A ball valve is a locking mechanism in which the movable part of the shutter has the shape of a ball with an opening through which water is passed. Unlike conventional pipeline valves with valves, ball valves more reliably and tightly lock the pipe - the risk of leaks due to the loose fit of the gaskets is minimal.
Today, one of the most popular locking elements is Bugatti cranes. Italian plumbing is famous all over the world for its quality, beautiful appearance and ergonomics. What is the advantage of Italian cranes?
Ball valves from Bugatti
Structurally, an Italian-made ball valve is no different from ordinary representatives of this category of stop valves. All the advantages of the elements are due to the properties of the materials from which they are made.
So, the body is made of brass with a small addition of lead. This increases the strength of the reinforcement while maintaining environmental cleanliness - the product is safe for health. In addition, the use of a “triple alloy” makes Bugatti cranes resistant to corrosion.
The seats of the locking ball are made of two triple fluoroplastic gaskets. Thanks to them, reliable and high tightness, easy and smooth rotation of the ball plug is ensured. Due to the low coefficient of volume expansion, hot water taps do not jam when heated.
The manufacturer also guarantees reliable sealing in the area of ​​the joint between the stem and the housing through the use of three o-rings. If a leak occurs, it is enough to tighten one of the o-rings to eliminate it.
Advantages of Italian cranes
The main advantage of Bugatti ball valves is at the same time simple and original design. The reinforcement includes several elements - the body, ball valve, stem and rotary handle. Unlike products from other manufacturers, the valve is designed as a "ball in the support."
The spherical plug has a special protrusion in the lower part - a trunnion, which is included in a special depression. Due to this, rotation resistance is almost completely absent; the crane can be quickly and reliably fixed in any position.
Polymer saddles of the Bugatti crane under the influence of increasing pressure in the system (when the flow is blocked) fit snugly against the ball valve and do not allow fluid to leak further. All this leads to high reliability and reliable sealing of the pipeline.
Methods and features of mounting a crane
For the introduction of stop valves in the pipeline, coupling connectors are used. At the inlet, a tapered or cylindrical thread is cut along the inner edge of the housing - this increases the reliability of the connection. At the outlet, the thread is located outside, this simplifies the connection of the tap with other plumbing fittings.
On the market, Bugatti cranes can only be found with female thread. It is advisable to use such products in the zone of high working pressure.
When mounting the locking device, you must remember that the body is made of brass - a very soft metal. Therefore, to avoid the appearance of deformations during disassembly and assembly, use a special open-end wrench or plumbing adjustable tool.
During installation, it is necessary to ensure that the axis of the crane and the pipes coincide - a slight bias can damage the product. To prevent leaks after installation, inspect the fittings for dents and small cracks.
Compliance with sanitary standards
Today, Bugatti ball valves are supplied to the domestic market with the Kentucky and Eco-Green markings. It means that the body of the product is made of alloy with a minimum amount of lead. During production, TEM technology is used, which involves the rejection of nickel-plating products in order to protect them from corrosion. It also has a beneficial effect on crane safety.
Inside the ball valve there are perforated holes that prevent water from stagnating in the valve body. Such a constructive solution minimizes the risk of the occurrence of a source of spread of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the perforations in the Bugatti faucet equalize the pressure inside the water system due to the constant circulation of water.
Parameters of household taps
For installation in a home water supply system, an Italian company produces fittings with a diameter of inlet and outlet openings from 10 to 90 mm. This is enough to supply any apartment pipeline. The maximum working pressure at which the manufacturer guarantees the serviceability of the product is 64 Bar or 6.4 MPa.
Bugatti cranes function normally at liquid temperatures from -20 ° C to +150 ° C. Moreover, the products quietly withstand a sharp temperature drop in the same range. A separate word should be said about cranes marked Kentucky. They have a longer thread, due to which the dimensions and weight of the reinforcement are slightly larger than that of conventional elements.
American Bugatti Crane
The “American” connection, which is a sleeve with a collar and a union nut resting on it, allows you to connect the tap to two pipe sections by rotating only one nut. The American threaded connection in the Bugatti faucet allows you to dismantle it and reuse it in another section of the water supply.
At the same time, the reinforcement is endowed with other advantages:
- high reliability of the connection;
- it becomes possible to dismantle the crane in case of clogging;
- conditions are created for quick and easy installation;
- An ordinary wrench can be used for installation.
But for such an “advanced” fittings will have to pay more money. So, if the price of a Bugatti 1 ball valve without an “American” varies from 300 to 900 rubles, then in some cases you will have to pay up to 1,5 thousand for a strengthened connection. However, it’s worth it.
Electric cranes
In the summer cottage, in order not to constantly go down into the water well and not to shut off the water supply, you can install an Italian crane with an electric drive mechanism. This combination of electric motor and valves is also used in cramped conditions, when it is necessary to install a locking device and once and for all forget about its existence.
For operation, such cranes are connected to a 220 V network. Therefore, because of the high humidity in the area of ​​work with pipes for installation, it is better to invite a specialist or at least an electrician.
The cost of a ball valve with an electric drive from Bugatti varies from 5 to 11 thousand rubles. This fact stops many potential buyers. It is better to make a purchase in a specialized store - this way you will reduce the risk of acquiring counterfeit goods or counterfeiting to a minimum.
Bugatti has established itself as a supplier of quality and reliable fittings worldwide. By purchasing its products, you can be sure of its quality and durability.