Gate valve for a high-pressure roller press
The dovetail-shaped shut-off valve with controlled opening and closing speeds addresses the issue of high loads in high-pressure roller presses, ensuring controlled material flow and reducing component damage.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-02
AI Technical Summary
High-pressure roller presses experience unintended high loads and component damage due to rapid opening of the shut-off valve during malfunctions, particularly when grinding brittle materials, leading to issues like broken shear pins.
The shut-off valve is designed with a dovetail-shaped recess and a non-parallel edge to gradually open and close, incorporating a pneumatic or hydraulic system with pressure reduction for controlled opening and rapid closure, or a rotating cylindrical design with dovetail-shaped recesses for slow opening and fast closing.
This design prevents roller misalignment and sudden material feed, reducing mechanical stress and preventing component damage by controlling the opening and closing speeds of the shut-off valve.
Smart Images

Figure EP2025077259_02042026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH
[0002] September 23, 2024
[0003] EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE
[0004] Shut-off valve for a high-pressure roller press
[0005] The invention relates to a shut-off valve for a high-pressure roller press, which is movable via a straight slot to control the flow of ground material, wherein the shut-off valve has a dovetail-shaped recess.
[0006] In high-pressure roller presses, brittle material is drawn through a narrow roller gap for comminution and, under the high pressure of the roller press, is broken down by brittle fracture. When feeding the material into the roller gap, it is important to monitor the fill level during operation. The roller gap must not be overloaded to allow the material sufficient space for brittle fracture. If the roller gap is underfilled, the high-pressure roller press acts like a crusher. The material breaks and is forced into the remaining, unoccupied space in the roller gap, thus avoiding brittle fracture.
[0007] Each high-pressure roller press is equipped with a metering slide that controls the material flow and a shut-off slide that can completely stop the material flow. The material flow is shut off in the event of a milling operation malfunction to ensure that no material can pass through the high-pressure roller press. The shut-off slide, when closed, separates a feed hopper for the material to be ground from the high-pressure roller press, thus cutting off the material feed. During a controlled start-up process, the shut-off slide only opens when the rollers of the high-pressure roller press are running at their rated speed, the metering slide is almost closed, the movable roller is in its starting position, and the hydraulic pressure is at KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH
[0008] September 23, 2024
[0009] EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE
[0010] H 24 / 006 DE
[0011] The starting level is [unclear - possibly referring to a specific operating level]. The shut-off valve is pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically operated to ensure rapid closing in the event of a malfunction during operation. However, a problem arises because this also causes the shut-off valve to open very quickly. This leads to unintended high loads on the machine components of the high-pressure roller press, even resulting in the shear pins of the roller drive coupling breaking. This situation occurs more frequently than one would expect, especially during the grinding of raw materials.
[0012] The object of the invention is therefore to carry out the opening or closing process of the shut-off valve of a high-pressure roller press at different speeds.
[0013] The problem according to the invention is solved by a gate valve with the features according to claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims to claim 1.
[0014] According to the invention, the shut-off valve itself is not straight and does not open and close a straight slot. Instead, the shut-off valve has an edge that is not parallel to the slot axis, with the slot covering the roller gap. If the edge of the shut-off valve is straight and not parallel to the slot axis, the shut-off valve closes like a guillotine. This would cause the material being ground to gradually fill the roller gap from one end, across the middle, to the other end, leading to misalignment of the rollers. Therefore, the shut-off valve is designed to have at least one dovetail-shaped recess.When the gate valve is opened, a small opening initially opens in the middle of the at least one dovetail-shaped recess, whereby the opening gradually widens as the gate valve is opened further. KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH.
[0015] September 23, 2024
[0016] EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE
[0017] H 24 / 006 DE widens the slot at both ends. This prevents the rollers from tilting when the gate valve opens and avoids a sudden material feed into the roller gap. It is also possible to design the gate valve with serrations. The serration pattern is created by adjacent dovetail-like recesses in the edge of the gate valve that runs over the slot.
[0018] To actuate the gate valve, it can be connected to a pneumatic lifting system which, when the slot is opened, cocks a compressed air cannon. This cannon can be triggered in an emergency or accident and quickly closes the slot. Due to the gate valve's special edge guide, rapid closure of the gate valve is essential. A pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric lifting system of this type typically performs the stroke equally quickly in both directions, i.e., for opening and closing. To enable rapid closure, the pneumatic cannon is cocked, forcing compressed air into the gate valve's lifting system, thus ensuring a particularly rapid closure of the gate valve.
