Gate valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11466784-B2
Application number	US-202017038666-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2020
Priority date	Sep 30, 2020
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A gate valve includes a valve body including a gate channel intersecting a flow passage that extends from a first opening to a second opening. In embodiments, the gate channel has a width constant across a length extending from an intersection of the flow passage and the gate channel away from the flow passage. In embodiments, the flow passage is defined by a perimeter surface, a semi-annular slot through the perimeter surface, and a center axis through a center of the first opening and the second opening, the semi-annular slot extending on both sides of a first plane, the first plane perpendicular to a center longitudinal axis of the gate channel, the first plane parallel to and intersecting the center axis of the flow passage. In embodiments, the flow passage has an outer diameter, and a span of the gate channel containing the diameter is greater than the outer diameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gate valve comprising:
a valve body including a first opening, a second opening, a flow passage from the first opening to the second opening, and a gate channel intersecting the flow passage,
wherein the gate channel has a width that is constant across a length extending from an intersection of the flow passage and the gate channel away from the flow passage, and
wherein the flow passage is defined by a perimeter surface, a semi-annular slot through the perimeter surface, and a center axis through a center of the first opening and the second opening, the semi-annular slot extending on both sides of a first plane and tapering into the perimeter surface, the first plane perpendicular to a center longitudinal axis of the gate channel, the first plane parallel to and intersecting the center axis of the flow passage.

2. The gate valve of claim 1 , wherein the flow passage has an outer diameter, and wherein the gate channel has a span being perpendicular to a center axis of the gate channel and containing the outer diameter, the span being greater than the outer diameter of the flow passage as measured through the outer diameter of the flow passage.

3. The gate valve of claim 2 , wherein the flow passage has a circumference, and wherein the gate channel encircles a majority of the circumference.

4. The gate valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gate configured to move along a center axis of the gate channel between a closed position where the gate is fully in the flow passage to block fluid flow through the flow passage and an open position where fluid can flow through the flow passage,
wherein in the closed position:
an axially facing surface of the gate inside the semi-annular slot seals against an axially facing surface of the semi-annular slot;
a radially facing surface of the gate has a portion outside the semi-annular slot and outside the gate channel that seals against the perimeter surface of the flow passage in at least one continuous path across the perimeter surface to connect a fully annular path with the semi-annular slot and the gate channel; and
the radially facing surface of the gate has a portion inside the semi-annular slot that continues the seal of the portion outside the semi-annular slot and outside the gate channel into the semi-annular slot to overlap with the seal of the axially facing surface of the gate with the axially facing surface of the semi-annular slot.

5. The gate valve of claim 4 , wherein the gate has a first disc-shaped body and a second disc-shaped body, the first disc-shaped body and the second disc-shaped body configured to pivot from a circumferential location, to spread the first and second disc-shaped bodies at a diametrically opposite circumferential location, and to either press the radially facing surface against the semi-annular slot in the closed position or close together the first and second disc-shaped bodies.

6. The gate valve of claim 1 , wherein the semi-annular slot tapers into the perimeter surface from a first location to a second location, the first location being more radially distal from the center axis of the flow passage than the second location.

7. A gate valve comprising:
a valve body including a first opening, a second opening, a flow passage from the first opening to the second opening, and a gate channel intersecting the flow passage,
a gate configured to move along a center axis of the gate channel between a closed position where the gate is fully in the flow passage to block fluid flow through the flow passage and an open position where fluid can flow through the flow passage,
wherein the gate channel has a width that is constant across a length extending from an intersection of the flow passage and the gate channel away from the flow passage,
wherein the flow passage is defined by a perimeter surface, a semi-annular slot through the perimeter surface, and a center axis through a center of the first opening and the second opening, the semi-annular slot extending on both sides of a first plane and tapering into the perimeter surface, the first plane perpendicular to a center longitudinal axis of the gate channel, the first plane parallel to and intersecting the center axis of the flow passage, and
wherein in the closed position:
an axially facing surface of the gate inside the semi-annular slot seals against an axially facing surface of the semi-annular slot;
a radially facing surface of the gate has a portion outside the semi-annular slot and outside the gate channel that seals against the perimeter surface of the flow passage in at least one continuous path across the perimeter surface to connect a fully annular path with the semi-annular slot and the gate channel; and
the radially facing surface of the gate has a portion inside the semi-annular slot that continues the seal of the portion outside the semi-annular slot and outside the gate channel into the semi-annular slot to overlap with the seal of the axially facing surface of the gate with the axially facing surface of the semi-annular slot.

8. The gate valve of claim 7 , wherein the gate has a first disc-shaped body and a second disc-shaped body, the first disc-shaped body and the second disc-shaped body configured to pivot from a circumferential location, to spread the first and second disc-shaped bodies at a diametrically opposite circumferential location, and to either press the radially facing surface against the semi-annular slot in the closed position or close together the first and second disc-shaped bodies.

Assignees

• Kennedy Valve Company

Inventors

• Kennedy Paul

Classifications

• F16K31/508

  the actuating element being rotatable, non-rising, and driving a non-rotatable axially-sliding element · CPC title

• F16K27/044

  slide valves with flat obturating members · CPC title

• F16K3/0227

  Packings · CPC title

• F16K27/047

  with wedge-shaped obturating members · CPC title

• F16K3/14

  with special arrangements for separating the sealing faces or for pressing them together · CPC title