Engine shutdown valves

Details Engine shutdown valves Engine shutdown valves

2000-03-03

2001-08-14

Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)

Internal-combustion engines

Accessories

Covers, trays, vibrators, corrosion inhibitors, air filters

C123S19800E, C251S327000, C251S294000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06273053

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to engine shutdown valves.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Engine shutdown valves are well known accessories on both stationary and mobile engine applications around the world, and have been in use for over forty years. The basic reason for installing a shutdown valve is to have a safety device that allows control over the operation of an engine. The most common justification for this need is to terminate the operation of a diesel engine when an uncontrolled over-speed results from the inhalation of combustible vapors through the engine air cleaner. Without such a shutdown device the engine may continue over-speeding until catastrophic failure occurs. By shutting off the air intake manifold, the shutdown valve starves the engine of oxygen (and the secondary fuel source) and terminates combustion in the cylinders, therefore preventing damage caused by uncontrolled over-speed. Other applications result from the basic need to have a positive means of shutting down an engine.
Engine shutdown valves with reciprocating gates are known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,494 issued Aug. 25, 1981, U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,238, issued Feb. 26, 1985, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,252, issued Apr. 27, 1993. This invention is an improvement in the art of shutdown valves with reciprocating gates, and provides a compact and reliable device that is easy to make and operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an engine shutdown valve (also known as an air intake shut-off valve), of unique design and construction, which is used to terminate the operation of an engine when actuated. A unique aspect of the design is the use of a flexible member to connect the valve gate to the opening and latching mechanisms within the valve housing, or to remote mounted opening and latching mechanisms outside the housing.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is therefore provided an engine shutdown valve, comprising:
a housing defining an air flow through passage;
a gate slidable in the housing from a position in which the air flow through passage is open to a position in which the air flow through passage is closed;
a spring mechanism mounted on the housing in a position that urges the gate to the closed position;
a latch having a latch position and a release position;
an actuator for the latch, the actuator being operable, for example in response to an engine operating condition, to move the latch from the latch position to the release position;
a flexible member connected between the latch and the gate to restrain the gate from being urged to the closed position by the spring member when the latch is in the latch position and to release the gate when the latch is in the release position.
The gate closes in a guillotine type motion. The air through flow passage preferably has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the guillotine movement of the gate and the main body of the housing. In the closed position, the gate completely obstructs the air flow through passage.
The spring mechanism may comprise two compression springs installed inside the housing so that they push against two extensions on the circumference of the gate, and which force the gate into the closed position if it is not held in the open position by a latching mechanism. The gate is pulled into the open position, against the spring force, by a flexible member (example: steel cable, wire, chain) that is attached to the gate at one end, and to a spool within the housing or alternatively a remote actuator outside the housing, at the other end. Rotation of the spool within the housing wraps the flexible member and pulls the gate into the open position. Similarly, pulling on the flexible member by a remote mounted actuator would also move the gate into the open position. The gate may be held in the open position by a latching spindle that operates perpendicular to the rotation of the spool within the housing, and which can move via a compression spring into a located mating hole in the circumference of the spool, creating a restriction to the spools rotation. With the spool so restricted, the gate would remain in the open position until the latching spindle is pulled out through manual, electric, or hydraulic/pneumatic means. Similarly, a latching spindle would restrict the movement of a remote mounted actuator, and therefore the valve gate, until released by manual, electric, or hydraulic/pneumatic means.
These and other aspects of the invention are described in the detailed description of the invention and claimed in the claims that follow.


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