Patent Publication Number: US-2019178390-A1

Title: Spring free gate valve

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to gate valves, and more particularly, to a spring-free gate valve which is allowed to retrieve or expand the valve plate without the use of a spring. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A gate valve is extensively applied in various industries, such as science and technology industry, commodity industry, or traditional manufacturing industry. Relative applications include gate valves for vacuum environment, liquid delivery, or material delivery. Therefore, a gate valve is widely applied and necessary. 
     A conventional gate valve structure includes a valve body and a gate plate assembly. A driving shaft of a power source passes through one end of the valve body, and the valve body is provided with a valve bore. The gate plate assembly is disposed in the valve body and provided with a valve plate and a spring disposed in the valve plate. When the valve bore is to be closed, the driving shaft of the power source drives the gate plate assembly to move toward the valve bore. When the valve plate is in alignment with the valve bore, the resilient member expands the valve plate outward to seal the valve bore. On the other hand, when the valve bore is to be opened, the resilient member folds the valve plate inward, and the driving shaft moves the gate plate assembly away from the valve bore. 
     However, after a long period of usage, the resiliency fatigue of the resilient member easily occurs, causing an abnormal operation of the valve. As a result, the valve body shall be disassembled to replace the resilient member. An improvement of such inconvenience is desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For improving the issues above, an embodiment of the present invention discloses a spring free gate valve. With a guide rail disposed at two lateral sides within the valve body, respectively, when the drive member drives the two guide portions of the valve plate to move along the two guide rails to be positioned, the valve plate is in alignment with the valve bore, and the power source keeps operating, such that the two guide portions radially move against the shaft along the two guide rails. As a result, the valve plate is expanded outward to seal the valve bore. Therefore, without the usage of spring, abnormal operation caused by resiliency fatigue of the spring is resolved. 
     For achieving the aforementioned objectives, a spring free gate valve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is provided, comprising: 
     a power source provided with a shaft capable of axially moving; 
     a hollow valve body, the power source disposed at one end of the valve body with the shaft inserted into the valve body, the valve body having one lateral face provided with a valve bore, two lateral sides within the valve body provided with a guide rail, respectively; 
     a drive member movably disposed in the valve body and connected with an end of the shaft; and 
     a valve plate disposed at the drive member, the valve plate having two lateral sides provided with a guide portion, respectively, the two guide portions slidably disposed at the two guide rails, the drive member driving the two guide portions of the valve plate to move along the guide rails; when the two guide portions move to one end of the two guide rails, the valve plate is fixed and in alignment with the valve bore, and the drive member continues to move along with a trip of the shaft, such that the valve plate is driven to move along a radial direction of the shaft to seal the valve bore. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the drive member is movably provided with a plurality of contact wheels. The valve plate is provided with a plurality of corresponding drive grooves concavely disposed at the places contacting with the contact wheels. The contact wheels slide to the shallow section of the drive groove, whereby the valve plate radially moves against the shaft. 
     With the guide rails disposed at two lateral sides within the valve body, when the gate plate assembly moves to one end of the valve body, the two guide portions connected with the valve plate move from the movement portions along the guide rails to the positioning portions, such that the valve plate is fixed to be in alignment with the valve bore. Subsequently, the drive member continues to move along with the trip of the shaft, such that the valve plate is driven to radially move against the shaft, causing the contact wheels to slide to the shallow section of the drive groove. As a result, the valve plate is expanded outward to seal the valve bore. Therefore, the guide rails provide a guiding function during the movement of the gate plate assembly. Also, with the depth difference between the movement portion and the positioning portion, the valve plate is in alignment with the valve bore and pushed outward to seal the valve bore through the cooperation of the contact wheels and the drive grooves, such that the valve bore is completely sealed. On the other hand, the depth difference between the guide rails and the drive grooves also facilitates the inward folding of the valve plate, whereby the valve bore is once again opened. Therefore, without the usage of spring, abnormal operation caused by resiliency fatigue of the spring is resolved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the spring free gate valve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the spring free gate valve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the spring free gate valve, illustrating the relationship between the connection assembly and the adjust member. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the spring free gate valve with the side board removed, illustrating the gate plate assembly at the initial position, with the valve bore not sealed by the valve plate. 
         FIG. 5  is another sectional view of the spring free gate valve, illustrating the contact wheel slidably disposed in the drive groove, with the valve bore not sealed by the valve plate. 
         FIG. 6  is another sectional view of the spring free gate valve, illustrating the support wheel slidably disposed between the valve plate and the valve body, with the valve bore not sealed by the valve plate. 
         FIG. 7  is another sectional view of the spring free gate valve, illustrating the guide portion slidably disposed in the guide rail. 
         FIG. 8  is another schematic view of the spring free gate valve with the side board removed, illustrating the gate plate assembly at the sealing position, with the valve plate sealing the valve bore. 
         FIG. 9  is another sectional view of the spring free gate valve, illustrating the contact wheel slidably disposed in the drive groove, with the valve plate sealing the valve bore. 
         FIG. 10  is another sectional view of the spring free gate valve, illustrating the support wheel slidably disposed between the valve plate and the valve body, with the valve plate sealing the valve bore. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the spring free gate valve in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the spring free gate valve in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the spring free gate valve in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the relationship of the connection assembly and the adjust member. 
         FIG. 14  is another sectional view of the spring free gate valve in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the valve plate sealing the valve bore. 
     
    
    
     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 to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 10 , a spring free gate valve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is provided, comprising a power source  10 , a valve body  20 , and a gate plate assembly  30 . 
     The power source  10  includes a shaft  11  which is able to axially move. The power source  10  is allowed to be a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or a manual cylinder. 
     The valve body  20  is hollow. In an embodiment of the present invention, the valve body  20  is formed in a rectangular shape. The valve body  20  includes a first end  201  and a second end  202  disposed in opposite to the first end  201 . Also, the valve body  20  comprises a fix seat  21 , a bottom board  22 , two side boards  23 , and two lateral boards  24  disposed in vertical to the two side boards  23 , wherein the valve body  20  is formed by the manner of welding. The fix seat  21  is disposed at the first end  201  of the valve body  20 , such that the power source  10  is able to be disposed thereon, and the shaft  11  is allowed to be inserted therethrough into the valve body  20 . The bottom board  22  is disposed at the second end  202  of the valve body  20 . The side board  23  has a valve bore  231  passing therethrough. Each of the two lateral boards  24  is provided with a guide seat  25  disposed inside the valve body, respectively, with a guide rail  26  is disposed on the guide seat  25 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the guide seat  25  is welded on the inner side of the lateral board  24 . 
     The guide rail  26  is disposed along the driving direction of the shaft  11 . The top end of the guide rail  26  is provided with a movement portion  261 . The distal end of the guide rail  26  is provided with a positioning portion  262  and a sealing portion  263  connected with the positioning portion  262 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement portion  261  is formed in a straight shape and disposed in parallel to the axial direction of the shaft  11 . The positioning portion  262  and the sealing portion  263  are formed in an arc shape. The width of the movement portion  261  differs from the width of the positioning portion  262 , wherein a straight line defined by the central point of the positioning portion  262  and the central point of the sealing portion  263  is vertical to a straight line defined by the central point of the positioning portion  262  and the central point of the movement portion  261 , as shown by  FIG. 7 . 
     The gate plate assembly  30  is movably disposed in the valve body  20 . Also, the gate plate assembly  30  includes a drive member  31  connected with an end of the shaft  11 , and a valve plate  32  disposed on the drive member  31 . The drive member  31  mainly comprises four sides and is generally formed in a rectangular shape. In an embodiment of the present invention, the drive member  31  comprises two first sides  311  facing the guide rails  26  and two second sides  312  disposed in vertical to the two first sides  311 , wherein one of the second sides  312  faces the first end  201  of the valve body  20 , and the other second side  312  faces the second end  202  of the valve body  20 . The shaft  11 , the drive member  31 , and the valve plate  32  are fastened by a connection assembly  40 . The drive member  31  moves along with the trip of the shaft  11 , so as to drive the valve plate  32  to move inside the valve body  20 . Further, the gate plate assembly  30  has a guide portion  33  disposed at two sides of the valve plate  32 , respectively, wherein the two guide portions  33  are movably disposed in the two guide rails  26 . The guide portion  33  is allowed to be a sliding block, a roller, or a bearing. In an embodiment of the present invention, each guide portion  33  is disposed at a combine seat  34 , and the two combine seats  34  corresponding to the two guide rails  26  are disposed at two sides of the valve plate  32 . Also, the guide portions  33  are a bearing. 
     The shaft  11  is applied for driving the gate plate assembly  30  to reciprocate among an initial position, a positioning position, and a sealing position, wherein the initial position is adjacent to the first end  201  of the valve body  20 , while the positioning position and the sealing position are adjacent to the second end  202  of the valve body  20 . When the two guide portions  33  are at the movement portion  261  and adjacent to the first end  201 , the guide portions  33  are at the initial position, and the valve plate  32  does not seal the valve bore  231 , as shown by  FIG. 4 . When the two guide portions  33  move from the movement portion  261  to the positioning portion  262 , the guide portions  33  are at the positioning position, while the valve plate  32  is fixed and in alignment with the valve bore  231 . When the two guide portions  33  move from the positioning portion  262  to the sealing portion  263 , the guide portions  33  are at the sealing position, while the valve plate  32  seals the valve bore  231 , as shown by  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . 
     In addition, each combine seat  34  includes a plurality of assist wheels  50  slidably disposed at the guide seat  25 , and the assist wheels  50  are adjacent to the two first sides  311  of the drive member  31 , wherein the assist wheels  50  are disposed at two sides of the guide portion  33 , respectively. Also, the central axis of the assist wheels  50  is vertical to the axial direction of the shaft  11 , and the central axis of the guide portions  33  is vertical to the central axis of the assist wheels  50 . The assist wheels  50  are parallel and slidably disposed at one side of the guide rail  26 . When the shaft  11  drives the gate plate assembly  30  to reciprocate among the initial position, the positioning position, and the sealing position, the assist wheels  50  provide a lateral support. In case the embodiment is transversely placed to be operated, wherein the shaft  11  is axially parallel to the ground, the operation of the present invention is still facilitated. In an embodiment of the present invention, four assist wheels  50  are provided, wherein each combine seat  34  comprises two assist wheels  50 , with the guide portion  33  disposed between the two assist wheels  50 . 
     Also, the drive member  31  includes a plurality of contact wheels  60 . The central axis of the contact wheels  60  is vertical to the axial direction of the shaft  11 , and the direction of the central axis of the contact wheels  60  is identical to the direction of the central axis of the two guide portions  33 . Furthermore, a drive groove  321  is concavely disposed at the valve plate  32  in adjacent to the corresponding contact wheel  60 . The drive groove  321  is provided with a depth variation in where the contact wheel  60  slides, wherein one section of the drive groove  321  is defined as a block section  3211 , with the other section of the drive groove  321  defined as a bevel section  3212 . The block section  3211  is disposed at the section toward the shaft  11 , in other words, the block section  3211  is disposed in adjacent to the first end  201  of the valve body  20 . The depth of the drive groove  321  gradually becomes shallower from the block section  3211  to the bevel section  3212 . Therefore, when the shaft  11  drives the drive member  31  to reciprocate among the initial position, the positioning position, and the sealing position, the contact wheels  60  move between the block section  3211  and the bevel section  3212 , such that the depth variation of the drive groove  321  causes the contact wheels  60  to push the valve plate  32  outward or retreat the valve plate  32  inward, as shown by  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 9 . When the contact wheels  60  push the valve plate  32  outward, the two guide portions  33  move to the sealing portion  263  of the positioning portion  262 , whereby the valve plate  32  is fixed and in alignment with the valve bore  231 , as shown by  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . 
     Also, as shown by  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 10 , the two second sides  312  of the drive member  31  are provided with a plurality of support wheels  70  that are slidably disposed between the valve plate  32  and the valve body  20 . The support wheels  70  and the contact wheels  60  are disposed in axial alignment. Also, the size of the support wheels  70  is larger than the size of the contact wheels  60 . Therefore, when the contact wheels  60  move from the block section  3211  to the bevel section  3212 , a gap is produced between the contact wheels  60  and one of the side boards  23 , such that the support wheels  70  provide a support force. Additionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the amount of the contact wheels  60  is larger than the amount of the support wheels  70 . The contact wheels  60  are provided in an amount of eight, and the contact wheels  60  are disposed at or in adjacent to the two first sides  311  and the two second sides  312 , respectively. The support wheels  70  are provided in an amount of four. 
     Also, as shown by  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 9 , an adjust member  41  is movably disposed on the connection assembly  40  between the drive member  31  and the valve plate  32 . A corresponding slide groove  322  is concavely disposed on the valve plate  32  in adjacent to the connection assembly  40 , such that the adjust member  41  is slidably disposed in the slide groove  322 . When the contact wheels  60  move from the bevel section  3212  to the block section  3211 , the valve plate  32  retreats from the valve bore  231 , and the shaft  11  drives the gate plate assembly  30  from the sealing position to the initial position. The adjust member  41  resists against one side of the slide groove  322 , so as to drive the valve plate  32  to move. Further, when the contact wheels  60  move between the block section  3211  and the bevel section  3212 , the valve plate  32  is expanded toward or retreated away from the valve bore  231 , wherein the adjust member  41  provides a movement allowance between the drive member  31  and the valve plate  32 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the adjust member  41  is a pin. 
