US3583435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Leak detector valve assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-08
•
Granted: 1971-06-08
•
Expires: 1989-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A valve assembly for detecting leaks in fluid systems which includes an airtight transparent cup means at least partially filled with liquid and a plunger means provided with an orifice and a tube means interconnecting said orifice and liquid. The valve assembly is connected into the fluid line so as to allow the fluid to pass therethrough unimpeded. Depression of the plunger effectively closes the fluid line except for the passageway afforded by the orifice and the tube positioned in the liquid. The existence of a leak in the fluid system is thereby easily observed by a fluid flow through the liquid, i.e., bubbles, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Buster D Stewart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/06; F; F16; F16L; F16L41/00; F16L41/02; F17; F17D; F17D5/00; F17D5/02; F16L2101/00; F16L2101/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/5762; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8359; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86718; Y10T137/86759; Y10T137/86767; Y10T137/86775
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A leak detector valve assembly, comprising: a body, said body being provided with an internal cavity and inlet and outlet openings interconnecting said cavity; a normally open plunger means positioned in said body cavity, said plunger means being axially displaceable within said cavity so as to substantially close said body cavity between the inlet and outlet openings, said plunger means being provided with bleeder means and an elongated tubular means interconnected therewith for conducting fluid through said plunger means; means engaging said plunger means for returning said plunger means to a normally open position; container means secured to said body; and a liquid contained in said container means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A leak detector valve assembly, comprising: a body, said body being provided with an internal cavity and inlet and outlet openings interconnecting said cavity; a normally open plunger means positioned in said body cavity, said plunger means being axially displaceable within said cavity so as to substantially close said body cavity between the inlet and outlet openings, said plunger means being provided with bleeder means and an elongated tubular means interconnected therewith for conducting fluid through said plunger means; means engaging said plunger means for returning said plunger means to a normally open position; container means secured to said body; and a liquid contained in said container means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said internal cavity is comprised of a plurality of internal chambers, one of said chambers being interconnected by the inlet opening and another of said chambers being interconnected by said outlet opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 2, wherein a restricted opening is situated between the internal chamber interconnected by the inlet opening and the internal chamber interconnected by the outlet opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 3, wherein said restricted opening is adapted to be closed by the plunger means when said plunger means is displaced from its normally open position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 4, wherein said restricted opening is provided with an annular shoulder means thereabout.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 5, wherein an annular nonmetallic sealing ring is seated on said annular shoulder surrounding said restricted opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 6, wherein said inlet and outlet openings are linearly misaligned relative to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 3, wherein the bleeder means provided by the plunger means is comprised of an orifice and a bleeder passageway interconnecting said orifice.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 8, wherein said plunger means is accommodated in the body cavity chamber interconnecting the inlet opening and the elongated tubular means of said plunger means extends through the body cavity chamber interconnecting the outlet opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 9, wherein the elongated tubular means extends through an aperture in the body and inTo the container means secured to said body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 10, wherein the elongated tube means extends below the liquid level of the liquid contained in said container means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 11, wherein the plunger means is provided with a continuous annular edge axially protruding therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 12, wherein an annular nonmetallic sealing ring is seated on said annular shoulder surrounding said restricted opening for receiving the annular edge of said plunger means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 13, wherein the plunger means is provided with a sealing means to form a tight engagement between the external walls of the plunger means and the internal walls of the body cavity chamber in which the plunger means is situated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 14, wherein the sealing means is comprised of an O-ring partially accommodated in an annular groove carried by said plunger means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 13, wherein the plunger means is provided with a means for limiting the axial displacement of the plunger means relative to the body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 16, wherein the means for limiting the axial displacement of the plunger means is comprised of an elongated pin passing transversely through an opening in the plunger means and which pin has the ends thereof located in oppositely positioned openings in the body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 2, wherein the body chamber cavity which interconnects the outlet opening is provided with an internal abutment shoulder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 18, wherein the means for returning the plunger means to a normally open position is a coil spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A leak detector valve assembly as described in claim 19, wherein the coil spring is positioned in intimate contact with the forward end of the plunger means and the internal abutment shoulder provided by the body chamber cavity which is interconnected by the outlet opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |