US2029629A - System and apparatus for release of fluids - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 4, 1936. D. MAPES SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASE OF FLUIDS Filed Oct. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR DAN/EL MAPEd ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1936. D. MAPES sYs'rEM- AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASE oF' FLUIDS Filed Oct. 21. 1931 2 Sheets$heet 2 Fla. 2

Fla. 3

' INVENTOR DAN/5L MAFEJ BY 0 W I:

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sizs'rEM AND AgE AZIZZ'ZZJS FOR RELEASE UIDS' Daniel Manes, Upper Montclair, N. J., assignors to Walter Kiddo & Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 21, 1931, Serial No. 570,102 11 Claims. (01. lea-11) In another application for Letters Patent of the United States,'Serial No. 278,009, filed May th, 1928, there is covereda cutter valve designed particularly for the release of carbon dioxide under 5 pressure for the purpose of extinguishing fire, although capable of application for other'purposes. I In that application a single cutter valve is'shown so designed that a plurality of such valves can be operated by fluid pressure from anv external 1 source. In accordance with that invention the plurality of cutter valves is connected in parallel for substantially simultaneous operation by pressure from a source or control pressure, and although the pressure released from the controlled. 1p containers is added to the pressure from the:

source of control pressure and assists the latter in actuating any cutter valve which has failed to operate sooner, the system is not so designed as to insure operation of all of the cutter valves." in

the present case it is sought to cover a plurality of cutter valves of the general type referred to in combination with a plurality of containers of fluid under pressure, the parts-being so designed, constructed and related that all of the cutter valves ofa battery of containers may be operated through the release of a fluid under pressure from a single-control container or other source and so that the fluid released from the'control container can act on only one cutter valve of a battery at '30 onetime, after the operation of which the con- I trol fluid is released to operate another cutter valve in the battery, et cetera'.

It is accordingly an obj ect of the present inven-' tion to provide a pressure-operated cutter valve which is positive in operation, yet simple in con- I struction.

' e It is afurtherobject of the invention to provide a system or operating a. plurality of pressure-opa erated cu ter valves having the same degree of positiveness of operation as a single cutter valve in accordance with this invention,

, Another object is to provide a system which is initially operable only liy pressure from a source of control pressure and in which the accidental release of pressure from any. controlled container,

as by development of excessive pressure with consequent release of pressure through the containerclosure, will not cause operation of the system. Another object is to provide a system in which 'tliecutter valves oia plurality of containers are operatively connected in series in a battery,fso that the control pressureacts on each pressuress Another object is to provide a. system in which the cutter valves are connected in series in a plurality of batteries, each connected to the source of control pressure whereby failure of a cutter valve in any battery to operate, as by reason of mechanical defects therein, will not affect the operation of the cutter-valves in any other battery.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated .above, willbe apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a complete system in accordance with the present invention, showing a single control container operatlvely connected to a plurality of batteries of controlled 'containers provided with pressure-operated cutter Au valves of special construction. x Figure 2 is a view in vertical, central section of one ,of the release devices or cutter valves shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, on a to somewhat smaller scale, but showing a difierent embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1 of the drawings there are repre sented at l containers of carbon dioxide from which fluid under pressure is discharged through it a pipe 2 (see Figure 2) which is extended in each container near to the bottom. To each container is secured one member 3 of a suitable coup into which the pipe 2 may be threaded, such coupling member being provided at t with a seat for'a sealing disc 5 and sealing gasket 6 held in place by a'thimble i. For convenience in manufacture and assembling a second coupling member 8 is formed separately from the coupling member 3 and may be secured thereto by threads 35 9 engaging cooperating threads on the coupling member 3. This coupling member is chambered, as at It, to receive with a'close-working fit; as at l I,, a piston member l2.

Actuated by the piston H which the sealing disc 5 is to be ruptured. In the construction shown this rupturing device is a tubular cutter extending within a passage M to permit the fluid from the container i, when released, to pass into the chamber iiand thence 45 through a port'lfi into one of the discharge lines I l which, as shown in Figure 1, connect the out-V let ports l6 of the release devices with the inlet ports 18 of the adjacent'release deviees. In theinto an extension or reduced portion l9 0! the -.pistori l2. Itis also-shown as bevelled and sharp- .)perated (131m? valve in succession but only upon "one cutter valve of the battery at one time.

ened atits lower end, as at 20, so that,' when driven downward by movement of the piston 12, it will'c'ut out the disc 5 and allow the fluid to is a device M a to.

escape from the container I into the discharge line H. At 2I is shown a coiled spring for normally sustaining the piston I2 in its highest position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the piston I2 normally closes off communication between the inlet port I8 and the outlet port I6, but when the actuating pressure is applied through the inlet port' I8 the piston I2 is forced downward, carrying with it the hollow tubular cutter I3 which ruptures the sealing .disc 5 and permits the contents of the container I to be released through the hollow tubular cutter and the passage I4. By this time the piston I2 has uncovered the outlet port I6 so that both the actuating fluid and the fluid released from the container I pass through the outlet port I6 and the discharge line I! to the inlet port I8 of the adjacent cutter valve. The apparatus is preferably so designed that the rupturing of the sealing disc 5 is effectively completed before the piston I2 uncovers the port I6 and permits the actuating fluid to proceed to the adjacent cutter .valve. In this manner a positive pressure-operated cutter valve is obtained in accordance with the present invention.

It will be apparent that development of excessive pressure within the control container I will cause rupturing of the sealing disc 5, which is normally designed as a safety disc, and in order to prevent operation of the piston I2 by the pressure fluid thus accidentally released from the container I, the piston is provided with an upwardly extending projection 22 which has a close-working fit, as at 23, with a bored-out portion of a sealing nut 24 adapted to close the'upper portion of the coupling member 8. This projection 22 is alsopreferably formed to engage the bore in the sealing nut 24 along the surface 25. With this construction there is no possibility of pressure accidentally released from the container I acting on the upper surface of the piston. At the same time the pressure thus accidentally released is permitted to escape through ports 26 in the hollow tubular cutter I3 and the lower piston extension I9 into the chamber III and then to the atmosphere through ports 21 in the wall of the coupling member 8. With this construction there is an additional safeguard against accidental operation of the piston as the pressure in the chamber I0 acts on the entire underneath surface of the piston and maintains it in its uppermost position.

In order to prevent escape of the fluid through the ports 26 when the cutter valve is intentionally operated, the ports 26 are designed to recede within the bore 28 in the lower part of the coupling member I, this bore being engaged with a close-working flt by the lower piston extension I9 so that fluid released from the container I cannot reach the chamber III and oppose the operative movement of the piston. However, the ports 21 will permit the escape of any fluid leaking past the lower piston extension I9, as well as any fluid leaking from above past the piston I2, and will at the same time prevent the building up vof back-pressure by the air contained within the chamber ll beneath the piston..

Referring again to Figure 1', a source of control pressure is shown as a container 29 provided with a valve '30 operable by a control handle 3| connected to the valve by a flexible cable 32 passing around a pulley 33, these controlling elements being old and thus forming no part of the present invention. The fluid outlet of the valve 30 is shown connected by piping 34 to a fitting 35 and a fitting 36. Four batteries of three of the containers I are shown connected to the fittings 35 and 36 by connecting pieces 31, the outlet port I6 of each container in a battery being connected to the inlet port I8 of the adjacent container and the inlet port I8 of the first container in a battery'being connected by the piece 31 to the piping 34. The outlet ports of the last containers in each group are connected 'to a common manifold 38 by the connecting pipes 39 and 40. When the control fluid, which is of theqsame nature as the fluid to be released from the controlled containers I, is released from the container 28 by the opening of the valve 30, the pressure of the control fluid acts upon the pistons of the first containers in each battery, and as soon as the pressure has actuated the cutter valves of these containers, it is released through the outlet ports of these containers into the inlet ports of the second containers, this manner of operation containing until the last containers have been released, whereupon both the control fluid and the released fluid are discharged through the common manifold 38.

With this arrangement, positive operation of the various pressure-operated cutter valves is insured and if for any reason, such as a mechanical defect in one of the cutter valves, a cutter valve in any battery should fail to operate, the operation of the other batteries will not be affected.

The amount of fluid discharge lost by the failure of any cutter valve in a battery to operate will depend upon the position of the cutter valve in the battery. For example, if the cutter valve of the last container of a battery of three containers fails to operate, only the fluid from that container will be lost for fire extinguishing or other purposes, as the fluid released from the first and second containers will be discharged back through the connections of the other batteries.

It should also b noted that the operation of the various batteries can only be initiated by the control fluid, as the construction of the individual cutter valves, whereby accidental releaseof fluid from any controlled container cannot oper- ,ate the piston of that container, likewise prevents operation of the cutter valves of any other con-' tainers in the same battery or in other batteries.

Referring now to Figure 3, the parts bearing the same reference characters as in Figure 2 are of the same construction and have the same functions as the parts in Figure 2 and further description of these elements is unnecessary.

The chief difference of Figure 2 is in the construction of the piston I 2' and in the arrange- -ment of the inlet port II'." and the outlet port I6. In this construction the outlet port I6 is arranged in a sealing nut ll" closing the upper portion of the coupling member I so as to form the chamber I5. A cage is threaded into the sealing nut I so as to form a gas-tight joint and is provided at its lower end with ports 43. The

lower surfaces 44 and 4501' the cage 62 are adapted to engagercorresponding surfaces of a bored-out portion of the piston I 2 with a closeworking flt, so as to produce a substantially gastight seal. The circumference of the piston I 2' is grooved at 46 so as to be releasably engaged by the spring-pressed ball 61 of a commercially obtainable catch 46 which is supported in the coupling member 8 through the inlet l8, it actsupon the upper surface of the piston I2 which advances the hollow tubular cutter i3 rupturing the sealing disc 5 and releasing the contents of the container l. The parts are preferably so designed that the rupturing of the sealing disc 5 is efiectively completed before the piston l2 uncovers the ports 43. The continued downward movement of the piston then completely uncovers the ports 43 and both the actuating fluid and the released fluid flow out through the ports 43 and the outlet port Hi to the inlet port l8 of the adjacent cutter valve.

It will accordingly be noted that the construction in accordance with Figure 3 can be employed in the general arrangemnt shown in Figure 1 equally as well as the construction shown in Figure 2 and in connection with both of these constructions it should be noted that it is preferable to design the inlet and outlet ports so as to take the combined flow of the medium released from allythe containers in a single battery without throttling or flow.

, It will accordingly be seen that I have invented a novel system or operating fluid releasing devices together with certain novel constructions of such devices and, while the present invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended cl.

1 claim as my invention: 1. In combination a fluid container having an opening and a closure for the opening, a body forming a. chamber, an operating member in the form of a piston in said chamber, an inlet for atting an operating fluid into the chamber above the operating member to actuate the same.

an opening member associated with'said operating member, said opening member being operable by said operating member to open said closure, an outlet portnormally closed oft by the operating member from the space above the operating memher and uncovered by movement-thereof to release the operating fluid only after the opening or the closure member has been efiectively completed, and a passage for connecting the space above the closure with the space'above the operating member after the latter has been operated, said passage being formed in said opening member and said operating member and closed by a portion of the .body when the operating member is in its inoperable position, said passage being open when the'operating member is moved to a position where the opening member opens the closure, whereby the fluid released from the container may also be discharged through the outlet port after it has been uncovered by the operating member.

2. lnacombination a fluid container having an opening and a closure for the opening, a body forming a chamber, an operating member in the form of a piston in said chamber, an inlet for admitting an operating fluid into the chamber above the operating member to actuate the same, an opening member associated with said operating member, said opening member being operable by said operating member to open said closure, an outlet 'port normally closed off by the operating member from the space above the operating member and uncovered by movement thereof to release the operating fluid only after the opening of the closure member has been efiectlvely completed, a

passage connecting the'spaceabove the closure with the space above the operating member when the latter has been operated, said passage being formed in said opening member and said operat ing member, whereby the fluid released from the container may also be discharged through the outlet port after it has been uncovered by the operating member, and means to prevent operation of the operating member by the fluid from the forming a chamber, an operating member in the form of a. piston in said chamber, inlet for admitting an operating fluid into the chamber above the operating member to actuate the same, anopening member associated with said operating member, said opening member being operable by said operating member to open said closure, an

outlet port normally closed oil by the operating member from the space above the operating member and uncovered by movement thereof to release the operating fluid only after the opening of the closure member has been effectively completed, a passage connecting the space above the closure with the space above the operating mem-= ber when the latter has been operated, said passage being formed in said opening member and said operating member, whereby the fluid released from the container may also be discharged through the outlet port after it has been uncovered by the operating member, and means to prevent operation of the operating member by the fluid from the container when accidentally mitting an operating fluid into the chamber above the operating member to actuate the same, an opening member associated with said operating member, said opening member being operable by said operating member to open said closure, an outlet port'normally closed oh by the operating member from the space above the operating member and uncovered by movement thereof torelease the operating fluid only after the opening of the closure member has been eiiectively completed, a passage connecting thespace above the closure with the space above theoperating member when the latter has been operated, said passage being formed insaid opening member and said operating member, whereby the fluid released from the container may also be dischargedthrough the outlet port after it has been uncovered by the operating member, means to pre-t vent operation or the operating member by the fluid from the container when accidentally re- 1 leased by reason of the development or" excessive pressure in the container, said last named'means shutting oil access between the container and the space above the operating member when the operating member is in its un-operated position, and

means to permit escape of the fluid when accidentallyrreleased.

