US3911941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipeline pressure surge relief system
Assignee: Grove Valve and Regulator Co
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Filing: 1975-03-05
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1995-03-05
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is of a pipeline surge relief system including a valve opened by upstream pressure against a pilot pressure which is normally maintained at the pressure of the pipeline augmented by a slight biasing force. When a detecting system sense an excessive rate of pressure increase indicating a surge in the pipeline, a valve in the pilot loading line downstream of the detector is closed to maintain the pilot pressure at essentially the pressure of the pipeline prior to the surge whereby the surge will cause the valve to be opened to divert the surging flow to a reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles C Gerbic
- 👤 Richard S Brumm
- 👤 Donald M Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:38
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/04; F16L55/045; F16L55/05; F16L55/052; F16L55/053; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/2574; Y10T137/2605; Y10T137/263; Y10T137/2632; Y10T137/2635
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A pressure surge relief system for a liquid-transporting pipeline comprising: a surge relief line adapted for connection from a pipeline to a low pressure zone; a surge reliever valve in said surge relief line; a pressure responsive member operating said surge reliever valve; biasing means urging said pressure-responsive member in one direction to close said surge reliever valve; a pilot conduit connected to said surge reliever valve so that fluid therein biases said pressure-responsive member in said one direction; means exposing said pressure-responsive member to fluid in said surge relief line to bias it in the opposite direction; a gas vessel connected to said pilot conduit; a pilot load duct adapted to be connected to said liquidtransporting piepline; means for maintaining the pressure in said gas vessel at the pressure in said pilot load duct; a pilot pressure set valve in said pilot load duct; and means adapted to be installed on said pipeline operative in response to detection of a surge of pressure in said pipeline for moving said set valve toward closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A pressure surge relief system for a liquid-transporting pipeline comprising: a surge relief line adapted for connection from a pipeline to a low pressure zone; a surge reliever valve in said surge relief line; a pressure responsive member operating said surge reliever valve; biasing means urging said pressure-responsive member in one direction to close said surge reliever valve; a pilot conduit connected to said surge reliever valve so that fluid therein biases said pressure-responsive member in said one direction; means exposing said pressure-responsive member to fluid in said surge relief line to bias it in the opposite direction; a gas vessel connected to said pilot conduit; a pilot load duct adapted to be connected to said liquidtransporting piepline; means for maintaining the pressure in said gas vessel at the pressure in said pilot load duct; a pilot pressure set valve in said pilot load duct; and means adapted to be installed on said pipeline operative in response to detection of a surge of pressure in said pipeline for moving said set valve toward closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The pressure surge relief system defined by Claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining pressure in said gas vessel comprises: an accumulator housing; a pressure-responsive movable member dividing said housing into two chambers, a liquid chamber and said gas vessel; said pilot conduit being connected to said gas vessel; and said pilot load duct being connected to said liquid chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pressure surge relief system defined by Claim 2 wherein: said gas vessel is an expansible bag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The pressure surge relief system defined by Claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining pressure in said gas vessel comprises: a source of pressure gas; a gas supply line connected from said gas source to said pilot conduit; a gas pressure regulator in said gas supply line including: a pressure-biased member; said pilot load duct being connected to one side of said pressure-biased member to bias said regulator valve toward open position; and said pilot conduit being connected to the other side of said pressure-responsive member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The pressure surge relief system defined by claim 4 including: a pressure relief valve connected to and operated by said gas pressure-biased member so as to be opened when pressure on the other side of said pressure-responsive member overcomes pressure on said one side thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
The pressure relief system defined by claim 1 wherein said surge relief valve is a valve of the expansible tube type comprising: a housing having inlet and outlet flow passages at opposite ends thereof; a generally cylindrical core having a series of inlet flow ducts and a series of outlet flow ducts therein in communication with said inlet and outlet flow passages, respectively; an expansible tube sealed at both ends to said housing and carried on said core to seal therearound; said expansible tube being normally stretched around said core whereby tube elasticity is said biasing means; the inner surface of said tube being exposed to fluid in said pipeline through said inlet flow ducts; and said pilot conduit delivers said control gas to said housing around said expansible tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The pressure surge relief system defined by claim 6 wherein: there is a jacket chamber of substantial volume in said housing around said expansible tube, and including: means in said housing and around said expansible tube for restricting expansion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The pressure surge relief system defined by claim 1 wherein said last-named means comprises: electrically energized valve operating means operatively connected to said set valve; sensing transducer means for converTing pressure in said pipeline into an electric signal; and means for energizing said valve operating means when a characteristic of said signal exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The pressure surge relief system defined by claim 8 wherein said valve operating means includes: a cylindrical actuator; a piston in said actuator connected to the stem of said pilot pressure set valve; snap action biasing means urging said piston in one direction to close said set valve; and a central valve for directing fluid in opposition to said biasing means; said electrically energized operating means being operative when energized to operate said control valve to vent said actuator.
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) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |