SHUT-OFF VALVE SYSTEM

• US 20070095400A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Henninger, William, Pierko, Gary, Bergquist, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/556,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/485
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/06 using a magnet , e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/14 arranged to be deformed against a flat seat
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/08 Protection of installations or persons from the effects of high voltage induced in the pipe-line emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7758 Pilot or servo controlled

Abstract

A shut-off valve system operative to shut-off flow through a pipe or other conduit in response to one or more fault conditions, including in particular high current that may cause damage to piping or other components downstream of the shut-off valve. The high current may result from a lightning strike inducing high current flow through the conduit and fluid flow components connected inline with the conduit.

Claims

1. A shut-off valve system comprising:

a valve openable and closable respectively to permit and shut-off flow through the valve;

a current sensor for sensing electric current passing through the valve or a conduit to which the valve is connected and providing a current sensor output indicative of the sensed current; and

a control device for receiving the output of the current sensor and causing the shut-off valve to close if a specified criteria is satisfied, thereby to shut-off flow through the valve and any downstream conduit connected thereto.

2. A shut-off valve system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve includes a valve body and a valve member, the valve member having a first position for enabling a flow of fluid through the valve body and a second position for blocking the flow of fluid through the valve body;

and a solenoid operable for moving the valve member between the first and second positions.

3. A shut-off valve system as set forth in claim 2, comprising a flow sensor for sensing flow through the valve and providing to the control device a flow sensor output indicative of the sensed flow, and wherein the control device is operative to determine whether a leak exists downstream of the valve and, in response to determining that a leak exists, to cause the solenoid to move the valve member into the second position.

4. A shut-off valve system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the current sensor senses electric current passing through the valve body.

5. A shut-off valve system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the control device determines whether a leak exists downstream of the valve in response to the current sensor sensing a current that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

6. A method for controlling the flow of fluid through a conduit, comprising the steps of:

using a current sensor to sense electric current passing through shut-off valve or a conduit to which the valve is connected and provide a current sensor output indicative of the sensed current; and

causing the shut-off valve to close if a specified criteria is satisfied, the specified criteria including the current sensor output satisfying a specified current criteria.