Solenoid operated wedge gate valve

Claim 1

A solenoid operated gate valve including a valve body formed with an inner chamber, an inlet passage extending from one side of the valve body to said chamber, an outlet passage extending from the opposite side of the valve body to said chamber, said passages extending generally toward each other, means whereby said passages are terminated inside the valve body providing a wedge shaped space therebetween, said terminating means including valve seat inserts of soft elastic material, a wedge shaped valve member generally conforming to said wedge shaped space and arranged to engage said valve seat inserts for stopping flow of fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage, means including a solenoid having a plunger member for withdrawing said wedge shaped valve member from said seats to allow flow of fluid, lost motion means connecting said plunger and valve member, said lost motion means permitting initial free movement of the plunger member to develop inertia, the plunger member striking the valve member with hammer action when the lost motion is taken up for breaking the valve member loose from its wedging seats, the resiliency of said seats being such as to limit the holding force produced by the wedging action of the valve member and seats to less than can be overcome by the solenoid plunger member, said lost motion means comprising a compound slot in one member having a first portion extending parallel with the direction of movement of said members and extending through the end of its associated member, said slot also having a second portion of greater width than the first portion providing an internal shoulder, both portions of the slot opening through at least one side of said associated member, the other member including a shank portion extending through the first portion of the slot and a head portion providing a shoulder engaging said internal shoulder, said shank and head portions being insertable sideways into the slot.