Fail-safe delivery valve for pressurized tanks
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsDavid A. Le Febre, Thomas B. Martin, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention uses a regulator in the form of dispensing check valve and a flow restriction arrangement to provide a virtually fail safe system for preventing hazardous discharge of fluid from a pressurized cylinder or tank. A diaphragm controls the movement of a check valve element to prevent discharge of gas from a tank unless a predetermined vacuum condition exists downstream of the check valve. A capillary tube or other structure that provides capillary size opening minimizes any discharge of gas in the unlikely event of a failure of the regulator. This system is particularly useful in the delivery of arsine gas and provides multiple safeguards against accidental discharge.
Claims18
An apparatus for controlling the discharge of pressurized fluids from the outlet of a pressurized tank, the apparatus comprising:
- a port body for communication with the outlet of a pressurized tank defining a fluid discharge path;
- a valve element fixed in or upstream of the port body and adapted for movement between a sealing position that blocks fluid flow through the fluid discharge path and an open position that permits fluid flow along the fluid discharge path;
- and
- a diaphragm defining an interior volume isolated from the pressure condition upstream of the valve element and engaged with the valve element to control the movement of the valve element in a manner that retains the valve element in the sealing position until a pressure differential between the interior volume of the diaphragm and the interior of the port body moves the valve element to the open position.
A cylinder and a valve assembly for containing pressurized fluid and controlling the discharge of pressurized fluids from the cylinder, the cylinder and valve assembly comprising:
- a cylinder defining a cylinder opening;
- a port body adapted for sealing engagement with the cylinder opening;
- a fluid inlet port defined by the port body and located within the cylinder;
- a fluid outlet port defined by the port body and located outside the cylinder;
- a fluid discharge path defined by the valve body between the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port;
- a manually operated shut off valve for controlling fluid flow along the fluid discharge path;
- and,
- an automatic valve containing a valve element biased into a sealing position that blocks fluid flow along the fluid discharge path and a sealed bellows located downstream of the valve element along the fluid discharge path, the sealed bellows having one portion fixed with respect to the port body and another portion operably linked to the valve element to move the valve element to an open position when relative pressure between the interior and exterior of the bellow expands the bellows the bellows and wherein the open position permits fluid flow along the fluid discharge path.
A method for discharging fluid from a tank and preventing uncontrolled discharge of fluid from the tank, the method comprising:
- filling a tank with a pressurized fluid;
- establishing a discharge path for controlled discharge from an outlet port in communication with the interior of the tank to a delivery port located outside the tank;
- blocking fluid flow across the discharge path by a control valve that responds to a magnetic, electrical, thermal, pressure, or mechanical condition that is outside the range of normal atmospheric conditions;
- and
- imposing the necessary magnetic, electrical, thermal, pressure, or mechanical condition on the control valve to open the discharge path and release the pressurized fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.