Apparatus and method for closing a fluid path
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for closing off a path in a fluid delivery system, comprising:
- a closing assembly providing a first fluid path between a first conduit and a second conduit, wherein the closing assembly comprises a remotely actuatable valve mechanism that closes the first fluid path and provides a second fluid path from either the first conduit or the second conduit to a third conduit, wherein the remotely acuatable valve mechanism closes the first fluid path when a predetermined condition is detected in the fluid delivery system; and
an indication device for remotely indicating whether the remotely acuatable valve mechanism has been activated, wherein the indication device wirelessly transmits a signal indicating the status of the remotely acuatable valve mechanism.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for closing off a path in a fluid delivery system, comprising: a closing assembly providing a first fluid path between a first conduit and a second conduit, wherein the closing assembly comprises a remotely actuatable valve mechanism that closes the first fluid path and provides a second fluid path from either the first conduit or the second conduit to a third conduit, wherein the remotely acuatable valve mechanism closes the first fluid path when a predetermined condition is sensed in the fluid delivery system.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for closing off a path in a fluid delivery system, comprising:
-
a closing assembly providing a first fluid path between a first conduit and a second conduit, wherein the closing assembly comprises a remotely actuatable valve mechanism that closes the first fluid path and provides a second fluid path from either the first conduit or the second conduit to a third conduit, wherein the remotely acuatable valve mechanism closes the first fluid path when a predetermined condition is detected in the fluid delivery system; and
an indication device for remotely indicating whether the remotely acuatable valve mechanism has been activated, wherein the indication device wirelessly transmits a signal indicating the status of the remotely acuatable valve mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An apparatus for closing off a path in a fluid delivery system, comprising:
-
a closing assembly providing a first fluid path between a first conduit and a second conduit, wherein the closing assembly comprises a remotely actuatable valve mechanism that closes the first fluid path between the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein the remotely acuatable valve mechanism closes the first fluid path when a predetermined condition is sensed by at least one sensor in the fluid delivery system; and
an indication device for remotely indicating whether the remotely acuatable valve mechanism has been activated, wherein the indication device wirelessly transmits a signal indicating the status of the remotely acuatable valve mechanism;
a control unit in operable communication with the at least one sensor, the indication device, and the remotely acuatable valve mechanism, wherein the control unit will provide an activation signal to the remotely acuatable valve mechanism when the predetermined condition has been detected by the at least one sensor;
a closure detection sensor, the closure detection sensor being configured to provide a signal to the control unit, indicating an operational status of the remotely acuatable valve mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A closure detection system for a fluid delivery system having a plurality of pipes providing at least one flow path, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of closing assemblies each providing a fluid path therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of closing assemblies comprises a remotely actuatable valve mechanism that closes the fluid path when a predetermined condition is sensed by at least one sensor in the fluid delivery;
an indication device for each of the plurality of closing assemblies, the indication device being configured to remotely indicate whether the remotely acuatable valve mechanism of one of the plurality of closing assemblies has been activated, wherein the indication device wirelessly transmits a signal indicating the status of the remotely acuatable valve mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A fluid delivery system, comprising:
-
a plurality of pipes providing at least one flow path;
a plurality of closing assemblies each providing a first fluid path between a one of the plurality of pipes and another one of the plurality of pipes, wherein the closing assembly comprises a remotely actuatable valve mechanism that closes the first fluid path and provides a second fluid path from one of pipes to yet another pipe, wherein the remotely acuatable valve mechanism closes the first fluid path when a predetermined condition is sensed by at least one sensor in the fluid delivery system proximate to each of the plurality of closing assemblies; and
an indication device for each of the plurality of closing assemblies, the indication device being configured to remotely indicate whether the remotely acuatable valve mechanism of one of the plurality of closing assemblies has been activated, wherein the indication device wirelessly transmits a signal indicating the status of the remotely acuatable valve mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method for closing off a path in a fluid delivery system, comprising:
-
monitoring a fluid traveling through the fluid delivery system with a plurality of sensors each of which is configured to provide an output signal corresponding to the fluid traveling through the fluid delivery system;
determining if there is a leak in the fluid delivery system by receiving the output signals;
determining the location of the leak and determining which of a plurality of closing mechanisms are to be activated in order to isolate the leak, wherein a selected closing mechanism is activated in order to isolate the leak, wherein each closing mechanism provides a first fluid path between a first conduit and a second conduit, and each closing mechanism comprises a remotely actuatable valve mechanism that closes the first fluid path and provides a second fluid path from either the first conduit or the second conduit to a third conduit, wherein the remotely acuatable valve mechanism closes the first fluid path in response to a signal from one of the plurality of sensors; and
indicating that the selected closing mechanism has been activated by providing an indication signal to a central controller in operable communication with the fluid delivery system. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
Specification