Automatic shut-off safety device

A shut-off control device which stops a flow of fluid through said control device when a break or leak in the flow path occurs downstream of the device, said device comprising:

• a valve movable between a CLOSE position to stop the flow of fluid through the device and an OPEN position to facilitate fluid flow through the device;
• a housing defining a flow conduit through the housing, said housing at least partially supporting said valve;
• a movable partition disposed inside said housing and defining a reservoir inside said housing;
• an entry port formed within said housing to facilitate fluid flow between said reservoir and a flow path within said conduit upstream of said valve;
• an exit port formed within said housing to facilitate fluid flow between said reservoir the flow path within said conduit downstream of said valve, said exit port being smaller in size than said entry port;
• a bias member connecting said movable partition and said valve;
• and
• a reset mechanism which releasably holds said valve in the OPEN position until a break or leak occurs downstream of said control device and which releasably holds said valve in the CLOSE position until externally activated.

A safety flow control device for a water pipe comprising:

• a housing attached to said pipe and communicating with the water in said pipe to allow water inflow from the pipe upstream of said device and outflow to the pipe downstream of said device, the water flow within the housing having a fluid pressure due to accumulation of water in said housing;
• a bias mechanism enclosed in said housing;
• and
• a valve at least partially enclosed by said housing, said valve being responsive to said fluid pressure in said housing and said bias mechanism, such that said valve is disposed outside of the water flow path in said housing to facilitate said flow during normal operations as the water and fluid pressure accumulate in said housing, and moves into said water flow path and cuts off said water flow path when abnormal fluid flow occurs downstream of said device.

An automatic safety device for stopping the flow of fluid therethrough when an abnormal fluid flow results in the flow path occurs downstream of said device, said device comprising:

• a flexible partition which deforms and stores potential energy when it is deformed, and releases said potential energy when said deformation is removed;
• a valve coupled to said flexible partition and movable between an OPEN position and a CLOSE position;
• and
• a housing having a wall structure which encloses said flexible partition and at least partially encloses said valve, said flexible partition partially fixed to said housing and dividing said housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, said wall structure having an inlet passage for fluid communication between said first chamber and the flow path upstream of said valve and an outlet passage for fluid communication between said first chamber and the flow path downstream of said valve, said inlet passage being greater in size than said outlet passage and having a check valve which permits fluid flow into said first chamber, but prevents fluid flow in the opposite direction.

A method for automatically stopping fluid flow in a flow path when the fluid pressure in the flow path drops abnormally due to a break or leak, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a valve capable of stopping the fluid flow in a flow path, said valve normally lying in an OPEN position such that it does not obstruct said flow path;
• providing a biasing force to bias said valve to a CLOSE position in which said valve obstructs the fluid flow;
• communicating mechanically the fluid pressure in said flow path to a pressure transducer to produce a pressure acting on said valve to oppose said biasing force so as to normally maintain said valve in said OPEN position;
• reducing said pressure force until said biasing force overcomes said pressure force so as to move said valve to the CLOSE position upon an abnormal drop in pressure in said flow path;
• and
• releasably locking said valve in the CLOSE position, wherein said communicating mechanically the fluid pressure includes unimpeded communication between the pressure transducer and the fluid upstream of said valve and restricted communication said pressure transducer and the fluid downstream of the valve.