Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
358 words
A safety cut-off valve adapted to close automatically in case of loss of pressure within a supervised portion of a closed system making use of a pressure fluid to actuate a motor, the cut-off valve being connected between a source of pressure fluid and the motor and being adapted to close automatically in case of a breakage within the supervised portion of the system comprising a valve housing having one connection to the supervised portion of the system and a second connection to receive the fluid under pressure, said connections being interconnected through the valve housing by a normally open flow passage, a valve seat in the flow passage, a valve part in the flow passage between the seat and the second connection which valve part is urged by the flow of fluid under pressure through the passage toward the valve seat; means to hold said valve part off of said seat during normal operation, said means including a first spring and a plunger member in the flow passage, said plunger having one end facing said one connection, said one end of said plunger member being exposed to the pressure fluid in the passage and supervised portion of the system to be moved under the influence of the normal operating pressure thereof to a first position, said plunger member including a valve engaging element movable therewith for positively holding the valve part away from its seat when said plunger member is in said first position; a second spring for urging the plunger member to move in a direction opposite to the movement that takes place under normal operation, said second spring effecting movement of the plunger member away from said first position to a second position when a sub-normal pressure prevails in said supervised portion of the system and the passageway At said first connection, and said valve engaging element being moved with the plunger member as it moves to said second position to release its hold on the valve part to allow the valve part to seal against its seat under the urging of the flow of fluid under pressure through said second connection into the passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
358 words
A safety cut-off valve adapted to close automatically in case of loss of pressure within a supervised portion of a closed system making use of a pressure fluid to actuate a motor, the cut-off valve being connected between a source of pressure fluid and the motor and being adapted to close automatically in case of a breakage within the supervised portion of the system comprising a valve housing having one connection to the supervised portion of the system and a second connection to receive the fluid under pressure, said connections being interconnected through the valve housing by a normally open flow passage, a valve seat in the flow passage, a valve part in the flow passage between the seat and the second connection which valve part is urged by the flow of fluid under pressure through the passage toward the valve seat; means to hold said valve part off of said seat during normal operation, said means including a first spring and a plunger member in the flow passage, said plunger having one end facing said one connection, said one end of said plunger member being exposed to the pressure fluid in the passage and supervised portion of the system to be moved under the influence of the normal operating pressure thereof to a first position, said plunger member including a valve engaging element movable therewith for positively holding the valve part away from its seat when said plunger member is in said first position; a second spring for urging the plunger member to move in a direction opposite to the movement that takes place under normal operation, said second spring effecting movement of the plunger member away from said first position to a second position when a sub-normal pressure prevails in said supervised portion of the system and the passageway At said first connection, and said valve engaging element being moved with the plunger member as it moves to said second position to release its hold on the valve part to allow the valve part to seal against its seat under the urging of the flow of fluid under pressure through said second connection into the passageway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
A structure as in claim 1, wherein the plunger member takes the form of a first sleeve slidably mounted in the valve housing, said housing having a bored seat therein to receive said sleeve, means to seal the sleeve within the bore in the housing as it slides, said flow passage extending through the interior of the sleeve, one end of the sleeve constituting said one end of the plunger exposed to the pressure fluid, a second sleeve concentrically carried within the first sleeve and having a shoulder fixed to said housing, the opposite end of said first sleeve from said one end moving in a space which is not subjected to the pressure fluid, said space being formed between said opposite end of the sleeve within said housing and said second fixed sleeve, a sliding seal disposed between said two concentric sleeves, and said second spring being a compression spring in said space positioned between said opposite end of the first sleeve and said shoulder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A structure as in claim 2, wherein said one end of the first sleeve supports a central pin disposed lengthwise within the flow passage, said pin constituting said element that engages the valve part to positively hold it off of its seat when the first sleeve is in said first position and is moved therewith to release its hold on the valve part when said first sleeve moves to said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A structure as in claim 2, wherein said valve seat is integral with said second sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A structure as in claim 2, wherein said space in said housing formed between said opposite end of the sleeve and said second fixed sleeve is vented to the outside of the housing through aperture means, and flexible membrane means are associated with said aperture means to permit atmospheric pressure to prevail at all times in said space while sealing out the intrusion of dirt or the like into said space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structure as in claim 5, wherein a channel surrounds the outside of said aperture means for venting said space and said membrane is carried in said channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A structure as in claim 1, wherein said valve part is a body that is conically shaped on both sides, said body having a slide bearing bored centrally in the conical side facing away from said valve seat and a guide pin fixedly carried by said housing, said guide pin cooperating with said bearing to guide said valve part onto said seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A structure as in claim 7, wherein said housing includes a plate fixed thereto disposed transversely of the flow passage, said plate having flow-through openings therein to permit fluid to flow therethrough, and said guide pin being fixed to said plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A structure as in claim 1, wherein said valve part is urged away from said seat by said first spring, said first spring being weak in comparison with said second spring that urges said plunger member to said second position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A structure as in claim 9, wherein said valve part includes a first spring guide on the side of said valve part that faces said seat, and said valve engaging member takes the form of a stop pin in line with said spring guide, said spring guide and said stop pin together constituting an interior support means for said first weaker spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structure as in claim 1, wherein the valve part has a small axial bypass therethrough to permit gradual equalization of the fluid pressure to take place on the opposite sides of the valve part after the valve part has been seated.