5. In combination a fluid container having an opening and a closure for the opening, a b

forming a chamber, an operating member in the form of a piston in said chamber, an inlet for admitting an operating fluid into the chamber above the operating member to actuate the same, an opening member associated with said operating member, said opening member being operable the closure with the space above the operating member when the latter has been operated, said passage being formed in said opening meinber and said operating member, whereby the fluid released from the container may also be discharged through the outlet port after it has been uncovered by the operating member, means to prevent operation of the operating member by the fluid from the container when accidentally released by reason of the development of excessive pressure in the container, said last named means shutting off access between the container and the space above the operating member when the operating member is in its un-operated position, and means to permit escape of the fluid when accidentaly released, said last named means comprising a passage connecting the container above the closure with the chamber beneath the operating member and a passagetherefrom to the atmosphere.

'6. In combination a fluid container having an opening and a closure for the opening, a body forming a chamber, an operating member in the form of a piston in said chamber, an inlet for admitting an operating fluid into the chamber above the operating member to actuate the same, an opening member associated with said operating member, said opening member being operable by said operating member to open said closure, an outlet port normally closed 06 by the operating member from the space above the operating member and uncovered by movement thereof to release the operating fluid only after the opening of the closure member has been eifectively completed, a passage connecting the space above the closure with the space above the operating me ber when the latter has been operated, said DflSr/ sage being formed in said opening member and said operating member, whereby the fluid released from the container may also be discharged through the outlet port after it has been uncovered by the operating member, means to prevent operation of the operating member by the fluid from the container when accidentally released by reason of the development of excessive pressure in the container, said last named means shutting ofi access between the container and the space above the operating member when the operating member is in its un-operated position, and means to permit escape of the fluid when accidentally released, said last named means comprising a passage connecting the container above the closure with the chamber beneath the operating member and a passage therefrom to the atmosphere, said last named passage likewise serving to prevent the building up of effective resistance to the operative movement of the operating member. F

7; In combination: a primary receptacle carrying a fluid under pressure, primary fluid retaining means for'retaining said fluid in said receptacle, a delivery means into which said fluid is delivered when it is released, and primary operating'means for operating said primary fluid retaining means in a manner to release the fluid from said primary receptacle; and a plurality of secondary receptacles carrying a fluid under pressure, each having a chambered body member, a secondary fluid retaining means associated with each said chambered body member for retaining said fluid in each said secondary receptacle, a secondary operating means for operating each said secondary fluid retaining means in order to release the fluid from each said secondary receptacle, and a-fluid operated means mounted in the chamber of each'said body member for actuating each said secondary operating means; each said chambered body member having an inlet for admitting an operating fluid into the body member to a surface of the fluid operated means to actuate the same, an outlet passage in the body member normally closed off from the surface of the operating member to which the operating fluid is admitted and adapted to be opened thereto by movement of the operating member to release the operating fluid to the outlet only after the opening of the closure member has been eflectively completed, and a normally closed fluid conducting passage adapted to be opened by movement of the operating member to connect the space above the closure with the outlet; said outlets and inlets of said secondary receptacles being operatively connectedin succession for fluid conduction to form a group of receptacles and the inlet of the head receptacle of the group being connected to said delivery means; whereby upon release of fluid from the primary receptacle the fluid operated means directly connected to the delivery means is acted upon by the fluid released from the primary rcceptacle, 'and each succeeding fluid operated means is acted upon in succession both by the fluid released from the primary receptacle and the fluid released from the preceding receptacle or receptacles.

