ventielkop

Ventielkop is a Dutch term that translates to “valve head” and refers to the portion of a valve that forms the sealing face against the valve seat. In most valve types, the ventielkop is attached to the valve stem and moves with it to open or close the passage. Its main function is to provide a reliable seal and to withstand mechanical forces and fluid pressure, as well as heat from the process fluid. The shape of the ventielkop varies by design: common forms include a flat or slightly convex face for poppet valves; some designs use a conical or spherical face to improve seating and distribution of stress. Materials are chosen for strength, hardness, and resistance to corrosion and heat, typically steel alloys, sometimes with coatings or hard-facing.

Common contexts for ventielkop include automotive and internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines, and industrial piping systems with valve assemblies. In engines, the valve head is part of the intake or exhaust valve and seals against the valve seat in the cylinder head. Wear on the ventielkop can lead to leakage, loss of compression, or overheating; maintenance may involve lapping, re-cutting the valve seat, or replacing the valve head or entire valve.

Etymology and usage: ventielkop is a Dutch compound noun, literal translation “valve head.” In English-language technical writing, the term is usually expressed as “valve head” or more specifically as “valve face” or “valve disc” depending on the valve type.