A hydraulic ball valve is a special type of industrial valve used to direct and control fluid in hydraulic systems. Typically constructed from steel, stainless steel or brass the industrial valves are often required to work at high pressures and temperatures. RS offer a range of high-quality hydraulic valves from leading brands including Parker and of course RS PRO.

Hydraulic Ball Valve Construction

Hydraulic ball valves are constructed in the same way as other ball valves. They consist of an actuator or handle a stem, ball, seat and a threaded main valve body. However, due to high pressures and temperatures often found in hydraulic systems the stem, seats, seal materials and balls are usually reinforced ensure they can handle the additional pressure and force.

What are the different types of Hydraulics valve?

Hydraulic ball valves typically have two or three ports, often referred to as 2-way or 3-way. Most are manually operated by a handle or lever.

Two-Way Hydraulic Ball Valves

A 2-way ball valve is an in-line valve with a threaded connection at either side of the valve body. When this type of valve is open the lever will be in line with the pipework when closed the handle will be at 90 degrees to the pipe. The flow of media simply goes from the input to the output.

Three-Way Hydraulic Ball Valves

A 3-way ball valve has a T or an L shaped bore. The body on a 3-way valve will have three threaded connections. The flow direction on a 3-way valve will have various flow paths depending on the direction the handle is turned. 3-way valves are ideal for mixing or distributing flows.

Thread Standards and sizes

The thread standard and size you choose would depend on the pipes, hose, couplings and fittings in your current hydraulic setup. It is essential to select the correct thread standard and size if not, it could cause serious complications. The most common thread standards are BSP (British Standard Pipe) or NPT (National Pipe Tapered) It is important to note that BSP and NPT threads are not compatible due to their different thread forms. Both BSP and NPT threads come in a range of sizes including ¼ inch, 3/8 inch, ½ inch ¾ inch and 1 inch.