Gas line override valve

Abstract

A gas line override valve for connecting an external gas source to an operational gas line includes a sleeve having an inlet end and an outlet end adapted for series connection of the sleeve in the operational gas line, a hole through a wall of the sleeve and a coupling secured in the hole having a passage in pneumatic communication between a first port in the coupling external of the sleeve and a second port in the coupling internal of the sleeve, the second port having an annular seat along a perimeter thereof. A cage extending from the second port into the sleeve loosely contains a ball of diameter greater than the diameter of the annular seat. The cage has openings therethrough for continuous pneumatic communication between the inlet and outlet ends of the sleeve. The ball is free to move into and out of abutting interface with the seat to close the second port when the pressure in the sleeve exceeds the pressure in the coupling passage and to open the second port when the pressure in the coupling passage exceeds the pressure in the sleeve.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.