Patent Description:
Valves specifically comprising a plate-type closing member have often problems with leak-proofness. Pressure from a medium possibly acting in a flow passageway causes, in a closed position of the valve, bending of the closing member and weakening of sealing, which leads for the part of certain media conducted along the flow passageway e.g. to fouling of guide and/or sealing surfaces of the valve body. This possibly hinders the movement of the closing member between an open position and a closed position. Further, dirt may in some applications cause problems in hygiene and leak-proofness. These problems have been attempted to be solved by means of different seal and/or valve structures. However, they have usually been complicated and have thus led to expensive solutions in terms of costs. From document <CIT> a gate valve is known, which gate valve comprises a means arranged at an edge of the valve body for spraying a medium between walls of the body for keeping a lower part of a space between the walls clean and for thus improving the leak-proofness of the valve. This solution has provided considerable improvement to the valve fouling problems. It has been observed in some applications, however, that dirt/material hindering the operation of the valve may drift between the closing member of the valve and/or an actuating means thereof and the walls of the body. Such materials include for example plastic or glass or other hard objects which wear the parts of the valve and may cause malfunctions.

Some valves are disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. Document <CIT> discloses a valve according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, respectively a method according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

An object of this invention is to provide a completely novel solution for keeping a valve clean, by means of which the problems of the known solutions may be avoided. Another object of the invention is to provide a valve structure, the manufacturability of which is good and which is also easy in terms of assembly. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sufficiently good solution in terms of leak-proofness.

The invention is based on an idea that a valve body is provided, at an end located on the side of an operating device, i.e. an actuator, with at least one aperture from which a medium, such as air, is blown. The air is blown when a closing member of the valve is moved in a space between walls of the body. The medium moves in the space between the closing member and the body and keeps clearances between the closing member and the body clean. According to an embodiment of the invention, an output of a medium operated actuator may be connected to be blown into the apertures formed in the valve body.

The valve according to the invention is primarily characterized by what is described in the characterizing part of claim <NUM>.

The valve according to the embodiments of the invention is further characterized by what is described in claims <NUM> - <NUM>.

The method according to the invention is primarily characterized by what is described in claim <NUM>.

The method according to the embodiments of the invention is further characterized by what is described in claims <NUM> - <NUM>.

The solution according to the invention has many significant advantages. By arranging cleaning means in connection with the valve, accumulation of material transported in a flow passageway in the space between the walls of the body and the closing member or gate may be prevented, while at the same time preventing malfunctions attributable to fouling. By arranging a spraying aperture of a cleaning arrangement in the part of the valve body located on the side of the actuator, an efficient cleaning effect will be provided. By arranging a spraying aperture or spraying apertures of a cleaning arrangement in a channel in an edge part of the valve body, for example in a part of the body located opposite in relation to the actuator, an added cleaning effect will be provided. The clearances between the closing member and the valve body are maintained clean. At the same time, malfunctions of the closing member may be efficiently reduced. Problems in leak-proofness and hygiene of the valve are also efficiently reduced. By arranging means for delivering the medium to be synchronized according to the movements of the closing member, the cleaning of the closing member and valve body clearances may be enhanced. By arranging a control valve to control both of the operation of the closing member of the valve and the spraying of the medium, an efficient and affordable solution for controlling the valve cleaning arrangement is achieved. By arranging a pressure medium of a pressure medium operated actuator to operate as the medium in the cleaning arrangement, an efficient and affordable solution for a sprayable cleaning medium is provided. By arranging medium passages along which the medium is conducted to the actuator and from the actuator into the space of the valve body to be controlled in a synchronized manner by means of the control valve, a reliable, efficient and affordable arrangement for implementing the valve and the cleaning arrangement therefor is achieved. By providing the valve with a second cleaning arrangement, the cleaning of the space in the body may be further enhanced. By arranging the channel space needed for the cleaning in the edge of the valve body, a functionally and technically very advantageous structure is achieved. By using, as the edge part, a profile comprising support surfaces for the walls of the valve body, an advantageous construction in terms of assembly of the valve is also provided. By arranging the cleaning arrangement to comprise means to deliver the medium when the flow passageway of the valve is open, a well-timed and efficient cleaning operation is provided. The cleaning arrangement may comprise an arrangement which is independent of the control of the closing member, such as of the control valve of the actuator therefor, for delivering the cleaning medium, whereby a flexible solution for controlling the cleaning arrangement is achieved. The medium may be delivered into the space in the body from the aperture for a specific time period, a duration or frequency of which may be varied according to application and need. By conducting the cleaning medium from the space between the walls of the valve body to a partial-vacuum pipe, such as a conveying pipe of a partial-vacuum system, to which pipe the flow passageway of the valve is connected, an efficient solution for removing the cleaning medium and possible impurities is provided. By using gas, for example compressed air, as the medium, an efficient and affordable solution for the cleaning medium is provided. The medium may include liquid, if necessary. The valve according to the invention is excellent in terms of manufacturability. By using a plate-structured valve body and closing member, an easily modifiable structure for various applications may be provided.

