silicon) are short-lived, quickly wearing out products, mainly made in China.

Materials for the manufacture of angle ball valves

Angle ball valves are made from different materials depending on the environment and purpose. Not only the cost depends on them, but also the durability of the product. Distinctive features of the materials from which ball valves are made are as follows:

Brass and bronze. The most durable taps are made from these materials, since scale does not settle on brass and bronze products. Accordingly, such cranes are more expensive than other materials;
Plastic. Most often, polypropylene corner ball valves are meant for heating. Despite the fact that plastic is not as strong as metal, polypropylene faucets are also durable;
Stainless steel is a very durable material, very resistant to aggressive environments, but scale settles on it more than on brass and bronze taps.
Silumin (an alloy of aluminum and silicon). In the valve market, you can find cheap Chinese ball valves made of silumin. Silumin cranes are short-lived and wear out quickly, so you should not save on this.

Advantages and disadvantages

Angular body locking devices have the following advantages:

reliability and high quality;
the variety of materials from which they are made;
ease of use;
ease of installation;
low hydraulic resistance;
affordable price;
minimum closing time;
lack of stagnation zones where dirt can accumulate.

If we talk about the disadvantages of these products, then it is one: the impossibility of regulating the water pressure.

Types of corner cranes

In addition to the diameter and other technical characteristics, these valves differ in the following points:

The device of the locking mechanism	Exist: Ball; Valve.
The material from which the body is made	The product can be: Brass; Bronze; Stainless steel; Plastic.

Below we will take a closer look at the features of all types of this reinforcement.

Angle ball valve size 3 4

Differences between a crane and a gate valve

The main difference between a crane and a gate valve is the principle of their operation. The gate valve can have a gate of different shapes - wedge, disc or sheet, but it always makes perpendicular movements relative to the axis of the fluid flow in the pipeline on which it is installed. To shut off the flow, it is required to rotate the spindle on which the locking part is fixed.

The crane is also included in the group of shut-off valves. But, unlike a gate valve, to shut off (or, conversely, start) the flow going through the pipe, it does not require the rotation of the spindle.

The valve gate always has an opening for the passage of the working medium. Accordingly, to start the flow of the medium, you just need to change the position of the shutter element so that the hole in it coincides with the axis of the pipeline. There is no need to rotate the spindle.

Locking mechanism device

Ball

Ball valves are currently the most common angle fittings. The lock of this device is made in the form of a ball with a through hole. When the ball is rotated perpendicular to the body, the flow path is closed.

The tightness of this mechanism is achieved by means of elastic rings that fit tightly to the ball.

Among the advantages of this design are:

Long service life due to the simplicity of the mechanism.
Low price.
Closed tightness, due to which this valve can be used for a gas pipeline.
Ability to withstand high pressure.
To completely open or close the passage, you need to turn the lever only 90 degrees, which is very convenient.

Bugatti ball valve diagram

Note! In gas pipelines, a special gas valve is used, which is characterized by improved tightness. Therefore, it cannot be replaced with plumbing.

As for the shortcomings, they include the following points:

The instruction for the use of ball valves assumes its use only for the complete opening or closing of the passage, i.e. it cannot be used to regulate the flow, otherwise the mechanism will quickly deteriorate and the valve will begin to let water through.
The device is not repaired, therefore, if it fails, it must be replaced.

Since in most cases the task of the considered shut-off valves is to completely block the flow, it is ball valves that are used for plumbing fixtures, heating devices and gas pipelines.

In the photo - valve valve

Valve

Not so long ago, exclusively valve taps were used everywhere. The principle of operation of their lock is based on the use of a worm gear, which presses the stem with an elastic gasket against the seat with a hole. As a result, the spacer blocks the passage.

When the handwheel is rotated, the worm mechanism raises the stem and thereby opens the passage.

Among the advantages of such a product are:

The ability not only to block the passage, but also to regulate the flow head.
Ability to withstand high pressure;
The ability to repair the locking mechanism with your own hands.

Along with the advantages, this device has quite a few disadvantages:

As a result of the fact that the movable pad is in constant contact with water and a metal surface, it wears out quickly. This leads to depressurization of the constipation, and the device begins to leak water. True, you can replace the gasket yourself. As a rule, the kit contains an assembly drawing of a valve-type corner valve, which shows how to disassemble the product and replace parts.
To fully open the valve, it is necessary to make several turns of the handwheel.
Since the mechanism is more complex, it breaks down faster than ball valves.

For these reasons, valve taps have recently been used only where it is necessary to regulate the flow. (See also the article Water pipes: features.)

Brass valve

Types and designs

Depending on the design of the closing mechanism, this corner fittings are:

Ball - with a lock in the form of a ball with a through hole. If the ball in the body cavity turns around with a hole perpendicular to the flow axis, then the flow of the medium stops. The tightness of the product in the closed state is ensured by elastic rings fixed to the saddles and well adhering to the ball. They can have an internal or external thread. The diagram of the device of the Italian-made BUGATTI ball valve can be seen in photo 1.

One of the varieties of angular ball valves is an American crane. They combine a standard ball valve design and a quick coupling type, which is a design of two nipples separated by a single gasket. They use a hexagonal brass union nut to secure the connection.

Crane photo - American

Conical - with a locking element made in the form of a truncated cone. Such devices operate more smoothly than ball products.
Valve. The design of this type of valve includes a shutter in the form of an elastic gasket and a worm gear, which presses the stem and the locking element against the seat with a hole. As a result, the gasket will block the passage. Turning the handle - the handwheel can again set in motion the stem, which will raise the shutter and open the bore. The advantage of installing a valve in pipeline systems is its maintainability and the possibility of using it not only for blocking the passage, but also for adjusting the pressure.The disadvantages of such products include the rapid wear of the movable pad.

Radiator. The products are designed for manual adjustment of the flow rate of the coolant entering the radiators. In their group, they are divided into:

balancing (control) valves. In heating systems, they are usually placed on the return connection to the radiator, on the supply - it is advisable to install a ball valve;
thermostatic models (with thermal head). The principle of its operation is based on the thermal expansion of media. The main element of the device is a bellows filled with a substance with a high coefficient of expansion in liquid or solid state. The bellows is connected to the valve by means of a stem. When the thermal head is heated, the bellows elongates. It acts through the stem on the valve, which shuts off the flow. When cooled, the siphon shortens and opens the passage opening;
devices with a thermostat that allows you to control the flow rate of the coolant.

Photo of a thermostatic valve in section:

Varieties of corner cranes

All corner cranes are divided into three types, depending on the mechanism of the locking device:

Ball valves are a type of design for shutting off or starting the flow of a working medium, but not capable of regulating it.

Note! It is fair to say that adjustment by means of ball valves is still possible, but it quickly destroys the device. In addition, the accuracy of the regulation does not stand up to criticism; partial overlap is fraught with freezing of the liquid in the radiators.

Throttle - manual regulator of heat transfer.
Thermostatic valve is a device for automatically setting the required temperature regime in heating devices, and maintaining the required heating level in automatic mode.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with: Advantages and applications of pipes made of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVCVC)

All corner cranes are also distinguished by the material of manufacture:

all-metal structures, most often brass with chromium-nickel coating,
polypropylene devices with a socket weld connection, which are used for installation without additional fittings, as well as quick disconnect couplings of the "American" type.

Brass products are most often used in the installation of systems made of steel, metal-plastic pipes.

Note! Do not use taps made of plastic for installation in a system where high temperature loads are expected, for example, in heating systems.

Selection Tips

When choosing a product, you should rely on the following criteria:

quality characteristics;
manufacturer's reputation;
material of manufacture;
processing technology of constituent parts;
appearance;
angle of rotation;
standard size of pipes;
price.

Here, it is important not to buy a fake silumin, which outwardly does not differ from a brass product. Its service life is no more than 12 months.

A high-quality brass device can be distinguished by its weight - it is much heavier than a silumin crane.

And yet, do not hesitate to request a quality certificate from the seller confirming the declared technical characteristics of the product.

Selection of corner cranes

What type of tap to install when installing the heating circuit depends on the customer's requirements, on the place where they will be located in the heating circuit, as well as on the purpose of use. The main mistake of buyers who are poorly versed in shut-off and control valves is the purchase of fakes - cheap low-quality products, which are also called silumin. Some dishonest sellers pass them off as brass faucets, even though they are not. Silumin taps usually serve no more than a year, quickly crack under the influence of high temperatures, and even fall off the radiator.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with: How to eliminate a fistula in a metal or plastic pipe

approximate price

The cost of the corner crane, in addition to its standard size, is influenced by the decorative design, the name of the manufacturer and the country of its production. Domestic products are significantly cheaper due to customs duties and delivery distance. Roughly, the price of different cranes with a nominal diameter of 15 mm in Russian retail is:

Device type	price, rub.
Ball (brass)	260 — 320
Thermostatic tap	350 — 600
American	650
Polypropylene product	130

Features of Radiator Angle Faucet

As a shut-off element, the corner radiator valve has a ball with a through diametrical hole, the alignment of the axis of which with the axis of the pipe opens the valve and turns perpendicular to the axis - closes. Therefore, such a device is usually called "Corner ball valve for radiator".

Straight and Angle Radiator Taps

A corner radiator ball valve should be used only as a shut-off valve. Experts advise against using ball valves to regulate the flow of water.

Typically the faucet material is low lead brass. But if water is supplied to the radiator through propylene pipes, then the corner radiator valve is also made of polypropylene. In this case, its characteristics are underestimated, but not much:

the temperature of the flowing water is 90-120 ° С versus 150 ° С at the brass tap;
working pressure - 10-16 atm. against 16-25 atm. by the brass faucet.

The article on our website "Which corner faucet is better" contains an overview of the popularity of brands of manufacturers of these sanitary ware

Crane installation and operation rules

No matter how simple the installation process of a corner crane may seem, there are a number of rules that must be followed when carrying out installation work:

there must be free access to the device;
the location of the adjusting handle should be such that it does not have obstacles to movement in any of its positions;
there is usually an arrow on the body indicating the direction of fluid flow; during installation, this kind of indication must be followed;
in order to avoid leaks in systems that include such a device, it is necessary to properly isolate the junction with the FUM tape;
at the end of the installation of the product, the system must be checked for leaks.

Required tools and materials

To install the crane, you will need the following tools and consumables:

scissors for metal or grinder;
adjustable wrench;
carving tool;
calibrator;
FUM tape to ensure tightness of the joint.

Work progress

The sequence of work on the installation of an angle faucet in the internal water supply network is as follows:

first, all the liquid from the system is drained. To do this, turn off the water supply using the valve and open the valve;
in the place where the device will be placed, a section of the pipeline is cut out. Its size should correspond to the length of the valve body;
threads are cut at the ends of the pipes. If the system is assembled from plastic products, then a calibrator is used to process the ends (deburring, chamfering, leveling the cross-sectional shape);
winding the sealing tape at least 5 turns. It will protect the threaded connection from deformation and ensure the most tight fit of the bends;
the product is screwed in and fixed with an adjustable wrench;
the tightness of the connection is checked. The check is carried out with the water supply turned on.If water oozes at the junction, then it should be additionally compacted with linseed tow or special fillers.

Operating rules

Corner taps are used in accordance with technical indicators at the temperature and pressure in the system that they are able to withstand.

During transportation, installation and storage, it is recommended to follow the rules so as not to damage the product:

It is important to avoid freezing inside the system as this can damage the device.
When draining the heating system, leave the tap open to remove all the liquid.
It is important to follow the rules of storage and transportation: do not allow products to be exposed to ultraviolet light, so as not to damage the parts. It is advisable to use special places for storage under awnings, which are well ventilated.

Loading and unloading of fittings must not be carried out at temperatures below -10 ° C.

Features of operation

The product must operate at a temperature and pressure level corresponding to its technical characteristics. During operation, the joints must be periodically checked, and if the threaded connection is slightly parted, then it must be tightened to avoid leaks. Variants with freezing of liquid in the cavity of its body should be excluded, as this will lead to its damage.

After draining the water from the network, the tap must not be closed immediately. Let it be open for a longer time so that the liquid does not stagnate inside.

The choice of crane and installation features

When choosing a crane, you must first decide on the diameter of the pipe on which the device will be mounted. If we are talking about the wiring of communications in the apartment, then these fittings are no more than 1 1⁄4 inches. All valves have markings that allow you to determine the diameter, working pressure and manufacturer. By the way, according to the manufacturer, it is better to choose either domestic or European cranes, and beware of Chinese, especially too cheap ones. Each product must be accompanied by a passport that guarantees the originality of the crane.

Plumbers are especially fond of angular ball valves with a union nut (in the common people, an American). The convenience of the American is that in order to connect a product with a thread, it is enough to tighten only the union nut, and not the entire tap. You also need to decide on the threads - where they will be internal, and where they will be external. Therefore, before buying material, it is important to imagine the entire node, what and how it will be located, and even better to draw a diagram.

Installation of corner ball valves does not imply the presence of special equipment, a plumbing key and fum tape are enough. A tape of 2-3 turns is wrapped around the thread in order to seal the joint as much as possible. After installation and start-up of the system, it is necessary to check all joints for leaks. During operation, the joints must also be periodically checked, and if the threads are slightly parted, then tighten them to eliminate the leak. Then any pipeline will delight you with uninterrupted operation for a very long time.

Expert advice

If the design of the system involves placing a crane and a corner next to it, then it is better to replace them with this type of fittings. This solution will save money and simplify the installation process.
The model should be selected depending on the location of the pipeline. There are products designed for installation only on vertical risers and on horizontal sections.
It is advisable to add an end valve to the irrigation hose with a device designed to concentrate or diffuse the flow of liquid. The product will work more efficiently.
Devices with a thermal head must not be covered with furniture or finishing materials and must not be exposed to direct sunlight.