Automatic locking resilient knife gate valve seat

A method for assembling and using a knife gate valve having a valve body defining a bore about a bore axis for a media flow, and a gate for the bore, comprising the steps of:

• providing an annular groove inscribed on an interior surface of the valve body, wherein the annular groove defines a stepped surface and a first locking surface;
• providing a flexible seat ring having a wedge at a first end of the flexible seat ring;
• inserting the wedge of the flexible seat ring into the annular groove;
• and
• automatically securing the flexible seat ring into the annular groove.

A knife gate valve having a valve body defining a bore along a bore axis, and a gate operable between a closed position and an open position of the bore, comprising:

• an interior surface of the valve body;
• an annular groove comprising a stepped surface, an outermost groove surface opposite the stepped surface, and a rear groove surface joining the stepped surface and the outermost groove surface, wherein each of the stepped surface, the outermost groove surface, and the rear groove surface are defined in the interior surface of the valve body only;
• wherein the stepped surface further defines a first locking surface;
• a resilient seat ring comprising a resilient seat body and a wedge extending from the resilient seat body at an angle, and a second locking surface adjacent to the wedge;
• wherein the wedge of the resilient seat ring is inserted into the annular groove and further wherein the resilient seat ring is secured into the annular groove via engagement of the first locking surface and the second locking surface preventing outward movement of the resilient seat ring out of the annular groove.

A seat ring for a knife gate valve defining a substantially cylindrical bore with a bore axis, comprising:

• a plastic body of the seat ring;
• a wedge extending from the plastic body at an angle between 10 to 15 degrees;
• and
• a locking surface adjacent to the wedge, wherein the locking surface is perpendicular to the bore axis.