Fluid valve
A valve cartridge ( 11 ) for a live insertion valve ( 10 ) for a pipe ( 102 ) is provided, the valve cartridge ( 11 ) comprising a valve member ( 14 ), wherein the valve cartridge ( 11 ) is configured such that, in use, the valve member ( 14 ) is moveable between an inactive state in which the valve member ( 14 ) permits a flow of fluid through a pipe ( 102 ), and an active state in which the valve member ( 14 ) blocks a flow of fluid through a pipe ( 102 ). The valve member ( 14 ) comprises a first seal ( 18 ) and a second seal ( 20 ), wherein the valve cartridge ( 11 ) is configured such that, in use, the first seal ( 18 ) is arranged to block a flow of fluid along said pipe ( 102 ) and the second seal ( 20 ) is arranged to block a flow of fluid in a direction transverse to said pipe ( 102 ) when the valve member ( 14 ) is in the active state. The second seal ( 20 ) is at least partially seated on the first seal ( 18 ) or vice versa. The valve cartridge ( 11 ) provides effective scaling of the pipe ( 102 ).
1 . A valve cartridge for a live insertion valve for a pipe, the valve cartridge comprising a valve member, wherein the valve cartridge is configured such that, in use, the valve member is moveable between an inactive state in which the valve member permits a flow of fluid through a pipe, and an active state in which the valve member blocks a flow of fluid through said pipe; wherein the valve member comprises a first seal and a second seal, wherein the valve cartridge is configured such that, in use, the first seal is arranged to block a flow of fluid along said pipe and the second seal is arranged to block a flow of fluid in a direction transverse to said pipe when the valve member is in the active state; wherein the first seal comprises first and second seat portions on opposing sides of the valve member, and the second seal is seated on the first and second seat portions, and wherein:
the second seal comprises a curved cross-sectional profile and each of the first and second seat portions defines a curve or arc in cross-section which conforms to a cross-sectional profile of the second seal, and/or
the second seal comprises an annular seal and each of the first and second seat portions is curved in a circumferential direction of the second seal to conform to a circumference of the second seal.
2 . The valve cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein valve member is configured so that, in use, the first seal is compressible towards the second seal when the valve member is in the active state.
3 . The valve cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first seal is a gate seal which is configured to extend in a first plane such that, when in use, the first plane extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said pipe.
4 . The valve cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the valve cartridge comprises an actuation mechanism for moving the valve member such that, in use, the actuation mechanism is configured to move the valve member between the active and inactive states.
5 . The valve cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the valve member linearly such that, in use, the valve member is moveable in a direction transverse to said pipe, in order to move between the active and inactive states.
6 . The valve cartridge according to claim 5 , further comprising an anti-rotation arrangement configured such that, in use, the anti-rotation arrangement is arranged to inhibit rotation of the valve member relative to said pipe; wherein the anti-rotation arrangement comprises one or more projections.
7 . A live insertion valve assembly comprising:
said pipe comprising a side wall having a pipe opening;
a casing comprising a cylindrical channel configured to surround the pipe opening and to extend in a direction transverse to the pipe; and
a valve cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the valve cartridge is configured to be at least partially located within the cylindrical channel.