     A dust cover  80  is disposed at the second end  202  of the valve body  20  between the gate plate assembly  30  and the bottom board  22  and connected with one of the second side  312  of the drive member  31 , so as to seal the gate plate assembly  30  between the two guide rails  26 , as shown by  FIG. 4 . When the valve bore  231  opens, dust and dirt is prevented from entering the valve body  20  and affecting the operation of the gate plate assembly  30 , as shown by  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 10 , when the valve bore  231  is to be sealed, the shaft  11  drives the gate plate assembly  30  to move from the initial position to the positioning position. The two guide portions  33  move from the movement portion  261  to the positioning portion  262  along the guide rail  26 , such that the valve plate  32  is fixed and in alignment with the valve bore  231 . Next, the drive member  31  continues to move along with the trip of the shaft  11 , so that the gate plate assembly  30  moves from the positioning position to the sealing position. As a result, the contact wheels  60  slide from the block section  3211  of the drive groove  321  to the bevel section  3212  of the drive groove  321 , forcing the valve plate  32  to move along the radial direction of the shaft  11 . Therefore, the two guide portions  33  move from the positioning portion  262  to the sealing portion  263 , and the valve plate  32  seals the valve bore  231 . 
     On the other hand, when the valve bore  231  is to be opened, the shaft  11  drives the drive member  31  to move from the sealing portion to the initial position, and the contact wheels  60  slide from the bevel section  3212  of the drive groove  321  to the block section  3211  of the drive groove  321 . The valve plate  32  stops sealing the valve bore  231 . The two guide portions  33  leave the sealing portion  263  of the positioning portion  262 . Meanwhile, the shaft  11  continues to drive the drive member  31  to move toward the initial position. The adjust member  41  resists against one side of the slide groove  322  and drives the valve plate  32  to move, whereby the gate plate assembly  30  is driven to move back to the initial position through the movement portion  261  of the guide rail  26 . 
     Therefore, the guide rails  26  provide a guiding function during the movement of the gate plate assembly  30 , such that the valve plate  32  is able to move to be in alignment with the valve bore  231 . With the cooperation between the contact wheels  60  and the drive groove  321 , the valve plate  32  is allowed to be expanded outward for sealing the valve bore  231 . Also, during the expansion of the valve plate  32 , the two guide portions  33  are positioned in the sealing portion  263 , so as to keep the valve plate  32  to be fixed to be in alignment with the valve bore  231 . Also, with the guide rails  26  and the depth variation of the drive groove  321 , the valve plate  32  is retreated inward for opening the valve bore  231 . Therefore, without the usage of spring, abnormal operation caused by resiliency fatigue of the spring is resolved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 14 , a spring free gate valve in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is disposed. For the clarity and briefness of the illustration, numeric for identical or similar components are saved. The difference between the embodiments are illustrated as following. 
     The two guide portions  33  are fastened to two sides of the valve plate  32 , respectively. The two guide portions  33  are slidably disposed in the two guide rails  26 . The guide portion  33  is allowed to be a sliding block, a roller, or a bearing. In the present embodiment, each guide portion  33  is disposed at a combine seat  34 , and the two combine seats  34  are fastened to two sides of the valve plate  32 , respectively, wherein the guide portions  33  are a bearing. 
     The connection assembly  40  further comprises a connection piece  42  and a linkage rod  43 . The connection piece  42  has one end thereof connected with the shaft  11 , and the other end thereof connected with the drive member  31  and the valve plate  32 . The connection piece  42  is provided with an inclined bore  421 , and the linkage rod  43  passes through the drive member  31  and the inclined bore  421  along a radial direction of the shaft  11 , wherein the adjust member  41  is disposed in vertical to the linkage rod  43 . In the present invention, two linkage rods  43  are provided. The linkage rods  43  are spaced and disposed in vertical to the shaft  11 . Each linkage rod  43  is provided with two contact wheels  60  and two support wheels  70 , as shown by  FIG. 12 . 
     When the power source  10  triggers the shaft  11  to operate, the connection piece  42  moves along the radial direction of the shaft  11 , with the linkage rod  43  engaged with the inclined bore  421 , so as to drive the drive member  31  to move along the axial direction of the shaft  11 . When the connection piece  42  pushes the adjust member  41  to the bottom of the slide groove  322 , the valve plate  32  is pushed to move, such that the valve plate  32  moves from the initial position to the positioning position and is in alignment with the valve bore  231 . Subsequently, the shaft  11  continues to drive the drive member  31  to move, whereby the valve plate  32  moves from the positioning position to the sealing position for sealing the valve bore  231 . 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.