[0019] Unlike a rapid closing mechanism, it is desirable for the gate valve to open more slowly. This can be achieved by incorporating a pressure reduction system into the pneumatic lifting system, which is activated during the opening process and results in a slow opening of the slot.
[0020] To actuate the gate valve, it can also be provided that it is connected to a hydraulic lifting system which, when the slot opens, tensions a bladder accumulator. The bladder accumulator can be triggered in an emergency or breakdown situation and quickly closes the slot. KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH
[0021] September 23, 2024
[0022] EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE
[0023] H 24 / 006 DE
[0024] To close the gate valve slowly with the hydraulic lifting system, the hydraulic lifting system may be provided with a pressure reduction system which is activated during the opening process and leads to a slow opening of the slot.
[0025] Up to this point, a gate valve has been presented that is a flat slide that is pushed over a straight slot. In a particular embodiment of the gate valve, it can be cylindrical and have at least one dovetail-shaped recess in its cylindrical body. As the gate valve rotates, this recess is pushed over the slot. A rotating gate valve has the advantage that two edges exist in the open cylindrical body. One edge can have the dovetail-shaped recess, while a second edge can be straight and run parallel to the cylinder axis. When this cylindrical gate valve rotates, the edge of the gate valve is pushed over the slot.The slot opens as the at least one dovetail-shaped recess passes through it, and closes as the straight edge closes it. The opening of the slot is therefore slow, while the closing is fast, with the rotational speed of the gate valve remaining constant during both opening and closing.
[0026] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. They show:
[0027] Fig. 1 shows a sketch of the gate valve according to the invention in a first embodiment in the open state,
[0028] Fig. 2 shows the gate valve from Figure 1 near the closed position.
[0029] Fig. 3 shows a pneumatic lifting device for actuating the shut-off valve in Figures 1 and 2, KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH
[0030] September 23, 2024
[0031] EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE
[0032] H 24 / 006 DE
[0033] Fig. 4 shows a hydraulic lifting device for actuating the shut-off valve in Figures 1 and 2,
[0034] Fig. 5 shows a cylindrical variant of the gate valve,
[0035] Fig. 6 different edge shapes for the gate valve.
[0036] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the gate valve 100 according to the invention in a first embodiment in the open state. The gate valve rests on the base 10 of a feed device 11, the base 10 having a slot 110 through which the material being ground, which is held in the feed device 11, falls. In this state, the gate valve 110 is completely pushed to the side. This means that the slot 110 is fully open.
[0037] Figure 2 shows the gate valve 100 from Figure 1 near its closed position. In the closed position, the gate valve 100 lies over the slot 110 of the feed device 11 and closes the slot 110, leaving the center 115 of the slot 110 open. When opening, the gate valve 100 moves back to the left, slowly opening the slot 110 first in the center 115 and only then at both ends 116 and 117.
[0038] Figure 3 shows a pneumatic lifting device 300 for actuating the shut-off valve in Figures 1 and 2. The pneumatic lifting device 300 is connected to the shut-off valve 100 via a coupling 305. A pneumatic double cylinder 306 is opened by a compressor 307, causing the piston 308 in the double cylinder 306 to move to the left. For this to occur, the control valve 309b is open, control valve 309d is open, and control valves 309a and 309c are closed. The piston 308 pushes air into the compressed air gun 310, thus pre-pressurizing it. It is possible for the compressor 307 to further pre-pressurize the compressed air gun 310 by closing the control valve 309b, and KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH
[0039] September 23, 2024
[0040] EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE
[0041] H 24 / 006 DE
[0042] Control valves 309a and 309d are open. For rapid closure in case of a failure, control valve 309d and also control valve 309c can be opened, causing piston 308 to move quickly to the right and thereby pushing the gate valve 100 to the right over the slot 110. Control valve 309b, acting as a pressure-reducing system, can only be partially opened to ensure that the pressure in the left cylinder of the double cylinder 306 builds up slowly, thus moving the gate valve 100 only slowly to the right.
[0043] Figure 4 shows a hydraulic lifting device 400 for actuating the gate valve in Figures 1 and 2. The hydraulic lifting device 400 is connected to the gate valve 100 via a coupling 405. A hydraulic double cylinder 406 is opened by a hydraulic pump 407, causing the piston 408 in the double cylinder 406 to move to the left. The piston 408 pushes hydraulic fluid into the accumulator 410, thus pre-pressurizing it. For rapid closure in case of failure, the control valve 409 can be opened, causing the piston 408 to move to the right and thereby pushing the gate valve 100 to the right over the slot 110. A pressure reducing valve can also be open during the tensioning of the bladder accumulator 410 so that the pressure in the double cylinder 406 builds up only slowly and thus slowly pushes the shut-off valve 100 to the right over the slot 110.
