Full flow mechanical failsafe

Abstract

A full-flow mechanical failsafe (100) is composed of a cylindrical shell (101) having a movable sealing plug (105) therein, for attachment to a filter element (110) of a fluid filtering system, such as a gas clean up system in a power plant. The sealing plug (105) rests on locking spheres (107) within the shell (101) during normal operation. Upon filter failure or breakage, the flow fluid will be substantially increased, causing an increase in upward pressure against the sealing plug (105), forcing it upward off the spheres (107) and into sealing contact with a flow aperture (102, 103), shutting off fluid flow. The spheres (107) move downward into a locking position upon movement of the sealing plug (105), to secure the sealing plug (105) in its upward sealing position. The failsafe (100) can be used in fluid flow control systems other than fluid filtering systems, such as oil or gas pipelines, and can be used to prevent improper reverse fluid flow.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.