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US 4,915,122 AGranted
Shock actuated valve
AssigneeKoso International, Inc.
InventorsTakashi Ikegaya, Richard D. Sibley, William F. Keller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shock actuated valve including a first structure mounted to swing about a first axis and which is releasably retained by a first latch in a first position, with the latch being automatically releasable when the device is subjected to earthquake forces or other shock forces, and a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis and is releasably retained in an open valve position by a second latch controlled by the first swinging structure. When shock forces cause release of said first structure for swinging movement from its reset position, such swinging movement automatically releases the second structure and its valve for spring urged swinging movement in a direction closing the valve.
Claims24
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- and
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- said first structure in moving from said second position to said first position thereof swinging generally toward said second structure and said second axis.
6 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- and
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- said second structure, in swinging from said position in which the valve is closed toward said position in which the valve is open, swinging generally toward said first structure and said first axis.
6 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- and
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- said first structure, in moving from said second position to said first position, swinging generally toward said second structure and said second axis;
- and said second structure, in moving from said position in which the valve is closed to said position in which the valve is open, swinging generally toward said first structure and said first axis.
7 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second valve structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- and
- means for manually resetting said second structure to said position in which said valve is open, and said first structure to said first position thereof.
6 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- and
- means for manually resetting said first and second latch means.
6 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first poisition;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- and
- means acting to automatically reset said first structure from said second position thereof to said first position upon movement of said second structure from said position in which the valve is closed to said position in which the valve is open.
6 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said frist latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- and
- means carried by and swinging with said second structure and positioned to engage and deflect said first structure in a relation actuating said first structure from said second position thereof to said first position thereof upon swinging movement of said second structure from said position in which said valve is closed to said position in which said valve is open.
6 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- and
- means for manually swinging said second structure from said position in which the valve is closed to said position in which the valve is open to reset the valve;
- said second structure having a portion which, upon manual movement of said second structure to said open position of the valve, is engageable with said first structure to move it from said second position thereof to said first position for retention in said first position by said first latch means.
7 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- and
- a resetting member which is manually movable rotatively about said second axis to swing said second structure in a first direction about said second axis and to said position in which said valve is open, and which has a lost motion connection to said second structure enabling returning movement of said resetting member rotatively about said second axis in an opposite direction and independently of said second structure while the second structure remains in said position in which said valve is open.
6 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- a resetting shaft manually movable rotatively about said second axis;
- said second structure having a portion disposed about said shaft to mount said second structure for said swinging movement about said second axis;
- said second yielding means being a coil spring disposed about said shaft and yieldingly urging said second structure to said position in which said valve is closed;
- a sleeve disposed about said shaft and attached thereto for rotation therewith and having a shoulder engageable with said second structure to swing it toward said open valve position upon manual rotation of said shaft in a first direction;
- said shoulder having a lost motion relationship with respect to said second structure enabling the shaft and sleeve and its shoulder to return rotatively in a second and opposite direction relative to said second structure while the second structure remains in said position in which the valve is open;
- and
- additional yielding means comprising an additional coil spring disposed about said shaft and yieldingly urging said resetting shaft and sleeve rotatively in said second and opposite direction independently of said second structure.
11 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- a resetting member mounted for manual rotary movement about said second axis in a first rotary direction to swing said second structure in that direction and to said position in which the valve is open;
- said resetting member having a lost motion connection with said second structure enabling returning movement of the resetting member in an opposite rotary direction and to a predetermined position independently of said second structure and while the second structure remains in its open valve position;
- additional yielding means urging said resetting member rotatively to said predetermined position;
- and
- indicator means visible to a user to indicate when said valve is in open position and said resetting member is in said predetermined position thereof.
9 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a first structure mounted for swinging movement about a first axis;
- first yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a second structure including a valve and which is mounted to swing about a second axis;
- second yielding means urging said second structure toward a position in which the valve is closed;
- and
- second latch means releasably retaining said second structure in a position in which the valve is open and actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position upon release of said first latch means to automatically release said second structure for valve closing movement;
- said shock actuated mechanism including a pedestal, a weight normally resting on an upper surface of said pedestal and displaceable therefrom by shock forces, an element disposed about said pedestal and displaceable downwardly by said weight when the weight is displaced laterally relative to the pedestal by shock forces, and a parallelogram assembly actuable by downward movement of said element to release said first latch means.
6 more elements
The combination comprising:
- a conduit containing a passage through which fluid flows and having a valve seat in said passage with a fluid passing opening through the valve seat;
- a first structure mounted adjacent said passage for swinging movement about a first axis;
- yielding means urging said first structure about said first axis from a first position toward a second position;
- first latch means for releasably retaining said first structure in said first position;
- shock actuated mechanism responsive to shock forces to release said first latch means for movement of said first structure by said yielding means to said second position;
- a valve structure mounted to swing within said passage about a second axis and toward and away from said seat between a closed position in which the valve structure extends essentially across and closes said opening in the seat and an open position projecting generally perpendicular to the seat at a side thereof;
- yielding means urging said valve structure toward said closed position;
- and
- second latch means;
- said valve structure having a portion which swings within said passage between said open and closed positions of the valve structure and which is engageable by said second latch means to releasably retain the valve structure in said open position;
- said second latch means being actuable by movement of said first structure toward said second position thereof to automatically release said valve structure for closing movement.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.