Emergency shutoff valve for use in a fuel dispensing system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F16K-017/14
F16K-017/02
출원번호
UP-0553067
(2006-10-26)
등록번호
US-7578308
(2009-09-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Lauber, Matthew R.
Kesterman, James E.
출원인 / 주소
Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Wood, Herron & Evans, L.L.P.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
22
초록▼
An emergency shutoff valve is provided that includes a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow passage extending therebetween. The valve includes a valve element disposed within the housing and releasably latched in an open position by a latching mechanism. An expansible memb
An emergency shutoff valve is provided that includes a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow passage extending therebetween. The valve includes a valve element disposed within the housing and releasably latched in an open position by a latching mechanism. An expansible member defines at least a portion of a sealed expansible chamber that is sealed at locations downstream and upstream of a weakened portion of the housing. The emergency shutoff valve defines a failure mode wherein the structural integrity of the housing is compromised to an extent wherein fuel can flow into the expansible chamber when a predetermined load is applied to a portion of the housing, wherein the expansible member is operable for uncoupling the latching mechanism so that the valve element moves from the open position to the closed position.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An emergency shutoff valve for use in a fuel dispensing system comprising: a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow passage extending between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said fluid flow passage being suitable for the flow of fuel therein;
What is claimed is: 1. An emergency shutoff valve for use in a fuel dispensing system comprising: a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow passage extending between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said fluid flow passage being suitable for the flow of fuel therein; a valve element movable between an open position and a closed position, said closed position preventing fuel flow from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet; a latching mechanism coupled to said valve element, said latching mechanism releasably latching said valve element in said open position; an expansible member defining at least a portion of a sealed expansible chamber external of said housing; wherein said housing comprises a weakened portion disposed downstream of said valve element, said expansible chamber being sealed to said housing at a first location upstream of said weakened portion and at a second location downstream of said weakened portion; said emergency shutoff valve defines a failure mode wherein the structural integrity of said housing is compromised to an extent wherein fuel can escape from said housing through said weakened portion and into said expansible chamber when a predetermined load is applied to said housing; said expansible member is operable, upon occurrence of said failure mode, for releasing said latching mechanism so that said valve element moves from said open position to said closed position. 2. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 1, wherein: said latching mechanism comprises a linkage. 3. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 1, wherein: said latching mechanism comprises a linkage; and said expansible member comprises a sleeve disposed in surrounding relationship with said housing, said sleeve being made of an elastomeric material. 4. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 1, wherein: said latching mechanism comprises a linkage; and said expansible member comprises a diaphragm made of an elastomeric material disposed adjacent said housing. 5. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 4, further comprising: an annular member, said annular member partially circumscribing said housing; and a hollow protruding member integral with said annular member and extending away from said housing; wherein said expansible member is disposed in sealing engagement with said protruding member. 6. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 3, further comprising: a rotatable shaft having one end projecting outwardly from said housing, said valve element being coupled to said shaft for rotation therewith; and a biasing member, said biasing member cooperating with said rotatable shaft to bias said valve element toward said closed position. 7. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 6, wherein: said linkage comprises first and second links, each having proximal and distal ends; said proximal end of said first link is coupled to said housing; said distal end of said first link is coupled to said proximal end of said second link, said distal end of said second link being coupled to said rotatable shaft; said expansible member is operable for contacting and moving said first link upon occurrence of said failure mode wherein said first link is uncoupled from at least one of said housing and said second link, and said valve element is unlatched and moves from said open position to said closed position. 8. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 7, wherein: said first link includes a protruding portion disposed between said proximal and distal ends of said first link and protruding toward said expansible member. 9. