Remotely activated manifold shut-off

• US 7,604,216 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovative Technology Concepts, Inc. (eMag Solutions LLC)
• Original Assignee: Innovative Technology Concepts, Inc. (eMag Solutions LLC)
• Inventors: Henderson, John G., Gebler, Kirk A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli; John
• Application Number:
  US12/001,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20080142749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 251291-293, 251286-288, 25112911-12913, 251 77- 78, 251/109, 251 90- 93, 74/2
• US Class Current: 251/129.11
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0652 for remote operation

Abstract

A remotely activated shut-off for stopping a fluid flow in a fluid line by actuating an existing valve in fluid connection with the fluid line wherein the valve is within an existing valve body and includes an existing external element for the actuating of the valve between a valve open position and a valve closed position. The shut-off including an outer body having means for connecting the outer body to the valve body in a mounted position such that the external element is substantially covered when the shut-off is in the mounted position. The shut-off further including a coupler for mating engagement with the external element such that movement of the coupler is translated to the external element and a lever within the housing that is moveable between a first position and a second position and is selectively engageable with the coupler such that movement of the lever from the first position to the second position actuates the valve to the valve closed position. The shut-off also including a receiver for receiving a remote signal to move the lever to the second position and turn the valve to the off position.

Claims

1. A remotely activated shut-off for stopping a fluid flow in a fluid line by actuating an existing valve in fluid connection with the fluid line, the existing valve being within an existing valve body and including an existing external element for the actuating of the valve between a valve opened position and a valve closed position, said shut-off comprising an outer body configured to mount on the meter stop in the existing fluid line without interruption to the fluid flow in the existing line, said outer body having a tamper resistant mounting bracket configured to secure said shut-off to the existing valve body in a mounted position on the existing line such that the external element is substantially covered by said shut-off when said shut-off is in said mounted position and unauthorized persons are prevented from removing said shut-off from the valve body;

a coupler for mating engagement with the external element such that movement of said coupler is translated to the existing external element;

a lever within said outer body that is moveable between a first position and a second position, said lever being configured to set said coupler in motion as said lever moves from said first position to said second position such that movement of said lever from said first position to said second position actuates said coupler thereby moving the existing valve to the valve closed position; and

a receiver for receiving a remote signal to move said lever to said second position;

said shut-off further including a coupler extension having an external portion extending outside of said outer body, said external portion having a tool receiving portion shaped to receive a tool for rotating said coupler extension, said coupler extension is selectively interengagable with said coupler, said coupler extension interengaging with said coupler when said lever is in said first position such that actuation of said coupler extension is translated to the existing external element and said coupler extension being disengaged from said coupler when said lever is in said second position such that said movement of said extension is not translated to said external element.

2. The shut-off of claim 1, wherein the existing valve is a rotary valve and rotates 90 degrees between the opened position and the closed position, said coupler being supported for rotation by said outer body about a coupler axis, said external element being coaxial to said coupler axis when said shut-off is in said mounted position.

3. The shut-off of claim 1, further including a coupler extension having an external portion extending outside of said outer body, said external portion having a tool receiving portion shaped to receive a tool for rotating said coupler extension.

4. The shut-off of claim 3, wherein said coupler extension extends from said coupler.

5. The shut-off of claim 1, wherein said outer body includes an opening and said coupler being positioned near said opening such that said coupler engages said existing external element in said mounted condition, said lever and said coupler being substantially covered by said outer body and the valve body when said outer body is in said mounted condition.

6. A remotely activated shut-off for stopping a fluid flow in a fluid line by actuating an existing valve in fluid connection with the fluid line, the existing valve being within an existing valve body and including an existing external element for the actuating of the valve between a valve opened position and a valve closed position, said shut-off comprising an outer body configured to mount on the meter stop in the existing fluid line without interruption to the fluid flow in the existing line, said outer body having a tamper resistant mounting bracket configured to secure said shut-off to the existing valve body in a mounted position on the existing line such that the external element is substantially covered by said shut-off when said shut-off is in said mounted position and unauthorized persons are prevented from removing said shut-off from the valve body;

a coupler for mating engagement with the external element such that movement of said coupler is translated to the existing external element;

a lever within said outer body that is moveable between a first position and a second position, said lever being configured to set said coupler in motion as said lever moves from said first position to said second position such that movement of said lever from said first position to said second position actuates said coupler thereby moving the existing valve to the valve closed position; and

a receiver for receiving a remote signal to move said lever to said second position;

said coupler is generally fixed relative to said lever when said lever is in said second position and said coupler can move relative to said lever when said lever is in said first position.

7. The shut-off of claim 6, wherein the existing valve is a rotary valve and rotates 90 degrees between the opened position and the closed position, said coupler being supported for rotation by said outer body about a coupler axis, said external element being coaxial to said coupler axis when said shut-off is in said mounted position.

8. The shut-off of claim 6, further including a coupler extension having an external portion extending outside of said outer body, said external portion having a tool receiving portion shaped to receive a tool for rotating said coupler extension.

9. The shut-off of claim 8, wherein said coupler extension extends from said coupler.

10. The shut-off of claim 6, wherein said outer body includes an opening and said coupler being positioned near said opening such that said coupler engages said existing external element in said mounted condition, said lever and said coupler being substantially covered by said outer body and the valve body when said outer body is in said mounted condition.

11. A remotely activated shut-off for stopping a fluid flow in a fluid line by actuating an existing valve in fluid connection with the fluid line, the existing valve being within an existing valve body and including an existing external element for the actuating of the valve between a valve opened position and a valve closed position, said shut-off comprising an outer body configured to mount on the meter stop in the existing fluid line without interruption to the fluid flow in the existing line, said outer body having a tamper resistant mounting bracket configured to secure said shut-off to the existing valve body in a mounted position on the existing line such that the external element is substantially covered by said shut-off when said shut-off is in said mounted position and unauthorized persons are prevented from removing said shut-off from the valve body;

a coupler for mating engagement with the external element such that movement of said coupler is translated to the existing external element;

a lever within said outer body that is moveable between a first position and a second position, said lever being configured to set said coupler in motion as said lever moves from said first position to said second position such that movement of said lever from said first position to said second position actuates said coupler thereby moving the existing valve to the valve closed position; and

a receiver for receiving a remote signal to move said lever to said second position;

said shut-off further including a coupler extension having an external portion extending outside of said outer body, said external portion having a tool receiving portion shaped to receive a tool for rotating said coupler extension, said coupler and said coupler extension are locked when said lever is in said second position, said coupler and said coupler extension being free to move relative to said lever when said lever is in said first position.

12. The shut-off of claim 11, wherein the existing valve is a rotary valve and rotates 90 degrees between the opened position and the closed position, said coupler being supported for rotation by said outer body about a coupler axis, said external element being coaxial to said coupler axis when said shut-off is in said mounted position.

13. The shut-off of claim 11, further including a coupler extension having an external portion extending outside of said outer body, said external portion having a tool receiving portion shaped to receive a tool for rotating said coupler extension.

14. The shut-off of claim 13, wherein said coupler extension extends from said coupler.

15. The shut-off of claim 11, wherein said outer body includes an opening and said coupler being positioned near said opening such that said coupler engages said existing external element in said mounted condition, said lever and said coupler being substantially covered by said outer body and the valve body when said outer body is in said mounted condition.