Leak prevention method for gas lines
OwnerMark E. Goodsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides failsafe system for cutting gas off gas flow in response to electrical insults that may damage gas tubing. The invention uses an inductive sensor to detect electrical surges along a ground conductor that provides a ground path for gas tubing. The sensor is coupled to control circuitry that provides a continuous pulse train to a solenoid that forms part of a valve that controls gas flow through the gas tubing. The pulse train from the control circuitry keeps the valve open. In response to an electrical surge detected along the ground conductor (e.g., from lightning), the control circuitry stops the pulse train to the solenoid, which in turn causes the gas valve to close and stop the gas flow through the tubing.
Claims17
An apparatus for preventing electrically induced fires in gas tubing, comprising:
- (a) a ground conductor that provides a ground path for gas tubing;
- (b) at least one sensor inductively coupled to said ground conductor, wherein said sensor detects electrical surges along the ground conductor;
- (c) control circuitry coupled to said sensor;
- (d) a gas valve that controls gas flow through said gas tubing;
- and
- (e) a solenoid coupled to said control circuitry, wherein the solenoid forms part of said gas valve;
- wherein the gas valve is kept in an open position by a continuous current from the control circuitry to the solenoid;
- and
- wherein in response to an electrical surge detected along the ground conductor, the control circuitry stops the current to the solenoid, causing the gas valve to close.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.