Gauge saver

Claim 1

A GAUGE SAVER COMPRISING: (A) A BODY; (B) A PASSAGE THROUGH SAID BODY; (C) AN INLET TO SAID PASSAGE IN SAID BODY AND CONNECTABLE TO A SOURCE OF FLUID PRESSURE; (D) AN OUTLET TO SAID PASSAGE IN SAID BODY AND CONNECTABLE TO A PRESSURE GAUGE; (E) A RELIEF VALVE HOUSING SECURED TO SAID BODY; (F) A RELIEF VALVE IN SAID HOUSING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PASSAGE INTERMEDIATE OF SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET TO DISCHARGE FLUID PRESSURE FROM SAID PASSAGE WHEN THE PRESSURE IN THE PASSAGE EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT AT WHICH THE RELIEF VALVE OPENS; (G) AN ENLARGED IDAMETER BORE FORMING A PART OF SAID PASSAGE UPSTREAM OF SAID RELIEF VALVE; (H) A PORTION OF SAID PASSAGE IMMEDIATELY DOWN STREAM OF SAID BORE AND AT ONE END THEREOF BEING OF SMALLER DIAMETER THAN SAID BORE; (I) AN UNSECURED BALL CHECK VALVE HAVING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID BORE AND HAVING A LARGER DIAMETER THAN SAID PORTION OF SAID PASSAGE, THE DIAMETERS OF SAID BALL AND SAID BORE BEING SUCH SO THAT THE CENTER OF SAID BALL IS AT ALL TIMES IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PORTION OF SAID PASSAGE IMMEDIATELY DOWNSTREAM OF SAID BORE; (J) SCREEN MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID BORE BETWEEN THE LATTER AND SAID INLET TO CONFINE SAID BALL TO SAID BORE; (K) A BALL VALVE SEAT AT SAID ONE END IN SAID BORE AND AROUND THE END OF SAID SMALLER DIAMETER PASSAGE PORTION FOR SAID BALL TO SHUT OFF SAID PASSAGE WHEN SAID RELIEF VALVE OPENS AT SAID PREDERMINED FLUID PRESSURE AND THE RESULTANT FLOW THROUGH SAID BORE CARRIES SAID BALL TO SAID SEAT, SAID BALL BEING NORMALLY OFF SAID SEAT AND BEING NORMALLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SCREEN, SAID BORE AND SAID SEAT BEING NORMALLY POSITIONED SO THAT SAID BALL WILL GRAVITATE TOWARD SAID SCREEN AND AWAY FROM SAID SEAT WHEN THE PRESSURES ON BOTH SIDES OF SAID SEAT ARE EQUALIZED; (L) A SLIGHT LEAK BETWEEN SAID BALL VALVE SAID SEAT SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT EQUALIZATION OF PRESSURES UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OF SAID SEAT WHEN SAID BALL IS THEREON AND SAID RELIEF VALVE IS CLOSED BUT NOT WHEN SAID RELIEF VALVE IS OPEN; AND (M) A SHUTOFF VALVE IN SAID PASSAGE DOWNSTREAM OF SAID RELIEF VALVE TO CLOSE THE PASSAGE TO SAID OUTLET.