Patent ID: 8702058

Claim:
A valve for controlling the flow of abrasive particles along a predetermined path from the outlet of a hopper to a conveying line in a particle collection or transportation system; the valve comprising: a valve body having an inlet section and an outlet section; the inlet section being adapted to be coupled to the outlet of the hopper; the inlet section and outlet section defining a first passageway between the inlet section and the outlet section through which the abrasive particles can flow, the first passageway having an outlet section centerline and an inlet section centerline forming an angle α of at least 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees between the inlet section centerline and the outlet section centerline; a gate housing having an entrance portion coupled to the outlet section of the valve body and an exit portion adapted to be coupled to the conveying line; the gate housing defining a second passageway between the entrance portion and the exit portion through which the abrasive particles can flow; a gate assembly that has an open position and a closed position, the gate assembly including a gate that is sized to occlude the second passageway and an annular seat located proximate to the entrance portion of the gate housing and adapted to contact and mate with the gate; the annular seat having an inner perimeter sized or positioned relative to the outlet section of the valve body such that a portion of the inner perimeter is at least partially hidden from the flow of the abrasive particles when the gate assembly is in the open position; the gate assembly being in the closed position when the gate contacts the seat such that the flow of abrasive particles is occluded; and an actuating means to cause the gate assembly to reversibly move between the open and closed positions.