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 6, wherein: said linkage comprises first and second links; said first link having a first link portion and a second link portion each pivotally coupled to said housing, said first link portion having a notch that engages with said second link; said expansible member is operable for contacting said linkage causing said second link to become disengaged with said notch upon occurrence of said failure mode, wherein said valve element is unlatched and moves from said open position to said closed position. 10. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 9, wherein: said second link portion of said first link comprises first, second and third arms, said second arm extending generally tangentially relative to said housing proximate said expansible member, said second arm being integral with said first and third arms; said expansible member is operable, upon occurrence of said failure mode for contacting said second arm, causing said first link to rotate so as to disengage said second link from said notch, wherein said valve element is unlatched from said open position and moves to said closed position. 11. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 9, further comprising: a second biasing member biasing said first link portion toward a position wherein said second link is engaged with said notch formed in said first link portion. 12. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 4, further comprising: a rotatable shaft having one end projecting outwardly from said housing, said valve element being coupled to said shaft for rotation therewith; and a biasing member, said biasing member cooperating with said rotatable shaft to bias said valve element toward said closed position. 13. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 12, wherein: said linkage comprises first and second links coupled to one another; said first link is also coupled to said housing; said second link is also coupled to said one end of said rotatable shaft; said expansible member is operable for contacting and moving said first link upon occurrence of said failure mode wherein said first link is uncoupled from one of said housing and said second link, and said valve element is unlatched and moves from said open position to said closed position. 14. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 1, wherein: said weakened portion comprises a circumferentially extending groove. 15. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 14, wherein: at least a portion of said groove is generally V-shaped. 16. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 1, wherein: said expansible member is made of a material selected from the group consisting of fluro silicone rubber, BUNA-N rubber and fluro elastomer rubber. 17. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 1, wherein: said housing comprises a lower housing and an upper housing secured to said lower housing, said lower housing adapted to be rigidly mounted and adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized fuel; said upper housing comprises said weakened portion, and is adapted to be connected to a fuel pipe. 18. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 17, wherein: said valve element is disposed within said lower housing. 19. An emergency shutoff valve as recited in claim 18, further comprising: a normally open, second valve element disposed within said upper housing downstream of said weakened portion; a biasing member biasing said second valve element toward a closed position. 20. A method for isolating a leak in a fuel dispensing system comprising: providing an emergency shutoff valve for use in the fuel dispensing system, the valve comprising a housing with a weakened portion therein, the housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow passage therebetween, the valve further comprising a valve element movable between an open position and a closed position; providing a linkage coupled to the valve element, wherein the linkage releasably latches the valve element in the open position; providing an expansible member that defines at least a portion of an expansible chamber sealed to the housing at locations upstream and downstream of the weakened portion, and wherein the expansible member is operable, upon occurrence of a fuel leak from the fluid flow passage through the weakened portion into the expansible chamber, for uncoupling the linkage so that the valve element moves from the open position to the closed position. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: moving the expansible member in response to the leaking fuel; and engaging the expansible member with the linkage in response to moving the expansible member. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein moving the expansible member further comprises elastically deforming the expansible member. 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising using the engagement between the expansible member and the linkage to uncouple the linkage. 24. The method of claim 20, further comprising using fluid pressure to move the expansible member. 25. The method of claim 20, further comprising: sealing a first end of an elastomeric sleeve to the housing upstream of the weakened portion; and sealing a second end of an elastomeric sleeve to the housing downstream of the weakened portion.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (22)
Calvin John H. (251 Toro Canyon Rd. Carpinteria CA 93013) Wakasa Jack Y. (4025 Michael Ave. Los Angeles CA 90066), Automatic fluid sealing mechanism for a conduit with a frangible connector.
Moore Glenn E. (Cincinnati OH) Anderson Paul B. (Cincinnati OH) Wood Chester W. (Milford OH) Blasch Lawrence R. (Cincinnati OH), Emergency shut-off valves.
Moore Glenn E. (Cincinnati OH) Anderson Paul B. (Cincinnati OH) Wood Chester W. (Milford OH) Blasch Lawrence R. (Cincinnati OH), Emergency shut-off valves.
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