US1085245A - Safety cut-off. - Google Patents

Description

R. H( COWDRBY.

SAFETY GUT-OFF.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.30,1911.

Patented J an. 27, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

www5/4( R. H. GOWDRBY.

SAFETY CUT-OFF.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 30, 1911 Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STATES FAENT tlttliFltUhll ROBERT H. COW'DBEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY CUT-OFF.

` usctul improvements in `S'atetv (lut-Oils. ot

which the 'following a specification.

Vthis invention relates to improvements in atl-ty cut-ot`t devices. inirticularly adapted,

though not necessarily limited in its use. to

automatically stop or check the tlow of gas p` ing therethrough, and one of the objects oi the present invention is to provide an improved. simple, durable and cl cap device ot cl ss which is adapted to be automatii-allv actuated by an abnormal tlow or moveieiit the iiuid' contradistinguished from pressure. and which actuation would not he reliable it' the pressure is depended upon, inasmuch as the pressure varies considerable and at almost any moment; a further object being the provision of means whereby the device may be positively and ci nually actuated at will to stop or check the flow.

further object is the provision of an impr ved device ot' this class. having means whereby the device may he adjusted or set to meet the varying conditions in the rate ot tlow or' the fluid found in different localities and when ditlerent styles of meters are employed.

4To the attaiiiment of these ends and the accomplishnients oit other new and useful objects, as will api ear, the invention consists in the tentures of novelty in substantially the eonstruction, combination and arrangement oi' the several parts hereinafter more Ahilly described and claimed, and shown in the the aeconipanying drawings illustrating an example the invention, and in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of an improved (device of this class constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. l with the protecting casing removed; Fig l-is a side elevation of the cam and stop for limiting the openingY movement of the valve and by means of which the valve may be positively and manually closed; F ig. -t is a front elevation orp Fig. 8; Fig. 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the manner in which an improved device of this class may be installed and the mechanism for manually operating the valve; t5 is a view partly in eleval ,fifi ffl-5. Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 30,1911.

Patented Jan. 2", Il 91st.

serial No. 657,601.

tion and partly in section and with parts removed showing the operating handle and its connection l for ma nually opera ting thc valve; Fig. T is a view similar to Fig. l showing a portion of the closure for the casv ing in which the operating mechanism is located. and the operating handle showing the parts in another position Ytrom that shown in Fig. o; Fig. S is a sectional view on line 8--S Fig. G; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the valve seat; Fig. l is a detail view showing another connection between the operating mechanism and the cam.

This improved device is adapted to be located at any point in thc service pipe. but preferably in close proximity to the gas main valve and at a point where access may be readily had thereto.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, the valve casing is preferably constructed of two sections, lil-16, detachahly secured together by suitable fastening devices 1T. The section l5 is provided with au oifset portion 18 which has communication with the valve chamber 19, the wall of which latter is shaped to permit a tree movement ot' the valve. The section 16 is pio vided with a chamber 20. which communicates with the olsct portion 18, and also an outlet chamber Q1 which communicates with the valve chamber 19. The fluid enters the valve chamber l) through thesupply pipe 22. which has comniunication with the valve chamber and tlows out or' the casing 15 through the outlet pipe L3. which latter has communication with the outlet chamber 21. A valve seat designated generally by the reference number Qi, (see particularly Fig. 9) is detachably connected, preferably at the inner face of the section 1G by means of suitable fastening devices 25, so that when the section 16 is removed from the section l5, access may bc readily had to the valve seat. This valve scat is preferably provided with projecting cars or lugs 26 which extend into the oli'set portion 1S, and hetween which ears or lugs the valve 27 is pivotally mounted as at Q8.' moves in the valve chamber 19 toward and away from the valve seat Q4, and is provided.

with a counter-weight Q9, which latter is of a weight a little less thanthe weight of the alve 2T on the opposite side of the pivot 2S, so that the normal tendency of the valve 27 will be to move away from the valve seat 24 to open the valve This valve 27 The valve being pivotally connected tothe valve seat, and the valve seat itself being detachably connected with the section 16 of the valve casing,l it will be manifest that when the section 16 is detached, the valve .seat 24and the valve 27 together with the countenweight 29, will'also be removed, and by inverting the section thus removed, access may be readily had to thev valve seat and the valve Without dismantling all of the other parts of the mechanism. In order to limit the opening movement of the valve 27, a stop is provided which is preferably in the form of a cam having a cam face 31. This stop 30 is provided with an axle 32 rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing which is provided with packing 33 to form a fluid tight joint. The stop is located in close proximity to the valve so that when it is in itsl open position, it will engage 4the cam face 3l, and When the stop is rotated by ro- 'tating its axle 32, the cam face 31 Will be adjusted to present different portions to the valve and the degree of the opening movement of :the valve will consequently be controlled by the position of the cam Jtace with respect to the valve.

The stop 30 may be adjusted in any suitable manner preferably by means of a lever 34 which is connected with the axle 32 or" the stop on the outside of the valve casing.

This lever is of some Width and is providedY With a series' of apertures or openings 35 therein adapted to receive a stop lug 36, which lug coperates With the stop 37. When it is desired to adjust the stop 30, the stop lug 36 is placed in the proper opening 35, according to the position in Whichv it is desired to maintain the valve 27, and the stop will be held in its adjusted position by Jhe errigagement of the stop lug 36 with the As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, the

A iiuid enters the device through the supply pipe 22 and finds its Way out through the service pipe 23, and the valve 27 Will normally rest in an open position against the stop 30. The degree of the opening movement of the valve 27 may be varied, as has before been stated by the position into which the stop 30 has been previously adjusted, the valve being held open under normal conditions by the preponderance of Weight of the valve 27 over the Weight 29. It will therefore be seen that the ease With Which Vthe valve 27 is closed or operated by the flow of Huid through the device, will depend upon the angle that the valve assumes when normally at rest, against the stop 30, and by used to limit the degree of opening movement of the valve 27 only at the time that the device is installed. As the gas passes,

through the device under normal conditions, the valve 27 will not be affected, but, however, when an abnormal flow of the duidY takes place at the discharge side of the de vlce, the valve 27 will be automatically,

closed or moved by such abnormal ioW against its valveseat 24 and Will then be retained in its closed position by reason of the incoming pressure of the gas. Wien the leak or abnormal flow in the outlet pipe is stopped, the valve 27 will automatically resume its normal position. AThisis due to restoration of the pressure on thejoutlet side of the valve which may be accomplished by admitting fluid to that side ofthe valve, until the pressure thereon is equalized.

In order that the valve 27 may be operated under normal conditions at ythe Will or the Qperator, that is, when the pipes on the out-1 let side are intact or s nearly intact that the flow of gas is not sufficient to operate the valve 27, the stop 30 may be employed and is adapted to be rotated in its bearing by the operation of the lever 34 in a direc-Y tion to cause the high portion of the cam face 31 to ride against the valve 27 and thereby force it closed, and to rest against thevalve to hold it closed. In order to accomplish this, there is provided at'any convenientpoint, an operating handle 38,Which is connected with a shaft 39 journaled in the Walls of a housing designated generally by the reference numeral 40. This shaft 39 has a crank arm 4l which is connected by means of a link 42 with a slide or bar 43 movable in a guidewav 44 Within the housing. This slide passes through an opening in the bottom of the housing and through a tubular member or vguide 45, and is connected to the lever 34 by means of a link 46 which is pivotally connected by one extremity to the slide or bar v43 and by its other extremity to the lever 34, so that whenv the handle 38 is moved into the position shown in Fi 7, the crank arm 41 will through the nie ium of the link 42, move the slide or bar 43 in the guide 44 to shift the latter which will draw upon the link 46 to swing the lever 34,

in order to arrest the parts when they do asi sume this position, a stop 47 is provided within the housing 40 against which the crank arm 4l Will abut.

In order to prevent any strain on the parts which might be occasioned by exerting a pi'e'terabltv in the form of an elastic member or eoil spring which is interposed in the length of the shde and 1s connected by each extremity vv1tl1 the slide. ln Fig. l0 there 1s shown a modified form of yielding section and in this torni, one. ,extremity o the elastic v l said arlnating' member and handle, the

ineinber LS is connected by means of a ilexi l l i ible connection lli such as cable, or the like.

ivih the respective sections of the Slide or i :i .1 L 1 Y oar lo. Alter Lilie. i alve nas once been closed 1n 'his nainner. that 1s, manuallyv the ,pu tion ot the handle 38. 1n order to re-sei open. the operator must first return ndle l5 to its normal position and then the lever tiel back to the position 1n n the ha adpist which the Stop hn order to i: oteet the lever 3l and to prevent nnanth `1 ned intererenoe t-heroni'ilh, e stop lng 38 and oueed Within a removable the tubular projection 5l that extends tarn; opening in a portion of erasing, and 'cli fastening "Mary to remove before the eino'ed. l/itli this improved ifest that the stop )loved for two purposes, to walling the degree oi opening lie valve 2? and also as a nnaliy and positively closing' azien the duid is passing device under normal conditions holding the valve cloned. lt .vill t that. ready access may be ntl to valve Seat as well e Kali." chamber 19 by dei/ieee t7 which will .ion l@ together with .fd the valve, to be readily 1., willbeto i .v ie:

