Fluid handling – With repair – tapping – assembly – or disassembly means – Gas or water meter replacing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-29
2004-03-16
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means
Gas or water meter replacing
C137S015030, C251S206000, C251S328000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06705340
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to emergency gas and electricity shutoff equipment and control systems therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to the shutoff of the flow of natural gas to a home or other point of use for reasons of safety during emergencies such as seismic events, fires, etc. The present invention further relates to apparatus and systems for shutting off the electricity at a home or other point of use under similar conditions.
2. State of the Prior Art
Various devices have been known in art for shutting off gas systems in the event of a seismic disturbance or the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,171 to Nobi requires a first ball to close a fuel line and at least a second ball, wherein the second ball is mounted within the casing so that a tremor would cause the second ball to dislodge the first ball from its pedestal. The ball for closing the fuel line is required to be mounted in a concave cup supported by a plurality of ball bearings, and includes a concave member as well as a resilient means such as a spring for biasing the cup against the concave member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,208 to Ritchie requires the inclusion of a track and at least a ball riding in the track, and in addition requires the inclusion of “an obstruction” which causes the ball to leave the track when a seismic disturbance causes the ball to contact to the obstruction with sufficient energy. It further requires the obstruction to include an incline surface that extends over the track and has a height which decreases across the width of the track.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,565 to Keller et al. discloses a magnetically actuable shock responsive unit. This unit includes a valve mechanism for shutting off the flow in a fluid line and is operable upon shock induced horizontal displacement of a weight relative to a support to actuate the valve. An electromagnet is provided for providing a separate actuation of the weight. Movement of the weight from its support to the side of the housing causes the weight to engage a movable tube that releases a mechanism that closes the valve.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,720 to McGill, one inventor of the present invention, discloses a safety shutoff device usable in any position. An inertia ball engages a first member so as to move the first member from a first position to a second position in response to vibrations or shocks imparted to the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,841 discloses another safety shutoff apparatus using an inertia ball that normally rests on an indented surface. A lever is pivotally mounted with a permanent magnet mounted beneath the free end of the lever. When a shock or vibration causes the inertia ball to jump onto the lever and roll toward its free end, the inertia ball is attracted to the permanent magnet so as to cause the lever to be pivoted downwardly.
Further seismic safety valves are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,409,031, 4,903,720 and 5,119,841.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects of the present invention are to generally improve the state of the prior art with respect to emergency shutoff, not only of the flow of gas to a point of use installation, but also of the supply of electricity.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a gas meter and valve installation has gas supply plumbing for supplying gas to a point of use and point of use plumbing receiving gas from the gas supply plumbing. A gas meter has a gas inlet connected to the gas supply plumbing and a gas outlet connected to the point of use plumbing for metering the quantity of gas used at the point of use so that a gas supply passage is established through the gas supply plumbing, the gas meter and the point of use plumbing. A gas flow shutoff valve is positioned along the gas supply passage outside of the gas meter and has a valve member that is movable between an open position in which the gas supply passage is open, allowing for gas to flow through the gas meter and into the point of use plumbing, and a closed position in which the gas supply passage is substantially closed so that substantially no gas is allowed to flow into the point of use plumbing.
The gas flow shutoff valve preferably has a housing having a valve gas inlet and a valve gas outlet. One of the inlet and the outlet is connected to the gas meter and the other is connected to one of the gas supply plumbing and the point of use plumbing. A spacer having a spacer inlet and outlet is connected between the other of the gas supply plumbing and the point of use plumbing.
Preferably, the point of use plumbing includes a service tee having an inlet, an outlet and a service opening having a plug therein.
The gas inlet and the gas outlet comprise male inlet and outlet threads. The point of use plumbing or the gas supply plumbing has a union nut for connection with one of the male inlet and outlet threads. The gas flow shutoff valve is connected between the other of the point of use plumbing and the gas supply plumbing and the other of the male inlet and the male outlet threads. The gas flow shutoff valve has a nut thereon for connection with the other of the male inlet and the male outlet threads and a total height that is equal to the height of the union nut.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a gas flow control system includes a gas passage including gas supply plumbing and point of use plumbing for receiving gas from the gas supply plumbing. A gas flow shutoff valve is positioned between the gas supply plumbing and the point of use plumbing, and is capable of closing in response to a gas flow shutoff signal. A controller remote from the gas flow shutoff valve is capable of generating the gas flow shutoff signal, and a communication link between the controller and the gas flow shutoff valve sends the gas flow shutoff signal to the gas flow shutoff valve.
The controller may comprise a seismic sensor for generating the gas flow shutoff signal, and/or a security system control, and/or a break away gas pipe portion positioned between the gas flow shutoff valve and the point of use.
A fuel cell can be used to generate electric power from gas flowing through the gas passage. For example, the fuel cell could provide electricity for an automatic meter reading device connected with a gas meter. The automatic meter reading device may have a communication link with the controller to send signals thereto representing gas usage.
The gas flow control system can also have an electric interface device installed at an electric meter box in communication by a communication link with the controller.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an improved valve for shutting off a flow of gas. In this valve a housing has a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a gas passage therebetween. A gate mounted in the housing is movable in a direction across the gas passage between open and closed positions. The gate has a first portion having an opening therein positioned across the gas passage in the open position and a second portion positioned across the gas passage in the closed position. An upstream seat is mounted in the housing upstream of the gate, the upstream seat surrounding the gas passage and contacting the gate so as to form a seal between the housing and the gate on the upstream side of the gate. A downstream seat is mounted in the housing downstream of the gate. The downstream seat surrounds the gas passage and contacts the gate so as to form a seal between the housing and the gate on the downstream side of the gate.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a gate valve for shutting off a supply of gas is spring biased toward its closed position. A release pin is movable between one position in which the release pin prevents the spring from moving the gate toward the closed position and another position in which the release pin releases the spring and the gate so that the gate moves to the closed position under the biasing force of the spring.
A reset member is interconnected with a gate for resetting
Arduini Douglas P.
McGill James C.
Chambers A. Michael
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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