Plug valve with flow area equal to or greater than the flow area of the connected piping

Abstract

An apparatus is provided that in some embodiments provide an improved plug valve having a plug with a curved cylindrical sealing surface and a substantially flat second surface. An inlet region of the housing has a constant cross-sectional flow area.

1 . A valve apparatus, comprising: a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port having a seat opening; and a plug rotatably mounted in the valve body and having a cylindrically curved sealing face and a substantially planar second face opposite to the curved sealing face. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve body comprises a first body component a second body component detachably mounted to the first body component to form a chamber within which the plug is rotatable. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first body component comprises a body having the seat opening and the second body component comprises a bonnet. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port comprises an entry region having a change in outline shape but no change in total area. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve body has a height, and a cross section taken at an intermediate portion of the height perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the plug has one tapered sidewall and one straight sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plug is moveable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein in the open position the second face of the plug is aligned with both of a substantially vertical corner surface located towards the inlet port and a substantially vertical seat edge located towards the outlet port. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the valve is connected to a pipe having a pipe flow volume area, and a total volume area of the entry region is substantially equal to the pipe flow area. 
     
     
         8 . The valve apparatus, comprising: a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port having a seat opening; and a plug valve rotatably mounted in the valve body having a cylindrically curved sealing face wherein the inlet port comprises an entry region having a change in outline shape but no change in total area. 
     
     
         9 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the valve is connected to a pipe having a pipe flow volume area, and a total area of the entry region is substantially equal to the pipe flow area. 
     
     
         10 . A valve apparatus, comprising: housing means having an inlet port and an outlet port having a seat opening; and sealing means rotatably mounted in the housing means having a cylindrically curved sealing face and a substantially planar second face opposite to the curved sealing face. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the housing means comprises a first body component a second body component detachably mounted to the first body component to form a chamber within which the sealing means is rotatable. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the first body component comprises a body having the seat opening and the second body component comprises a bonnet. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the inlet port comprises an entry region having a change in outline shape but no change in total area. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the housing means has a height, and a cross section taken at an intermediate portion of the height perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the plug has one tapered sidewall and one straight sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing means is moveable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein in the open position the second face of the plug is aligned with both of a substantially vertical corner surface located towards the inlet port and a substantially vertical seat edge generally located towards the outlet port. 
     
     
         16 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the valve is connected to a pipe having a pipe flow volume area, and a total area of the entry region is substantially equal to the pipe flow area. 
     
     
         17 . A valve apparatus, comprising: housing means having an inlet port and an outlet port having a seat opening; and sealing means mounted in the housing means having a cylindrically curved sealing face, wherein the inlet port comprises an entry region having a change in outline shape but no change in total area. 
     
     
         18 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the valve is connected to a pipe having a pipe flow volume area, and a total volume area of the entry region is substantially equal to the pipe flow area. 
     
     
         19 . A method of improving flow is a valve assembly including a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port having a seat opening, comprising: rotating a plug mounted in the valve body having a cylindrically curved sealing face and a substantially planar second face opposite to the curved sealing face, wherein the plug is moveable between an open position and a closed position, so that in the open position the second face of the plug is aligned with a substantially vertical corner surface located towards the inlet port and a substantially vertical seat edge located towards the outlet port. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the inlet port comprises a region having a change in outline shape but no change in total area.