Patent ID: 7464913

Claim:
An orifice valve for controlling the flow of bulk solids through an opening, said valve comprising: a housing comprised of two opposed sections each of which is a unitary body formed from a single piece of plate stock and presenting a first planar surface having an opening, two integral opposed sidewalls and an integral end wall, said walls each being perpendicular to said first planar surface and cooperating when said sections are placed in facing relationship to present a closed cavity, each of said sections further including a flange extending outwardly from each of said sidewalls and presenting a second planar surface parallel to said first planar surface, said flanges mating with one another when said sections are placed in facing relationship; a second end wall which extends in a first direction perpendicular to said first planar surface, and is bent 180° to extend in a second direction parallel and opposite to the first direction, and is bent again at an obtuse angle to extend in a third direction toward said first planar surface, and is bent again at an obtuse angle to extend in a fourth direction parallel to and in contact with said first planar surface; a seal sandwiched between said second planar surfaces; a blade received in said cavity and reciprocal between open and closed positions, said blade having an opening which aligns with said openings in said housing in the open position and having a solid section which blocks said housing openings in the closed position; and a plurality of retainers which hold said sections in rigid facing relationship.