# US 2014/0150885 A1 · Positive isolation through isolation of air supply to pneumatic valves > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150885 A1 - Document ID: US20140150885A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,429 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Fluor Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Fluor Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Buck Brouwer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150885A1 ## CPC - F16K 11/10: with two or more closure members not moving as a unit - F15B 20/00: Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems - F15B 2211/329: actuated by fluid pressure - F15B 2211/411: the positions being discrete - F15B 2211/41572: being connected to a pressure source and an output member - F15B 2211/71: Multiple output members, e.g. multiple hydraulic motors or cylinders - F15B 2211/782: Concurrent control, e.g. synchronisation of two or more actuators - F15B 2211/8755: Emergency shut-down - Y10T 137/0379: By fluid pressure - Y10T 137/86928: Sequentially progressive opening or closing of plural valves - Y10T 137/87893: With fluid actuator - Y10T 137/87917: Flow path with serial valves and/or closures - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Systems and methods are described for actuating a plurality of pneumatic valves to positively isolate one or more pieces of equipment. A manual valve can be disposed on a supply conduit that fluidly couples each of the pneumatic valves to a fluid supply source. To place the pneumatic valves in a safe position, the manual valve can be closed, which disrupts a flow of fluid from the source. Closing the manual valve can also open a drain conduit that allows the supply conduit to be depressurized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for actuating a plurality of pneumatic valves, comprising: first and second pneumatic valves coupled to a fluid source via a supply conduit, such that pressure of fluid from the fluid source causes the first and second pneumatic valves to open; and a manual valve coupled to the supply conduit between the fluid source and the first and second pneumatic valves, and configured such that closing the manual valve (a) isolates the first and second pneumatic valves from the fluid source and (b) shuts off a flow of the fluid from the fluid source to the first and second pneumatic valves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the manual valve comprises a key-lock device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the manual valve comprises a three-way valve, and wherein closing the manual valve drains the fluid from the supply conduit between the manual valve and the first and second pneumatic valves. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the manual valve is disposed remotely relative to each of the first and second pneumatic valves. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the manual valve is disposed adjacent to the fluid source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid source comprises air. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a third and fourth pneumatic valve coupled to the fluid source, such that pressure of the fluid from the fluid source causes the third and fourth pneumatic valves to open; and wherein the manual valve is further configured such that closing the manual valve isolates the third and fourth pneumatic valves from the fluid source and shuts off the flow of the fluid from the fluid source to the third and fourth pneumatic valves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second pneumatic valves are disposed upstream of a piece of equipment, and the third and fourth pneumatic valves are disposed downstream of the piece of equipment, such that closure of the manual valve causes the first, second, third, and fourth pneumatic valves to close and positively isolate the piece of equipment. ### Claim 9 A system for actuating a plurality of pneumatic valves, comprising: a plurality of pneumatic valves, each of which is coupled to a fluid source, such that pressure of fluid from the fluid source causes the pneumatic valves to open or close; and a manual valve fluidly coupled to the fluid source and the plurality of pneumatic valves, wherein the manual valve is disposed between the fluid source and each of the plurality of pneumatic valves and configured such that closing the manual valve (a) isolates each of the plurality of pneumatic valves from the fluid source, (b) shuts off a flow of the fluid from the fluid source to the pneumatic valves, and (c) drains fluid from a supply line between the manual valve and the plurality of pneumatic valves. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the manual valve is disposed remotely relative to the plurality of pneumatic valves. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising a block and bleed manifold that includes at least some of the plurality of pneumatic valves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of pneumatic valves are disposed upstream and downstream of a piece of equipment, and wherein the manual valve is further configured to positively isolate the piece of equipment when the manual valve is closed. ### Claim 13 A method for actuating a plurality of pneumatic valves, comprising: providing a manual valve disposed intermediate between a plurality of pneumatic valves and a fluid source; and closing the manual valve to inhibit a flow of fluid from the fluid source to each of the plurality of pneumatic valves and depressurizing one or more conduits that fluidly couple the manual valve with the plurality of pneumatic valves, such that each of the plurality of pneumatic valves actuates to a safe position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of pneumatic valves comprises valves biased in an open position and valves biased in a closed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the manual valve is disposed remotely relative to the plurality of pneumatic valves. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of pneumatic valves comprises a first and second pneumatic valve disposed upstream and downstream of a piece of equipment, respectively, and wherein the step of closing the manual valve further comprises positively isolating the piece of equipment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of pneumatic valves are disposed upstream and downstream of a piece of equipment, and wherein the step of closing the manual valve further comprises actuating each of the plurality of pneumatic valves to the safe position to positively isolate the piece of equipment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid source comprises air. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the manual valve comprises a three-way valve.