GB2355509A - Snap action shut-off valve - Google Patents

Snap action shut-off valve Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2355509A
GB2355509A GB9924896A GB9924896A GB2355509A GB 2355509 A GB2355509 A GB 2355509A GB 9924896 A GB9924896 A GB 9924896A GB 9924896 A GB9924896 A GB 9924896A GB 2355509 A GB2355509 A GB 2355509A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
fluid fuel
shut
snap action
assembly
valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9924896A
Other versions
GB9924896D0 (en
Inventor
Richard Guy Bointon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Teddington Controls Ltd
Original Assignee
Teddington Controls Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Teddington Controls Ltd filed Critical Teddington Controls Ltd
Priority to GB9924896A priority Critical patent/GB2355509A/en
Publication of GB9924896D0 publication Critical patent/GB9924896D0/en
Publication of GB2355509A publication Critical patent/GB2355509A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62C99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • A62C99/0009—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames
    • A62C99/0063—Methods of extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire by cooling down or suffocating the flames with simultaneous removal of inflammable materials
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K17/00—Safety valves; Equalising valves, e.g. pressure relief valves
    • F16K17/36—Safety valves; Equalising valves, e.g. pressure relief valves actuated in consequence of extraneous circumstances, e.g. shock, change of position
    • F16K17/38—Safety valves; Equalising valves, e.g. pressure relief valves actuated in consequence of extraneous circumstances, e.g. shock, change of position of excessive temperature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/002—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by temperature variation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/44—Mechanical actuating means
    • F16K31/56—Mechanical actuating means without stable intermediate position, e.g. with snap action
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L55/00—Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems
    • F16L55/10—Means for stopping flow from or in pipes or hoses
    • F16L55/1026—Fire protection devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
    • F23N5/24—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements
    • F23N5/247—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements using mechanical means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2231/00—Fail safe
    • F23N2231/16—Fail safe using melting materials or shape memory alloys

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Temperature-Responsive Valves (AREA)

Abstract

A snap action shut-off valve 1 for closing fuel lines in case of fire comprises a housing 2, an inlet 3, an outlet 4 and a valve assembly 5 linked to a snap action member 6 which cooperates with a temperature sensitive member 7. Wherein upon heating, movement of member 7 triggers the snap action of member 6 which closes valve assembly 5. Assembly 5 preferably comprises a shaft 14 bearing closure member 8 which is constrained by guide pin 10 in housing 2 and may be reset manually by raising cross-piece 11. Temperature sensitive member may be a bi-metallic strip or a spring of shape memory effect material. Snap action member 6 is preferably a diaphragm.

Description

1 1 2355509 IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID FUEL SHUT-OFF DEVICES The present
invention relates to improvements in fluid fuel shut-off devices, in particular, but not exclusively to liquid fluid fuel shut-off devices, used, for example, to shut off oil supplies through pipelines automatically in the event of a fire.
Fluid fuel supply lines, be they domestic (for example oil-fed boilers or gas-fed cookers) or industrial (for example oil rigs) all require means to shut off the fuel supply if, for no other reason, than maintenance and cleaning.
Therefore, many such supply lines are fitted with screwthreaded, handoperable shut-off valves located at appropriate points along the pipe network. In the event of a fire, these hand-operable shut-off valves "doubleup" as fire shut-off valves as well. Unfortunately, in the event of a fire, access to these hand-operable shutof f valves may be impaired by the f ire or could literally become "too hot to handle". In either event, the fluid fuel supply continues to feed the fire.
Remote sensing devices which detect heat and shut off the fluid fuel supply automatically are known, but their cost is prohibitive especially for applications in third world countries that require a low cost-effective means of automatically shutting off fluid fuel supplies in the 5 event of fires.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such a shut-off device.
According to the present invention, there is provided a fluid fuel shutoff device for use with fluid fuel-fed appliances comprising a body having a fluid fuel inlet, a fluid fuel outlet and a fluid fuel shut-off valve assembly, the assembly being capable of movement between two positions, in one of which the fuel may flow through the body and in the other of which the f low of f uel through the body is shut off and wherein the device further comprises a pair of cooperating members, one being a snap action member linked to both the assembly and the body and capable of a snap action to move the assembly from one of its positions to the other to shut off the flow of fluid fuel fully and the other being a temperature-sensitive member located between a fixed part of the body and a part of the assembly and capable, if heated, of movement to cause the snap action to occur.
Preferably, the fluid fuel shut-off valve assembly comprises a shaft bearing a valve closure member, the snap action member being fitted directly to the shaft.
Preferably, the shaft is constrained by a guide in or fitted to the body to ensure that the valve closure member finishes up flush against a valve seat following the triggering of the snap action.
The temperature- sensitive member is preferably a metallic device capable, on a change in temperature, of substantial movement or size change, most preferably a spring made of so called "shape memory effect" material. Such springs are known in the f ield of electrical switches, particularly for triggering cut-off of the electrical supply to a kettle element in domestic electric kettles f or boiling water.
The invention further includes within its scope a fluid fuel-fed appliance incorporating a fluid fuel shut-off device of the type specified herein.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates in diagrammatic cross-section a fluid fuel shut-off device for use with fluid fuel-fed appliances in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to the drawing, a fluid fuel shut-off device generally referenced 1 comprises a body 2 having a fluid fuel inlet (in the form of an oil supply) 3, and a fluid fuel outlet (or oil delivery pipe) 4, and forming a housing surrounding most of a fluid fuel shut-off valve assembly 5. The assembly 5 comprises a shaft 14 carrying a valve shut-off member 8 and having, at its upper end as shown in the drawing, a crosspiece 11.
In order to assist the valve shut-off member 8 to locate correctly within a valve plug seat 9 machined in body 2, the shaf t 14 is guided by an integral guide pin 10, f ormed in body 2 and a cap 15 af f ixed to body 2, shaf t 14 being a sliding fit in a central aperture in cap 15.
A snap action diaphragm 6 is fixed at its exterior periphery to the body 2 and at its centre to the shaft 14. A shape memory spring 7 surrounds the shaf t 14, one end of the spring 7 abutting the cap 15 and the other abutting snap action diaphragm 6.
In the drawing, the valve is shown in its normal operating condition, with shut-off member 8 away from seat 9, so allowing fuel to pass from inlet 3 to outlet 4. Snap-action diaphragm is bowed (in section) upwardly.
In the event of a f ire, the heat generated will cause the shape memory spring 7 to expand and press against the snap action diaphragm 6. This moves the assembly 5 downward f rom the open position illustrated in Figure 1 stressing the snap-action diaphragm and moving its centre downwards until it reaches a critical point at which the assembly 5 is moved to the closed position of the valve in a snap action movement generated by the snap action diaphragm 6, which then adopts a downwardly bowed position.
Once fluid fuel supply has been shut off, and the valve has cooled down, simply raising the crosspiece 11 manually will reset the device 1 (compressing the now not very resilient shape memory spring 7 back to its initial position).
The cooperating member in the form of a shape memory spring 7 need not necessarily be a spring and could be a bi-metallic strip, one end of which, when heated, urges itself against the snap action diaphragm 6 to cause its snap action to occur.
Furthermore, the snap action diaphragm 6 could be replaced by a variety of other resilient mechanisms adapted to urge the assembly 5 into either a closed or an open position.
Finally, the alternative embodiments not illustrated, the guide pin 10 need not be present, the diaphragm and cap 15 serving to guide shaft 14 adequately.
6

