US3842854A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat responsive safety device for manual gate valve operators
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1973-04-16
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1993-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A heat responsive safety device for a manual gate valve operator which is employed in combination with a pneumatic actuator and is effective when the pneumatic system has been overridden by the manual operator. The safety device includes releasable locking means comprising an inner cap on which the manual gate valve operator is connected. The inner cap is releasably held within an outer sleeve by a plurality of spherical ball members which are received within a recess to permit release of the inner cap and the manual gate valve operator thereon upon the melting of a fusible material. The member having the recess therein moves under the bias of the valve stem upon melting of the fusible material and positions the recess adjacent the spherical ball members for receiving the ball members. Upon release of the inner cap and manual operator, the valve stem is released for movement of the gate valve to a closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 C Wicke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/36; F16K17/38; F16K17/383; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624; Y10T137/1797; Y10T137/1819; Y10T137/1834
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
316 words
A gate valve structure comprising, a valve body, a gate valve movable between open and closed positions in said body, a cylindrical housing on the valve body having a piston mounted therein to provide a fluid actuator, a stem connected to said piston and said gate valve and movable therewith, a threaded extension on said cylindrical housing having a center opening therein receiving the valve stem, an outer sleeve threaded on said extension, means continuously biasing the piston and stem toward a closed position of the valve, a manual override structure connected to said outer sleeve for manual operation of the gate valve to open position independently of the fluid actuator, said manual override structure including a movable operator shaft operatively connected to the stem, a handwheel operatively connected to the operator shaft and effective upon rotation thereof to actuate the operator shaft and move the gate valve to open position, releasable locking means between the override structure and the outer sleeve releasable upon an outward movement of the override structure as a unit relative to the sleeve to permit detachment of the override structure from the outer sleeve, a fusible material destructible at a predetermined high temperature between the override structure and outer sleeve, at least one metering opening for the fusible material provided adjacent the fusible material, said fusible material being under compression from the outward thrust of said stem when the override structure is actuated and is maintaining the gate valve in an open position and upon reaching a predetermined high temperature fusing and flowing through said metering opening to permit said outward movement of the override structure relative to the sleeve, said releasable locking means being released upon said outward movement of the override structure to provide detachment of the override structure from said sleeve under the thrust of the valve stem and movement of the gate valve to a closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
316 words
A gate valve structure comprising, a valve body, a gate valve movable between open and closed positions in said body, a cylindrical housing on the valve body having a piston mounted therein to provide a fluid actuator, a stem connected to said piston and said gate valve and movable therewith, a threaded extension on said cylindrical housing having a center opening therein receiving the valve stem, an outer sleeve threaded on said extension, means continuously biasing the piston and stem toward a closed position of the valve, a manual override structure connected to said outer sleeve for manual operation of the gate valve to open position independently of the fluid actuator, said manual override structure including a movable operator shaft operatively connected to the stem, a handwheel operatively connected to the operator shaft and effective upon rotation thereof to actuate the operator shaft and move the gate valve to open position, releasable locking means between the override structure and the outer sleeve releasable upon an outward movement of the override structure as a unit relative to the sleeve to permit detachment of the override structure from the outer sleeve, a fusible material destructible at a predetermined high temperature between the override structure and outer sleeve, at least one metering opening for the fusible material provided adjacent the fusible material, said fusible material being under compression from the outward thrust of said stem when the override structure is actuated and is maintaining the gate valve in an open position and upon reaching a predetermined high temperature fusing and flowing through said metering opening to permit said outward movement of the override structure relative to the sleeve, said releasable locking means being released upon said outward movement of the override structure to provide detachment of the override structure from said sleeve under the thrust of the valve stem and movement of the gate valve to a closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
A gate valve structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said releasable locking means comprise a plurality of spherical ball elements received within an annular groove about the inner circumference of said sleeve, said override structure having an annular groove which is positioned adjacent the spherical ball elements upon said outward movement of the override structure to receive the spherical ball elements and thereby permit disengagement of the spherical ball elements with said sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A gate valve structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said override structure includes a housing haVing an enlarged diameter inner end portion forming an annular shoulder, and a cap receiving the enlarged diameter end portion and positioned between said sleeve and the override structure, said cap having a central opening receiving the housing and forming an annular space between the annular shoulder and the inner circumference of the cap in which said fusible material is positioned.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |