The AMERICAN Series 2500 Ductile Iron Resilient Wedge Gate Valve is available with ALPHA ends in sizes 4” -12”. The valve is designed for use in drinking water, sewage and fire protection systems as well as irrigation and backflow control systems. Its unique design offers the following benefits when compared to a valve configured with mechanical joint ends:
The ALPHA inlet is compatible with several pipe materials, including ductile iron, cast iron, HDPE and PVC pipe. ALPHA's unique design does not requre the use of a stiffener in HDPE pipe, DR17 or less. This means it will work with just about any pipe material on the job.
Compared to mechanical joint, which uses up to eight T-head and eight wedge bolts on each end, the ALPHA restrained joint uses only one top-mounted stainless steel bolt. This makes the valve or hydrant with ALPHA restrained joint ends easier to install, which saves time and money.
The ALPHA restrained joint is much more accessible than other end connections. Mechanical joints, which require bolts on the bottom of the valve, can be harder to install. ALPHA can be quickly and easily installed by one person in a fraction of the time it takes to install a mechanical joint valve. In some instances, the mechanical joint may require more than one person install.
Unlike the mechanical joint, the ALPHA restrained joint comes with the restraint accessories attached. ALPHA has a unique one-piece End Ring to ensure an even loading of the gasket and employs a Ductile Iron Gripper style restraint to provide an even distribution of thrust restraint.
The ALPHA restrained joint also works with the pressure to achieve restraint by using pressure-energized gasket that works with the pressure to seal. This reduces the amount of torque needed to achieve a solid connection to 45 ft-lbs or less.
A: VALVE CONSTRUCTION
Valves shall meet or exceed ANSI/AWWA C515, latest revision for water supply service.
Valves size shall be of a resilient wedge design with a rated working pressure of 250 psig.
All cast ferrous components shall be ductile iron and shall be manufactured in compliance with the latest edition of ANSI/AWWA C515.
All valves shall be certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 61.
Valve to be designed for use in drinking water, sewage, fire protection systems, irrigation and backflow control systems.
B: DUCTILE IRON COMPONENTS
The valve body design shall be lightweight in design and easy to handle. Valve body and bonnet shall be constructed of ductile iron with wall thickness per Table 2, of ANSI/AWWA C515. Heavy wall or and/or cast gray-iron bodies are not acceptable.
The valve shall have a smooth and oversize waterway and have the marking “DI” or “Ductile Iron” cast onto the body.
All wedges shall be constructed of ductile iron. Wedge shall be fully encapsulated with EPDM rubber and provided with polymer wedge guide covers.
Valve stuffing box and wrench nut shall be made of ductile iron.
C: STEM SEALS
Valve stems shall be sealed by three O-rings.
Two of the stem O-rings shall reside above the thrust collar. One O-ring shall be located below the thrust collar which creates a sealed lubrication chamber around the stem thrust collar.
O-rings set in a cartridge shall not be allowed.
The valve shall also be equipped with thrust washers above and below the stem thrust collar for reduced operating torque.
D: BOLTING AND BODY GASKETS
All exterior valve body bolting shall be Type 304 stainless steel and shall be provided with hexagonal heads with dimensions conforming to ANSI B18.2.1.
Metric sizes and / or socket head cap screws, or bolts, are not allowed.
The operating nut shall be 2 in. square and shall be constructed of ductile iron fitted to a square tapered stem to help ensure even distribution of input torque.
The body-to-bonnet and stuffing box seals are pressure energized O-ring style designs that reduce the need for excessive bolt loading. The seals shall be reusable.
E: COATING
All internal and external ferrous surfaces of the valve body and bonnet shall have fusion-bonded epoxy coating, complying with ANSI/AWWA C550.
F: CONNECTION
Valve inlet shall be designed for use with ductile iron, cast iron, HDPE and PVC pipe materials.
Inlet shall incorporate stab-fit design requiring the use of only one Type 304 stainless steel fastener. The assembly of flange or mechanical joint restrainers using multiple fasteners or wedge bolts is not permitted.
Restraint accessories shall be factory installed.
All valve inlets shall be the ALPHA design furnished by AMERICAN Flow Control.
G: MANUFACTURER
All valves shall be the AMERICAN Flow Control Series 2500-1 Resilient Wedge Gate Valves with ALPHA Ends.