In the following section, the invention will be described in more detail by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which.

<FIG> illustrates one first embodiment of a valve according to the invention as a perspective view.

The figures illustrate one embodiment of a valve according to the invention, specifically a gate valve, which comprises a body <NUM>. Inside the body, a closing member <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) is arranged, which closing member is movable in the body transversely in relation to a flow passageway <NUM> extending transversely through the body <NUM> between at least two positions, a first position in which the flow passageway <NUM> is closed, and a second position is which the flow passageway is open. The closing member may be formed from one part or it may include a gate part which is provided with a separate closing part. In the following, the term closing member will be used for the purpose of simplicity. The valve may also comprise an actuator <NUM> for moving the closing member <NUM> between said at least two positions. According to one embodiment, means for moving the closing member comprise an actuator <NUM> by means of which the closing member may be moved linearly between said two positions. According to one embodiment the closing member <NUM> may be a plate-type part. According to one embodiment, as in the figures, the flow passageway <NUM> may be provided through the valve body <NUM> via channel parts <NUM>, <NUM> arranged in the valve body. The closing member <NUM> may be arranged to move by means of the actuator <NUM> between an upper position in which the flow passageway is open, and a lower position in which the flow passageway is closed. The closing member <NUM> may be arranged to move in a space <NUM> located between walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the body. The surfaces of the walls <NUM>, <NUM> facing each other may function as guide surfaces for the closing member. Between the channel parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the flow passageway, i.e. in the wall of the flow passageway, a gap may be arranged, from which gap the closing member may move transversely in relation to the channel and extend in the first position to close the flow passageway. The closing member <NUM> extends in the first position outside the edges of a flow aperture of the flow channel, i.e. the flow passageway <NUM>, away from the flow channel. In connection with a typically normal circular flow aperture in the cross-section of the flow passageway, the closing member <NUM> is thus larger than the diameter of the flow aperture of the flow passageway <NUM> at the intersection between the closing member <NUM> and the flow passageway <NUM>.

The closing member may be according to one embodiment a plate-type part. The side edges of the closing member may be formed straight. The edge of an end portion of the closing member <NUM> facing away from the operating device, i.e. the actuator <NUM>, may be curved so as to connect the opposite side edges of the closing member. The edge located opposite in relation to the curved edge, connecting the side edges at an end of the closing member located on the side of the actuator, may be formed straight or may comprise several straight portions. The closing member <NUM> may comprise a fastening point for the operating part of the actuator. The operating part of the actuator may be as in the embodiment of <FIG> a piston rod <NUM>. Naturally, another shape for the closing member could also be considered depending on application.

The valve body <NUM> may comprise, as for example in the embodiments of <FIG>, a first wall part <NUM> and a second wall part <NUM>. The first wall part <NUM> and the second wall part <NUM> may be arranged at a distance from each other, whereby a space <NUM> is formed therebetween. The space <NUM> is delimited by the wall parts <NUM> and <NUM> and by an edge part <NUM>, <NUM>. There may be several edge parts, such as, for example, an edge part <NUM> and an upper edge part <NUM>. According to one embodiment the closing member <NUM> is arranged movably in the space <NUM>. The closing member <NUM> may be moved in the space <NUM> as in the embodiments of the figures by means of the actuator <NUM>. The space <NUM> located in the body <NUM> extends transversely to a distance from the flow passageway <NUM>, for example towards the actuator <NUM>. The closing member <NUM> may be moved in the space <NUM> between a first position in which it closes the flow passageway <NUM>, and a second position in which the flow passageway <NUM> through the valve is open. The actuator <NUM> may be fastened to the body <NUM>. In one embodiment the actuator <NUM> may be arranged to the valve body <NUM>, for example to the edge part thereof. According to one embodiment the actuator may be arranged to the valve body <NUM> at an opposite end as seen from the flow passageway <NUM>, for example at the upper edge part <NUM>. According to one embodiment the actuator <NUM> may be an actuator generating a linear movement. According to one embodiment the actuator may be a pressure medium operated cylinder-piston unit. The actuator <NUM> may comprise a cylinder which may have an elongated wall part <NUM> inside which a cylinder space <NUM> may be formed. The wall part <NUM> may be located between end parts <NUM> and <NUM> of the cylinder. The cylinder space <NUM> may be provided with a movable piston <NUM>. The piston <NUM> may be provided with a piston rod <NUM> which may extend through an aperture formed in a first end part <NUM> of the cylinder and further through an aperture in the edge part <NUM> of the valve body into the space <NUM>. The linear movement of the actuator <NUM> may be adjusted according to the linear movement required for the closing member <NUM> of the valve. The piston rod <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> may be, at an end located opposite in relation to the piston <NUM>, arranged by means of fastening parts <NUM> to the closing member <NUM>. The piston rod <NUM> may function as a valve stem which is connected by means of the fastening parts <NUM> to the closing member <NUM>.

According to one embodiment the closing member <NUM> is a plate-type part. According to one embodiment the closing member <NUM> may be manufactured for example from a plate by punching or cutting, such as laser-cutting. Thereby a solution fulfilling sufficiently accurate dimensional tolerances may be achieved. Correspondingly according to one embodiment the wall parts <NUM>, <NUM> of the body may be plate material and cut into shape, for example by laser-cutting.

According to one preferred embodiment the valve may further comprise means for cleaning at least part of the space <NUM> located between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>.

Typically the valve may comprise means for cleaning at least part of the space <NUM> located between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> by spraying a medium.

According to <FIG> the medium may be conducted via an inlet aperture <NUM> to a channel <NUM> in the edge part <NUM> and therefrom via apertures <NUM> into the space <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the body <NUM>. According to one embodiment the apertures <NUM> may be arranged in the body <NUM> in proximity to the flow channel, i.e. the flow passageway <NUM>, for example in that part of the space <NUM> to which the closing member <NUM> should extend in a closed position. According to one embodiment, especially when the valve is arranged as a closing member in a partial-vacuum pipe, such as a pipe of a partial-vacuum conveying system, a negative pressure may act in the flow passageway <NUM>, whereby via the inlet apertures <NUM>, air is able to access the channel <NUM> under normal pressure and which further is sprayed via the apertures <NUM> into the space <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may comprise an edge part <NUM>, <NUM> connecting the side walls <NUM>, <NUM>. According to one embodiment the edge part may be provided with a channel space <NUM>. In the edge part <NUM>, <NUM> there may be at least one aperture <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, preferably several apertures, which opens into the space <NUM> between the first wall part <NUM> and the second wall part <NUM> for conducting the medium into the space. According to one embodiment of the invention the body <NUM> may be formed by connecting the wall parts <NUM>, <NUM> with the edge part <NUM>, <NUM>, for example by fastening means <NUM>, <NUM> or by welding. A channel part <NUM> may be connected to the first wall part <NUM> by fastening means or for example by welding. Correspondingly a channel part <NUM> is connected to the second wall part <NUM> by fastening means or for example by welding. In the wall parts <NUM>, <NUM>, the flow aperture <NUM> may be formed. Between the wall parts there is a space <NUM> for the closing member <NUM>. The plate-structured valve according to the embodiment is, for example as opposed to cast-structured valve solutions, very affordable and easy to manufacture especially with smaller production runs.

In the embodiment according to the figures the edge part <NUM> may be formed from a profile having a channel section and a support section <NUM>. The channel section may comprise a channel <NUM>. The support section <NUM> is preferably thinner in a cross direction than the channel section. The support section <NUM> of the edge part may form a support surface for the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the valve body.

