Gate valve with secure sealing mechanism

A gate valve with secure sealing mechanism includes a main body having a valve opening, a driver disposed on the main body, a sliding seat slidingly disposed in the main body, a swing arm, and a valve member. Therein, two ends of the swing arm are connected to the driver and the sliding seat, respectively, whereby the driver drives the swing arm to move circularly between a first and second position, thereby triggering the sliding seat to slide. When the swing arm is at the first or second position, the swing arm is biased against the route direction of the sliding seat. The valve member is disposed on the sliding seat for moving in parallel or vertical to the valve opening, thereby preventing the sliding seat from swaying when the swing arm is at the first or second locking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gate valves, and more particularly, to a gate valve with secure sealing mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 7,341,237 discloses a valve mechanism for optionally sealing or opening a valve opening in a casing, while the valve opening is provided with a seat surface. Therein, the valve mechanism comprises at least a valve member capable of moving in parallel or vertical to the seat surface of the valve opening in the casing. A driving board is disposed in the casing and connected to at least a valve member, wherein the driving board is able to move horizontally, such that the valve member is driven to move horizontally.

The valve mechanism aforementioned is able to drive the valve member to move horizontally or vertically by use of the driving board, thereby sealing the valve opening. However, the valve mechanism is not provided with any locking devices or secure mechanisms for stably securing the valve member at the sealing position, such that the driving board is easily shifted or displaced. As a result, the valve member is hindered from effectively sealing the valve opening. In a more serious environment, fluid tends to be leak out from the valve opening, causing unnecessary loss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For improving aforementioned issues, the present invention discloses a gate valve with secure sealing mechanism, which applies non-linear driving track for a rolling member of a swing arm to circularly move, so as to drive a sliding seat to slide, whereby a valve member seals the valve opening of the main body. Also, when the swing arm is at a first or second position, the swing arm is biased against the route direction of the sliding seat. As a result, the sliding seat is prevented from swaying due to external force, thereby assuring the valve opening is securely sealed when the swing arm is at the second position.

For achieving the objective above, the present invention provides a gate valve with secure sealing mechanism, comprising:

a main body, provided with a valve opening;

a driver, disposed on the main body;

a sliding seat, slidingly disposed in the main body;

a swing arm, with one end thereof connected to the driver and the other end thereof connected to the sliding seat, such that the driver drives the swing arm to circularly move between a first position and a second position, so as to trigger the sliding seat to slide, wherein when the swing arm is at the first or second position, the swing arm is biased against a route direction of the sliding seat;

a valve member, disposed on the sliding seat for moving in parallel or vertical to the valve opening,

such that the sliding seat is prevented from swaying when the swing arm is at the first or second position, and the valve opening is stably sealed when the swing arm is at the second position.

Preferably, the sliding seat is provided with a driving groove having a non-linear driving track, while one end of the swing arm is provided with a rolling member placed in the driving groove and capable of circularly moving along the driving track, such that the sliding seat reciprocates between two ends of the main body.

Preferably, the driver of the present invention is disposed on the main body and manually operated.

Preferably, the driving track of the present invention includes a first driving section, a second driving section, and a third driving section. The second driving section is inclinedly connected between the first driving section and the third driving section, such that when the rolling member moves from the first driving section to the second driving section, the valve member perpendicularly moves against the valve opening for sealing the valve opening.

Preferably, the sliding seat of the present invention includes two first guiding portions disposed in parallel with each other, and the valve member has two second guiding portions. Furthermore, the first guiding portion has at least one connecting groove, while the second guiding portion has at least one matching groove oppositely disposed in relation to the connecting groove. Plural circular rods pass through the connecting groove and the connecting groove, such that the connecting groove overlaps and cooperates with the matching groove. Therefore, the valve member is stably controlled to move against the sliding seat, thereby sealing the valve opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned and further advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where the components are illustrated based on a proportion for explanation but not subject to the actual component proportion.