[0044] Figure 5 shows a cylindrical version of the gate valve 200. The gate valve 200 has a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical body contains at least one dovetail-shaped recess 220, which slowly opens the slot 110 when the gate valve rotates over it. As the gate valve 200 continues to rotate, the straight edge 230 moves over the slot 110 and closes it significantly faster than it opens via the dovetail-shaped recess 120 when the gate valve 200 rotates over the slot 110. KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH
[0045] September 23, 2024
[0046] EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE
[0047] H 24 / 006 DE
[0048] Figure 6 shows various edge shapes for the gate valve 100 and 200. As shown here, it is possible to provide one dovetail-shaped recess 120 (left), two dovetail-shaped recesses 120 (center), and four dovetail-shaped recesses 120 (right). Three and five dovetail-shaped recesses 120 can also be provided.
[0049] KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH
[0050] September 23, 2024
[0051] EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE
[0052] H 24 / 006 DE
[0053] REFERENCE SIGN LIST TE
[0054] 10 Floor 306 pneumatic double cylinder of the
[0055] 11 Feed device
[0056] 307 compressors
[0057] 100 gate valves
[0058] 308 pistons
[0059] 110 slots
[0060] 309a Control valve
[0061] 115 Middle (slot)
[0062] 309b Control valve
[0063] 116 End (slot)
[0064] 309c Control valve
[0065] 117 End (slot)
[0066] 309d Control valve
[0067] 120 dovetail-shaped
[0068] Exclusion 310 compressed air cannon
[0069] 320 Pressure Reduction System
[0070] 200 gate valves
[0071] 210 cylinder casing 400 hydraulic lifting system
[0072] 220 dovetail-shaped 405 coupling
[0073] Recess 406 Double cylinder
[0074] 230 straight edge 407 hydraulic pump
[0075] 408 pistons
[0076] 300 pneumatic lifting system 409 control valve
[0077] 305 Clutch 410 Bladder accumulator
[0078] 420 Pressure Reduction System
Claims
KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH September 23, 2024 EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE H 24 / 006 DE Shut-off valve for a high-pressure roller press PATENT CLAIMS 1. A gate valve (100, 200) for a high-pressure roller press, which is displaceable for controlling the flow of ground material via a straight slot (110), wherein the gate valve (100, 200) has at least one dovetail-shaped recess (120) which is designed such that, when the gate valve (100, 200) is moved from a closed position to an open position, the slot (110) gradually opens from the center (115) of the slot (110) to the two ends (116, 117) of the slot (115).
2. Gate valve according to claim 1, characterized in that it is connected to a pneumatic lifting system (300) which, when the slot (110) is opened, cocks a compressed air cannon (310), KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH September 23, 2024 EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE H 24 / 006 DE wherein the compressed air cannon (310) can be triggered in an emergency / breakdown situation and rapidly closes the slot (110) by quickly moving the shut-off valve (100).
3. Gate valve according to claim 2, characterized in that the pneumatic lifting system (300) has a pressure reduction system (320) which is activated during the opening process and leads to a slow opening of the slot (115).
4. Gate valve according to claim 1, characterized in that it is connected to a hydraulic lifting system (400) which, when the slot (115) is opened, tensions a bladder accumulator (410), wherein the bladder accumulator (410) can be triggered in an emergency or accident and rapidly closes the slot (115) by quickly moving the gate valve (100).
5. Gate valve according to claim 4, characterized in that the hydraulic lifting system (400) has a pressure reduction system (420) which is activated during the opening process and leads to a slow opening of the slot (115). - 1 1 - KHD Humboldt Wedag GmbH September 23, 2024 EM2023005 H 24 / 006 DE H 24 / 006 DE 6. Gate valve according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the gate valve (200) is cylindrical and has at least one dovetail-shaped recess (220) in its cylindrical shell (210), which, by rotation of the gate valve (200), pushes the at least one dovetail-shaped recess (220) over the slot (115).
7. Gate valve according to claim 6, characterized in that the cylinder shell (210) has a straight edge (230) running parallel to the cylinder axis on the side adjacent to the at least one dovetail-shaped recess (220).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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