The walls <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged by the fastening means <NUM>, <NUM> to the support part <NUM> of the edge part <NUM>. Thereby the support section <NUM> is provided between the walls <NUM>, <NUM>. In the support section <NUM> and in the corresponding parts of the walls <NUM>, <NUM>, apertures <NUM> may be formed, through which apertures a screw part of a screw member <NUM> functioning as a fastening means may extend and from the opposite side by a counterpart means, such as a nut means <NUM>, the walls <NUM>, <NUM> may be tightened against the support section <NUM>. The support section <NUM> may be in its thickness somewhat larger than the thickness of the closing member.

The channel part may be in the embodiment according to the figures arranged outside the outer edge of the walls <NUM>, <NUM>. According to another embodiment the channel part may be arranged between the walls.

The valve according to the invention may comprise a cleaning arrangement in which an aperture <NUM>, <NUM> for conducting a medium is arranged to the body <NUM>, to a part of the body <NUM> located on the side of the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM>. In the arrangement the aperture may be configured to spray a cleaning medium into a part of the space located between walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the space <NUM> and the closing member <NUM>. The medium may move in the space between the closing member <NUM> and the body, removing impurities and debris from the space.

According to one embodiment the cleaning arrangement may comprise means for delivering the medium into the space <NUM> between the walls of the valve body in a synchronized manner according to the movement of the closing member <NUM>.

According to one embodiment the cleaning arrangement may comprise a control valve <NUM> for opening or closing or switching a medium passage <NUM>', <NUM>' to the space <NUM>. The medium may be output by means of a pump device, for example a compressor, from which a passage to the valve <NUM> may be arranged.

According to one embodiment the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM> is a pressure medium operated cylinder-piston combination, and the pressure medium of which is arranged to be conducted into the space <NUM> of the valve for cleaning it.

According to one embodiment the actuator <NUM> may be arranged to be controlled by a control valve <NUM>. According to one embodiment, by means of the control valve the opening or closing or switching of the medium passages <NUM>', <NUM>' in the cleaning arrangement may also be controlled.

<FIG> illustrate one embodiment of a control valve <NUM> arranged to control the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM> of the valve as well as the delivery of the cleaning medium into the space <NUM> of the valve body.

According to one embodiment the cleaning arrangement may comprise a first medium passage <NUM>' from a first side of a piston <NUM> of the closing member actuator <NUM> to an aperture <NUM> opening into the space <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>. The embodiment may also comprise one second medium passage <NUM>' from a second side of the piston <NUM> of the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM> to an aperture <NUM> opening into the space <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>. According to one embodiment the first passage <NUM>' may be open for conducting the medium into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body when the closing member <NUM> of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position. According to one embodiment, correspondingly the second medium passage <NUM>' is open when the closing member <NUM> is moved from the second position to the first position. Then an operating medium of the actuator <NUM> may be conducted into the space <NUM> between the walls of the valve body. According to one embodiment the cleaning arrangement may comprise a control valve <NUM> for opening and closing said passages.

In <FIG> the cleaning arrangement may comprise a pressure source, such as a pump device <NUM>, for example a compressor. From the pressure source <NUM> there is a passage <NUM> to the control valve <NUM>. In the embodiment of the control valve <NUM> there may be several positions by means of which a connection from the pressure source may be opened and closed. The pressure medium may then be directed to different passages. In the situation of <FIG> the pressure medium is conducted in the first position of the valve to the valve and therefrom along a first passage <NUM>' to a port <NUM> in the upper part of the actuator, which port is arranged to a second end part <NUM> of the cylinder part of the cylinder-piston combination operating as the actuator. The second end part <NUM> is in <FIG> an end part of the actuator facing away from the closing member <NUM>. From the port <NUM> in the upper part the pressure medium may be conducted into the cylinder space <NUM> above the piston <NUM>, i.e. to a side located away from the piston rod <NUM> and the closing member <NUM>. The effect of the pressure medium then displaces the piston downwardly in the figure in the cylinder space and displaces the piston rod outwardly from the lower part of the actuator, from the first end part <NUM>, whereby the closing member <NUM> arranged to the piston rod <NUM>, at an opposite end in relation to the piston <NUM>, moves to the lower position, i.e. closes the flow passageway <NUM>. When the piston moves downwardly in the cylinder space <NUM> it may at the same time force in the cylinder space <NUM> the pressure medium disposed in a part of the space located between the piston <NUM> and the lower, first end part <NUM> of the cylinder out from a second port <NUM> along a passage <NUM>'. The control valve <NUM> has in this position connected the passage <NUM>' to lead to the passage <NUM>' and further via the aperture <NUM> arranged in the valve body <NUM> to the part of the valve space <NUM> located between the closing member upper edge part <NUM> and edge part <NUM>. Thus the piston <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> forces the medium under pressure via passages <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>', <NUM> into the space <NUM>. This efficiently cleans impurities off the space <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG> the second passage <NUM>' to the space <NUM> via the aperture <NUM> may be closed in the position of the valve.

