US5449015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shock-activated shut-off valve
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-05-12
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Granted: 1995-09-12
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Expires: 2014-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A shock-activated shut-off valve including a housing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a flap-gate pivotally connected to the housing, the lower chamber comprising an inlet orifice, and outlet orifice and a flap-gate stop means; a weight; a shock-actuated retainer defining a weight-passable opening and a latching means comprising a receptacle arm pivotally connected to a counter-weight and a flap-gate actuator, wherein, in one position, the counter-weight maintains the receptacle arm and the flap-gate in a horizontal position and the weight rests on the retainer and wherein, in another position, upon shock-actuation, the weight disassociates from the retainer and, subject to vertical acceleration, engages the receptacle arm, exerting a force which exacts pivotal movement of the counterweight to allow release of the flap-gate from a horizontal position to a position engaging the flap-dash gate stop means, thereby closing the inlet orifice from the outlet orifice.
Inventors
- 👤 Tony Petkovic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:37
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/36; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0753
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A shock-activated shut-off valve comprising: a housing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a flap-gate pivotally connected to the housing, the lower chamber comprising an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice and a flap-gate stop means; a weight; a shock-actuated retainer defining a weight-passable opening; and a latching means comprising a receptacle arm pivotally connected to a counterweight and a flap-gate actuator; wherein, in one position, the counterweight maintains the receptacle arm and the flap-gate in a horizontal position and the weight rests on the retainer and wherein, in another position, upon shock-actuation, the weight disassociates from the retainer and, subject to vertical acceleration, engages the receptacle arm, exerting a force which exacts pivotal movement of the counterweight to allow release of the flap-gate from a horizontal position to a position engaging the flap-gate stop means, thereby closing the inlet orifice from the outlet orifice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A shock-activated shut-off valve comprising: a housing having an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a flap-gate pivotally connected to the housing, the lower chamber comprising an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice and a flap-gate stop means; a weight; a shock-actuated retainer defining a weight-passable opening; and a latching means comprising a receptacle arm pivotally connected to a counterweight and a flap-gate actuator; wherein, in one position, the counterweight maintains the receptacle arm and the flap-gate in a horizontal position and the weight rests on the retainer and wherein, in another position, upon shock-actuation, the weight disassociates from the retainer and, subject to vertical acceleration, engages the receptacle arm, exerting a force which exacts pivotal movement of the counterweight to allow release of the flap-gate from a horizontal position to a position engaging the flap-gate stop means, thereby closing the inlet orifice from the outlet orifice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein the retainer comprises a cradle having a protruding lip which engages the weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein the retainer comprises two semi-circular members coupled by a yielding means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shut-off valve of claim 3 wherein the yielding means comprises an adjustable coiled spiral.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein the receptacle arm comprises a dish for receiving the weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein the housing comprising an external entry orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein the weight is a sphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein the weight is stainless steel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein the flap-gate is stainless steel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The shut-off valve of claim 1 wherein the receptacle arm is stainless steel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
174 words
A shock-activated shut-off valve comprising: a housing with an external entry orifice having an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a stainless steel flap-gate pivotally connected to the housing, the lower chamber comprising and inlet orifice, and outlet orifice and a flap-gate stop means; a spherical stainless steel weight; a shock-actuated retainer comprising a cradle having a raised lip and defining a weight-passable opening; and a latching means comprising a stainless steel receptacle arm pivotally connected to a stainless steel counterweight and a flap-gate actuator; wherein, in one position, the counterweight maintains the receptacle arm and the flap-gate in a horizontal position and the spherical weight rests on the lip of the cradle and wherein, in another position, upon shock-actuation, the weight disassociates from the retainer and, subject to vertical acceleration, engages the receptacle arm, exerting a force which exacts pivotal movement of the counterweight to allow release of the flap-gate from a horizontal position to a position engaging the flap-gate stop means, thereby closing the inlet orifice from the outlet orifice.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
174 words
A shock-activated shut-off valve comprising: a housing with an external entry orifice having an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a stainless steel flap-gate pivotally connected to the housing, the lower chamber comprising and inlet orifice, and outlet orifice and a flap-gate stop means; a spherical stainless steel weight; a shock-actuated retainer comprising a cradle having a raised lip and defining a weight-passable opening; and a latching means comprising a stainless steel receptacle arm pivotally connected to a stainless steel counterweight and a flap-gate actuator; wherein, in one position, the counterweight maintains the receptacle arm and the flap-gate in a horizontal position and the spherical weight rests on the lip of the cradle and wherein, in another position, upon shock-actuation, the weight disassociates from the retainer and, subject to vertical acceleration, engages the receptacle arm, exerting a force which exacts pivotal movement of the counterweight to allow release of the flap-gate from a horizontal position to a position engaging the flap-gate stop means, thereby closing the inlet orifice from the outlet orifice.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The shut-off valve of claim 11 further comprising a reset mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The shut-off valve of claim 12 wherein the reset mechanism comprises a magnetic rod insertable through the external entry orifice, which rod exerts a magnetic force on the weight, the receptacle arm, the flap-gate and the counterweight thereby returning these components to their respective non-activated positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4603591A
Cited
US4915122A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-11 | 1999-03-13 | 1999-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-11 | 2003-03-13 | 2003-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-11 | 2007-03-13 | 2007-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |