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 when said gate valve is upright, said lower body segment comprising an outer circumference 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 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
• said gate valve is operable with a hydraulic, failsafe, or manual operator, said hydraulic, failsafe or manual operator being interchangeably mountable to said gate valve.

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, said lower body segment having a non-circular shape;
• 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, said lower body segment having a non-circular shape;
• 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.