<FIG> shows a detail of a control valve <NUM> of one embodiment in the second position. In this position the pressure medium is conducted along the passage <NUM> in the second position of the valve to the valve <NUM> and therefrom along the second passage <NUM>' to the port <NUM> in the lower part of the actuator, which port is arranged to the first end part <NUM> of the cylinder part of the cylinder-piston combination operating as the actuator. The first end part <NUM> is in <FIG> an end part of the actuator <NUM> located on the side of the closing member. From the port <NUM> in the lower part the pressure medium may be conducted into the cylinder space <NUM> below the piston <NUM>, i.e. to the side of the piston rod <NUM> and the closing member <NUM>. The effect of the pressure medium then displaces the piston upwardly from the position of <FIG> in the cylinder space and displaces the piston rod inwardly from the lower part of the actuator, from the first end part <NUM>, whereby the closing member arranged to the piston rod <NUM>, at an opposite end in relation to the piston, moves to the second position, the upper position, i.e. opens the passage <NUM>. When the piston moves upwardly in the cylinder space <NUM> it may at the same time force in the cylinder space <NUM> the pressure medium disposed in a part of the space located between the piston <NUM> and the upper, second end part <NUM> of the cylinder out from the second port <NUM> along the passage <NUM>'. The control valve <NUM> has in this position connected the passage <NUM>' to lead to the passage <NUM>' and further via the aperture <NUM> arranged in the valve body <NUM> to the part of the valve space <NUM> located between the closing member upper edge part <NUM> and edge part <NUM>. Thus the piston <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> forces the medium under pressure via passages <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>', <NUM> into the space <NUM>. This efficiently cleans impurities off the space <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG> the second passage <NUM>' to the space <NUM> via the aperture <NUM> may be closed in the position of the valve. The example of the figure is one way to implement the spraying of the pressure medium in the cleaning arrangement by means of the actuator. Further, in the cleaning arrangement the spraying of the medium can be synchronized to the movements of the closing member.

The valve may further comprise second means <NUM>, <NUM> for conducting a medium at least into a lower part of the space <NUM> located between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the body, whereby the edge part <NUM> of the valve is provided with a channel <NUM>, from which channel there is at least one aperture <NUM>, preferably several apertures, which opens into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body, preferably into a part of the space <NUM> located opposite in relation to the actuator <NUM>, for conducting the medium by means of a negative pressure into the space, the negative pressure acting in the space <NUM>, and in which channel <NUM> there is at least one inlet aperture <NUM> opening to ambient pressure. In the second arrangement, air is conducted from standard atmosphere via the inlet aperture <NUM> into the channel <NUM> and further via the aperture <NUM> into the space <NUM>. When the valve is arranged at the flow passageway <NUM> thereof in a partial-vacuum pipe and the valve is opened, the air may move due to a pressure difference via the aperture <NUM>, further via the flow passageway <NUM>, into a conveying pipe to which the valve <NUM> may be connected.

