Gestra RV check valves

One valve, many brands — parts from Chorula since 1990

PHS Magnum services silo trailer fleets of many manufacturers, and the type RV disc check valve (equivalent to the Gestra RK41) is one of those components that connect the entire market. Whether the trailer is a Spitzer, a Feldbinder, a Kässbohrer or from another European manufacturer, the pressure system for pneumatic discharge must be reliably protected against compressed air flowing back. That is exactly the job of a wafer-mounted disc check valve.

Since 1990 we have been servicing and supplying silo trailers from our base in Chorula near Opole, 4 km from the A4 motorway. In service practice this position lets us look at pressure valve gear beyond brand divisions: the same RV valve type works in systems carrying different factory designations, and the key to selection is the geometry of the flange connection and the flow parameters, not the name of the trailer manufacturer. As a result, one catalogue of diameters covers an entire mixed fleet.

The RV disc valve is a simple and reliable design: flow of the medium in the working direction lifts the valve disc and opens the passage, and when pressure on the inlet side drops or the medium tries to flow back, the stainless steel spring presses the disc against the seat and closes the passage. The absence of electrical and control components means self-acting operation, without power — which matters where the entire discharge pneumatics run on compressed air from the vehicle’s system or the discharge station.

Technical specification

The type RV disc check valve (Gestra RK41) is a valve for wafer-type installation — it is inserted between the two flanges of a connection, without a separate bolted body. It is a compact, lightweight solution that shortens the face-to-face length of the point compared with full-body valves.

The available nominal diameters cover the typical cross-sections of silo trailer pressure systems:

Stainless steel on the disc and spring provides corrosion resistance in a compressed-air environment, where condensate always appears. The NBR seal is responsible for tightness once the disc seats. When ordering it is worth stating the DN diameter and the flow direction, so the valve is mounted in line with the arrow marked on the body.

Compatibility with silo trailer brands

The advantage of the RV disc valve is its universality: wafer-type installation imposes no threaded connections of its own, so interchangeability is decided by the flange standard and DN diameter, not the design of the trailer itself. In practice we match these valves to fleets of various brands.

• Spitzer (SF and SK series) — in SF non-tipping and SK tipping tanks, RV disc valves work in the flanged sections of the pneumatic system; DN sizing follows the flange diameters in the vehicle in question.
• Feldbinder (EUT and KIP) — in the horizontal non-tipping EUT line and the tipping KIP silo, RV check valves are mounted in the aeration line and in the branches of the pressure pipework; the same catalogue of sizes covers both designs.
• Kässbohrer (K.SSK and K.SSL) — on Kässbohrer K.SSK and K.SSL silo trailers, flanged pressure valve gear uses the same disc valve type, selected by the DN diameter of the point.
• Other European manufacturers — for silo trailers of the remaining European brands we select RV valves based on the flange standard and DN diameter; we are not guided by the logo, but by the geometry of the point and the flow parameters.

DN sizing always follows from the flange diameter on the specific vehicle and from the section of the system the valve is to work in — DN50 and DN65 usually in narrower branches and auxiliary lines, DN80 and DN100 in the main aeration pipework and higher-flow sections.

Chorula warehouse

We keep type RV check valves in stock in Chorula near Opole, 4 km from the A4 motorway, across the full range of diameters used in the silo trailers PHS Magnum supports. Standard DN50–DN100 items are usually available off the shelf, while non-standard items are fulfilled via direct supply.

We work with components carrying a material certificate with every delivery. We advise on selecting the DN diameter for the installation’s flanges and on where to mount the valve within the pneumatic system — regardless of trailer brand. For mixed fleets, where vehicles from different manufacturers work side by side, a unified range of RV valves simplifies parts management: the same valve type goes into different trailers, as long as the flange standard and diameter match.

• Poland — courier shipping
• EU — delivery to European Union countries (including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic)
• Collection in person — Chorula warehouse near Opole, 4 km from the A4

Selecting parts for mixed-brand fleets

The advantage of the RV disc valve in a mixed fleet is that wafer-type installation imposes no threaded connections of its own — interchangeability is decided by the flange standard and DN diameter, not the tank design. In Spitzer SF/SK aluminium trailers, RV valves work in the flanged sections of the pneumatic system, with the size matched to the flange diameters of the vehicle in question. On Feldbinder EUT and KIP silo trailers the pressure system is often densely piped — valves appear in the aeration line and in the branches, so the number of points grows with the tank configuration, and the condition of each one translates into even discharge pressure. On Kässbohrer K.SSK/K.SSL silo trailers the flanged valve gear uses the same valve type, selected by the DN diameter of the point.

Comparatively, one observation is key for a mixed fleet: the same RV disc goes into trailers from different manufacturers, as long as the flange standard and diameter match. The smaller DN50 and DN65 usually work in narrower branches and auxiliary lines, the larger DN80 and DN100 in the main aeration pipework, regardless of brand. A unified size series therefore simplifies replacement across the whole fleet.

The role of the central warehouse in the network

The central warehouse in Chorula makes it possible to cover the flanged valve gear of an entire mixed fleet with one series of RV valves instead of separate procurement for each brand. Standard DN50–DN100 items are usually available off the shelf, and non-standard items are closed out by direct supply. Every delivery comes with a material certificate, and the location by the A4 shortens the time it takes parts to reach destinations across the country and markets throughout the EU. For a fleet combining several manufacturers, the unified RV range simplifies parts management: the same valve goes into different trailers, as long as the flange standard and diameter match.

What to watch for across brands

• Flange standard, not brand — RV disc interchangeability is decided by flange compatibility and DN diameter, which is why the same valve covers trailers from different manufacturers.
• Section of the system — smaller DN for branches and auxiliary lines, larger for the main aeration pipework.
• Flow direction — during installation, always check the arrow marked on the body and the even tightening of the bolts joining the flanges.

Specialist portals

PHS Magnum runs dedicated parts portals for selected brands, where the Gestra RV check valve category is described in the context of the specific trailer design:

• Spitzer — details on matching RV valves to the SF and SK series: spitzer.pl/czesci-zamienne/zawory-zwrotne-gestra-rv/
• Feldbinder — RV valves in the EUT and KIP pressure system: feldbinder.pl/czesci-zamienne/zawory-zwrotne-gestra-rv/

Technical advice on selecting the diameter and mounting location is provided by our service: tel. +48 602 716 551. Full range of services: magnumchorula.pl/serwis/.

Related categories

• Check valves — other types — straight Europa-type and angle check valves
• Safety valves — safety valves for silo and compressor
• Storz system — Storz system couplings and fittings for pneumatic connections
• Full catalogue: /en/czesci-zamienne/

Author: Aleksy Pasternak — Managing Partner at PHS Magnum, 20 years in the industry, internal auditor ISO 9001:2015 (DEKRA).