What You Need To Know About Valves

Take a few guesses as to the world’s most prominent method of transporting goods. It’s not trucks. It’s not bicycles or airplanes. In fact, it’s not even something most people think of as a method of transportation. It’s pipes. While you may not notice them, pipes are used to transport large amounts of liquids worldwide every day in an efficient manner. To be this efficient, they need a way to regulate the amount of liquid inside. That’s where valves come in. Read on for everything you need to know about these important parts. 

What Are Valves?

Vales are mechanical devices used to partially or completely block a pipe to change or stop the amount of liquid flowing through it. For example, when you turn the faucet on your kitchen sink, you open a valve that allows water to flow. Similarly, when you see town or city workers using a valve turner, they are opening and closing valves in the water lines underground. 

How Are They Made?

Valves have several different parts. The outer part is called the seat, consisting of the casing and seals to make sure the closure is tight. The inner part is the body and is what opens and closes to change the flow of liquid. Additionally, there is a handle, wheel, or another part that allows you to adjust the body, such as when you turn a faucet or carry out a city’s valve exercising program. 

What Materials Are They Made Of?

Some valves are made of industrial-strength metal. Others are made from plastic. For instance, sports drinks often come equipped with poppet valves. Elastomers such as silicone rubber are another common choice. 

Valves are used to regulate the amount of liquid being transported through pipelines. Whether this is gasoline to run a car engine or water through a fire hydrant to put out a fire, they are a surprisingly important part of everyone’s daily life.