Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
In a gate valve wherein a ported gate element having a generally circular gate port is movable between circular valve seats positioned within a valve chamber to control the flow of fluid through flow passages defined by the valve, the improvement comprising: said gate port and the upstream one of the valve seats being of cooperative configuration at the initial stage of opening movement of said gate and at the terminal stage of closing movement of said gate to define an upstream flow path of greater dimension as compared to the flow path established by the relationship of the gate portion and the downstream seat, whereby the velocity of fluid flowing through the upstream flow path and impinging upon the downstream seat will be of lower velocity as compared to the velocity of flow through the downstream flow path, thereby minimizing erosion of the downstream seat by erosive particulate entrained within the flowing fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a gate valve wherein a ported gate element having a generally circular gate port is movable between circular valve seats positioned within a valve chamber to control the flow of fluid through flow passages defined by the valve, the improvement comprising: said gate port and the upstream one of the valve seats being of cooperative configuration at the initial stage of opening movement of said gate and at the terminal stage of closing movement of said gate to define an upstream flow path of greater dimension as compared to the flow path established by the relationship of the gate portion and the downstream seat, whereby the velocity of fluid flowing through the upstream flow path and impinging upon the downstream seat will be of lower velocity as compared to the velocity of flow through the downstream flow path, thereby minimizing erosion of the downstream seat by erosive particulate entrained within the flowing fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement recited in claim 1, wherein: the upstream portion of said gate being formed to define a gate recess cooperating with said upstream seat to define said greater dimensioned upstream flow path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement recited in claim 2, wherein: said gate recess is of generally rectangular configuration, extends partially through said gate and intersects the upstream planar sealing surface of said gate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement recited in claim 1, wherein: said upstream valve seat is formed to define a counterbored seat recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement recited in claim 4, wherein: said seat recess intersects the downstream side of the upstream seat and further intersects the flow opening defined by said upstream seat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improvement recited in claim 1, wherein: the upstream portion of said gate is formed to define a gate recess that intersects said gate port, said gate recess cooperating with said upstream seat to define said greater dimensioned upstream flow path; and said upstream valve seat is formed to define a seat recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improvement recited in claim 6, wherein: said gate recess is of generally rectangular configuration, extends partially through said gate and intersects the upstream planar sealing surface of said gate; and said seat recess intersects the downstream side of the upstream seat and further intersects the flow opening defined by said upstream seat.