# US 11,306,826 B2 · Slide gate with reinforcement ribs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,826 B2 - Document ID: US11306826B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/856,192 - Filed: 2020-04-23 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-23 - Assignees: Mueller International, LLC - Applicants: Mueller International, LLC - Inventors: Spencer Magladry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306826B2 ## CPC - F16K 3/0218: {with only one sealing face} - F16K 3/0281: {Guillotine or blade-type valves, e.g. no passage through the valve member} - F16K 3/314: Forms or constructions of slides; Attachment of the slide to the spindle - F16K 27/044: {slide valves with flat obturating members} - E02B 7/28: with sliding gates - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) ## Abstract Example aspects of a slide gate, a slide gate assembly, and a method of using a slide gate assembly are disclosed. The slide gate can comprise a gate body defining a first face, a second face, and a sliding groove; and a plurality of reinforcement ribs extending from the second face, the reinforcement ribs comprising: an exterior rib frame; and an interior rib grid comprising an annular reinforcement rib, wherein the interior rib grid is oriented within a boundary of the exterior rib frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A slide gate comprising: a gate body defining a first face, a second face, and a sliding groove; and a plurality of reinforcement ribs extending from the second face, the reinforcement ribs comprising: an exterior rib frame; and an interior rib grid comprising an annular reinforcement rib, wherein the interior rib grid is oriented within a boundary of the exterior rib frame, and wherein the annular reinforcement rib is inwardly spaced from the exterior rib frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The slide gate of claim 1, wherein the annular reinforcement rib is connected to the exterior rib frame by a connector rib. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The slide gate of claim 2, wherein: the connector rib defines an outer rib segment coupled to the exterior rib frame and an inner rib segment coupled to the annular reinforcement rib; and the outer rib segment is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the inner rib segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The slide gate of claim 1, wherein the annular reinforcement rib is an outer annular rib and the interior rib grid further comprises an inner annular rib concentric to the outer annular rib. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The slide gate of claim 4, wherein the outer annular rib defines a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inner annular rib. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The slide gate of claim 4, wherein: the outer annular rib is connected to the exterior rib frame by a connector rib; and the inner annular rib is a floating rib. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The slide gate of claim 1, wherein: the annular reinforcement rib defines a proximal end, a distal end, and a central portion therebetween; the proximal end is filleted; and the distal end is filleted. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The slide gate of claim 1, wherein: the gate body defines a first lateral end, a second lateral end, an upper end, and a lower end; a first side wedge pad is oriented proximate to the first lateral end on the second face; a second side wedge pad is oriented proximate to the second lateral end on the second face; and a gate wedge is coupled to each of the first side wedge pad and second side wedge pad, each of the gate wedges defining a gate wedge face. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The slide gate of claim 1, wherein each of the reinforcement ribs is formed monolithically with the gate body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The slide gate of claim 1, wherein the exterior rib frame comprises a first side rib, a second side rib, a first end rib, and a second end rib. ### Claim 11 A slide gate assembly comprising: a slide gate comprising a gate body, the gate body defining a first face and a second face, an outer annular reinforcement rib extending from the second face, an inner annular reinforcement rib positioned within the bounds of the outer annular rib and extending from the second face; and a gate frame defining a frame opening, the slide gate slidably mounted on the gate frame, wherein the slide gate is selectively movable relative to the gate frame between an open orientation, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through the frame opening, and a closed orientation, wherein fluid is restricted from flowing through the frame opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The slide gate assembly of claim 11, wherein: the slide gate defines a first gate body seating face: and the gate frame defines a first gate frame seating face configured to slide against the gate body seating face as the slide gate moves between the open orientation and closed orientation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The slide gate assembly of claim 11, wherein: the slide gate comprises a side wedge pad and a gate wedge mounted to the side wedge pad, the gate wedge defining a gate wedge face; the gate frame comprises a frame wedge block defining a frame wedge face; and the gate wedge face presses against the frame wedge face in the closed orientation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The slide gate assembly of claim 11, wherein the inner annular reinforcement rib is concentric to the outer annular reinforcement rib, and wherein the inner annular reinforcement rib is a floating rib. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The slide gate assembly of claim 11, wherein: the slide gate further comprises an exterior rib frame extending from the second face; and the outer annular reinforcement rib is inwardly spaced from the exterior rib frame and is connected to the exterior rib frame by a connector rib. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The slide gate assembly of claim 11, wherein: the gate frame further defines a lower end frame member and a seal attached to the lower end frame member; the slide gate defines a lower end; and the seal is configured to engage the lower end to create a watertight seal between the gate frame and slide gate at the lower end. ### Claim 17 A method of using a slide gate assembly comprising: providing the slide gate assembly, the slide gate assembly comprising a slide gate slidably mounted to a gate frame, the slide gate comprising a gate body, an inner annular rib, and an outer annular rib, each of the inner and outer annular ribs extending from the gate body; and moving the slide gate relative to the gate frame between an open orientation, wherein fluid is permitted to flow through a frame opening of the gate frame, and a closed orientation, wherein fluid is restricted from flowing through the frame opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein; the slide gate further comprises an exterior rib frame; and the outer annular rib is connected to the exterior rib frame by a connector rib. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising pressing a gate wedge face of the slide gate against a frame wedge face of the gate frame in the closed orientation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising engaging an upper wedge hook of the slide gate with an upper wedge stirrup of the gate frame in the closed orientation.