Patent ID: 6942192

Claim:
A gate valve comprising: an elongated body; a fluid flow passage which extends generally longitudinally through the body and which includes at least a lateral first branch that is in fluid communication with a longitudinal second branch; a gate cavity which is formed in the body and which is in fluid communication with both the first branch and the second branch; a gate which is movably positioned in the gate cavity and which includes a first flow port that is connected to a second flow port; and means for actuating the gate between an open position, in which the first flow port is aligned with the first branch and the second flow port is in fluid communication with the second branch, and a closed position, in which the first flow port is offset from the first branch; wherein the gate further comprises a generally flat face which is adapted to seal the first branch from the gate cavity when the gate is in the closed position to thereby prevent the fluid from flowing between the first branch and the gate cavity; and wherein the actuating means is disposed at least partially within a conduit that extends generally longitudinally through the body from the gate cavity.