All Gate Valves
All about DAVINCI
RESILIENT SEAT
GATE VALVES
A gate valve is one of the most reliable and widely used solutions for water supply systems. Designed as a linear-motion isolation valve, it ensures precise control by either fully stopping or allowing the flow of water. Its name comes from the way the closure element slides into the flow stream—just like a gate—providing a secure and effective shutoff.
Gate valves are the go-to choice for isolating sections of a water network during maintenance, repairs, or new installations, as well as for efficiently rerouting water through pipelines. Their durability and dependable performance make them an essential component for any water supply system
Design & parts of a gate valve
The gate valve is valued for its simple design and versatility, making it one of the most widely used valves in low pressure-drop applications.
Built as a full-port (full-bore) valve, its internal diameter matches that of the connecting pipe. This ensures an unobstructed flow, eliminating pressure loss and maximizing system efficiency.
Its design also allows for pipeline cleaning with a “pig”, making maintenance easier and extending the overall lifespan of the installation.
A resilient seated gate valve with a non-rising spindle consists of the following parts:
wedge
ductile iron valve body
seating area
stem (spindle)
spindle bearing
bonnet
packing
The body is the largest and most robust component of the gate valve, providing strength and durability. With the spindle housed inside the valve body during rotation, the design allows for a more economical and efficient bonnet construction.
The bonnet, securely bolted to the body, ensures easy access for cleaning and maintenance, reducing downtime and simplifying service.
In operation, the wedge moves downward to press firmly against the valve seat, achieving a complete and reliable shutoff. When opened, the wedge smoothly slides upward within the valve body, ensuring uninterrupted flow and dependable performance.
Gate valve operation
Gate valves can be operated manually using a handwheel, a T-key (wrench), or automatically with an actuator. The handwheel connects to the valve stem, transferring rotational energy that moves the wedge up or down to open or close the flow.
For underground installations, an extension spindle enables easy operation without direct access to the valve.
Typically, gate valves are installed in pipeline sections where they remain open or closed for extended periods, as switching positions takes some time. However, for applications requiring frequent or remote operation, motorized gate valves with electric actuators provide a reliable and efficient solution.
Types of Gate Valves
Based on construction, gate valves for water supply systems can generally be divided into the following types:
By wedge: parallel gate valves and wedge gate valves
By seat: metal seat or resilient seated gate valves
By stem: with rising or non-rising stem.
1. Parallel or wedge-shaped gate valves
Parallel slide gate valves feature a flat, parallel-faced gate-like closing element, fitting between two parallel seats. The so-called knife gate valve is a type of parallel gate valves.
Wedge gate valves are so called because of a wedge-shaped gate. The wedge has ribs on both sides and is guided by the slots in the gate valve body.
The wedge guides serve the following purposes:
to transfer the axial loads imposed on the wedge by the medium to the valve body to enable a low-friction movement of the wedge in radial direction to prevent the wedge from rotation while travelling between open/closed valve positions (serving as an anti-twist lock).
Most gate valves used in water distribution systems are wedge gate valves.
2. Metal seated or resilient seated gate valves
Wedge gate valves can have metal or resilient seats. In metal seated gate valves, a wedge slides towards a groove in the invert of the gate valve body, which would often trap solids contained in the fluid. For this reason, resilient seated gate valves provide a tighter shut-off and are more preferred in water distribution systems.
In resilient seated gate valves, a wedge, mostly made of ductile iron, is encapsulated in resilient material (elastomer) and therefore provides a tight seal. The seating takes place between the rim of the wedge and the valve body. This does not necessitate a groove at the bottom of the valve. Therefore, resilient seated gate valves can seal around small solids, carried by the water flow.
3. Rising stem or non-rising stem gate valves
The difference of rising to non-rising stems is that they may be either fixed (rising stem) or threaded (non-rising stem) to the gate. In rising stem gate valves, the rotating stem rises as the valve is opened. Some clear disadvantages of the rising-stem valves are:
due to a bulky design they require a greater amount of space when opened as the spindle travels upwards;
they are not suitable for underground or buried installations.
Válvula de Compuerta
Get in Touch
Do you have any question request or comment?
We’d love to hear from you! valves@davincivalves.com
¿Tiene alguna pregunta, petición o comentario?
Estaremos encantados de atenderle: valves@davincivalves.com
FAQ
