Gate valve with angled body
An exemplary gate valve includes a valve body having a gate cavity intersecting a through bore, the gate cavity extending through a first end of the valve body, an inner surface forming the gate cavity is angled outward from a center axis of the gate cavity to a gate cavity opening at the first end, and a gate positioned in the gate cavity and moveable between a closed position blocking flow through the through bore and an open position allowing flow through the through bore, the gate having a sealing face extending perpendicular to the through bore.
1. A gate valve comprising:
a valve body having a gate cavity formed by opposing walls extending to a first end of the valve body;
a through bore intersecting the gate cavity and the opposing walls;
seat pockets formed in the opposing walls around the through bore;
the opposing walls extending parallel to each other from the seat pockets to a first kickoff point and the opposing walls diverge from each other and oblique to the center axis, from the kickoff point to the first end whereby the opposing walls form a sloped first gate cavity opening between the first kickoff point and the first end;
a gate positioned in the gate cavity and moveable between a closed position blocking flow through the through bore and an open position allowing flow through the through bore, the gate having a sealing face extending perpendicular to the through bore;
a three-dimensional frame of reference with three mutually orthogonal directions, wherein an X-axis corresponds to a center axis of the through bore, a Y-axis corresponds to a center axis of the gate cavity, a Z-axis is generally centered through a side of the gate wherein a Y-Z plane is parallel to the sealing face;
a first bonnet coupled to the first end and forming a first terminal gate cavity end having a diameter substantially equivalent to a diameter of the sloped first gate cavity opening at the first end; and
a lubrication port having an opening in the first terminal gate cavity end and a channel through the first bonnet, wherein the channel and the lubrication port opening are oblique to a Y-Z plane and oriented toward the sloped first cavity opening.
2. The gate valve of claim 1 , wherein the sloped gate cavity opening is generally funnel shaped.
3. The gate valve of claim 1 , wherein the gate comprises an end having a width along the X-axis that is less than a width of the gate at the sealing face.
4. The gate valve of claim 3 , wherein the first gate cavity opening is generally funnel shaped along a portion adjacent the sealing face of the gate.
5. The gate valve of claim 3 , wherein the end is connected to a stem by a pin extending generally perpendicular to the sealing face and the pin has a length that is less than the width of the gate at the sealing face.
6. The gate valve of claim 1 , wherein the gate comprises opposing ends, wherein each end of the opposing ends has a width along the X-axis that is less than a width of the gate at the sealing face.
7. The gate valve of claim 1 , wherein the channel and the opening are oblique to an X-Z plane.
8. The gate valve of claim 7 , wherein the channel and the opening are parallel to an X-Y plane.
9. The gate valve of claim 7 , wherein the channel and the opening are oblique to the X-Y plane.
10. The gate valve of claim 7 , wherein:
the channel and the opening are oblique to an X-Z plane; and
the channel and the opening are parallel to an X-Y plane.
11. The gate valve of claim 7 , wherein:
the channel and the opening are oblique to an X-Z plane; and
the channel and the opening are oblique to an X-Y plane.