Patent US4524796A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4524796A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sliding-gate valve for use with abrasive materials

Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1982-09-24
•
Granted: 1985-06-25
•
Expires: 2002-09-24
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The invention is a flow and pressure-sealing valve for use with abrasive solids. The valve embodies special features which provide for long, reliable operating lifetimes in solids-handling service. The valve includes upper and lower transversely slidable gates, contained in separate chambers. The upper gate provides a solids-flow control function, whereas the lower gate provides a pressure-sealing function. The lower gate is supported by means for (a) lifting that gate into sealing engagement with its seat when the gate is in its open and closed positions and (b) lowering the gate out of contact with its seat to permit abrasion-free transit of the gate between its open and closed positions. When closed, the upper gate isolates the lower gate from the solids. Because of this shielding action, the sealing surface of the lower gate is not exposed to solids during transit or when it is being lifted or lowered. The chamber containing the lower gate normally is pressurized slightly, and a sweep gas is directed inwardly across the lower-gate sealing surface during the vertical translation of the gate.

Inventors

  • 👤 William J. Ayers, Jr.
  • 👤 Charles R. Carter
  • 👤 Richard A. Griffith
  • 👤 Richard B. Loomis
  • 👤 John E. Notestein

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 17:40
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K3/00; F16K3/02; F16K3/16; F16K3/20; F16K3/205; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/4238; Y10T137/4245; Y10T137/4259; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87917

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 315 words
A valve assembly for controlling the flow of abrasive, particulate material comprising: a valve body; partition means in said body for dividing said body into first and second compartments; a tubular inlet extending into said first compartment; a stationary annular seat disposed in the partition means for placing the first and second compartments in registry with one another, said annular seat being spaced from said tubular inlet; a displaceable tubular support member disposed in said second compartment and spaced from said annular inlet; said tubular inlet, annular seat and tubular support member cooperatively defining a flow channel through said valve body; a first gate in said first compartment comprising an apertured plate disposed in the space between confronting surfaces of said tubular inlet and said annular seat, said gate being mounted in said first compartment for transverse movement between first and second positions where the aperture in said apertured plate is respectively in and out of registry with said channel; a second gate in said second compartment comprising a further apertured plate disposed in the space between confronting surfaces of said annular seat and said support member and supported by the latter for displacement therewith and mounted for movement transverse to said displacement between first and second positions where the aperture in said further apertured plate is respectively in and out of registry with said channel; and drive means for displacing said annular support member and said further apertured plate into a first position to sealably engage said further apertured plate with said annular seat when the aperture in the further apertured plate is either in or out of registry with said channel and for displacing said annular support member into a second position during the displacement of said second apertured plate into either of said positions where the aperture in said further apertured plate is either in or out of registry with said channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 315 words
A valve assembly for controlling the flow of abrasive, particulate material comprising: a valve body; partition means in said body for dividing said body into first and second compartments; a tubular inlet extending into said first compartment; a stationary annular seat disposed in the partition means for placing the first and second compartments in registry with one another, said annular seat being spaced from said tubular inlet; a displaceable tubular support member disposed in said second compartment and spaced from said annular inlet; said tubular inlet, annular seat and tubular support member cooperatively defining a flow channel through said valve body; a first gate in said first compartment comprising an apertured plate disposed in the space between confronting surfaces of said tubular inlet and said annular seat, said gate being mounted in said first compartment for transverse movement between first and second positions where the aperture in said apertured plate is respectively in and out of registry with said channel; a second gate in said second compartment comprising a further apertured plate disposed in the space between confronting surfaces of said annular seat and said support member and supported by the latter for displacement therewith and mounted for movement transverse to said displacement between first and second positions where the aperture in said further apertured plate is respectively in and out of registry with said channel; and drive means for displacing said annular support member and said further apertured plate into a first position to sealably engage said further apertured plate with said annular seat when the aperture in the further apertured plate is either in or out of registry with said channel and for displacing said annular support member into a second position during the displacement of said second apertured plate into either of said positions where the aperture in said further apertured plate is either in or out of registry with said channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 76 words
The valve assembly claimed in claim 1 including means for admitting a stream of a nonreactive purge gas into said second compartment at a sufficient volume for displacing particulate material from surfaces of said further apertured plate and from said tubular support member into said channel and for maintaining said gas at a pressure exceeding the pressure prevailing in said flow channel to inhibit flow of particulate material from said flow channel into said second compartment.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2231614A Cited
US3068888A Cited
US3352535A Cited
US3547140A Cited
US3557822A Cited
US3741522A Cited
US4292992A Cited
US4294284A Cited
US4338960A Cited
US4402337A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-06-24 1988-12-24 1989-06-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-06-24 1992-12-24 1993-06-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-06-24 1996-12-24 1997-06-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag