Excess flow responsive shut-off valve

Claim 1

A safety shut-off valve interposed in a fluid line for automatic closure to stop fluid flow in response to a rate of flow in excess of a predetermined maximum, said valve comprising, in combination: a. a valve body having inlet and outlet openings with a fixed valve seat therebetween; b. a valve closure element positioned within an internal opening of said valve body between said inlet opening and seat; c. an annular support element positioned within said opening below said closure element and upon which the latter normally rests by gravity, a lower portion of said closure element being disposed in the direct path of fluid flowing between said inlet and outlet openings; d. a control element positioned between said closure element and the walls of said internal opening, at least portions of the outside of said control element being spaced from said walls and the entire inside of said control element being spaced from said closure element; e. a second annular element having external threads for engagement with internal threads in said valve body opening, said annular support element being held between said control element and said second annular element; and f. means directing the fluid flow within said internal opening from below said closure element into the space between the outside of said control element and said walls, thence into the inside of said control element and through said valve seat and outlet, including cut-out portions between the facing surfaces of said annular support element and said second annular element.