Patent ID: 8141846

Claim:
An apparatus for a gate valve between chambers, the apparatus comprising: a valve housing defining a flow path between the chambers; a male valve portion rotatable on a fixed axis in said housing, said male valve portion comprising at least a first male mating surface positioned at a first angle less than perpendicular to said axis; a female valve portion fixed in said valve housing for receiving said male portion, said female valve portion comprising at least a first female mating surface positioned at a second angle matching said first angle; an o-ring for sealing said male valve portion to said female valve portion when said male valve portion is rotated into said female valve portion from a fully open position to a fully closed position; a polished surface which said o-ring contacts when said male valve portion is rotated; means for providing a sliding action between said male valve portion and said female valve portion when said male valve portion is rotated into said female valve portion, said means for providing a sliding action compressing said o-ring in said fully closed position thereby sealing the gate valve and closing said flow path; and means for rotating said male valve portion between said fully open position and said fully closed position means for linking said means for rotating and said male valve portion where said linking means maintains said male valve portion in said fully closed position when said means for rotating is inoperative.