Shock actuated sensor for fluid valve

• US 6,394,122 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacific Seismic Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pacific Seismic Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Keller, William F., Sibley, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/668,003
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 137/38,39,15.01 251/66,74,298,303
• US Class Current: 137/15.01
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/363 the closure members being rotatable or pivoting F16K17/386 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0753 Control by change of position or inertia of system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0777 With second control

Abstract

The improved shock actuated sensor is used with shock activation valves which have a shock activation control mechanism. The control mechanism includes a pedestal with a vertical tube disposed thereround and a weight in the form of a ball supported on the pedestal upper end. When a shock or vibration force is experienced the ball is displaced horizontally from a rest position to a side of the control mechanism where it engages the vertical tube that causes the valve to close. The improvement includes a pedestal upper end with a circumferential step to aid the ball in engaging the vertical tube to activate the valve closing. The step allows gravity, in addition to the shock force, to urge the ball to move the vertical tube. The pedestal upper end may also have a recess in the form of an open cylindrical recess to support the ball.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a shock actuated valve for response to a shock and frequency force for automatic actuation thereof comprising the steps of:

a. determining a horizontal force necessary to actuate the valve;

b. selecting a recess diameter and depth for a pedestal upper end to retain a ball until such force is exceeded;

c. selecting a protrusion surrounding said recess to enable said ball to roll over said protrusion when said horizontal force is achieved so that the center of gravity of the ball passes over the protrusion such that gravitational force will cause the ball to roll away from said recess;

d. selecting an offset diameter and depth circumferentially formed external to said protrusion for the pedestal upper end to cause the force of gravity to assist the horizontal force displacing the ball from a rest position which offset also does not inhibit return of the ball to the rest position once the horizontal force has ceased; and

e. selecting a vertical tube disposed around the pedestal and adjacent the offset wherein movement of the vertical tube actuates a valve, and selecting for the vertical tube a beveled interior facing the pedestal such that the beveled interior results in a more controlled uniform force as the ball comes in contact with the beveled interior of the vertical tube.

2. A method for adjusting a shock actuated valve for response to a shock and frequency force for automatic actuation thereof comprising the steps of:

a. determining a horizontal force necessary to actuate the valve;

b. selecting a recess and depth for a pedestal upper end to retain a weight until such force is exceeded;

c. selecting a protrusion at least partially surrounding said recess to enable said weight to cross over said protrusion when said horizontal force is achieved so that the center of gravity of the ball passes over the protrusion such that gravitational will cause the ball to roll away from said recess; and

d. selecting an offset diameter and depth circumferentially formed external to said protrusion for the pedestal upper end to cause the force of gravity to assist the horizontal force displacing the ball from a rest position which offset also does not inhibit return of the ball to the rest position once the horizontal force has ceased.

3. A method for adjusting a shock actuated valve for response to a shock and frequency force for automatic actuation thereof comprising the steps of:

a. determining a horizontal force necessary to actuate the valve;

b. selecting a recess and depth for a pedestal upper end to retain a weight until such force is exceeded;

c. selecting a protrusion at least partially surrounding said recess to enable said weight to cross over said protrusion when said horizontal force is achieved so that the center of gravity of the ball passes over the protrusion such that gravitational force will cause the ball to roll away from said recess; and

d. selecting a vertical tube disposed around the pedestal wherein movement of the vertical tube actuates a valve, and selecting for the vertical tube a beveled interior facing the pedestal such that the beveled interior results in a more controlled uniform force as the weight comes in contact with the beveled interior of the vertical tube.

4. A method for adjusting a shock actuated valve for response to a shock and frequency force for automatic actuation thereof comprising the steps of:

a. determining a horizontal force necessary to actuate the valve;

b. selecting a recess and depth for a pedestal upper end to retain a weight until such force is exceeded; and

c. selecting a protrusion at least partially surrounding said recess to enable said weight to cross over said protrusion when said horizontal force is achieved so that the center of gravity of the ball passes over the protrusion such that gravitational force will cause the ball to roll away from said recess and toward a valve actuation means.

5. A shock actuated valve having a shock actuated control mechanism comprising:

a. a pedestal at an upper end of which a circular recess is formed therein in which a weight in the form of a ball is supported and retained central to the pedestal vertical axis;

b. a vertical tube disposed around said pedestal, the vertical tube having a beveled interior facing said pedestal;

c. said pedestal having a circular protrusion surrounding said circular recess; and

d. said pedestal further having a step offset circumferentially formed external to said circular protrusion so that the step offset is formed around the upper circumference of said pedestal;

e. whereby when a shock or vibration force is experienced by said shock actuated control mechanism, said weight is displaced when such force reaches a specified value causing said weight to roll over said circular protrusion so that the center of gravity of said weight passes the vertical center position of said circular protrusion such that gravitational force will act on said weight to move it downwardly toward said step offset so that said weight contacts said vertical tube where said beveled interior results in a more controlled uniform force as said weight causes said vertical tube to move to thereby actuate and close the valve to stop the flow of a fluid therethrough.

