Gate valve sleeve
First Claim
1. A sealing arrangement for a gate valve comprising at least one cylindrical-like seal, each cylindrical like seal having a body made of a resilient material and a cooperating buckling means, said at least one seal having a sealing end engaging a gate of the gate valve, an anchoring end securing said at least one seal in the gate valve, and an intermediate section joining said sealing end and said anchoring end and accommodating controlled buckling of said buckling means and said intermediate section as said sealing end is forced toward said anchoring end during movement of said gate in a closing direction;
- said intermediate section having a recess formed therein with said buckling means disposed within said recess, said controlled buckling being predetermined by the configuration of said buckling means to buckle in a radial direction of said seal distorting said recess as said sealing end moves towards said anchoring end, said buckling means transferring forces between said sealing end and said anchoring end and creating a bias during controlled buckling of said intermediate section urging said intermediate section to return to the wall configuration prior to controlled buckling of said intermediate section when said gate is moved in an opening direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sealing sleeve for a gate valve is disclosed which is designed to respond to movements of the gate of the valve in a particular manner. The seal undergoes an axial compressive type movement as the gate is moved between opposed sealing sleeves and this causes a predetermined radially inward buckling of an intermediate wall section of the sealing sleeve. This predetermined buckling creates a spring bias in the sleeve, urging the sleeve to return to the original, less stressed condition. Preferably, the sleeve is of a composite structure and a particular component of the intermediate wall section creates this spring bias. This structure has improved operating characteristics and accommodates a wider range of resilient materials to be used for the sealing sleeve.
36 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sealing arrangement for a gate valve comprising at least one cylindrical-like seal, each cylindrical like seal having a body made of a resilient material and a cooperating buckling means, said at least one seal having a sealing end engaging a gate of the gate valve, an anchoring end securing said at least one seal in the gate valve, and an intermediate section joining said sealing end and said anchoring end and accommodating controlled buckling of said buckling means and said intermediate section as said sealing end is forced toward said anchoring end during movement of said gate in a closing direction;
- said intermediate section having a recess formed therein with said buckling means disposed within said recess, said controlled buckling being predetermined by the configuration of said buckling means to buckle in a radial direction of said seal distorting said recess as said sealing end moves towards said anchoring end, said buckling means transferring forces between said sealing end and said anchoring end and creating a bias during controlled buckling of said intermediate section urging said intermediate section to return to the wall configuration prior to controlled buckling of said intermediate section when said gate is moved in an opening direction.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- 14. A cylindrical type seal comprising a cylindrical like body made of a resilient material and having a sealing end for engaging a gate of the gate valve and an anchoring end for securing of said seal in the gate valve, and an intermediate section joining said sealing end and said anchoring end and accommodating controlled compression of said intermediate section when said sealing end is forced towards said anchoring end by a gate of a gate valve, said intermediate section being of a composite structure and including a recess having a compressible spring collar about said intermediate section which mechanically produces a strong spring bias when compressed by said sealing end being formed tyowards said anchoring end, said spring collar when compressed buckling in a direction distorting said recess and substantially altering the wall configuration of said intermediate section and creating a bias urging said intermediate section to return to the wall configuration prior to any compressive movement of the intermediate section.
Specification