Safety valve with adjustable maximum flow shut off mechanism

• US 6,513,545 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evan M. Rhone, John G. Elkins, Reggie T. Dixon
• Original Assignee: Evan M. Rhone, John G. Elkins, Reggie T. Dixon
• Inventors: Rhone, Evan M., Elkins, John G., Dixon, Reggie T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnamurthy, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/761,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 137/517, 137/529, 137/540, 137/460, 137/498, 251/337
• US Class Current: 137/529
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/063 the valve being loaded by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/30 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2200/302 Plurality of biasing means, e.g. springs, for opening or closing single valve member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7727 Excessive flow cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7869 Biased open
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7905 Plural biasing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7929 Spring coaxial with valve

Abstract

A flow shut off valve for use with a pressurized fluid application and which is actuated in response to a flow rate exceeding a maximum allowable rating, the fluid application including a normally regulated and pressurized fluid supply, a length of a conduit extending from the fluid supply. The valve includes an elongated and substantially cylindrical shaped housing interposed between the fluid supply and the extending conduit, the housing having an inlet end communicating with a first coupling extending from an outlet of the fluid supply and an outlet end communicating with a second coupling extending from an inlet of the length of conduit. The housing further including an axially extending interior extending between the inlet and outlet ends. A seating member is slidably mounted within the axially extending interior and translatable over a selected distance defining an open position permitting fluid flow through the interior and a closed position in which the seating member abuts against the annular shoulder, substantially interrupting said fluid flow. A first biasing spring exerts against an inlet side of the seating member and a second adjustable biasing spring exerts against an outlet side of the seating member, the second spring equalizes a combined force provided by the first spring and the normally regulated fluid supply in the open position. Upon the fluid application switching from a normally regulated condition to an opened and unregulated condition, the combined force acting upon the seating member overcomes the counter force exerted by the second biasing spring and actuates the seating member to the closed position.

Claims

1. A flow shut off valve for use with a pressurized fluid application, the fluid application including a normally regulated and pressurized fluid supply, a length of a conduit extending from the fluid supply, said valve further comprising:

a housing interposed-between the fluid supply and the extending conduit, said housing having an inlet end communicating with an outlet of said fluid supply, said housing further having an outlet end communicating with an inlet of the length of conduit, said housing further including an axially extending interior extending between said inlet end and said outlet end, said axially extending interior defining, at an intermediate location, an annular shoulder separating an enlarged diameter portion of said interior with a narrowed diameter portion;

a seating member slidably mounted within said enlarged diameter portion and which is axially translatable over a selected distance defining an open position permitting fluid flow through said interior and a closed position in which said seating member abuts against said annular shoulder, substantially interrupting said fluid flow;

a first biasing means comprising a fixed spring exerted against an inlet side of said seating member and a second biasing means comprising an adjustable spring exerted against an outlet side of said seating member, said adjustable spring exerting a force towards said inlet end equalizing a combined force provided by said fixed spring and the normally regulated fluid supply in said open position;

an insert sleeve inserted within said outlet end of said housing and threadably engaged within said narrowed diameter portion of said extending interior, said sleeve being adjusted in first and second axial directions to selectively increase and decrease said bias exerted against said outlet side of said seating member; and

upon the fluid application switching from a normally regulated condition to an opened and unregulated condition, said combined force acting upon said seating member, overcoming said adjustable spring, and actuating said seating member in a direction only towards said outlet end to said closed position.

2. The flow shut off valve as described in claim 1, further comprising preservation means for maintaining the conduit in an inflated position upon said seating member actuating to said closed position.

3. The flow shut off valve as described in claim 2, said preservation means further comprising a plurality of radially extending notches defined within a face of said seating member and corresponding with said outlet side, a reduced volume of fluid flow being permitted from said inlet side, through said notches, and across said outlet side and into said extending conduit.

4. The flow shut off valve as described in claim 1, said seating member further comprising a substantially cylindrical shaped body with a substantially centrally disposed aperture facing said inlet end, a plurality of additional apertures being defined in annular spaced fashion around a circumference of said cylindrical shaped body and communicating said inlet end with said outlet end in said open position.

5. The flow shut off valve as described in claim 4, said seating member further comprising a closed end face at said outlet side.

6. The flow shut off valve as described in claim 1, a first exteriorly threaded coupling extending from the fluid supply and threadably engaging with associated threads placed upon said axially extending interior at said inlet end, a second exteriorly threaded coupling extending from said conduit and threadably engaging with additional threads placed upon said axially extending interior at said outlet end.

7. The flow shut off valve as described in claim 6, further comprising a snap ring and a spring retainer sandwiched between said first coil spring and an end face defined by said first threaded coupling.

8. A flow shut off valve for use with a pressurized fluid application, the fluid application including a normally regulated and pressurized fluid supply, a length of conduit extending from the fluid supply, said valve further comprising:

an elongated and substantially cylindrical shaped housing interposed between the fluid supply and the extending conduit, said housing having an inlet end communicating with a first coupling extending from an outlet of said fluid supply, said housing further having an outlet end communicating with a second coupling extending from an inlet of the length of conduit, said housing further including an axially extending interior extending between said inlet end and said outlet end;

a seating member slidably mounted within said axially extending interior and which is translated over a selected distance defining an open position permitting fluid flow through said interior and a closed position in which said seating member abuts against said annular shoulder, substantially interrupting said fluid flow, said seating member having a substantially cylindrical shaped body with a substantially centrally disposed aperture facing said inlet end, a plurality of additional apertures being defined in annular spaced fashion around a circumference of said cylindrical shaped body and communicating said inlet end with said outlet end in said open position, said seating member further comprising a closed end face at said outlet side;

a first and fixed biasing spring exerting against an inlet side of said seating member and a second and adjustable biasing spring exerting against an outlet side of said seating member, said second spring exerting a force towards said inlet end equalizing a combined force provide by said first spring and the normally regulated fluid supply in said open position; and

upon the fluid application switching from a normally regulated condition to an opened and unregulated condition, said combined force acting upon said seating member, overcoming said second biasing spring, and actuating said seating member in a direction only towards said outlet end to said closed position.

9. A flow shut off valve for use with a pressurized fluid application, the fluid application including a normally regulated and pressurized fluid supply, a length of a conduit extending from the fluid supply, said valve further comprising:

a housing interposed between the fluid supply and the extending conduit, said housing further including an axially extending interior defining, at an intermediate location, an annular shoulder separating an enlarged diameter portion of said interior with a narrowed diameter portion;

a seating member slidably mounted within said enlarged diameter portion and which is axially translatable over a selected distance defining an open position permitting fluid flow through said interior and a closed position in which said seating member abuts against said annular should, substantially interrupting said fluid flow;

a first biasing means comprising a fixed spring exerted against an inlet side of said seating member and a second and adjustable biasing means comprising an adjustable spring exerted against an outlet side of said seating member, said second biasing means exerting a force towards said inlet end equalizing a combined force provided by said first biasing means and the normally regulated fluid supply in said open position; and

upon the fluid application switching from a normally regulated condition to an opened and unregulated condition, said combined force acting upon said seating member, overcoming said second biasing means, and actuating said seating member in a direction only towards said outlet end to said closed position.