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US 4,844,113 AGranted
Fluid flow safety valve
OwnerCecil R. Jonesinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic shut-off safety valve comprising a movable poppet held in a stable position by magnets and a movable weight. On the occurrence of an abnormal condition, such as a seismic event, the movable weight is displaced and gravity carries the poppet downward until it engages a valve seat, closing off fluid flow. Magnets may also be used to hold the poppet in its closed position. Modifications include using the fluid flow itself to assist in displacing the poppet from its stable position.
Claims19
A safety valve for automatically shutting-off fluid flow in response to an abnormal condition, comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet for fluid at a first location and an outlet for fluid at a second location and defining a flow path for fluid within the body between the first and second locations,
- a valve seat within the fluid flow path from inlet to outlet,
- a valve poppet movably mounted within the body and movable from a first stable position which does not obstruct the flow path to a second position which is non-stable,
- means for maintaining the valve poppet in its first position, said first position maintaining means comprising a first magnet mounted on the poppet and a second magnet mounted on the body adjacent the first magnet to create with the first magnet a first attractive magnetic field which contributes to maintaining the valve poppet in its first position in the absence of the abnormal condition a ball shaped weight, said valve poppet construction being such that in response to the abnormal condition a sufficient force is produced to overcome the first attractive magnetic field causing the poppet to be displaced from its first position to its non-stable second position, and the ball-shaped weight is displaced to automatically drive the poppet to a third stable position where it contacts the valve seat and shuts-off the flow path, and
- a third magnet mounted on the body adjacent the valve seat to create a second attractive magnetic field which pulls the poppet into contact with and helps hold the poppet in contact with the valve seat to shut-off the flow path and maintain the flow path shut-off.
2 more elements
A safety valve for automatically shutting-off fluid flow in response to excessive vibration, comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet for fluid at a first location and an outlet for fluid at a second location and defining a flow path for fluid within the body between the first and second locations,
- a valve seat within the fluid flow path from inlet to outlet,
- a valve poppet movably mounted within the body and movable from a first stable position which does not obstruct the flow path to a second position which is non-stable,
- means for pivotably supporting the poppet at an intermediate location,
- drive means associated with the poppet such that when the latter occupies the second non-stable position the drive means will automatically drive the poppet into a third stable position wherein the poppet contacts the valve seat and shuts-off the flow path said drive means comprising a weight provided in a first position on the poppet on one side of the pivotable support and which is displaced by the vibration to a second position on the poppet on the opposite side of the pivotable support, said weight in the first position in the absence of the excessive vibration maintaining the poppet in its first position, said poppet and its association with the drive means being such that in response to the excessive vibration a sufficient force is produced to displace the weight from its first position to its second position and cause the poppet to be displaced from its first position to its second position, whereupon the poppet is driven to its third position to shut-off fluid through the valve.
2 more elements
A safety valve for automatically shutting-off fluid flow in response to an abnormal condition, comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet for fluid at a first lower location and an outlet for fluid at a second lower location and defining a flow path for fluid within the body between the first and second location,
- a valve seat within the fluid flow path from inlet to outlet,
- a valve poppet pivotably mounted within the body above the flow path and pivotable from a first generally horizontal stable position which does not obstruct the flow path to a second position which is non-stable, said pivotable mounting being located at an intermediate position of the poppet producing a first poppet portion on one side of the pivot and a second poppet portion on the opposite pivot side,
- drive means associated with the poppet such that when the latter occupies the second non-stable position the drive means will automatically pivot the poppet into a third stable generally vertical position wherein the second poppet portion contacts the valve seat and shuts-off the flow path,
- non-mechanical means in the absence of the abnormal condition for maintaining the poppet in its first position, and
- means in response to the abnormal condition to produce a sufficient torque to pivot the poppet from its first position to its second position, whereupon the poppet is driven to its third position to shut-off fluid flow through the valve.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.