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A failure protection apparatus including an air source providing air having an air pressure, a first valve in fluid communication with the air source permitting a control fluid to flow to a pressure control assembly when the air pressure is at least a minimum pressure and preventing flow of the cont

A failure protection apparatus including an air source providing air having an air pressure, a first valve in fluid communication with the air source permitting a control fluid to flow to a pressure control assembly when the air pressure is at least a minimum pressure and preventing flow of the control fluid to the assembly when the air pressure is below a minimum pressure, the assembly containing control fluid at a predetermined pressure that is maintained when the air pressure is below the minimum pressure, a second valve in communication with the air source permitting communication of air between an inlet and an outlet when the air pressure is below the minimum pressure, a third valve in communication with the air source, a pressure container in communication with the third valve outlet and having an outlet that feeds air to the second valve to actuate a warning device attached thereto.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A failure protection apparatus comprising: an air source providing air having an air pressure;a source of control fluid in fluid communication with the air source, wherein the air applies the air pressure to the source of control fluid to provide a control fluid having a predetermined control flu

1. A failure protection apparatus comprising: an air source providing air having an air pressure;a source of control fluid in fluid communication with the air source, wherein the air applies the air pressure to the source of control fluid to provide a control fluid having a predetermined control fluid pressure;a first valve in fluid communications with the air source and the source of control fluid, wherein the air pressure of the air provided to the first valve is the same air pressure as the air pressure applied to the source of control fluid, the first valve permitting fluid communication of the control fluid between a first fluid port and a second fluid port when the air pressure is at least a minimum air pressure and preventing fluid communication of the control fluid between the first fluid port and the second fluid port when the air pressure is below the minimum air pressure;a pressure control assembly in fluid communication with the second fluid port, the pressure control assembly containing a portion of the control fluid at the predetermined control fluid pressure, wherein the predetermined control fluid pressure is maintained when the air pressure changes from at least a minimum air pressure to below the minimum air pressure;a second valve in fluid communication with the air source, the second valve preventing communication of air between an air inlet and an air outlet when the air pressure from the air source is at least the minimum air pressure and permitting communication of air between the air inlet and the air outlet when the air pressure from the air source is below the minimum air pressure;a third valve in fluid communication with the air source, the third valve permitting communication of air to a third valve outlet when the air pressure from the air source is at least the minimum air pressure and preventing communication of air to the third valve outlet when the air pressure from the air source is below the minimum air pressure;a pressure container in fluid communication with the third valve outlet and having a pressure container air outlet, wherein the pressure container air outlet is in fluid communication with the air inlet of the second valve; anda warning device in fluid communication with the air outlet of the second valve and operable to emit sound when air is communicated from the air outlet. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pressure regulator between the air outlet of the pressure container and the air inlet of the second valve. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the warning device is an air horn. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third valve is a check valve. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure container is a rechargeable gas bottle. 6. A failure protection apparatus comprising: an air source providing air having an air pressure;a pressurized hydraulic reservoir in fluid communication with the air source, wherein the air applies the air pressure to the reservoir to provide a control fluid having a predetermined control fluid pressure;a first valve in fluid communications with the air source and the pressurized hydraulic reservoir, wherein the air pressure of the air provided to the first valve is the same air pressure as the air pressure applied to the reservoir, the first valve permitting fluid communication of the control fluid between the pressurized hydraulic reservoir and a chamber in a housing of a pressure control assembly when the air pressure is at least a minimum air pressure and preventing fluid communication of the control fluid between the reservoir and the chamber when the air pressure is below the minimum air pressure, wherein the chamber contains a portion of the control fluid at the predetermined control fluid pressure that is maintained when the air pressure changes from at least a minimum air pressure to below the minimum air pressure;a second valve having a first air inlet in fluid communication with the air source, a second air inlet, and an air outlet, wherein the second valve prevents communication of air between the second air inlet and the air outlet when the air pressure from the air source is at least the minimum air pressure and permits communication of air between the second air inlet and the air outlet when