Self-cleaning double block and bleed valve
Disclosed is a self-cleaning double block and bleed valve. The valve includes a plug modified to divert a portion of the fluid flowing through the valve into and through a cavity located beneath the plug. The diverted fluid passing along a secondary flow path beneath the plug and subsequently rejoining the primary flow path. The diverted fluid removes debris, sediment or sludge from the cavity beneath the plug.
1. A valve comprising:
a valve body, said valve body defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said valve body having a first cavity;
a rotatable plug positioned within said first cavity, said rotatable plug having a bottom portion;
said rotatable plug having a first opening and a second opening defining a central passageway, said central passageway when aligned with said valve body inlet opening and valve body outlet opening provides a first continuous fluid path through said valve;
said rotatable plug first opening having a first gap;
said rotatable plug first opening carrying a first upwardly projecting lip adjacent to said first gap;
said rotatable plug second opening having a second gap;
when said rotatable plug first and second openings are aligned with said valve body inlet opening and valve body outlet opening, said first and second gaps provide fluid communication with a second continuous fluid path, said second continuous fluid path passes below the bottom portion of said rotatable plug.
2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein said first gap is located at the lowest portion of said first opening.
3. The valve of claim 1 , wherein said second gap is located at the lowest portion of said second opening.
4. The valve of claim 1 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip is in the form of a scoop, a flange or a protrusion.
5. The valve of claim 1 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends from about 0.15 inch to about 3.0 inch above the lowest portion of said first opening.
6. The valve of claim 1 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends from about 0.25 inch to about 2.5 inch above the lowest portion of said first opening.
7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends a sufficient distance into said first fluid path to divert about 2% to about 5% of the fluid passing through said first fluid path through said second fluid path.
8. The valve of claim 1 , wherein said first gap will have depth of about 0.19 inch to about 3 inches and a width of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches and said second gap will have depth of about 0.19 inch to about 3 inches and a width of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches.
9. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising a second upwardly projecting lip carried at said second opening of said central passageway, said second upwardly projecting lip is located adjacent to said second gap.
10. A valve comprising:
a valve body, said valve body defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said valve body having a first cavity;
a rotatable plug positioned within said first cavity;
said rotatable plug having a first opening and a second opening defining a central passageway, said central passageway when aligned with said valve body inlet opening and said valve body outlet opening provides a first continuous fluid path through said valve;
said rotatable plug first opening having a first gap at the lowest portion of said central passageway;
said rotatable plug first opening carrying a first upwardly projecting lip, said first upwardly projecting lip located adjacent to said first gap;
said rotatable plug second opening having a second gap at the lowest portion of said central passageway;
when said plug first and second openings are aligned with said valve body inlet opening and valve body outlet opening, said first and second gaps provide fluid communication with a second continuous fluid path, said second continuous fluid path passes below the bottom of said plug.
11. The valve of claim 10 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip is in the form of a scoop, a flange or a protrusion.
12. The valve of claim 10 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends from about 0.15 inch to about 3.0 inch above the lowest portion of said first opening.
13. The valve of claim 10 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends from about 0.25 inch to about 2.5 inch above the lowest portion of said first opening.
14. The valve of claim 10 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends a sufficient distance into said first fluid path to divert about 2% to about 5% of the fluid passing through said first fluid path through said second fluid path.
15. The valve of claim 10 , wherein said first gap will have depth of about 0.19 inch to about 3 inches and a width of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches and said second gap will have depth of about 0.19 inch to about 3 inches and a width of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches.
16. The valve of claim 10 , further comprising a second upwardly projecting lip carried at said second opening of said central passageway, said second upwardly projecting lip is located adjacent to said second gap.
17. A plug configured for use in a double block and bleed valve, comprising:
a first opening and a second opening defining a central passageway through said plug, said central passageway provides a fluid path through said valve;
said first opening having a first gap;
said first opening carrying a first upwardly projecting lip adjacent to said first gap;
said second opening having a second gap.
18. The plug of claim 17 , wherein said first gap is located at the lowest portion of said first opening.
19. The plug of claim 17 , wherein said second gap is located at the lowest portion of said second opening.
20. The plug of claim 17 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip is in the form of a scoop, a flange or a protrusion.
21. The plug of claim 17 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends from about 0.15 inch to about 3.0 inch above the lowest portion of said first opening.
22. The plug of claim 17 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends from about 0.25 inch to about 2.5 inch above the lowest portion of said first opening.
23. The plug of claim 17 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends a sufficient distance into said fluid path to divert about 2% to about 5% of the fluid passing through said fluid path.
24. The plug of claim 17 , wherein said first gap will have depth of about 0.19 inch to about 3 inches and a width of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches and said second gap will have depth of about 0.19 inch to about 3 inches and a width of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches.
25. The plug of claim 17 , further comprising a second upwardly projecting lip carried at said second opening of said passageway, said second upwardly projecting lip is located adjacent to said second gap.
26. A valve comprising:
a valve body, said valve body defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said valve body having a first cavity;
a plug positioned within said first cavity;
said plug having a first opening and a second opening defining a central passageway, said central passageway when aligned with said valve body inlet opening and valve body outlet opening provides a first continuous fluid path through said valve;
said plug first opening having a first gap at a lowest portion of said first opening, said first gap having a depth of not more than about three inches and a width of not more than five inches;
said plug first opening carrying a first upwardly projecting lip, said first upwardly projecting lip carried at the lowest portion of said central passageway adjacent to said first gap;
said plug second opening having a second gap at a lowest portion of said second opening, said second gap having a depth of not more than about three inches and a width of not more than five inches;
when said plug first and second openings are aligned with said valve body inlet opening and valve body outlet opening, said first and second gaps provide fluid communication with a second continuous fluid path, said second continuous fluid path passes below the bottom portion of said plug.
27. The valve of claim 26 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip is in the form of a scoop, a flange or a protrusion.
28. The valve of claim 26 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends from about 0.15 inch to about 3.0 inch above the lowest portion of said first opening.
29. The valve of claim 26 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends from about 0.25 inch to about 2.5 inch above the lowest portion of said first opening.
30. The valve of claim 26 , wherein said first upwardly projecting lip extends a sufficient distance into said first fluid path to divert about 2% to about 5% of the fluid passing through said first fluid path through said second fluid path.
31. The valve of claim 26 , wherein said first gap will have depth of about 0.19 inch to about 3 inches and a width of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches and said second gap will have depth of about 0.19 inch to about 3 inches and a width of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches.
32. The valve of claim 26 , further comprising a second upwardly projecting lip, said second upwardly projecting lip carried at the lowest portion of said second opening of said central passageway adjacent to said second gap.
33. The valve of claim 32 , wherein said second upwardly projecting lip is in the form of a scoop, a flange or a protrusion.