Fluid shut-off device
OwnerKunio Shimizuinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid shut-off device is provided which comprises a non-magnetic casing having a fluid passage therein, a metallic valve body movably disposed in the casing to close the passage at one operative position, and a magnetic member slidably disposed outside the casing and magnetically attracting the valve body. The magnetic member takes an inoperative position against a spring force and is locked at this position. The lock is released by a bimetallic strap deformable by supply of an electric current. When the lock is released, the magnetic member is moved by the action of the spring force, so that the valve body magnetically attracted by the magnetic member is also moved to the operative position to shut off the flow of fluid material through the passage.
Claims6
A fluid shut-off device comprising:
- a casing made of non-magnetic material, said casing having therethrough a passage which is adapted to be connected with a fluid supply line, and said casing having therein a valve chamber at a mid-portion of said passage;
- a valve body positioned in said valve chamber for movement between a first position to close said passage and a second position to open said passage;
- a slide member provided outside said casing;
- at least one of said valve body and said slide member being made of permanent magnet material and the other of said slide member and said valve body being made of magnetic material, whereby said valve body and said slide member are magnetically attracted to each other;
- elastic spring means for urging said slide member toward an operative position whereat said valve body is at said first position thereof and closes said passage;
- locking means for holding said slide member against the force of said spring means at an inoperative position whereat said valve body is at said second position thereof and opens said passage, said locking means comprising a metal strap having a free end bendable from a first locking position to a second unlocking position;
- and
- means for releasing said metal strap from said first locking position thereof, said releasing means comprising a bimetallic strap deformable by supply thereto of an electric current, said bimetallic strap being provided adjacent to said metal strap to allow said free end to bend into said second unlocking position when said electric current is supplied to said bimetallic strap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.