Patent ID: 11958001
Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AG
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 7:
8. A valve tray for use in a chemical-process column, the valve tray comprising:
a tray surface having at least one aperture formed therein, the at least one aperture being of an aperture area;
a retaining cage disposed on the tray surface proximate the at least one aperture, the retaining cage comprising:
as an upper portion, a strap extending over a top surface of a valve cover and restricting vertical travel of the valve cover;
a first leg and a second leg extending downwardly from the upper portion and coupled to the tray surface proximate the at least one aperture, the first leg and the second leg being placed generally parallel to a direction of flow of a heavier fluid across the tray; and
the valve cover disposed in the retaining cage, the valve cover comprising:
the top surface having a surface area;
a vane extending around an edge of the top surface, the vane being a continuous circumferential vane that extends outwardly and downwardly from the top surface at a uniform angle continuously around the top surface;
a notch formed in the vane, the notch defined by oppositely-disposed edges, the oppositely-disposed edges being on opposite sides of one of the first leg and the second leg and extending inwardly from a perimeter of the vane towards an interior of the valve cover, the notch receiving the one of the first leg and the second leg and being sized such that rotation of the valve cover relative to the one of the first leg and the second leg is constrained,

wherein the aperture area is smaller than the surface area, and
wherein a width of the notch is approximately a same size as a width of the one of the first leg and the second leg that is received by the notch.