Valve apparatus

A method for controlling flow along a flow path, comprising:

• providing a carriage member carrying a shearing cutting arrangement and a valve member;
• moving the carriage member from a first position towards a second position to drive the shearing cutting arrangement along a shearing cutting plane across the flow path and shear through an object located within the flow path, and to generally align the valve member with a valve seat;
• and
• moving the valve member relative to the carriage member to engage and/or disengage the valve seat to control flow along the flow path.

A valve apparatus, comprising:

• a housing defining a flow path;
• a valve seat located within the housing around a periphery of the flow path;
• a carriage member located within the housing;
• a cutting arrangement mounted on the carriage member;
• a valve seat cutting arrangement;
• and
• a valve member mounted on the carriage member via a connection assembly which permits relative movement between the valve member and the carriage member,
• wherein the carriage member is moveable from a first position towards a second position to drive the cutting arrangement across the flow path and cooperates with the valve seat cutting arrangement to establish a transverse shear stress in an object located within the flow path, and to move the valve member into a position in which relative movement between the valve member and the carriage member permits the valve member to sealingly engage and disengage the valve seat to control flow along the flow path.

A valve apparatus, comprising:

• a housing defining a flow path;
• a valve seat located within the housing around a periphery of the flow path;
• a carriage member located within the housing;
• a cutting arrangement mounted on the carriage member;
• and
• a valve member mounted on the carriage member via a connection assembly which permits relative movement between the valve member and the carriage member,
• wherein the carriage member is moveable from a first position towards a second position to drive the cutting arrangement across the flow path and to move the valve member into a position in which relative movement between the valve member and the carriage member permits the valve member to sealingly engage and disengage the valve seat to control flow along the flow path, and
• wherein the cutting arrangement is moved along a cutting path during movement of the carriage member between a first position thereof and a second position thereof, wherein a clearance gap is between the cutting path of the cutting arrangement and a sealing surface of the valve seat.