Claims (7)

1. A fluid fuel shut-off device for use with fluid fuel-fed appliances comprising a body having a fluid fuel inlet, a fluid fuel outlet and a fluid fuel shut off valve assembly, the assembly being capable of movement between two positions in one of which the fuel may f low through the body and in the other of which the flow of fuel through the body is shut off and wherein the device further comprises a pair of cooperating members, one being a snap action member linked to both the assembly and the body and capable of a snap action to move the assembly from one of its positions to the S, C other to shut off the flow of fluid fuel fully and the other being a temperature- sensitive member located between a f ixed part of the body and a part of the assembly and capable, if heated, of movement to cause the snap action to occur.
2. A fluid fuel shut-off device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the fluid fuel shut-off valve assembly comprises a shaft bearing a valve closure member, the snap action member being f itted directly to the shaft.
3. A fluid fuel shut-off device as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the shaf t is constrained by a guide in or fitted to the body to ensure that the valve closure member finishes up f lush against a valve seat following the triggering of the snap action.
4. A fluid fuel shut-off device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the temperature- sensitive member is a metallic device capable, on a change in temperature, of substantial movement or size change.
5. A fluid fuel shut-off device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the metallic device is a spring of so-called "shape memory effect" material.
6. A fluid fuel shut-off device substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated 5 in, the accompanying drawing.
7. A fluid fuel-fed appliance incorporating a fluid fuel shut-off device as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
GB9924896A 1999-10-21 1999-10-21 Snap action shut-off valve Withdrawn GB2355509A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9924896A GB2355509A (en) 1999-10-21 1999-10-21 Snap action shut-off valve

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9924896A GB2355509A (en) 1999-10-21 1999-10-21 Snap action shut-off valve

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9924896D0 GB9924896D0 (en) 1999-12-22
GB2355509A true GB2355509A (en) 2001-04-25

Family

ID=10863107

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9924896A Withdrawn GB2355509A (en) 1999-10-21 1999-10-21 Snap action shut-off valve

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2355509A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2428282A (en) * 2005-07-14 2007-01-24 David Neill Heating/cooling system
GB2469298A (en) * 2009-04-08 2010-10-13 Kohler Mira Ltd Valve with shape memory alloy
ITUB20155370A1 (en) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-09 Pietro Fiorentini Spa SAFETY VALVE FOR GAS SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE AND METHOD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH SAFETY VALVE

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB774219A (en) * 1954-10-28 1957-05-08 Rheostatic Co Ltd Snap action device
JPH1010057A (en) * 1996-06-26 1998-01-16 Hitachi Building Syst Co Ltd Luggage inspecting x-ray device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB774219A (en) * 1954-10-28 1957-05-08 Rheostatic Co Ltd Snap action device
JPH1010057A (en) * 1996-06-26 1998-01-16 Hitachi Building Syst Co Ltd Luggage inspecting x-ray device

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2428282A (en) * 2005-07-14 2007-01-24 David Neill Heating/cooling system
GB2428282B (en) * 2005-07-14 2007-05-09 David Neill Heating/cooling systems
GB2469298A (en) * 2009-04-08 2010-10-13 Kohler Mira Ltd Valve with shape memory alloy
GB2469298B (en) * 2009-04-08 2012-12-12 Kohler Mira Ltd Valves
ITUB20155370A1 (en) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-09 Pietro Fiorentini Spa SAFETY VALVE FOR GAS SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE AND METHOD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH SAFETY VALVE
WO2017081627A1 (en) * 2015-11-09 2017-05-18 Pietro Fiorentini S.P.A. Gas safety valve sensitive to temperature and method for the construction of such a safety valve
US10520102B2 (en) 2015-11-09 2019-12-31 Pietro Fiorentini Spa Gas safety valve sensitive to temperature and method for the construction of such a safety valve

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9924896D0 (en) 1999-12-22

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)