The valve is a mechanism used to stop or open and regulate flow. The type of valve used depends on the application. In general, there are valves used for on-off (open-closed) applications, and throttling valves which can adjust flow. All valves fall into two basic types: stop valves and check valves.

Stop Valves: Stop valves are used to shut off or partially shut off the flow of liquids. Stop valves are divided into four basic types of valves: gate, globe, ball and butterfly.

Check Valves: Check valves are used to allow the flow of fluids in only one direction. There are four basic types: diaphragm check, lift check, swing check, and tilting-disk check.

Common Valve Types

• Multi-turn Valves or Linear Motion Valves: Gate Valve, Globe Valve, Pinch Valve, Diaphragm Valve, Needle Valve

• Quarter Turn Valve or Rotary Valve: Plug Valve, Ball Valve, Butterfly Valve

• Self-activated Valves: Check Valve, Pressure Relief Valve

• Specialty Valve

• Control Valve

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