Caterpillar Inc.
DURABLE AND LOW MAINTENANCE VALVE

Abstract:

A plug valve is disclosed having one or more components that are coated to reduce wear on the components. A plug of the valve may include a bore therethrough defined by an inner surface of the plug. The inner surface of the plug may include a nitride layer, such as a carbonitride layer. An outer surface of the plug may include both a nitride layer, in addition to a thermal spray coated layer, such as WC. The nitride layer may be formed by a ferritic nitrocarburizing process and the thermal spray coating may be formed by a high velocity air fuel (HVAF) or similar process. Inserts of the plug valve may also be coated by similar processes. An outer surface of the inserts may have a nitride layer and an inner surface of the inserts may have a nitride layer and a thermal spray coating.