Class deeoribed, the ving an inletI and adaptedto be abnormal flow Y USL poaitively close 'a stop :'30 so as to permit the valve :2T to eonniotion, Aci the easing n by any suitable tastemng;

padlock. vvliioh engages an i the eaoing for o' will engage the Stop Iii.

i l l 2. In a device of the class described, the combination ot' a easing havingr an inlet and an outlet, aI lreel'v movable valve in the 'asing adapted lo automatic-all)v respond to an abnormal flow of luid to close the outlet, an independent adjustable ram within the ing adapted to engage the valve to positively rlose the latter, an exterior actuating me1nber tor said rain. an operating,r handle and a link havingl pivotal ronneetions with the points otl pivotal eoninetions oit` the linh with the member and handle being` adapted to be brought into a substantially stri ight line when the valve is closed to lorlt the parts in such position.

23. ln a devire ot the lass described, the combination oif a easing having an inlet and an outlet. a lreelv-movable valvein the ras iner adapted to be artuated aulomati 'ally by an abnormal lion' ol tluid lo close the outlet` a eam independent oi lthe valve within the easing adapted to engage the valve to positively close. the latter. an actuating member for said am, means lor adjusting l@aid aetnating member and the cam to variv the position ot' said valve. an operating` h-.indli and a link having` pivotal connect-ions with said artuatingr member and handle. the points ol pivotal connections ot' the linlt with the member Iand the handle beinel adapted lo be brought'into a substantialhy straight line when the valve is closed to loria the parte in such position. said artuating member having a yielding portion.

l. lin a device ot lhal rlass desrribed, the combination of a easing having`l an inlet and an outlet. a ti'eel'v movable valve in the Casing adapted to b arl'uated bv an abnormal tlouv ot' lluid to close the outlet, a rain in said easing' for positioning' said valve to regulate the degree ol' responsiveness ot' said valve and vonstilutiner a stop tor holding ilul valve in its adjusted .position without interlrrino with its automati(i operation. an' arm on the outside nl' said easiin ronnerled to Said cani. t'or artuatina' it lo nuwhanieallv close the valve. means cooperating with Said arm for-predeterminine its position so that it ma)Y be aetilated repeatedlvv .viihout disturbing' its adjustment. a remoteli` positioned operating; devire. ronnerlions al;- taehrd lo said devire and said arm whereby said valvi` may be inerhanirallv rlosed b v said devire at a distanre l'rom the valve.

i?. In a deviee ol the rlass described. the Combination ol a valvvl casing having` inlet and outlet ports. a t'reelv n'iovable valve pivoted in said easing: and arranged to respond to an abnormal loiv ot' fluid and close said outlet port. a cam in said casing for positioning said valve to regulate the degree of responsivenese ot' said valve and oonstituting a stop for holding the valve in its adjusted position without interfering with jnsting said outer device so that it may its automatic operation, an arm on the outside of said casing connected to said cam for actuating it to vmechanically closev the valve, and means cooperating with said arm for pre-determining its position so that it may be actuated repeatedly without disturbing its adjustment.

G. In a device of the class described, the combination of sectional casing having inlet and outlet port-s, a t'reclyn'iovable valve pivotaly suspended within said casing and arranged to automatically respond to an abnormal fion* of Huid. a device within said casing' but independent of the vvalve for positioning the valve to adjust its sensitive4 ness and for holding it in its adjusted position 'without intelierinv with its automatic operation, a device on the outside of said casing' connected to said inner device for actuating said inner device to mechanically close the valve instantly. and means t'or adrcturn to its pre-adjusted condition each time' after the valve is mechanically closed.

7. in a device of the class described, the combination of a chambered casing having an inlet and an outlet, a freely movable valve positioned in said casing to close the outlet port and sensitive to an abnormal vflow of duid, and mechanism independent ot said valve for adjusting its degree of sensitiveness and for mechanically closing the said valve at will, said mechanism comprising an adjustable device Within the casing against which the valve rests in its adjusted position, a device on the outside-of saidcasing connected .to said inner device for actuating Said inner device to move the valve i to a closed position, and means on the outl eration thereof without altering the adjustfV nient.

9. ln a device of the class described, the combination ot' a casingh'aving an inlet and an outlet, a valve inthe casing adapted to be'autoniatically actuated by an abnormal (ioiv of Huid to close the outlet, independent adjustable means within the casing adapted to position the valve for automatic operation and to engage the valve to positively close the latter, a remote and manually operable actuating member for said independent means, and connections between the said actuating member and said means, whereby the valve may be positively closed repeatedly without disturbing the adjustment of said means.

In testimony `whereof l have signed my name to this specication, in the presence or" two subscribing Witnesses, on this 27th day of Octobery D. 1911.

ROBERT H. CWDREY.

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