the air pressure from the air source is below the minimum air pressure;a third valve having a third valve inlet and a third valve outlet, wherein the third valve inlet is in fluid communication with the air source, and wherein the third valve permits communication of air from the third valve inlet to the third valve outlet when the air pressure from the air source is at least the minimum air pressure and prevents communication of air between the third valve inlet and the third valve outlet when the air pressure from the air source is below the minimum air pressure;a pressure container in fluid communication with the third valve outlet and having a pressure container air outlet, wherein the pressure container air outlet is in fluid communication with the second air inlet of the second valve; andan air-actuated warning device in fluid communication with the air outlet of the second valve, wherein the warning device emits a sound when air is communicated from the pressure container through the second valve. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: a pressure regulator between the air outlet of the pressure container and the second air inlet of the second valve. 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the warning device is an air horn. 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the third valve is a check valve. 10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the pressure container is a rechargeable gas bottle. 11. A pressure control apparatus comprising: an air source providing air having an air pressure;a source of control fluid in fluid communication with the air source, wherein the air applies the air pressure to the source of control fluid to provide a control fluid having a predetermined control fluid pressure;a pressure control assembly comprising: a housing having an inlet passage, an axial bore a portion of which forms an outlet passage, and a chamber, wherein the chamber contains a portion of the control fluid at the predetermined control fluid pressure;a choke member adapted for movement in the housing to control the flow of fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage, the fluid applying a force on one end of the choke member;a mandrel fixed to the housing and extending in another portion of the bore; anda shuttle connected to the choke member and slidably mounted on the mandrel, the shuttle in fluid communication with the chamber such that the portion of the control fluid applies an equal force on an end portion of the shuttle to control the position of the choke member in a manner to exert a back pressure on the fluid in the inlet passage;a first valve in fluid communications with the air source and the source of control fluid, wherein the air pressure of the air provided to the first valve is the same air pressure as the air pressure applied to the source of control fluid, the first valve permitting fluid communication of the control fluid between the source of control fluid and the chamber of the pressure control assembly when the air pressure is at least a minimum air pressure and preventing fluid communication of the control fluid between the source of control fluid and the chamber when the air pressure is below the minimum air pressure, wherein the predetermined control fluid pressure of the portion of the control fluid within the chamber is maintained when the air pressure changes from at least a minimum air pressure to below the minimum air pressure;a second valve having a first air inlet in fluid communication with the air source, a second air inlet, and an air outlet, wherein the second valve prevents communication of air between the second air inlet and the air outlet when the air pressure from the air source is at least the minimum air pressure and permits communication of air between the second air inlet and the air outlet when the air pressure from the air source is below the minimum air pressure;a third valve having a third valve inlet and a third valve outlet, wherein the third valve inlet is in fluid communication with the air source, and wherein the third valve permits communication of air from the third valve inlet to the third valve outlet when the air pressure from the air source is at least the minimum air pressure and prevents communication of air between the third valve inlet and the third valve outlet when the air pressure from the air source is below the minimum air pressure;a pressure container in fluid communication with the third valve outlet and having a pressure container air outlet, wherein the pressure container air outlet is in fluid communication with the second air inlet of the second valve; anda warning device in fluid communication with the air outlet of the second valve, wherein the warning device emits a sound when air is communicated from the pressure container through the second valve. 12. The pressure control apparatus of claim 11 further comprising: a pressure regulator between the air outlet of the pressure container and the second air inlet of the second valve. 13. The pressure control apparatus of claim 11 wherein the warning device is an air-actuated horn. 14. The pressure control apparatus of claim 11 wherein the choke member is movable in the housing to and from a fully closed position, a fully open position, and a standard operating position between the fully closed position and the fully open position. 15. The pressure control apparatus of claim 14 wherein the choke member exerts the back pressure on the fluid in the closed position and in the standard operating position. 16. The pressure control apparatus of claim 11 further comprising: an air source pressure regulator between the air source and the source of control fluid, the first valve, the first air inlet of the second valve, and the third valve inlet;wherein the air source pressure regulator regulates the air pressure of the air from the air source.