Fluid handling – Control by change of position or inertia of system – By pendulum or swinging member
Patent
1984-02-10
1985-08-20
Nilson, Robert G.
Fluid handling
Control by change of position or inertia of system
By pendulum or swinging member
137 68R, F16K 1736
Patent
active
045357960
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to fluid handling control regulated by changing of position or inertia system and more specifically to a fluid shut-off valve actuated by a seismic shock wave fracturing a link, releasing a spring loaded plug into a valve seat.
BACKGROUND ART
Previously, mechanical valves for shutting off fluid flow due to earthquakes have used the principle of falling objects either filling a valve seat or triggering a spring loaded secondary apparatus.
Pazmany in U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,831 teaches such a device with a ball mounted on a pedestal falling and rolling onto a seat when motivated by a seismic shock. U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,616 issued to Lloyd also uses a ball balanced on an inclined bar with a saddle similarly being unseated and falling into the valve inlet orifice, restricting the fluid flow.
A ball is also utilized in U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,497 of Mueller, wherein the ball falls onto a plate attached with a hinge to a closure diaphram shutting off the flow. Yamada in U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,858 teaches a ball on a pedestal falling to a secondary structure, triggering a valve, or the like.
Greer in U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,209 employs a plumb valve body with a groove in a merging corner supported by a rib, which is dislodged by seismic vibrations falling into the port of the valve, effectively blocking the fluid flow. U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,917 of Speck applies a pair of reactant masses moving into an in-line interlocking position, releasing a hinged arm containing a seat disc accomplishing the restriction. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,396 Nelson exercises a balanced weight falling from a support assembly, triggering a spring loaded mechanism rotating a valve in a pipe line.
In each example of prior art, an object was dislodged from a stationary element, causing a reaction ultimately closing the valve, therefore, the action is dependant upon the mechanical positioning or angular displacement of the member to produce the desired sensitivity to a seismic shock wave.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is well known that the natural phenomenon of an earthquake cannot only destroy man-made structures and endanger human life, but the aftermath of fire may sustain great property loss after the initial seismic vibrations have subsided. As building codes in earthquake prone areas have provided standards to protect the structures, few measures have been legislated to prevent the aftermath of fire.
It is therefore, the primary object of the invention to provide a valve for interrupting the flow of pressurized flammable or explosive fluids into residential, commercial or public structures. This includes natural gas, butane, propane, fuel, oil and the like, in not only public service, but also storage tanks and auxillary facilities. If severe damage were to be inflicted, on any of the above, difficulty may be encountered in not only manually shutting off the flow, but even finding the valve itself, or in the case of fire getting close enough to accomplish the function.
An important object provides a valve that is not only functional in sensing seismic vibrations, but is sensitive to the shock impact of a predetermined magnitude and repeatable within allowable tolerances. This precludes nuisance trips and allows a different sensitivity to be preselected for the area of use such as the general geographical location and if the valve were applied to rural or urban structures. As an example, California uses a magnitude of 0.133 force of gravity as design criteria in earthquake prone areas. As prior art dictates the use of balls or falling objects for actuation, time may change the sensitivity of the setting, such as corrosion build-up on the seat or edge upon which the device rests or electrolysis in dissimilar metals effecting edges and also operating mechanisms. The instant invention eliminates this problem, as a fixed severable link is held in place linearly between a stem and an arm and when subjected to a seismic shock wave a weight cantilevered above the link axially moves within pivot points
REFERENCES:
patent: 1624736 (1927-04-01), Hutt
patent: 1712498 (1929-05-01), Hawxhurst
patent: 2223097 (1940-11-01), Ehret
patent: 2255965 (1941-09-01), Brandon
patent: 2325725 (1943-08-01), Wood
patent: 2637331 (1953-05-01), Sullivan
patent: 3888271 (1975-06-01), Pettit
Kennard Walter E.
Terrones Johnny
Cota Albert O.
Nilson Robert G.
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