A trunnion type ball valve having valve seats that are laterally moveable
within seat recesses of the valve and establish sealing engagement with a
valve ball member that is trunnion supported for rotational movement
between open and closed positions. The valve seat members are
self-centering for optimum sealing engagement with the spherical sealing
surface of the ball member. The internal geometry of the seat assemblies
are designed to permit optimum flow through the valve mechanism even
under circumstances where the seat members are located in laterally
off-center relation with respect to the centerline of the flow passages
due to self-centering seat movement. The ball valve is readily adapted
for fire-safe application via the use of heat resistant seals and
metal-to-metal sealing of components to prevent or minimize leakage in
the event of seal destruction or degradation by excess heat.