IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0517519
(2000-03-02)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
▼
A method and assembly (kit) are provided for use by propane tank service personnel to detect escaping gas in propane tank systems. In one embodiment, the standard connection between the regulator and tank service valve is replaced with a permanent valve arrangement including a main connection betwee
A method and assembly (kit) are provided for use by propane tank service personnel to detect escaping gas in propane tank systems. In one embodiment, the standard connection between the regulator and tank service valve is replaced with a permanent valve arrangement including a main connection between the regulator and valve and a valve unit disposed in a branch connection of the valve assembly. In a second embodiment, a permanent valve assembly is screwed into a pressure port in the tank regulator system. A separate pressure gauge is individually assigned to tank service personnel and adapted to be carried by such personnel in testing the pressure in the propane tank. The pressure gauge is affixed, e.g., through a hose, to a valve unit connector including an actuator, e.g., a valve stem operator, for actuating the valve unit. When the pressure gauge is connected to the valve unit, the latter is actuated to provide an immediate reading of the tank pressure (depending, in the second embodiment, on the location of the pressure port). A determination is made from this reading whether the tank is out of gas, and if the tank is out of gas, the service valve is turned on, gas introduced, the service valve turned off and a further pressure check made to determine whether gas is leaking. In the second embodiment, the valve unit includes a valve housing with a restricted (0.054 inch or smaller) inlet.
대표청구항
▼
[What is claimed is:] [1.]installing, at the selected pressure port, a valve assembly comprising a valve housing including a restricted opening in an end thereof adapted to be screwed into the pressure port and a valve unit received in a bore in said valve housing in communication with said restrict
[What is claimed is:] [1.]installing, at the selected pressure port, a valve assembly comprising a valve housing including a restricted opening in an end thereof adapted to be screwed into the pressure port and a valve unit received in a bore in said valve housing in communication with said restricted opening and including a valve operator having an actuator end located at the other end of said valve housing; andusing a separate pressure gauge, individually assigned to tank service personnel and adapted to be carried by said personnel, to provide measuring of the pressure at the port, said pressure gauge including a connector including means for actuating the valve operator of the valve unit when the connector is connected to the valve assembly, and said measuring of pressure comprising connecting the connector of the pressure gauge to the valve assembly to actuate the valve unit and thus to provide a reading of the pressure at the pressure port by the gauge, and, where gas has been introduced into the system to pressurize the system, and the tank has been turned off so as to isolate gas introduced into the tank, to provide a determination of whether gas is escaping from the propane tank system. [9.]a valve assembly for connection, in use, to a selected pressure port in the tank system, said valve assembly comprising: a valve housing including a central bore therein and a threaded end connection for providing connection of the valve housing to the pressure port, said central bore including a first portion, and a further portion of a diameter smaller than the remainder of the bore and disposed, in use, adjacent to the pressure port so as to provide restricted fluid flow between the pressure port and the first portion of said central bore: and a valve unit received in the central bore of said valve housing and including a valve operator actuable to open a fluid connection to the pressure port when said valve assembly is connected to the pressure port; anda separate pressure gauge adapted to be carried by tank repair personnel and including a connector for providing connection of said pressure gauge to said valve assembly when said valve assembly is connected to said pressure port, and for, when connected to said valve assembly, providing actuation of said valve operator so that, in use with the tank service valve open, the gauge provides a reading of the pressure at the pressure port and, in use with the system pressurized and the tank service valve closed the gauge provides an indication of the presence of a leak or open line in the propane tank system.
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