Abstract: A crankcase explosion relief valve with an external flame trap made from compressed and sintered porous metal powder. Should an explosion take place, the valve plate will lift, allowing the flame front and exhaust gasses to enter the device. The exhaust gasses exit the valve though a circular flame trap made of porous metal. The circular flame trap is of a ribbon shape as to increase the amount of permeable area on the component. Due to the narrow interconnected porosity, flames will not be able to propagate past the porous material, while the exhaust gasses are able to freely pass through. In another embodiment, the porous material component is in the form of a plurality of cups.

Abstract: The sluice gate valve includes at least one binding reduction mechanism to reduce binding during actuation of the sluice gate. In one embodiment the mechanism includes a the guide elements and the tracks, the guide elements and the tracks being arranged such that a predetermined amount of rotational motion of the gate around the stem is permitted during actuation of the valve to reduce valve binding. In another embodiment the mechanism includes a stuffing box assembly including a stuffing box, a bushing, and a collar, where a convex curved surface of the collar slides on a concave curved surface of the bushing such that a predetermined amount of pivoting of the stem up to a predetermined cone angle is allowed. In a preferred embodiment the sluice gate valve includes both mechanisms.

Abstract: A gate assembly for a double disk gate valve having two closure disks with a resilient material between. The resilient material and closure disks are enveloped in an outer harder coating. Closing the gate valve brings the disks into initial sealing contact with the bottom of the valve seat. Applying pressure to the gate valve after contact is made between the gate assembly and the valve seat causes the resilient central member to exert pressure against the closure disks, thus pressing the outer coating of the gate assembly against the sidewalls of the valve seat. This action creates a better sealing engagement with the seat surface to exclude flow. Wear on the gate assembly is significantly reduced since the gate assembly does not make contact with the sidewalls of the seat while being moved between an open position and a closed position.