Safety gas valve

Abstract

A safety gas valve for hoses feeding gas-powered equipment. The valve is in the form of a separate unit which may be permanently or temporarily connected to a flexible hose, which hose has a proximal end and a distal end. The flexible hose is connected to a source of compressed gas through a quick-disconnect valve and a primary conduit. The safety gas valve contains a casing which has a seat. The safety gas valve contains a plunger having a surface capable of fitting to the seat to divide the safety gas valve into a distal compartment and a proximal compartment. The plunger or the casing wall has a discharge orifice running from the distal compartment to the proximal compartment. The safety gas valve may contain a resilient mechanism proximal to the plunger. When air or other gas flows distally through the valve, the plunger is moved distally and gas is allowed to flow freely distally. If the pressure proximal to the valve is suddenly released due to disconnection of the flexible hose from the primary conduit, at or adjacent to the quick-disconnect valve, the force of gas pressure in the flexible hose distal to the safety gas valve forces the plunger against the seat to prevent the rapid release of gas and thus prevent the loud noise and the whipping of the flexible hose usually associated with loss of pressure. The discharge orifice allows the pressure in the flexible hose distal to the valve to slowly reduce to atmospheric pressure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.