Emergency gas or fuel shut-off device

• US 5,730,170 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanchez, Robert M.
• Original Assignee: Sanchez, Robert M.
• Inventors: Sanchez, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US08/723,752
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 137/75, 137/77, 137/78.4, 137/79, 137/554
• US Class Current: 137/77
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/383 the valve comprising fusible, softening or meltable elements, e.g. used as link, blocking element, seal, closure plug F16K17/386 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1834 With external closing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1915 Burner gas cutoff
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

An emergency fuel shutoff device for interrupting the flow of gas or other fuel to a burner in the event of a malfunction or fire. The device uses a normally closed spring loaded fuel valve which is held open by tension along a cable. The cable has several fusible links along its length. If any of the fusible links melt, the tension in the chain is released and the spring loaded fuel valve closes, shutting off the flow of fuel to the burner. Preferably the device also has a manual shut-off station which has a pull ring which also releases the tension in the cable shutting off the flow of fuel. When the tension in the cable is released a horn or strobe light provides an audible and a visible signal that the fuel valve has been closed. The horn and light are preferably powered by standby batteries.

Claims

1. An emergency fuel shut-off device for interrupting the flow of fuel to a burner in the event of malfunction, said device comprising:

a normally closed, spring loaded fuel shut-off valve having a valve stem which opens the valve when it is pulled out but which is biased toward a closed position to provide a biased valve stem;

a cable affixed to said valve stem, said cable exerting continuous tension by the biased valve stem to hold said valve stem in an open position;

a cable termination station, said termination station including means to hold a remote end of said cable in a fixed, tensioned position said cable termination station further including a turnbuckle to adjust the length of said cable and wherein said cable termination station includes cable release means; and

a plurality of fusible link interrupts positioned along said cable at predetermined locations, each of said fusible links being held in tension by the biased valve stem whereby when at least one of said fusible link interrupts is melted, the tension in the cable is released and the valve stem of the spring-loaded fuel shut-off valve is permitted to return to its normally closed position thereby shutting off any flow of fuel through said valve.

2. The emergency fuel shut-off device of claim 1 wherein each of said fusible links is supported in a housing having two ends, and a center including an opening exposing said fusible link to a potential source of heat.

3. The emergency fuel shut-off device of claim 1 wherein there are at least three fusible links.

4. The emergency fuel shut-off device of claim 1 wherein said cable termination center includes release means.

5. The emergency fuel shut-off device of claim 4 wherein said cable termination center further includes length adjusting means.

6. The emergency fuel shut-off device of claim 4 wherein said release means includes a pull-pin.