Abstract: Valve having a valve housing, a valve member slidable in the valve housing between open and closed positions, and a friction reducer to reduce friction between the valve member and the valve housing. The friction reducer comprises at least one guide shoe made of low friction material, to provide a low friction sliding surface, the guide shoe being removably insertable into a slot in the valve member. The guide shoe is arranged to cooperate with the slot such that the ends of the slot prevent the guide shoe from being extracted from the valve member in the direction of movement of the valve member, when the valve member is in position with the valve housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to valves and particularly, though not exclusively, to gate valves. There is provided a valve comprising a housing (1) and a valve member (2) moveable within the housing (1) to open and close the valve. In a first aspect the valve is provided with means (7, 8) to reduce friction between the housing (1) and valve member (2). In a second aspect the valve is provided with an operating member (20) which is associated with the valve member (2) and passes through an aperture (21) in the housing (1) which is sealed when the valve is in the open position. Such a valve addresses difficulties relating to the operation of prior art valves, particularly gate valves, and specifically the difficulties created by frictional drag upon movement of the valve member, and difficulties in maintaining the valve.