Easy-to-Open Ball Valves

High pressure ball valves used on hydraulic systems are very effective at sealing off flow, and have proven to be a long lasting and robust item. Their main draw back is the difficulty of opening a valve with high pressure differential across it – typically sizes 1″ and above present this problem.

While hammers, handy lengths of pipe and bad language generally will open a tight valve, a better solution is to fit a pre-loading valve, or secondary small valve that bypasses the main valve. The pre-load valve allows oil to bypass the main valve, and gently pressurise the downstream circuit. The main valve can then be opened with minimal effort.

CMA offers a range of pre-load valve fitted ball valves, ranging from 1″ through to 3″, with both SAE flange and BSPP ported options available.