초록 ▼

The present invention is a valve that shuts off only upon excess flow of liquid. A ball is seated within a ball holder. The ball holder has a circumferential side wall. An inlet orifice and one or more circumferential apertures are defined in the circumferential side wall. An outlet orifice is defin

The present invention is a valve that shuts off only upon excess flow of liquid. A ball is seated within a ball holder. The ball holder has a circumferential side wall. An inlet orifice and one or more circumferential apertures are defined in the circumferential side wall. An outlet orifice is defined in a surface disposed above the ball holder. The ball holder may be disposed within a main body which directs all material flowing in the valve to enter the ball holder. Excess flow of liquid effects a shut-off position of the valve when the excess flow of liquid encounters resistance caused by the circumferential apertures. The resistance causes the liquid to flow through the inlet orifice at a flow high enough to push the ball upwards to a height at which the flow of liquid through the circumferential apertures carries the ball further upward to effectively seal the outlet aperture, at which point the sealed position is maintained by hydrostatic pressure. The invention is also a method of shutting off a valve only upon the occurrence of excess flow of liquid. The method involves the interaction of air and liquid with a ball causing the ball to be disposed in either a first open configuration or a second closed configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

[I claim:] [1.]a ball;a ball holder; anda main body having a circumferential side wall and at least one inlet port;wherein the body holder is disposed within the main body such that an annulus is defined as a fully circumferential space between the circumferential side wall of the main body and the

[I claim:] [1.]a ball;a ball holder; anda main body having a circumferential side wall and at least one inlet port;wherein the body holder is disposed within the main body such that an annulus is defined as a fully circumferential space between the circumferential side wall of the main body and the ball holder,wherein the ball sits inside the ball holder as a result of gravity absent any flow of material, the ball having a diameter and weight;wherein the ball holder has a lower portion with an inlet orifice being defined in the lower portion with a diameter smaller than the ball to provide metering of fluid flow therethrough impinging on the ball and a circumferential side wall with at least one or more circumferential apertures being defined in the circumferential side wall and partially shielding the ball to meter flow of fluid through the circumferential side wall impinging on the ball, the inlet orifice having an area, the circumferential apertures each having an area, the ball holder having a height; andwherein the diameter and weight of the ball, the area of the inlet orifice, the areas of the circumferential apertures, and the height of the ball holder are all defined within a range in proportion to one another such that excessive flow of liquid beyond a predetermined magnitude selectively effects a shut-off position,whereby the liquid, gas or a mixture thereof entering the valve enter the ball holder through the inlet orifice and through the circumferential apertures, the liquid, gas or a mixture thereof having an inlet orifice flow and a circumferential aperture flow,wherein once the liquid enters through the circumferential apertures, the circumferential apertures create a resistance on the liquid, the resistance causing the liquid to enter through the inlet orifice, the resistance increasing with increased flow of the liquid through the circumferential aperture,whereby once the circumferential aperture flow of the liquid exceeds a predetermined level, the resistance caused by the circumferential apertures will force the liquid to flow through the inlet orifice at a rate high enough to lift the ball upwards to a height at which the circumferential aperture flow of the liquid carries the ball to the outlet orifice of the valve,whereby the circumferential aperture flow of the liquid will cause the ball to close the outlet orifice to prevent further exit of the liquid from the valve. [21.]providing a valve with an inlet port, a ball, and a surface with an outlet orifice defined in the surface;disposing the surface with the outlet orifice defined therein above the ball as defined by the direction of gravity;providing a ball holder with an inlet orifice and circumferential apertures;seating the ball inside the ball holder by action of gravity;partially shielding the ball to meter flow of fluid through the circumferential apertures which impinges on the ball;providing a main body;disposing the ball holder within the main body such that an annulus is formed as a fully circumferential space between the ball holder and the main body;passing materials in a liquid state, gas state, or in states of liquid and gas, through the inlet port of the valve;directing all materials in the main body to flow through the ball holder;flowing the materials through the inlet orifice and circumferential apertures of the ball holder, the inlet orifice having an area which meters flow of fluid impinging on the ball flowing through the inlet orifice;flowing the materials to contact the ball wherein the contact between the ball and the materials maintains an open configuration of the ball to permit flow of the materials through the valve;flowing the materials in a liquid only state above a predetermined flow rate to contact the ball, wherein the contact between the ball and the liquid materials displaces the ball to a closed configuration to seal the outlet orifice with the ball.