Hydrocarbon monitoring valve
US5036875A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 1990 |
| Grant date | Aug 6, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/1819
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hydrocarbon monitoring valve which is operative to close whenever hydrocarbons are present in a fluid passing therethrough has a hollow hydrocarbon-sensitive canister mounted in a generally vertically disposed portion of a housing of the valve. The presence of hydrocarbons within fluid passing through the canister produces rapid deterioration of the canister, with the result that mechanical linkage coupled to the canister acts to close a valve element within a generally horizontally disposed portion of the valve adjacent an inlet, thereby shutting the valve from further flow of fluid therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical linkage includes a spring-loaded plunger disposed to move in response to deterioration of the canister, a first lever mounted on a shaft or the valve element, and a second lever normally engaging an end of the first lever but biased to rotate out of engagement with the first lever in response to movement of the spring-loaded plunger to permit rotation of the shaft and closure of the valve element. In an alternative embodiment, a spring-loaded plunger which moves in response to deterioration of the canister pivots a lever to move a bar assembly c…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.