Flow control/shut-off valve assembly

• US 9,010,360 B1
• Filed: 09/03/2014
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drexel University
• Original Assignee: Drexel University
• Inventors: Older, John, Farouk, Bakhtier, Jones, La'Shell, Kern, Jared, Scholl, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALISTER, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US14/476,304
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 137/486, 137/487, 137/599.05, 137/599.06, 137/599.07, 137/599.11, 137/599.13, 137/601.14, 137/551
• US Class Current: 137/486
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/072 Arrangement of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/32 acting on a servo-mechanism or on a catch-releasing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/34 in which the flow-energy of the flowing medium actuates the closing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/16 closing after a predetermined quantity of fluid has been delivered F16K21/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1262 one side of the diaphragm being spring loaded
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0106 the sensing element being a flexible member, e.g. bellows, diaphragm, capsule
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7726 Responsive to change in rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7727 Excessive flow cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/777 Spring biased
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7784 Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7785 Valve closes in response to excessive flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7787 Expansible chamber subject to differential pressures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7788 Pressures across fixed choke
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87298 : Having digital flow controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87354 : Including flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87507 : Electrical actuator

Abstract

A flow valve assembly includes a valve operable between an open position and a closed position and a controller operatively coupled to the valve to operate the valve between the open position and the closed position. A mechanically or electrically operated assembly is provided to determine an amount of fluid flow through the valve when the valve is in the open position. A mechanically or electrically operated mechanism moves the valve from the open position to the closed position when the amount of fluid flow exceeds a predetermined value. A method of operating the valve is also provided.

Claims

1. A flow valve assembly comprising:

a supply line;

a discharge line;

a valve disposed between the supply line and the discharge line, the valve being operable between an open position and a closed position;

a controller operatively coupled to the valve to operate the valve between the open position and the closed position;

a flow detector operatively connected to the controller, the flow detector determining an amount of fluid flow through the valve when the valve is in the open position, wherein the controller operates the valve from the open position to the closed position when the amount of fluid flow exceeds a predetermined value; and

a bypass assembly comprising;

a first bypass three way valve in the supply line;

a second bypass three way valve in the discharge line; and

a bypass line providing fluid communication between the first bypass valve and the second bypass valve, the bypass line providing fluid flow around the valve; and

a bypass flow meter in fluid communication with the bypass line and an audible alarm operatively coupled to the flow meter such that, when the fluid flows through the bypass flow meter, the audible alarm is activated.

2. The flow valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine flow rate of fluid through the flow meter and to transmit the electronic signal to the valve to operate the valve to the closed position upon receiving flow rate data exceeding a predetermined value.

3. The flow valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a time period of fluid through the flow meter and to transmit the electronic signal to the controller to operate the valve to the closed position upon receiving time period data exceeding a predetermined value.

4. The flow valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the amount of fluid comprises a diaphragm.

5. The flow valve assembly according to claim 4, wherein the means for operating the valve comprises a linkage arm operatively coupled to the diaphragm such that, when the linkage arm is in a first position, the valve is in the open position and when the linkage arm is in a second position, the valve is in the closed position.

6. The flow valve assembly according to claim 5, further comprising piston operable between a valve-open position and a valve-closed position and a biasing member operatively engaged with the piston such that, when the linkage arm is in the second position, the biasing member biases the piston from the valve-open position to the valve-closed position.

7. The flow valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the amount of fluid comprises a porous block disposed within the valve.

8. The flow valve assembly according to claim 7, wherein the porous block is operatively coupled to a biasing member such that, as fluid flows through the valve, the fluid biases the porous block against the biasing member.

9. The flow valve assembly according to claim 8, wherein, after a predetermined amount of the fluid has flowed through the valve, the porous block is moved to a location in the valve such that the valve moves to a closed position.

10. The flow valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first bypass three way valve and the second bypass three way valve each comprises a Y-valve.

11. The flow valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flow detector measures a pressure differential on a supply line side of the valve and on a discharge line side of the valve.