Expanding gate valve assembly

Abstract

An expanding gate valve assembly includes a segment and a gate. Inner faces of the segment and gate are configured for slidable contact and angled faces of the segment and gate are configured for slidable contact to form a first gate assembly interface. The first gate assembly interface can further include a tab on the gate configured to contact a base surface of the segment to form a second gate assembly interface. A spring can be coupled between the gate and the segment to maintain at least the first gate assembly interface. The tab can be disposed below the segment to provide a lifting engagement with the base surface of the segment. The first gate assembly interface can be ledge-free.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve assembly comprising:
 a segment having an inner face, an angled face, and a base surface;   a gate having an inner face, an angled face, and a tab;   wherein the inner faces are configured for slidable contact and the angled faces are configured for slidable contact to form a first gate assembly interface;   wherein the tab is configured to contact the base surface to form a second gate assembly interface including the first gate assembly interface; and   a spring coupled between the gate and the segment configured to maintain at least the first gate assembly interface.   
     
     
         2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base surface comprises a stepped surface. 
     
     
         3 . The valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the tab of the gate is in complementary lifting engagement with the stepped surface of the segment. 
     
     
         4 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein contact between the tab and the base surface is below the first gate assembly interface such that the second gate assembly interface is a slidable contact and lifting interface between the segment and the gate. 
     
     
         5 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first gate assembly interface is ledge-free. 
     
     
         6 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base surface comprises a foot. 
     
     
         7 . The valve assembly of  claim 4 , wherein an extension of the foot is adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is a Z-spring. 
     
     
         9 . An expanding gate valve assembly comprising:
 a segment and a gate disposed in a valve body, wherein the gate comprises:
 an outer face and an inner face having a fluid bore therethrough; 
 an angled face extending from the inner face; 
 a receptor; and 
 a tab extending from the inner face opposite the angled face. 
   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the receptor is disposed opposite the tab on the gate and comprises a cavity and a groove extending through the gate. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , comprising a receiver slidably engaged within the groove of the receptor. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the receiver is configured to couple to a stem extending into the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the stem comprises a shoulder for contacting the valve body. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the tab extends perpendicularly from the inner face. 
     
     
         15 . An expanding gate valve assembly comprising:
 a segment and a gate disposed in a valve body, wherein the segment comprises:
 an outer face and an inner face having a fluid bore therethrough; 
 an angled face extending from the inner face to the outer face at a first end; 
 a base surface extending from the inner face to the outer face at a second end; and 
 a foot disposed on the base surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the base surface comprises a stepped surface. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the foot is extendable from the base surface.