Valve

A valve is a mechanical device that regulates the flow of fluids (either gases, fluidised solids, slurries or liquids) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are used in a myriad of industrial, military, commercial, and residential applications. There are many different types of valves: * Ball cock, often used as a water level controller (cistern); * Ball valve, which is good for on/off control; * Bibcock; * Butterfly valve, particularly in large pipes; * Cock, colloquial term for a small valve; * Gate valve, mainly for on/off control; * Globe valve, which is good for regulating flow; * Hydraulic valve (diaphragm valve); * check valve or Non-return valve, allows the fluid to pass in one direction only; * Pilot valves regulate flow or pressure to other valves; * Plug Valve, for on/off control; * Solenoid valve, an electrically controlled hydraulic or pneumatic valve; * Tap (valve) (British English), Faucet (American English) is the common name for a valve used in homes to regulate water flow; * Rotary valves and piston valves are parts of brass instruments used to change their pitch. Different valves may be used for a variety of purposes: * A flow control valve maintains a constant flowrate through the valve. * A heart valve regulates blood flow through the heart in many organisms. * A poppet valve is commonly used in piston engines to regulate the fuel mixture intake and exhaust. The sleeve valve is another valve type used for this purpose. * A pressure reducing valve reduces pressure to a preset level downstream of the valve. * A pressure sustaining valve maintains pressure at a preset level upstream of the valve. * A regulator is used in diving regulator and in gas cooking equipment to reduce the high pressure gas supply to a lower working pressure * A safety valve or relief valve operates automatically at a set differential pressure to correct a potentially dangerous situation, typically over-pressure. * A three way valve routes fluid from one direction to another. * Vacuum breaker valves prevent the back-siphonage of contaminated water into pressurized, potable water supplies. ==Other uses of the term== *in electronics, a valve (British English) = vacuum tube (American English) *in electrical engineering, a valve is a component of the static inverters of a high voltage direct current power transmission system ==See also== *Valve Software *Plumbing *Backwater valves Valves

Valve

I unlinked switch because 1) valves are not usually understood as switches and 2) the switch article is only about electrical switches. I unlinked "flow" partly because there is no longer an article about flow, and partly because, as I think it would be impossible to make a reasonable article called "flow", I don't want to encourage the creation of a new one. --User:Ryguasu 00:39 Dec 3, 2002 (UTC)

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V

Words begining with Valve:

Valve
Valve
Valve-hammer-editor.jpg
Valve.radio.600pix.jpg
Valve.radio.arp.600pix.jpg
Valverde
Valverde,El_Hierro
Valverde_battlefield.jpg
Valves
Valves
Valvestino
Valvetronic
Valvettithurai
Valve_amplifier
Valve_gear
Valve_gear
Valve_gear/to_do
Valve_hall
Valve_hall
Valve_Hammer_Editor
Valve_Inc.
Valve_Incorporated
Valve_logo.png
Valve_Software
Valve_sound
Valve_sound
Valve_stem
Valve_trombone