Gate valve with novel seal and sealing arrangement
View Patent ↗In one aspect there is provided a gate valve having a first end and a second end, a gate having a gate opening. The gate is positionable within the valve between a closed configuration, a transition configuration and an open configuration. The gate valve further comprises a gate stem, at least one pair of seals, with one seal positioned on either side of the gate. Each of the seals comprises a first profile and a second profile. The first profile seals the gate valve and blocks fluid from passing between the first end and the second end when the gate valve is in the closed configuration. The second profile seals the gate opening relative to the gate stem. In another embodiment, the gate valve comprises two pairs of seals and the first and second profiles are each provided on separate seals.
1 . A gate valve ( 10 ) comprising:
a first end ( 11 a ) and a second end ( 11 b );
a valve end cap ( 14 ) having a first mating face ( 14 f );
a valve main body ( 12 ) having a second mating face ( 12 f );
a gate ( 30 ) having a gate opening ( 300 ), the gate ( 30 ) positionable within the valve ( 10 ) between a closed configuration, a transition configuration and an open configuration;
a gate stem ( 30 s );
at least one pair of seals ( 40 a , 40 b ) comprising a first seal ( 40 a ) and a second seal ( 40 b ) wherein one of each seal ( 40 a , 40 b ) is positioned on either side of the gate ( 30 );
wherein each of said seals ( 40 a , 40 b ) comprises a first profile ( 41 ) and a second profile ( 42 );
wherein said first profile ( 41 ) seals the gate valve ( 10 ) and blocks fluid from passing between the first end ( 11 a ) and the second end ( 11 b ) when the gate valve ( 10 ) is in the closed configuration;
wherein the second profile ( 42 ) seals the gate opening ( 300 ) relative to the gate stem ( 30 s ); and
further comprising a plurality of shims ( 100 ) positionable between the first and second mating faces ( 12 f , 14 f ).
2 . The gate valve ( 10 ) of claim 1 wherein the plurality of shims are provided as a paired set ( 100 , 100 ′).
3 . The gate valve ( 10 ) of claim 1 wherein the plurality of shims are provided as a single set of shims ( 100 a ).
4 . The gate valve ( 10 ) of claim 1 wherein the plurality of shims are provided as two sets of shims ( 100 a , 100 b ).
5 . A gate valve ( 10 ) comprising:
a first end ( 11 a ) and a second end ( 11 b );
a valve end cap ( 14 ) having a body seal groove ( 50 );
a valve main body ( 12 ) having a cap seal groove ( 60 );
a gate ( 30 ) having a gate opening ( 300 ), the gate ( 30 ) positionable within the valve ( 10 ) between a closed configuration, a transition configuration and an open configuration;
at least one pair of seals ( 40 a , 40 b ) comprising a first seal ( 40 a ) and a second seal ( 40 b ) wherein one of each seal ( 40 a , 40 b ) is positioned on either side of the gate ( 30 );
wherein each of said seals ( 40 a , 40 b ) comprises a first profile ( 41 ) and a second profile ( 42 );
wherein said first profile ( 41 ) seals the gate valve ( 10 ) and blocks fluid from passing between the first end ( 11 a ) and the second end ( 11 b ) when the gate valve ( 10 ) is in the closed configuration;
wherein the second profile ( 42 ) seals the gate opening ( 300 ) relative to the gate stem ( 30 s );
wherein the body seal groove ( 50 ) accepts one of said pair of seals ( 40 b );
wherein the cap seal groove ( 60 ) accepts the other of said pair of seals ( 40 a ).
6 . The gate valve ( 10 ) of claim 5 wherein, when the gate ( 30 ) reciprocates between the open configuration and the closed configuration, the at least one pair of seals ( 40 a , 40 b ) are maintained in their respective body seal groove ( 50 ) and cap seal groove ( 60 ).
7 . The gate valve ( 10 ) of claim 6 wherein the second profile ( 42 ) is a stadium profile comprising a first semicircular member ( 44 a ) and a second semicircular member ( 44 b ) positioned at opposite ends with a pair of straight legs ( 45 a , 45 b ) therebetween; and
wherein, when the gate ( 30 ) reciprocates between the open configuration and the closed configuration, the gate opening ( 300 ) is maintained within a distance (D′) between the first and second semicircular members ( 44 a , 44 b ).