6. A shock actuated valve having a shock actuated control mechanism comprising:

a. a pedestal at an upper end of which a recess is formed therein in which a weight is supported and retained to the pedestal vertical axis;

b. a vertical tube disposed around the pedestal, the vertical tube having a beveled interior facing the pedestal;

c. said pedestal having a protrusion surrounding at least a portion of said recess; and

d. said pedestal further having a step offset circumferentially formed external to the protrusion so that the step offset is formed around at least a portion of the upper circumference of the pedestal;

e. whereby when a shock or vibration force is experienced by the shock actuated control mechanism, the weight is displaced when such force reaches a specified value causing the weight to cross over the protrusion so that the center of gravity of the weight passes the vertical center position of the protrusion such that gravitational force will act on the weight to move it downwardly toward the step offset so that the weight contacts the vertical tube where the beveled interior results in a more controlled uniform force as the weight causes the vertical tube to move to thereby actuate and close the valve to stop the flow of a fluid therethrough.

7.The shock actuated valve as defined in the claim 6 wherein said weight is a ball.

7. A shock actuated valve having a shock actuated control mechanism comprising:

a. a pedestal at an upper end of which a recess is formed therein in which a weight is supported and retained central to the pedestal vertical axis;

b. a vertical tube disposed around the pedestal;

c. said pedestal having a protrusion surrounding at least a portion of said recess; and

d. said pedestal further having a step offset circumferentially formed external to the circular protrusion so that the step offset is formed around at least a portion of the upper circumference of the pedestal;

e. whereby when a shock or vibration force is experienced by the shock actuated control mechanism, the weight is displaced when such force reaches a specified value causing the weight to cross over the protrusion so that the center of gravity of the weight passes the vertical center position of the circular protrusion such that gravitational force will act on the weight to move it downwardly toward the vertical tube so that as the weight contacts the vertical tube the weight causes the vertical tube to move to thereby actuate and close the valve to stop the flow of a fluid therethrough.

8. The shock actuated valve as defined in claim 8 wherein said weight is a ball.

9. A shock actuated valve having a shock actuated control mechanism comprising:

a. a pedestal at an upper end of which a recess is formed therein in which a weight is supported and retained to the pedestal vertical axis;

b. a vertical tube disposed around the pedestal, the vertical tube having a beveled interior facing the pedestal; and

c. said pedestal having a protrusion surrounding at least a portion of said recess;

d. whereby when a shock or vibration force is experienced by the shock actuated control mechanism, the weight is displaced when such force reaches a specified value causing the weight to cross over the protrusion so that the center of gravity of the weight passes the vertical center position of the protrusion such that gravitational force will act on the weight to move it such that the weight contacts the vertical tube where the beveled interior results in a more controlled uniform force as the weight causes the vertical tube to move to thereby actuate and close the valve to stop the flow of a fluid therethrough.

10. The shock actuated valve as defined in claim 10 further comprising a step offset on said pedestal circumferentially formed external to the protrusion so that the step offset is formed around at least a portion of the upper circumference of the pedestal.

11. The shock actuated valve as defined in the claim 10 wherein said weight is a ball.

12. A shock actuated valve having a shock actuated control mechanism comprising:

a. a pedestal at an upper end of which a recess is formed therein in which a weight is supported and retained to the pedestal vertical axis;

b. a vertical tube disposed around the pedestal; and

c. said pedestal having a protrusion surrounding at least a portion of said recess;

d. whereby when a shock or vibration force is experienced by the shock actuated control mechanism, the weight is displaced when such force reaches a specified value causing the weight to cross over the protrusion so that the center of gravity of the weight passes the vertical center position of the protrusion such that gravitational force will act on the weight to move it such that as the weight contacts the vertical tube the weight causes the vertical tube to move to thereby actuate and close the valve to stop the flow of a fluid therethrough.

13. The shock actuated valve as defined in the claim 13 wherein said weight is a ball.

14. A shock actuated valve having a shock actuated control mechanism comprising:

a. a pedestal at an upper end of which a recess is formed therein in which a weight is supported and retained to the pedestal vertical axis;

b. a vertical tube disposed around the pedestal, the vertical tube having a beveled interior facing the pedestal; and

c. said pedestal having a protrusion surrounding at least a portion of said recess;

d. whereby when a shock or vibration force is experienced by the shock actuated control mechanism, the weight is displaced when such force reaches a specified value causing the weight to cross over the protrusion so that the center of gravity of the weight passes the vertical center position of the protrusion such that gravitational force will act on the weight to move it such that the weight contacts the vertical tube where the beveled interior results in a more controlled uniform force as the weight causes the vertical tube to move to thereby actuate and close the valve to stop the flow of a fluid therethrough.