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 9, the present invention provides a gate valve with secure sealing mechanism100, comprising a main body10, a driver20, a sliding seat30, a swing arm40, and a valve member50. Therein, the main body10is hollow and provided with a first end11and a second end12. The second end12has a valve opening13disposed on a lateral side thereof. The driver20drives the swing arm40to rotate, so as to trigger the sliding seat30to reciprocate along the direction in accordance with the arrowhead A inFIG. 2, whereby the valve member50seals the valve opening13.

The main body10is provided with two guiding planks14disposed on two sides of the inner edge thereof, respectively, and a positioning groove15is disposed on the guiding plank14adjacent to the valve opening13. Also, the positioning groove15is provided with a curved portion151and a distal portion152.

The driver20is disposed on the main body10, as shown inFIG. 4. In the preferred embodiment, the driver20is rotatable disposed on the main body10and operated manually. Also, the driver20is allowed to be driven pneumatically. Further, the driver20comprises a fixing portion21, an acting portion22, a rotary shaft23, and an operation rod24. The fixing portion21is fixed on the top of the main body10, and the acting portion22is rotatable disposed on the fixing portion21. The rotary shaft23is mounted with a bearing and thereby longitudinally disposed between the acting portion22and the fixing portion21, with one end of the rotary shaft23inserted into the main body10. The operation rod24passes through the acting portion22and the rotary shaft23; in the preferred embodiment, the operation rod24is screwed to the rotary shaft23for driving the rotary shaft23to rotate. In addition, one block231is disposed on the end of the rotary shaft23for engaging the swing arm40, such that the driver20drives the swing arm40to work.

The sliding seat30is slidingly disposed in the main body10, with one end thereof transversely provided with a driving groove31. The driving groove31defines a non-linear driving track32, while the driving track32comprises a first driving section321, a second driving section322, and a third driving section323. Therein, the second driving section322is inclinedly connected between the first driving section321and the third driving section323. End parts of the first driving section321and the third driving section323are both in an arc shape. Four corners of the sliding seat30is provided with a first roller33, respectively, for rollingly contacting the inner lateral sides of the two guiding planks14.

One hollow portion34is disposed on the sliding seat30adjacent the driving groove31, with two first guiding portions35fixed in parallel on the hollow portion34. Therein, the first guiding portion35is formed of two first planks36which are disposed in parallel with a certain spacing therebetween, while each of the two first planks36is provided with two connecting grooves37, such that the connecting groove37on each of the two first planks36are symmetrically disposed. Therein, each of the connecting grooves37has a first end371and a second end372, with a bias section373disposed therebetween, as shown inFIG. 8AtoFIG. 8C.

Furthermore, two ends of the first guiding portion35of the sliding seat30are provided with a second roller38, respectively, for rollingly contacting the inner face of the main body10on one side in opposite to the valve opening13. Therein, one of the second rollers38on the first guiding portion35is disposed between the two first planks36, while the other second roller38on the other end thereof is disposed on the outer first plank36of the two first planks36.

Further, one end of the sliding seat30adjacent to the driving groove31is provided with a guiding wheel39for contacting the inner face of the main body10on one side provided with the valve opening13, as shown inFIG. 6. Through the configuration of the first roller33with the second roller38and the guiding wheel39, the sliding seat30is allowed to slide in the main body10.

The swing arm40is provided with an engaging hole41on one end thereof and a rolling member42on the other end thereof, so as to be placed in the driving groove31. The engaging hole41of the swing arm40is applied for engaging and fixing the block231of the rotary shaft23, and a fastening member43is transversely fastened to the engaging hole41and the block231. Therein, the swing arm40is formed of two planks, and the fastening member43is allowed to be fastened to the two planks, thereby fixing the swing arm40. Thus, the driver20is able to drive the swing arm40to circularly move by use of the rolling member42along the driving track32between the first end11and the second end12. Especially, when the swing arm40is at the first position or the second position, the swing arm40is biased against the route direction of the sliding seat30; meanwhile, the rolling member42is constantly placed at the end part of the third driving section323when the swing arm40is at either the first position or the second position, as shown inFIG. 9AtoFIG. 9D, wherein the arrowhead B defines the biased direction of the swing arm40.

