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US 5,209,252 AGranted
Earthquake gas shut-off valve
OwnerCery B. Perleinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerCery B. Perleinventor
Estimating the term…
A gas shut-off valve is provided for closing off a natural gas pipeline in the event of an earthquake or other seismic disturbance. The valve has an inlet and an outlet aperture communicating with a central chamber, and a valve seat provided between the inlet and the outlet apertures. An annular channel is located above the chamber, and at least one ball rolls along the channel. A guide ramp is provided which allows a ball to leave the channel and fall onto the valve seat during the earthquake, blocking gas flow between the inlet and the outlet apertures. The guide ramp has a concave surface which provides a continuous path for the ball from the channel. The ball has a center of gravity substantially displaced from an initial position over the channel to a second position directly over the valve seat when it has rolled to a crest of the guide ramp under influence of the earthquake. The valve also has a spring biased retraction rod to remove the ball from the valve seat and return it to the channel, and a turbulence screen within the valve chamber to prevent formation of eddy currents within the chamber.
A gas shut-off valve having inlet and outlet apertures communicating with a central valve chamber and a valve seat provided between said inlet and said outlet apertures, the valve comprising:
A gas shut-off valve having inlet and outlet apertures communicating with a central valve chamber and a valve seat provided between said inlet and said outlet apertures, the valve comprising:
A gas shut-off valve having inlet and outlet apertures communicating with a central valve chamber and a valve seat provided between said inlet and outlet apertures, the valve comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.