<FIG> illustrate yet one embodiment. In the embodiment of the figures a passage <NUM>' may be arranged from the first side of the piston <NUM> of the closing member actuator <NUM> via the inlet aperture <NUM> to the channel <NUM> in the edge part <NUM>. Then the medium may be conducted into the channel <NUM> in the edge part <NUM> and therefrom via the apertures <NUM> into the space <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the body <NUM>. When the piston moves downwardly in the cylinder space <NUM> it may at the same time force in the cylinder space <NUM> the pressure medium disposed in the part of the space between the piston <NUM> and the lower, first end part <NUM> of the cylinder out from the second port <NUM> along the passage <NUM>'. The control valve <NUM> has in this position connected the passage <NUM>' to lead to the passage <NUM>' and further to the channel <NUM> and therefrom via the apertures <NUM> to the space <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Thus the piston <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> forces the medium under pressure via passages <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>', <NUM> and the apertures <NUM> into the space <NUM>. This efficiently cleans impurities off the space <NUM>, for example the lower part thereof. In the embodiment of <FIG>, one or more passages <NUM>', <NUM>' to the space <NUM> via the aperture <NUM> and/or aperture <NUM> may be closed in the position of the valve. In the embodiment of <FIG>, at least one aperture <NUM>, <NUM> is formed in the upper part of the valve body, which aperture or the passage <NUM>', <NUM>' leading to which aperture may be provided with a check valve <NUM>, <NUM>. According to one embodiment the check valve may allow the flow along the passage towards the valve space <NUM> but close the passage from the valve space in the opposite direction.

According to one embodiment the channel <NUM> may comprise a first inlet aperture <NUM> to which the medium passage <NUM>' may be connected, and a second inlet aperture <NUM> which may open to ambient pressure. According to one embodiment, in connection with the second inlet aperture <NUM> of the channel <NUM>, a check valve <NUM> may be arranged. The check valve <NUM> may according to one embodiment allow the flow from outside of the valve body into the channel <NUM> but prevent the flow from the channel <NUM> in the opposite direction. According to one embodiment, in connection with the second inlet aperture, a silencer <NUM> may be arranged.

According to one embodiment the arrangement may also comprise one second medium passage <NUM>' from the second side of the piston <NUM> of the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM> to one or more apertures <NUM>, <NUM> opening into the space <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>. According to one embodiment the first passage <NUM>' may be connected to the second medium passage <NUM>', whereby the second passage branches into two passages. Thereby the first and the second medium passages <NUM>', <NUM>' may be open for conducting the medium from the apertures <NUM>, <NUM> into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body when the closing member <NUM> of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position. Thereby the operating medium of the actuator <NUM> may be conducted into the space <NUM> between the walls of the valve body. One embodiment of this is illustrated in <FIG>. According to one embodiment the connection via the passage <NUM>' to the channel <NUM> may thereby be closed. According to one embodiment the cleaning arrangement may comprise a control valve <NUM> for opening and closing said passages and for connecting a pressure medium source, such as a compressor, to act in different inlets of the actuator <NUM> via the medium passages <NUM>' or <NUM>'.

According to one embodiment, as in <FIG>, while a suction acts in the flow passageway <NUM>, air may be conducted from a higher ambient pressure via the aperture <NUM> and from the channel <NUM> via the apertures <NUM>. Thus, air may flow due to the suction from the environment through the silencer <NUM> and the check valve <NUM> further to the aperture <NUM> and into the channel. From the channel <NUM> via the apertures <NUM> into the space <NUM> and further to the flow passageway <NUM>. Thereby, via the inlet aperture <NUM>, air is able to access the channel <NUM> under standard pressure and which further is sprayed via the apertures <NUM> into the space <NUM>. The valve <NUM> may have closed the channel <NUM>'.

According to one embodiment, as in <FIG>, when the closing member <NUM> is moved from the second position to the first position, a connection from the pressure medium source, such as the compressor <NUM>, is opened from the passage <NUM> a connection to the passage <NUM>'. Thereby, from the port <NUM> in the upper part of the cylinder, the pressure medium may be conducted into the cylinder space <NUM> above the piston <NUM>, i.e. to the side located away from the piston rod <NUM> and the closing member <NUM>. The effect of the pressure medium then displaces the piston downwardly in the figure in the cylinder space and displaces the piston rod outwardly from the lower part of the actuator, from the first end part <NUM>, whereby the closing member <NUM> arranged to the piston rod <NUM>, at an opposite end in relation to the piston <NUM>, moves to the lower position, i.e. closes the flow passageway <NUM>. When the piston moves downwardly in the cylinder space <NUM> it may at the same time force in the cylinder space <NUM> the pressure medium disposed in the part of the space located between the piston <NUM> and the lower, first end part <NUM> of the cylinder out from the second port <NUM> along the passage <NUM>'. Then, by means of the control valve <NUM>, the passage <NUM>' may be connected to lead to the passage <NUM>' and further to the channel <NUM> and therefrom via the apertures <NUM> into the space <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Then the piston <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> may force the medium under pressure via the passages <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>', <NUM> and the apertures <NUM> into the space <NUM>. This efficiently cleans impurities off the space <NUM>, for example the lower part thereof. Then the sealing surfaces between the closing member and the body are cleaned and leak-proofness of the valve is kept good. According to one embodiment the opposite end of the channel <NUM> may be provided with a check valve <NUM> which may prevent the medium conducted under pressure from flowing out from the channel <NUM> from the opposite end thereof.

