FLEXIBLE WEDGE FOR GATE VALVE

摘要

A flexible wedge (10) for a gate valve, linearly displaceable within a valve body between an open position and a closed position, comprises a pair of pressure retaining plates (12) and a central wedge body (13) therebetween. The pressure retaining plates have inclined seating surfaces (14) on opposed outer faces thereof for mating with corresponding valve seats within the valve body to prevent substance flow therethrough when the gate valve wedge is in the closed position. The central wedge body is disposed between, and integrally links, the pressure retaining plates. The central wedge body defines at least two offset slots (30) extending partially into the central wedge body from opposed edges thereof and which overlap in a depth-wise direction to define a deflectable web portion between the offset slots. The deflectable web portion permits flexibility of the gate valve wedge, while limiting stress and deformation of the seating surfaces on the pressure retaining plates.