Non-circular body gate valve with skirt plate having spacers and method

A gate valve, comprising:

• a throughbore in said gate valve that extends through said gate valve, said gate valve comprising an upper body segment and a lower body segment below said throughbore when said gate valve is upright, said lower body segment comprising an outer circumference along a length of said lower body segment that is non-circular;
• a body cavity in said gate valve that is oriented transversely to said throughbore;
• a gate movable in said body cavity between an open position and a closed position, said body cavity in said gate valve extending from above said throughbore to below said throughbore when said gate valve is upright;
• and
• said gate comprising a gate opening that aligns with said throughbore in said open position, said gate further comprising a blank portion that aligns with said throughbore in said closed position.

A gate valve, comprising:

• a throughbore in said gate valve that extends through said gate valve, said gate valve comprising an upper body segment and a lower body segment;
• a body cavity in said gate valve that is oriented transversely to said throughbore;
• a gate movable in said body cavity between an open position and a closed position, said body cavity in said gate valve extending from above said throughbore to below said throughbore when said gate valve is upright, said gate comprising two sealing sides and a gate width between said two sealing sides;
• seats positioned in a pocket on either side of said gate, said seats comprising a seat width extending between a seat pocket end to a seat engagement end, said seat width being smaller than said gate width;
• metal-to-metal seals between said gate and said seat engagement end that are operable to prevent leakage between said gate and said seats;
• said gate comprising a gate opening that aligns with said throughbore in said open position, said gate further comprising a blank portion that aligns with said throughbore in said closed position;
• and
• when said gate valve is upright then said body cavity above said throughbore comprises a round cross-section, a majority of a length of said body cavity below said throughbore comprises a substantially rectangular cross-section, whereby said substantially rectangular cross-section is sized to slidingly receive said gate.

A gate valve, comprising:

• a throughbore in said gate valve that extends through said gate valve, said gate valve comprising an upper body segment and a lower body segment;
• a body cavity in said gate valve that is oriented transversely to said throughbore;
• a gate movable in said body cavity between an open position and a closed position, said body cavity in said gate valve extending from above said throughbore to below said throughbore when said gate valve is upright;
• said gate comprising a gate opening that aligns with said throughbore in said open position, said gate further comprising a blank portion that aligns with said throughbore in said closed position;
• a plate mounted in said body cavity on each side of said gate so that said gate is moveable with respect to each said plate, each said plate being bent prior to being mounted to thereby produce pressure against said gate, each said plate being sized and positioned to cover said gate opening when said gate is moved to said closed position, each said plate being positioned to limit debris movement between said gate opening and said body cavity;
• and
• said gate is mounted so that when said gate valve is upright and in the closed position then said gate opening is above said throughbore.

A gate valve, comprising:

• a throughbore in said gate valve that extends through said gate valve, said gate valve comprising an upper body segment and a lower body segment;
• a body cavity in said gate valve that is oriented transversely to said throughbore;
• a gate movable in said body cavity between an open position and a closed position, said body cavity in said gate valve extending from above said throughbore to below said throughbore when said gate valve is upright;
• said gate comprising a gate opening that aligns with said throughbore in said open position, said gate further comprising a blank portion that aligns with said throughbore in said closed position;
• a plate mounted in said body cavity on each side of said gate so that said gate is moveable with respect to each said plate, each said plate being springingly mounted to thereby produce pressure against said gate, each said plate being sized and positioned to cover said gate opening when said gate is moved to said closed position, each said plate being positioned to limit debris movement between said gate opening and said body cavity;
• and
• said gate is mounted so that when said gate valve is upright and in the closed position then said gate opening is above said throughbore.

A gate valve, comprising:

• a throughbore that extends through said gate valve;
• a body cavity in said gate valve that is oriented transversely to said throughbore;
• a gate movable in said body cavity between an open position and a closed position;
• said gate comprising a gate opening that aligns with said throughbore in said open position, said gate further comprising a blank portion that aligns with said throughbore in said closed position;
• and
• a skirt assembly comprising:
• a first plate being mounted slidingly adjacent to said gate, said first plate covering said gate opening when said gate is closed;
• and
• at least one spacer interposed between said first plate and an interior surface in said body cavity, whereby movement of said first plate away from said gate is limited by engagement with said at least one spacer.