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US 6,640,825 B2Granted
Leak and spill containment bag for transformer valves
AssigneeAndax Environmental Corporation
InventorPatrick F. McAtarian
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAndax Environmental Corporation
InventorPatrick F. McAtarian
Estimating the term…
A leak identification and containment device (10, 48, 64) is provided which is designed for application to a valve assembly (12) including a conduit (16) and a valve (18) having an operating handle (20) and an outlet (22). The device (10, 48, 64) includes a flexible bag (24, 50, 66) formed of synthetic resin material which is at least translucent (and preferably substantially transparent) with a valve-receiving opening (30, 52) and an absorbent lining (34) on the inner surfaces of the bag (24, 50, 66). In use, the bag (24, 50, 66) is disposed over the valve assembly (12) including handle (20) and outlet (22) and a cinch strap (34, 54) is used to tighten the bag (24, 50, 66) about the conduit (16). The absorbent lining (34) is of a color which contrasts with that of material which may leak from the valve assembly (12), so that the device (10, 48, 64) gives a visual indication of leakage. In a preferred embodiment, the valve assembly extends from a transformer tank (10), the bag (24, 50, 66) is formed of substantially transparent reinforced polyethylene material, and the bag lining (34) is white in color.
A leak identification and containment device adapted for application to a valve assembly protruding from a wall surface, said valve assembly including a conduit extending from said wall surface and a selectively operable valve coupled with said conduit and having an operating handle and a material outlet, said device comprising a flexible bag formed of light-transmitting synthetic resin material which is at least translucent and having an opening configured to receive said valve including said handle and outlet, and a portion of said conduit, a cinch strap adjacent said open end operable to close said bag opening around said conduit to thereby fully enclose said valve including said handle and outlet and said conduit portion within the bag, and a solid absorbent lining bonded along at least a-portion of the interior of said bag adjacent said valve outlet, said lining having a color which will change in the event of leakage of material from the valve by virtue of absorption of said leaked material by the lining to allow visual determination of whether the valve is leaking.
The combination comprising:
A leak identification and containment device adapted for application to a valve assembly protruding from a wall surface, said valve assembly including a conduit extending from said wall surface and a selectively operable valve coupled with said conduit and having an operating handle and a material outlet, said device comprising a flexible bag formed of light-transmitting synthetic resin material which is at least translucent and having an opening configured to receive said valve including said handle and outlet, and a portion of said conduit, a closure device adjacent said open end operable to close said bag opening around said conduit to thereby fully enclose said valve including said handle and outlet and said conduit portion within the bag, and a solid absorbent lining bonded along at least a portion of the interior of said bag adjacent said valve outlet, said lining having a color which will change in the event of leakage of material from the valve by virtue of absorption of said leaked material by the lining to allow visual determination of whether the valve is leaking.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.