Abstract: Vacuum valve having a valve housing with first and second valve openings, and a closure unit having first and second plates, a roller support arranged between the plates, multiple roller pairs, each formed from first and second spreading rollers, and a spring. The plates are carried together with the roller support when it moves parallel to a movement direction from the open position into an intermediate position, and an additional movement of the plates in the movement direction is blocked when the roller support moves from the intermediate position into a closed position, during which the spreading rollers move along rising flanks of recesses, and the plates are thus spread apart. Rotational axes of the spreading rollers of each roller pair are offset relative to each other and are spaced apart in the spreading direction by a distance smaller than a sum of the radiuses of the spreading rollers.

Abstract: A solenoid-powered gate valve that provides a reliable, high quality seal with a reduced operating force requirement. The valve includes a solenoid coil and armature connected to a valve mechanism, with the valve mechanism including a conduit having a connection opening, an oppositely-disposed pocket, and a sprung gate assembly linearly movable between the connection opening and the pocket. The sprung gate assembly includes a first gate member with an opening, a second gate member with an opening, and an endless elastic band retained between the first and second gate members, with the openings and endless elastic band collectively defining a passage through the sprung gate assembly, with the first and second gate members being mechanically coupled to the armature for reciprocating linear movement between the connection opening and the pocket. The endless elastic band allows an interference fit within the pocket with reduced frictional opposition to gate movement.

Abstract: This invention contemplates a resettable plug assembly suitable for insertion into a pipeline from a transverse tee connection in order that flow may be stopped and pressure retained by the plug. The stopper plug is inserted in the upstream direction and utilizes a bypass valve to aid installation when there is flow. The seal of the plug is expanded radially to contact the wall of the pipeline for sealing. Once in place the bypass valve is closed to stop the flow in the pipeline.

Abstract: A gate valve with inlet and outlet body portions with annular valve seats thereon and a gate assembly movable between open and closed positions between said body portions and carrying sealing rings in opposite faces thereof adapted to be brought into sealing relationship with said valve seats when the valve is open and when the valve is closed. The body portions of the valve have a plurality of bolts passing therethrough which are adapted to threadably engage the sealing rings to uniformly draw the rings toward their respective valve seats to clamp a gasket structure between a ring and its seat in positive sealing relationship. The bolts are adapted to be withdrawn from the rings to permit the gate assembly to be moved between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A valve body includes flow passageways across which a gate is movable with the gate having a central block sandwiched between outer seal blocks and a gate conduit alignable with the flow passageways of the valve body. Camming means along the edges of opposite faces of the central gate block cooperate with camming means on the seal blocks so that relative vertical movement between the central gate block and the seal block causes the seal blocks to expand outwardly into sealing contact with seal means on the ends of the passageway facing the gate. A main stem moves the entire gate as a unit with a coaxial cam drive shaft in the main stem having first and second oppositely threaded sections respectively engaged with the main stem and the central gate block to rapidly effect vertical movement of the central gate block upon rotation of the cam drive shaft.

Abstract: A gate valve has a hollow substantially T-shaped housing having opposed tubular ends through which a pair of coaxial sleeves extend, the sleeves terminating in the interior of the housing in a pair of seats. A gate includes a pair of gate members which are movable in the space between the seats to and from closed positions engaging the seats. The gate members are moved by a structure which first displaces the gates transversely to the common axis of the sleeves until the gates are in a position of alignment with the sleeves, and then while the structure which moves the gates continues to operate, a stop engages the gate members to guide them for movement into engagement with the seats. When engaging the stop the gate members move along the common axis of the sleeves. The sleeves serve to protect the housing from the effects of temperature fluctuations of the fluid flowing through the sleeves. In addition the sleeves can readily be removed and replaced as required.

Abstract: A gate valve (10) has an expanding gate assembly (34) for reciprocal movement transversely of the flow passage (16, 18). The expanding gate assembly (34) includes a gate element (68) and complementary segment (70) which expand away from each other when the gate assembly (34) is in either a fully open or closed position. A spring (92) is anchored to a side (87) of the gate element (68) and extends over and engages a pair of spaced apart lugs (88, 90) on the adjacent side (91) of the segment (70). The lugs (88, 90) are positioned so that the movement of the gate element (68) relative to the segment (70) from the fully collapsed position results in the spring (92) exerting at least seventy percent of its total force on the lug (88 or 90) that is leading with respect to the direction of relative movement of the segment (70).

Abstract: An expanding gate valve according to the present invention includes a gate system incorporating a pair of segments, one segment being formed to define opening cam surface means and the other segment being formed to define closed cam surface means. Spreader means is positioned in stationary manner within the valve chamber of the valve and includes opening and closing cam surface means that is engageable respectively with the cam surface means of the segments to achieve wedging, mechanically energized sealing enhancement between the segments and the valve seats as the gate segments reach the open or closed positions thereof during operation. The body structure of the valve is formed to define a valve chamber of generally cylindrical configuration within which may be located a pair of partially cylindrical seat carrier elements that properly position a pair of seat rings in relation to the valve body and the planar sealing surfaces of the gate segments.

Abstract: A gate valve in which a threaded movable rod supports a cam that serves as a mounting for first and second floating valve plates that are disposed back to back, which valve plates when the cam is in a first position may be moved adjacent to first and second valve seats. The rod at all times has a portion thereof encircled by a cylindrical sleeve. The sleeve has at least one slot therein defined by first and second legs that are angularly disposed relative to one another. The sleeve also has guide means therein to prevent the first and second valve plates from pivoting from positions where they are substantially parallel to the first and second valve seats. A protuberance is secured to the rod and engages the slot. When the protuberance is in the first leg of the slot the first and second valve plates are in first positions and may be moved into and out of the path of flow of fluid through the valve.

Abstract: A linear retractable seal valve having a wedge sealing-slip assembly slideably held at opposite side edges of the wedge to guide rails of the valve body and moveable from a distant first location to a second location between inlet and outlet ports of the valve from which latter location the sealing slips are wedged outwardly of the longitudinal movement of the assembly into closure engagement with the valve ports, with the valve being returned to its open position through a reverse sequential movement wherein there is first a perpendicular movement of the slips out of closure engagement with the valve ports, following which there is a reverse longitudinal movement of the wedge-slip assembly away from the fluid passageway to its valve open first location.

Abstract: A linear retractable seal valve having an inlet and outlet port and a fluid passageway therebetween with a lateral passageway perpendicular to the fluid passageway and with a wedge sealing-slip assembly slideably held at opposite side edges of the wedge to two guide rails of the valve body and moveable from a distant valve open first location within the lateral passageway to a second location between inlet and outlet ports of the valve. The slip-wedge assembly has at least one closure slip with an inside face of the slip slideably engaging a tapering face of the wedge and with the slip at said second location being restrained from further longitudinal movement and moveable in a perpendicular direction of the longitudinal assembly movement into closure engagement with one of the valve ports. The guide rails are diametrically-opposed and extend longitudinally of the inside face of the lateral passageway into the fluid passageway.

Abstract: A through conduit gate valve having a carrier frame shiftable vertically in a valve chamber with gates mounted in the carrier frame as to be shiftable vertically in the carrier frame and as to be shiftable away from each other in the carrier frame. Means are provided on the carrier frame and on the gates to shift the gates toward valve seats and away from each other when the carrier frame is in the open and closed positions and to permit the gates to shift toward each other when the carrier frame is being shifted between its open and closed positions.