Patent ID: 8215612

Claim:
A sliding valve comprising: a valve body ( 1 ) with a wall ( 2 ) having a valve opening ( 3 ) and a valve seat ( 4 ) surrounding the valve opening ( 3 ); a valve plate ( 5 ) that is movable between an open position in which the valve opening ( 3 ) is free, an intermediate position in which the valve plate covers the valve opening ( 3 ) but is lifted from the valve seat ( 4 ), and a closed position in which the valve plate is pressed onto the valve seat ( 4 ); at least one valve rod ( 8 ) that can move in an axial direction and can be moved for closing the valve starting from a first position in which the valve plate ( 5 ) assumes the open position, to a second position in which the valve plate ( 5 ) assumes the intermediate position, into a third position in which the valve plate ( 5 ) assumes the closed position; at least one lifting element ( 10 , 11 , 10 ′) that is activated by movement of the valve rod ( 8 ) from the second into the third position and acts on the valve plate ( 5 ) for moving the valve plate ( 5 ) from the intermediate position into the closed position; and at least one support unit ( 12 ) with at least one front support element ( 14 ) and at least one rear support element ( 13 ) with respect to a closing direction ( 9 ) of the valve rod ( 8 ), the support elements interact, in the closed position of the valve plate ( 5 ), with at least one valve-body-fixed, front support element and at least one valve-body-fixed, rear support element ( 16 , 15 ), in order to block a movement of the support unit ( 12 ) directed away from the valve opening ( 3 ); wherein, in the second position of the valve rod ( 8 ), one of the rear support elements ( 13 , 15 ) or the front support elements ( 14 , 16 ) are engaged and the other of the rear support elements or the front support elements ( 14 , 16 ; 13 , 15 ) are spaced apart from each other and, when the valve rod ( 8 ) is moved from the second to the third position, the support unit ( 12 ) pivots about a rotational axis ( 17 ) from a starting position in which the other support elements ( 14 , 16 ; 13 , 15 ) are spaced apart from each other into an end position in which the other support elements ( 14 , 16 ; 13 , 15 ) contact each other.