Abstract: A gate valve including a valve housing defining an inlet and an outlet aligned therewith; the housing having a planar inlet surface surrounding the inlet and a planar outlet surface surrounding the outlet and parallel to, facing and spaced a given distance from the inlet surface; a gate plate having a uniform thickness substantially equal to the given distance and defining a throughput opening, the gate plate mounted for sliding movement between the inlet and outlet surfaces and between an open position wherein the throughput opening is aligned with the inlet and outlet and a closed position wherein the throughput opening is substantially transversely displaced from the inlet and outlet; and an actuator for producing movement of the gate plate between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: An explosion protection system including a container adapted to contain an explosion suppressant under pressure and defining a discharge outlet; a primary storage volume, and an auxiliary storage volume disposed between the discharge outlet and the primary storage volume and communicating therewith; a closure member covering the discharge outlet; an explosive charge disposed in the container adjacent to the closure member and adapted to create explosive forces that rupture the closure member; and a dispersible explosion suppressant retained under pressure in the primary storage volume and having a given degree of compressibility. Also included is an explosive force transmitting agent filling the auxiliary storage volume and having a degree of compressibility less than the given degree.