The closing member <NUM> having returned from the embodiment of <FIG> to the first position according to the embodiment of <FIG> closes the flow channel <NUM> of the valve. In the embodiments of <FIG>, a check valve <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged in connection with the passages <NUM>', <NUM>', <NUM>'.

According to one embodiment the cleaning arrangement comprises means for delivering the medium into the space <NUM> between the walls of the valve body when the flow passageway <NUM> of the valve is open.

According to one embodiment the cleaning arrangement comprises a control which is independent of the control valve <NUM> of the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM>.

The described arrangements efficiently support each other and the valve space <NUM> may be efficiently kept clean and the valve be kept operational by means of the arrangements.

According to one embodiment the invention may also relate to a method for cleaning a valve, which valve comprises a body <NUM>, a closing member <NUM> movable in a space <NUM> between walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the body transversely in relation to a flow passageway <NUM> provided through the body between at least two positions, a first position in which the flow passageway <NUM> is closed, and a second position in which the flow passageway is open, and an actuator <NUM> for moving the closing member <NUM> linearly between said at least two positions, which body <NUM> comprises an edge part <NUM>, <NUM>. According to one embodiment, in the method, a cleaning medium is delivered via an aperture <NUM>, <NUM> arranged in the valve body <NUM>, in a part of the body <NUM> located on the side of the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM>, and the cleaning medium is sprayed into a part of the space located between walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the space <NUM> and the closing member <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, in the method, the medium is delivered into the space <NUM> between the walls of the valve body in a synchronized manner according to the movement of the closing member <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, in the method, a medium passage to the space <NUM> is opened or closed or switched by means of a control valve <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, in the method, the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM> is a pressure medium operated cylinder-piston combination, the pressure medium of which is conducted into the valve space <NUM> for cleaning it.

According to one embodiment the medium is delivered via a medium passage into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body when the closing member of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position and when the closing member is moved from the second position to the first position.

According to one embodiment, in the method, the medium is delivered via a first medium passage <NUM>' into the space <NUM> between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the valve body <NUM> and via one second medium passage <NUM>' into the space between the walls <NUM>, <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>, and that the medium is delivered via the first passage <NUM>' into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body when the closing member <NUM> of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position and via the second medium passage <NUM>' when the closing member is moved from the second position to the first position.

According to one embodiment an operating medium of the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM> is used as the medium.

According to one embodiment the operating medium of the actuator <NUM> is conducted from the actuator via the first medium passage <NUM>' or the second medium passage <NUM>' into the space <NUM> between the walls of the valve body.

According to one embodiment the medium is conducted into the space between the walls of the valve body <NUM> along a medium passage <NUM>', <NUM>', the aperture <NUM>, <NUM> of which into the space <NUM> between the walls of the valve body is arranged in the valve body <NUM>, in the part located on the side of the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM>.

According to one embodiment the medium is gas, for example compressed air.

According to one embodiment the medium may include liquid.

According to one embodiment the medium is delivered into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body, into the space between the walls and the closing member, from the aperture <NUM>, <NUM> formed in a wall <NUM> in the part of the body located on the side of the actuator.

According to one embodiment the medium is delivered by blowing.

