# US 5,704,589 A · Yoke for mounting on a gas tank

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- Number: US 5,704,589 A
- Document ID: US5704589A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/542,450
- Filed: 1995-10-12
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1995-10-12
- Assignees: Victor Equipment Company
- Inventors: Robert M. Canuteson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704589A

## CPC

- F16K 1/304: {Shut-off valves with additional means}
- F16K 1/308: {Connecting means}
- F17C 13/04: Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00})
- F17C 2201/0109: with exteriorly curved end-piece
- F17C 2201/0119: with flat end-piece
- F17C 2205/0329: manually actuated
- F17C 2205/0338: Pressure regulators
- F17C 2205/0382: Constructional details of valves, regulators
- F17C 2205/0394: in direct contact with the pressure vessel
- F17C 2221/011: Oxygen
- F17C 2223/0123: gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
- F17C 2250/0443: Flow or movement of content
- F17C 2250/0636: Flow or movement of content
- F17C 2260/036: Avoiding leaks
- Y10T 137/8326: Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
- Y10T 137/87917: Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A gas tank valve and yoke for mounting gas passaging structure on the valve in which a gas tank valve stem and yoke set screw are both adapted to be engaged by a single wrench. The same wrench turns the valve stem to open and close the gas tank valve, and turns the set screw into secure engagement with the gas tank valve to hold the yoke in a fixed, self-retaining position on the valve. A torque rod is connected to the outer end portion of the set screw for conjoint rotational movement with the set screw about the longitudinal axis of the set screw for turning the set screw. Pin and hole arrangements on the yoke and valve body are provided to discriminate against using an undesired gas or gas passaging structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In combination, a gas tank valve and a yoke for mounting gas passaging structure on the valve,
the gas tank valve comprising a valve body and a valve stem mounted on the valve body for turning relative to the body in a first direction to open the valve and in a second direction opposite the first to close the valve, the valve stem having a pair of flats on opposite sides of the valve stem adapted to be engaged by a wrench for turning the valve stem, the pair of flats being spaced apart a first distance, and
the yoke comprising a generally central opening sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the valve body therethrough, a set screw adapted to extend through the yoke and threadably engage the yoke, the set screw having an inner end portion capable of engaging the valve body in the central opening of the yoke for releasably mounting the yoke on the valve body, and an outer end portion extending outwardly from the yoke, the outer end portion having a pair of flats on opposite sides of the set screw adapted to be engaged by the wrench for turning the set screw into engagement with the valve body, the flats on the set screw being spaced apart a second distance substantially equal to the first distance by which the flats of the valve stem are spaced apart, whereby the same wrench used for turning the valve stem may be used for turning the set screw, and a torque rod connected to the set screw for conjoint rotational movement with the set screw about the longitudinal axis of the set screw for applying torque to the set screw for turning the set screw to bring it into secure engagement with the gas tank valve thereby to hold the yoke in a fixed, self-retaining position on the valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the torque rod is fixedly connected to the set screw.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the torque rod extends laterally away from the set screw a substantially equal distance from both sides of the set screw.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the torque rod extends laterally away from the set screw a maximum distance on a first side of the screw and a minimum distance on a second side of the screw, the maximum distance providing a maximum lever arm for applying torque to the set screw for turning the set screw.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the set screw has a diametrical hole in which the torque rod is received.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the set screw and valve stem each comprise curved surfaces extending between the flats on opposite sides of the set screw and valve stem, the curved surfaces of the set screw having the same shape as the curved surfaces of the valve stem.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the first and second distances separating the flats on the valve stem and set screw, respectively, equal approximately 0.2 inches.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the torque rod is connected to the set screw for lateral movement relative to the set screw between a stowed position in which the rod extends laterally away from the set screw a minimum distance, and a use position in which the torque rod extends laterally outwardly from the set screw a maximum distance, in the use position the torque rod having a maximum lever arm for applying torque to the set screw for turning the set screw.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the torque rod is free of a fixed connection to the set screw.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the set screw has a diametrical hole therethrough slidingly receiving the torque rod.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the set screw and valve stem each comprise curved surfaces extending between the flats on opposite sides of the set screw and valve stem, the curved surfaces of the set screw having the same shape as the curved surfaces of the valve stem.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first and second distances separating the flats on the valve stem and set screw, respectively, equal approximately 0.2 inches.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in combination with the gas passaging structure, the gas passaging structure comprising a first gas coupling member supported by the yoke, passaging means extending from the first coupling member, and a gas measurement device disposed in said gas passaging means, the measurement device being calibrated for a particular gas, and wherein the gas tank valve further comprises a second gas coupling member sized and shaped to sealingly couple with the first coupling member, and a first discriminating locator on the valve body, the first discriminating locator being constructed to correspond to the particular gas in the tank, and further wherein the yoke comprises a second discriminating locator capable of mating with the first locator and permitting the first coupling member of the gas passaging structure to couple with the second coupling member on the valve only when the second locator mates with the first locator.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein the valve body has an indentation therein sized and shaped for receiving the inner end of the set screw.