The valve member50is disposed on the sliding seat30or moving in parallel or vertical to the valve opening13. The valve member50is provided with two second guiding portions51which are coupled with the first guiding portions35, so as to seal the valve opening13by a linkage structure. Preferably, structures of the second guiding portions51and the first guiding portions35are similar. Each of the second guiding portions51is formed of two second planks52disposed with a certain spacing therebetween, and each of the second plank52is provided with two matching grooves53, while the matching grooves53are in an identical shape with the connecting grooves37but reversely disposed in relation to the connecting grooves37. Also, each of the matching grooves53is provided with a first end531, a second end532, and a bias section533between the first end531and the second end532, as shown inFIG. 8AtoFIG. 8C. Each couple of the second planks52is disposed between a couple of the first planks36, and a linkage plank70is disposed between each couple of the second planks52. A guiding roller54is disposed on two sides of the valve member50, respectively, for rollingly contacting the corresponding guiding plank14.

Plural circular rods60are disposed to pass through related connecting grooves37, matching grooves53, and the linkage planks70, respectively, such that the connecting groove37overlaps and cooperates with the matching groove53, while each of the circular rods60is allowed to synchronously move by use of the linkage planks70. Therein, when the rolling member42of the swing arm40moves to the second driving section322in the driving groove31, the guiding roller54enters the curved portion151of the positioning groove15. In addition, the valve member50is allowed to move in vertical to the valve opening13due to the linkage mechanism between the first guiding portion35and the second guiding portion51. Also, when the rolling member42of the swing arm40moves to the third driving section323of the driving groove31, the guiding roller54enters the distal portion152of the positioning groove15, such that the valve member50stably and tightly seal the valve opening13, as shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 8A,FIG. 8B, andFIG. 8Cillustrate the route of the circular rod60moving in the connecting groove37and the matching groove53. Referring toFIG. 8A, with the corresponding connecting groove37and the matching groove53, the circular rod60is placed in an overlapping area of the first end371of the connecting groove37and the second end532of the matching groove53. The circular rod60is limited by the arc-shaped ends of the connecting groove37and the matching groove53, such that the sliding seat30remains in a stop status and is thereby prevented from swaying.

Referring toFIG. 8B, when the sliding seat30horizontally moves along the direction defined by the arrowhead A (as shown inFIG. 2), a linkage effect is produced among the connecting groove37, the matching groove53, and the circular rod60until the guiding roller54enters the distal portion152of the positioning groove15, such that the valve member50vertically moves toward the valve opening13.

Referring toFIG. 8C, when the rolling member42of the swing arm40moves to the third driving section323(as shown inFIG. 3), the circular rod60is placed in the second end372of the connecting groove37and the first end531of the matching groove53, such that the sliding seat30remains in a stop status again, whereby the valve member50stably seal the valve opening13.

FIG. 9A,FIG. 9B, andFIG. 9Cillustrate the swing arm40placed at different positions against the driving groove31. Referring toFIG. 9A, the swing arm40is at the first position, and the rolling member42is in the end part of the third driving section323. Meanwhile, the sliding seat30is placed at the first end11of the main body, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2.

Referring to9B, the swing arm40is driven to move along the driving track32of the driving groove31to the end part of the first driving section321.

Referring toFIG. 9C, the rolling member42of the swing arm40moves from the first driving section321to the second driving section322. Meanwhile, the sliding seat30moves close to the second end12of the main body10, such that the guiding roller54enters the curved portion151of the positioning groove15, whereby the valve member50vertically moves toward the valve opening13to seal the valve opening13. When the guiding roller54enters the distal portion152of the positioning groove15, the valve member50stably and tightly seal the valve opening13, as shown inFIG. 5.

Referring toFIG. 9D, the swing arm40is at the second position, and the rolling member42is in the end part of the third driving section323again. When the swing arm40is at either the first position or the second position, position of the swing arm40is biased against the route direction of the sliding seat30. Thus, the sliding seat30is prevented from swaying, whereby the valve member50seals the valve opening13much effectively when the swing arm40is at the second position, so as to prevent the sliding seat30from being imposed with lateral force. Therefore, the sealing effect between the valve member50and the valve opening13is assured.