Gate valve with camming wedge, pressure equalizer, and replaceable bleeder valve

A gate valve means, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a valve chamber within said housing;
• a reciprocating plunger means moveable in the direction perpendicular to an axis interconnecting said openings inside said valve chamber;
• reciprocating drive means connected to said reciprocating plunger means for causing reciprocation thereof;
• first and second plate-like elements sandwiching said plunger means;
• compression leaf spring means constantly urging said plate-like elements towards each other so that said plunger means is constantly squeezed between said plate-like elements;
• said plate like elements being moveable in the direction of said axes against the force of said resilient means to positions which close said openings;
• first and second camming means on said plunger means, first cam follower means on said first plate-like element and second cam follower means on said second plate-like element, said first camming means engaging said first follower means and said second camming means engaging said second follower means, said first and second camming means being shifted in axial direction of said plunger means with respect to each other so that during retraction of said plunger means, said first follower is released from said first camming means earlier than said second follower is released from said second camming means;
• bleeder valve means having a valve element connected to said first plate-like element and having a valve seat on said second plate-like element;
• first sealing means between said valve seat and said bleeder valve element;
• second sealing means located between one of said plate elements and said housing and capable of cutting off communication between said openings;
• means in said housing for removal of said bleeder valve means from said gate valve means without dismantling of said gate valve means;
• and
• means for positively restraining said second plate-like element against movement in the axial direction of said plunger means until said second plate-like element is raised to a height which prevents sliding of said second sealing means over the surface of said housing.