Fluid handling – Destructible or deformable element controlled – Destructible element
Patent
1993-02-19
1994-10-25
Hepperle, Stephen M.
Fluid handling
Destructible or deformable element controlled
Destructible element
13761404, F16K 1740
Patent
active
053579984
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to high pressure fluid delivery systems and more particularly to a safety system for a conduit which is part of the high pressure delivery system.
A prevailing problem in high pressure fluid delivery systems, such as those used to fill containers with compressed gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and the like is the risk that a conduit which is part of the fluid delivery system may fail.
Typically, these conduits are made of hardy flexible material, such as treated and reinforced rubber, neoprene, nylon, TEFLON, stainless steel and the like.
However, on occasion, the conduits fail by rupturing or splitting. When a hose ruptures, two hazards are present. First, the two pieces of the conduit which result from the rupture are free to whip around wildly under the force of the compressed gases which are being discharged through the ruptured conduit from the container being filled and from the discharge manifold of the fluid supply. Until the conduit can be constrained, substantial risk of injury to personnel and damage to equipment exists.
Further, a discharge of gas from the manifold and the container through the ruptured hose conduit can lead to a costly waste of gas, or even worse, can fill an environment with hazardous fumes.
It would be desirable to have a system which would restrain a ruptured high pressure conduit from whipping about, and at the same time would be capable of preventing gases from leaking from the conduit through the rupture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind the invention relates to a fluid conduit safety system comprising a flexible conduit. A valve is at each end of the conduit. Each valve includes a valve seat and a valve body. The valve bodies are retained at fixed predetermined distance from each other which distance is slightly greater than the distance between the valve seats so that in normal operation the compressed fluid can pass between the valve and valve seat at each end of the conduit.
If the conduit were to rupture or split, relative movement between the valves and the valve seats under the force of the compressed fluid will cause the valves at each end of the conduit to close thus blocking flow of the fluid.
In yet another aspect of the invention the valve bodies are retained at their predetermined distance from each other by an elongated cable that extends between them and through the conduit. Thus, if the conduit were to rupture, the cable would prevent the ends of the hose from whipping.
In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for stopping the flow of fluid through a conduit which has failed and preventing the conduit from whipping. It comprises the steps of providing a flexible conduit with a first valve member at each end of the conduit where the first valve members are spaced from each other a predetermined distance. A second valve member is provided adjacent each of the first valve members with means for retaining the second valve members a second predetermined distance from each other which second distance is greater than the distance between the first valve members. Means are provided for restraining the second valve members from moving relative to the conduit until the conduit fails whereupon the first and second valve members engage each other and block flow through the conduit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be better understood and further advantages and uses thereof will be readily apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, taken with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an apparatus for filling cylinder with compressed fluid under high pressure.
FIG. 2 is a view of a conduit constructed in accordance with a presently preferred form of the invention with the valves therein positioned to permit fluid flow.
FIG. 3 is a section view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the valves pos
REFERENCES:
patent: 1304364 (1919-05-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 3273578 (1966-09-01), Clark
patent: 3630214 (1971-12-01), Levering
patent: 3859692 (1975-01-01), Waterman et al.
patent: 4098438 (1978-07-01), Taylor
patent: 4827977 (1989-05-01), Fink
patent: 4886087 (1989-12-01), Kitchen
Beck Stuart E.
Hepperle Stephen M.
Woodland Technologies, Inc.
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