WHAT IS IT?! Here's an odd valve I was given . . .

[CharlesWaugh]

OK, I admit it, this isn't 'really' Tool Talk, but you guys know everything...

I just got given this valve. It's way cool, but is missing a piece (which is fine, 'cause I'll make it into a table or something www.redirectedmaterials.com)

It's a very mildly magnetic stainless (I guess), but is vaguely yellowish/brass-ish in color.

It weighs a ton! Well, really only 14 pounds...

It has been beaten on on the handle flange (see pics).

It is has three ports and can go A-B or A-B-C, but won't do a shut off.

The ports are about 2" dia.

The threads on the ports are Acme.

It has two markings on the main body (see pics): 3LK57 and -2

W H A T I S I T ? ?

Thanks!

Charles

[greenie]

Seeing as it's Stainless Steel, then it would have to be something for the Food Industry.
I'm thinking a 'direction valve' out of a milk processing plant/dairy and the threads are for a quick attachment/threading for a hose. :-)

[CharlesWaugh]

Greenie,
I think you're right about milk. In searching for 'milk valve threads' I found that acme is common (various pitches, diameters, etc., depending on manufacturer) and they have a bevel-seal (just like in my pics)

Thanks!

This forum is way cool!

Charles

[Unkle Fuzzy]

The style of valve is a "Plug Valve". They use no seals except maybe a grease that also lubricates the valve.

Used in chemical, oil, and gas industries, also by nature they tend to be pricey.

[CharlesWaugh]

Fuzzy,
Yup! It sure LOOKS pricey! Just the cubic inches of stainless alone!

I looked up 'plug valve' and found that a 2" is about $1000

These particular ones are used in brewing. 316 stainless:

[Unkle Fuzzy]

I gave about $4,000 USD for a 4 Inch 4-Way valve in grey iron around 2014. It had about a 3 week lead time.

Ours was a high temperature 100 psi application in a blower regenerated desiccant air dryer. It used 2 x 2400 lb desiccant tanks one drying compressed air and the offline tank regenerating by heating to 350 F with forced air flow and a 45 KW heater. It dried 1,000 cfm @ 100 psi to a -40 F dew point. If you blew the air on your skin you could feel the air suck the moisture out of your skin.

[Drroaster]

OK, I admit it, this isn't 'really' Tool Talk, but you guys know everything...
I just got given this valve. It's way cool, but is missing a piece (which is fine, 'cause I'll make it into a table or something www.redirectedmaterials.com)

It's a very mildly magnetic stainless (I guess), but is vaguely yellowish/brass-ish in color.

It weighs a ton! Well, really only 14 pounds...

It has been beaten on on the handle flange (see pics).

It is has three ports and can go A-B or A-B-C, but won't do a shut off.

The ports are about 2" dia.

The threads on the ports are Acme.

It has two markings on the main body (see pics): 3LK57 and -2

W H A T I S I T ? ?

Thanks!

Charles

It is a pre 70’s milk valve after Mid 70’s they changes to the clamp method the valve you have had paper gasket when the threads would get weak. Also used orange solid oil for lubrication

[IntheGroove]

One way or another it's a diverter valve...

[katy]

As Unkle Fuzzy said, it's a plug valve, there was lots used in the brewery that I worked in it the '70s and '80s.