DOUBLE-PLATE GATE VALVE, SHUT-OFF PLATE, AND METHOD FOR SEALING A DOUBLE-PLATE GATE VALVE

• US 20160281860A1
• Filed: 03/17/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z&J Technologies GmbH (IMI PLC)
• Original Assignee: Z&J Technologies GmbH (IMI PLC)
• Inventors: Travnicek, Roland, Weidgang, Peter, Wirtz, Ingo
• Granted Patent: US 9,752,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/029 with two or more gates
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/18 by movement of the closure members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A double-plate gate valve 10 is proposed which is provided for fittings of industrial plants, in particular chemical and petrochemical plants, wherein the double-plate gate valve 10 comprises a housing 11 having two shut-off plates 20a, 20b inside the housing 11 which are displaceable between an open and a closed position, wherein spring elements 25 such as disc spring packs are arranged between the shut-off plates 20a, 20b pressing the shut-off plates 20a, 20b in the closed position against sealing surfaces arranged on the housing 11 such that the entire sealing force required for sealing is provided by the spring elements 25. Furthermore are proposed a shut-off plate 20 for use in an inventive double-plate gate valve 10 as well as a method for sealing the inventive double-plate gate valve using the inventive shut-off plates.

Claims

1. Double-plate gate valve (10) for fittings of industrial plants, in particular chemical and petrochemical plants, comprising a housing (11) having two shut-off plates (20a, 20b) inside the housing (11) which are displaceable between an open and a closed position, wherein spring elements (25) such as disc spring packs are arranged between the shut-off plates (20a, 20b), pressing the shut-off plates (20a, 20b) in the closed position against sealing surfaces arranged on the housing (11) such that the entire sealing force required for sealing is provided by the spring elements (25).

2. Double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (11) comprises at least one flushing gas connection (30) through which a sealing gas pressure may be applied to the inside of the housing (11).

3. Double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an upper housing sealing seat (13) and a lower housing sealing seat (14).

4. Double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 3, wherein the upper housing sealing seat (13) is connected to the housing (11) to be detachable so as to enable access to the shut-off plates (20a, 20b).

5. Double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 3, wherein the upper housing sealing seat (13) comprises a multiple seal (33) which forms part of the sealing surface against which the upper shut-off plate (20a) is pressed in the closed position.

6. Double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 3, wherein at least the upper housing sealing seat (13) comprises a sealing and scraping edge on its radial inner side which, in the closed position, rests against the upper shut-off plate (20a).

7. Double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off plates (20a, 20b) are arranged to be movable in a spectacle-shaped plate box (15) displaceable inside the housing.

8. Double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the shut-off plates (20a, 20b), its smallest width being less than the thickness of one of the shut-off plates (20a, 20b) at its outer circumference.

9. Double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 6, wherein to an outer edge of the plate box (15), a distal end of an actuating rod (18) is mounted which extends within the housing along the shut-off plate'"'"'s (20a, 20b) displacement direction away from the plate box (15) and by means of which the plate box (15) and the shut-off plates (20a, 20b) are displaceable.

10. Circular shut-off plate (20) for use in a double-plate gate valve (10), in particular a double-plate gate valve (10) according to claim 1, said plate comprising:

a flat outer side (21);

a stop area (23), that is concentric to the plate circumference, on the inner side (22), the surface of which runs in parallel to the outer side (21);

a plate thickness radially decreasing from the stop area (23) toward the outside;

spring element seats (24) for receiving spring elements (25) arranged along the plate circumference in the edge area on the inner side (22) of the shut-off plate (20).

11. Method for sealing a double-plate gate valve (10) using circular shut-off plates, wherein the shut-off plates (20a, 20b) are spread apart by spring elements (25) such as spring disc packs clamped in between them and are pressed against respective associated sealing surfaces on the double-plate gate valve'"'"'s (10) housing (11), wherein a sealing gas pressure is applied to the space between the shut-off plates (20a, 20b).

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the two shut-off plates (20a, 20b) is convexly deformed upon the application of sealing gas pressure.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein each of the circular shut-off plates (20a, 20b) comprises:

a flat outer side (21);

a stop area (23), that is concentric to the plate circumference, on the inner side (22), the surface of which runs in parallel to the outer side (21);

a plate thickness radially decreasing from the stop area (23) toward the outside;

spring element seats (24) for receiving spring elements (25) arranged along the plate circumference in the edge area on the inner side (22) of the shut-off plate (20).

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the double-plate gate valve (10) comprises a housing (11) having two shut-off plates (20a, 20b) inside the housing (11) which are displaceable between an open and a closed position, wherein spring elements (25) such as disc spring packs are arranged between the shut-off plates (20a, 20b), pressing the shut-off plates (20a, 20b) in the closed position against sealing surfaces arranged on the housing (11) such that the entire sealing force required for sealing is provided by the spring elements (25).

15. Method according to claim 11, wherein the double-plate gate valve (10) comprises a housing (11) having two shut-off plates (20a, 20b) inside the housing (11) which are displaceable between an open and a closed position, wherein spring elements (25) such as disc spring packs are arranged between the shut-off plates (20a, 20b), pressing the shut-off plates (20a, 20b) in the closed position against sealing surfaces arranged on the housing (11) such that the entire sealing force required for sealing is provided by the spring elements (25).