8. In combination: a primary receptacle carrying a fluid under pressure, primary fluid retaining means for retaining said fluid in said receptacle, a delivery means into which said fluid is delivered when it is released, and primary operating means for operating, said primary fluid retaining means in a manner to release the fluid from said primary receptacle; and a plurality of secondary receptacles carrying a fluid under pressure, each having a chambered body member, a secondary fluid retaining means associated with each said chambered body member for retaining said fluid in each said secondary receptacle, a secondary operating means for operating each said secondary fluid retaining means in order to re-- lease the fluid from each said secondary receptacle, and a fluid operated means mounted in the chamber of each said body member for actuating each said secondary operating means; each said chambered body member having an inlet for admitting an operating fluid into the body member to a surface of the fluid operated means to actuate the same, an outlet passage in the body member normally closed 011 from the surface of the operating member to which the operating fluid is admitted and adapted to be opened thereto by movement of the operating member to release the operating fluid to the outlet only'after the opening of the closure member has been effectively completed, and a normally closed fluid conducting passage adapted to be opened by movement oi the operating member to connect the space above the closure with the outlet; said sec- Cal ondary receptacles being operatively connected in a plurality of groups, the outlets and inlets of the secondary receptacles in each group being operatively connected in succession for fluid conduction and the inlets of the head receptacles in each group being connected tothe said delivery means in parallel; whereby upon release of fluid from the primary receptacle the fluid operated means directly connected to the delivery means in parallel are each acted upon by a portion of the fluid released from the primary receptacle, and each succeeding fluid operated means in a group is acted upon in succession both by a portion of the fluid released from the primary receptacle and the fluid released from'the preceding receptacle or receptacles in the same group.

9. In combination: a primary receptacle carrying a fluid under pressure, primary fluid retaining means for retaining said fluid in said receptacle, a delivery means into which said fluid is delivered when it is released, and primary operating means for operating said primary fluid retaining means in a manner to release the fluidfrom said primary receptacle; and a plurality of secondary receptacles carrying a fluid .under pressure, each having a chambered body member, a secondary fluid retaining means associated with each said chambered body member for retaining said fluid in each said secondary receptacle, a secondary operating means for operating each said secondary fluid retaining means in order to release the fluid from each said secondary receptacle, and a fluid operated means mounted in the chamber of each said body member for actuating each said secondary operating means; each said chambered body member having an inlet for admitting an operating fluid into thebody member to a surface of the fluid operated means to actuate the same, an outlet passage in the body member normally closed off from the surface of the operating member to which the operating fluid is admitted and adapted to be opened thereto by movement ofthe operating member to 'release the operating fluid to the outlet only after the opening of the closure member has been effectively completed, and a normally closed fluid conducting passage adapted to be opened by movement of the operating member to connect the space above the closure with the outlet; said secondary receptacles being operatively connected in a plurality of groups, the

outlets and inlets of the secondary receptacles in each group being operatively connected in succession for fluid conduction and the inlets of the head receptacles in each group being connected to the said delivery means in parallel; whereby upon release of fluid from the primary receptacle the fluid operated means directly connected to the delivery means in parallel are each acted upon by a portion of the fluid released'from the primary receptacle, and each succeeding fluid operated means in a group is acted upon in succession both by a portion of the fluid released from the primary receptacle and the fluid releasedfrom the preceding receptacle or receptacles in the same group; the outlets of the last receptacles in each group being operativelyconnected to a common discharge line.

'. In combination, a fluid container having an opening and a closure for the opening, a body formed with a chamber, an operating member in the form of a piston in said chamber, an inlet for admitting an operating fluid into the chamber above the operating member to actuate the same, an opening member associated with said operating member, said opening member being operable by said operating member to open said closure, an outlet port normally closed off by the operating member from the space above the operating member and uncovered by movement thereof to release the operating fluid only after the opening of the closure member has been effectively completed, and a normally closed fluid conducting passage adapted to be opened by movement of the operating member to connect the space above the closure with the outlet,

whereby the fluid released from the container may also be discharged through the outlet when the passage has been opened by movement of the operating member.

11. In combination, a fluid container having an opening and a closure for the opening, a body formed with a chamber, an operating member in the form of a piston in said chamber, an inlet for admitting an operating fluid into the chamber above the operating member to actuate the same, an opening member associated with said operating member, said opening .member being operable by said operating member to open said closure, an outlet port normally closed off from the space, above .the uncovered by movement thereof to release the operating fluid only after the opening of the closure member has been effectively completed, anda normally closed fluid conducting passage adapted to be opened by movement of the operating member to connect the space above the closure with the outlet, whereby the fluid released from the container may also be discharged through the outlet when the passage has been opened bymovement of the operating member.

' DANIEL MAPES.

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