According to one embodiment said medium or other medium is delivered from an aperture <NUM> or apertures formed in an edge part <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>, which aperture opens into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body for conducting the medium by means of pressure into the space. According to one embodiment the edge part <NUM> of the valve is provided with a channel <NUM>, from which channel there is at least one aperture <NUM>, preferably several apertures, which opens into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body, preferably into a part of the space <NUM> located opposite in relation to the actuator <NUM>, and in which channel <NUM> there is at least one inlet aperture <NUM> to which the medium is conducted along a passage <NUM>'.

According to one embodiment the medium is delivered via the passage <NUM>', the channel <NUM> and the aperture <NUM> in the channel into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body when the closing member <NUM> of the valve is moved from the second position to the first position or when the closing member <NUM> of the valve is moved from the first position to the second position.

According to one embodiment said medium or other medium is further delivered from the aperture <NUM> or apertures formed in the edge part <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>, which aperture opens into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body for conducting the medium by means of a negative pressure into the space, the negative pressure acting in the space <NUM>, whereby the edge part <NUM> of the valve is provided with a channel <NUM>, from which channel there is at least one aperture <NUM>, preferably several apertures, which opens into the space <NUM> between the walls of the body, preferably into the part of the space <NUM> located opposite in relation to the actuator <NUM>, and in which channel <NUM> there is at least one inlet aperture <NUM> opening to ambient pressure.

According to one embodiment, in the method, the cleaning medium is conducted from the space <NUM> between the walls of the valve body to a partial-vacuum pipe, such as a conveying pipe of a partial-vacuum system, to which pipe the flow passageway <NUM> of the valve is connected.

According to one embodiment the operations provided by the control valve <NUM> may also be arranged by other means, for example by means of several valves. According to one embodiment, for example the blowing of the medium in the cleaning arrangement may be provided by means of a control valve which is independent of the control of the closing member <NUM> actuator <NUM>. According to one embodiment the blowing of the medium may be adjusted by time. According to one embodiment the medium is delivered when the flow passageway of the valve is open or partly open, for example when the closing member is moved from the first position to the second position or when it is in the second position. According to one embodiment the medium is delivered for a specific time when the flow passageway of the valve is open or partly open, for example for <NUM>-<NUM> seconds, preferably for <NUM>-<NUM> seconds, most preferably for <NUM>-<NUM> seconds. The control valve illustrated in <FIG> is a <NUM>/<NUM>-way valve, which may according to one embodiment be a pilot-operated spring-loaded valve. The control of the valve and of the control valve may be implemented in various ways depending on application. In a <NUM>/<NUM>-way valve the first number <NUM> indicates the number of ports and the second number <NUM> indicates the number of positions of the valve.

Claim 1:
A valve which comprises a body (<NUM>), a closing member (<NUM>) movable in a space (<NUM>) between walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the body transversely in relation to a flow passageway (<NUM>) provided through the body between at least two positions, a first position in which the flow passageway (<NUM>) is closed, and a second position in which the flow passageway is open, and an actuator (<NUM>) for moving the closing member (<NUM>) linearly between said at least two positions, which body (<NUM>) further comprises an edge part (<NUM>, <NUM>) connecting the side walls (<NUM>, <NUM>), the valve comprising a cleaning arrangement in which an aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>) for conducting a medium is arranged in the valve body (<NUM>), in a part of the body (<NUM>) located on the side of the closing member (<NUM>) actuator (<NUM>), and is configured to spray a cleaning medium into a part of the space located between walls (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the space (<NUM>) and the closing member (<NUM>),
wherein the valve further comprises second means (<NUM>, <NUM>) for conducting the medium at least into a lower part of the space (<NUM>) located between the walls (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the body, characterized in that an edge part (<NUM>) of the valve is provided with a channel (<NUM>), from which channel there is at least one aperture (<NUM>), preferably several apertures, which opens into the space (<NUM>) between the walls of the body, preferably into a part of the space (<NUM>) located opposite in relation to the actuator (<NUM>), for conducting the medium by means of a negative pressure into the space, the negative pressure acting in the space (<NUM>), and in which channel (<NUM>) there is at least one inlet aperture (<NUM>) opening to ambient pressure, and the cleaning medium is conducted from the space (<NUM>) between the walls of the valve body to a partial-vacuum pipe, such as a conveying pipe of a partial-vacuum system, to which pipe the flow passageway (<NUM>) of the valve is connected.