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Temperature operated gas valve

  • US 4,949,742 A
  • Filed: 04/26/1989
  • Issued: 08/21/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a valve between two gas volumes, a first volume at an initially higher pressure and a second volume at an initially lower pressure, comprising,providing a conduit between the first volume and the second volume, the conduit including a horizontal portion,providing a restriction in the horizontal portion of the conduit for which a liquid would have a preference due to surface tension at the restriction, with a meltable solid material closing the restriction,when gas is to be moved from the first volume to the second volume, heating the meltable solid material until at least part of the material becomes liquified, allowing gas to pass from the first volume to the second volume, until the pressure differential between the two volumes becomes small, at which time the melted material returns essentially to its preferred initial position by surface tension,when valve closure is required, discontinuing heating and allowing the melted material to re-solidify essentially in its initial position thereby to seal the restriction and close the valve.

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