Safety shutoff device

• US 3,920,031 A
• Filed: 04/18/1969
• Issued: 11/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Don A. Maxfield
• Original Assignee: Don A. Maxfield
• Inventors: Maxfield, Don A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, M. Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gerard, Richard
• Application Number:
  US04/817,526
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: 137/67,75,312 122/504 200/61.04 222/54 251/66,73,74,294
• US Class Current: 137/67
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/02 Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/17 Means for retaining water leaked from heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2007 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1624 Destructible or deformable element controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

A safety shutoff device which includes a fluid supply line; A valve in the supply line with control means for controlling the flow of fluid through the valve; check means for maintaining the control means open; and means, for activating the check means so that the control means can close which include a support housing with an internally mounted plunger, biasing means for urging the plunger towards a receptacle end of the housing, a flexible guide sleeve connected at one end to the valve and at its other end to the housing, and a flexible line passed through the guide sleeve and connected at one end to the plunger and at its other end to the check means whereupon the check means is activated by movement of the plunger in the housing.

Claims

1. In combination, a water line for supplying water to a water storage tank;

a valve in said water supply line having control means which allows water to flow through said valve and into said water storage tank when said control means is in an open position;

said control means being biased to a closed position check means connected to said valve for maintaining said control means in said open position;

a support housing positioned under said water storage tank;

to be in communication with water leakage therefrom a plunger movably mounted in said housing;

a material receptacle in said housing;

a plug of material which changes its dimensions on being contacted with water positioned in said material receptacle for holding said plunger in a predetermined position;

biasing means coacting with said plunger for urging said plunger against said plug of material in said material receptacle; and

a connecting line coacting with a guide and connected at one end to said plunger and at its opposite end to said check means wherein a predetermined movement of said plunger in said housing moves said check means such that the control means moves to a closed position to restrict the flow of water through said valve.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said water storage tank is a water heater.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein positioning means are connected to said plunger that coact with said housing for holding said plunger in a fixed position in said housing.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said connecting line is an elongated flexible wire.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said guide is an elongated flexible plastic tube having an interior opening sized to receive said elongated wire.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plug of material is a water-soluble material.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said housing is positioned in a drip-pan located under said water supply tank.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said hOusing is an elongated sleeve and said plunger is a piston mounted in one end of said sleeve.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein positioning are connected to said piston which extend outwardly means are a guide slot in said sleeve.

10. A safety shutoff device for a water storage tank connected to a water supply line for supplying water to said tank, said safety shutoff device comprising a valve in said water line having control means which allows water to flow through said valve and into said water storage tank when said control means is in an open position, said control means being biased to a closed position check means connected to said valve for maintaining said control means in said open position;

a support housing positioned under said water storage tank to be in communication with water leakage therefrom;

a plunger movably mounted in said housing;

a plug of material which changes its dimensions on being contacted with water positioned in said material receptacle for holding said plunger in a predetermined position;

biasing means coacting with said plunger for urging said plunger against said plug of material in said material receptacle; and

a connecting line coacting with a guide and connected at one end to said plunger and at its opposite end to said check means wherein a predetermined movement of said plunger in said housing moves said check means such that the control means moves to a closed position to restrict the flow of water through said valve.

11. The safety shutoff device of claim 10 wherein said water storage tank is a water heater.

12. The safety shutoff device of claim 10 wherein said connecting line is an elongated flexible wire and said guide is an elongated flexible plastic tube having an interior opening sized to receive said elongated wire.