Gate valve with magnetic closure for use with vacuum equipment
First Claim
1. In a gate-valve apparatus of the type wherein a valve seat structure surrounds a throat portion of a fluid passageway and the flow of fluid through the throat portion is controlled by means of a gate structure translatable in a direction generally normal to the axis of the valve seat, the improvement comprising:
- magnetic means mechanically, operatively associated with said valve-seat structure and said gate structure for selectively opening or forcing said valve-seat structure and gate structure into gas-tight sealing engagement by exerting a variable magnetically produced force between the valve seat and the gate structure with a predominant component of the force being produced in a direction parallel to the axis of the valve seat, whereby the gate valve is closed in a gas-tight manner.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gate valve, for use with evacuable equipment, includes a housing having a pair of aligned ports in opposed walls. A valve seat surrounds one of the ports. A gate member is reciprocally translatable by means of a linear actuator in a direction generally normal to the central axis of the valve seat. Magnetic structures are operably associated with the gate and valve seat for pulling the gate and seat into sealing engagement for closure of the gate valve by exerting a closure force generally parallel to the axis of the valve seat. The linear actuator includes a hollow cylinder having a piston movable therein and axially thereof which is magnetically coupled through the walls of the cylinder to an actuator member mechanically coupled to the gate for effecting reciprocal motion thereof.
59 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a gate-valve apparatus of the type wherein a valve seat structure surrounds a throat portion of a fluid passageway and the flow of fluid through the throat portion is controlled by means of a gate structure translatable in a direction generally normal to the axis of the valve seat, the improvement comprising:
magnetic means mechanically, operatively associated with said valve-seat structure and said gate structure for selectively opening or forcing said valve-seat structure and gate structure into gas-tight sealing engagement by exerting a variable magnetically produced force between the valve seat and the gate structure with a predominant component of the force being produced in a direction parallel to the axis of the valve seat, whereby the gate valve is closed in a gas-tight manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18)
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9. A gate-valve apparatus for use in conjunction with vacuum equipment and the like, comprising:
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a housing having a pair of opposite walls with ports therein defining a gas passageway through said housing; a valve-seat disposed to surround one of said ports and having a central axis; a gate assembly mounted in said housing for selectively mating with said valve seat in gas-tight sealing engagement for selectively sealing said port in a gas-tight manner for closing the gate valve; said gate assembly including a carrier; a gate mounted on said carrier; an actuator coupled to said carrier for reciprocally moving said gate in a direction generally normal to the axis of said valve seat between a first position overlaying said valve seat and a second position displaced from said valve seat; and magnetic structure selectively, mechanically, operatively associated with said valve seat and said gate for selectively opening or forcing said valve seat and gate into a gas-tight sealing engagement by exerting a variable, magnetically produced force between the valve seat and the gate, with a predominant component of the force parallel to the axis of the valve seat, whereby the gate valve is selectively closed in a gas-tight manner. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19)
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17. A gate-valve apparatus for use in conjunction with vacuum equipment and the like, comprising:
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a housing having a pair of opposite walls with ports therein defining a gas passageway through said housing; a valve seat disposed to surround one of said ports and having a central axis; a gate assembly mounted in said housing for selectively mating with said valve seat in gas-tight sealing engagement for selectively sealing said port in a gas-tight manner for closing the gate valve; said gate assembly including a carrier; a gate mounted on said carrier; an actuator coupled to said carrier for reciprocally moving said gate in a direction generally normal to the axis of said valve seat between a first position overlaying said valve seat and a second position displaced from said valve seat; said actuator including a hollow, elongated finger disposed within said housing; ferromagnetic means axially movable internally of said hollow finger and being partitioned from the interior of said housing by the walls of said hollow finger; slider means axially movable of said elongated finger on the outside of said finger and being magnetically coupled to said ferromagnetic means internally of said finger for movement therewith; said carrier being coupled to and movable with said slider means for reciprocally moving said gate in a direction generally normal to the axis of said valve seat between said first position and said second position; and forcing means operable within said finger for moving said ferromagnetic means within said finger to produce a corresponding axial movement of said slider means and said gate, whereby the operating life of said actuator is extended in use.
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Specification