WO1992014083A1

WO1992014083A1 - Emergency valve

Info

Publication number: WO1992014083A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/000639
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard F. Gordon
Original assignee: Memry Corp.
Priority date: 1991-01-30
Filing date: 1992-01-27
Publication date: 1992-08-20

Abstract

A self actuating, quick acting, ambient temperature responsive resettable valve, for insertion in an industrial process fluid line which includes a valve body (10) having a flow path therethrough, a valve seat (42) in the flow path, a valve element (38) normally spaced from the valve seat (42) and movable to a position onto the valve seat (42) to block fluid flow through and along the flow path, and shape memory means (34) for moving the valve element (38) onto the valve seat (42) when the ambient temperature conditions in the vicinity of the valve increase to a predetermined level, the shape memory means (34) releasing a reset means (40) which previously held the valve element (38) against movement onto the valve seat. The reset means (40) includes a member which engages the valve elements (38), and the apparatus as a whole is arranged so that the valve (38) cannot be manually activated unless the shape memory means (34) is exposed to said predetermined, elevated temperature and cannot be reset until the valve is exposed to a temperature below the predetermined temperature. The valve includes relief valve means (64) actuated when the valve element (38) is seated on the valve seat (42) to release pressure to the atmosphere from the valve outlet (20).

Description

EMERGENCY VALVE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to emergency valve apparatus, and, more particularly, for use in fluid systems in process industries.

There is a possibility for serious damage to occur in certain types of processes in various industries, for example, a fire could cause the failure of flow controllers and lines containing toxic flammable and otherwise hazardous fluids, and methods are sought by which the danger of these situations can be eliminated. The present invention adds a measure of functionality to valves of the class described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,388, and is usable for pneumatic systems as well as liquid systems.

Background of the Invention Prior valves are usually continuously vented when they are actuated so that the pneumatic supply pressure continues to flow. Also, the aforementioned patent discloses an emergency valve which has a test capability so that when desired, the valve can be actuated by an increase in heat so that the safety feature of the valve is actuated.

Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide such a valve which has a shut-off mechanism so that the fluid supply pressure is shut off while venting the downstream pneumatic control pressure to the atmosphere.

It is another object of the invention to provide an emergency valve which provides a straight through flow. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a valve which is non-sparking.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a safety valve of the type described in which, after activation of the valve due to high ambient temperature, the valve must be manually reset, i.e., it is not reset when the temperature cools to below the activation temperature of the valve.

It is a further object to provide (in at least one embodiment) an emergency valve in which there is no provision to manually trip the valve unless the shape memory is heated from an external source, such as a heat gun.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a self actuating, quick acting, ambient temperature responsive resettable valve, for insertion in an industrial process fluid line which comprises a valve body having a flow path therethrough, a valve seat in the flow path, a valve element normally spaced from the valve seat and movable to a position onto the valve seat to block fluid flow through and along the flow path, and a shape memory assembly for moving the valve element onto the valve seat when the ambient temperature conditions in the vicinity of the valve increase above a predetermined level, the shape memory assembly releasing a reset mechanism which previously held the valve element against movement onto the valve seat. The reset mechanism comprises an element which engages the valve element, and the apparatus as a whole is arranged so that the valve cannot be manually activated unless the shape memory assembly is exposed to the predetermined, elevated temperature. After the SME spring or element has actuated the safety feature of the valve, i.e., the valve has been exposed to an ambient temperature higher than that for which it is set, and it has shut off, the supply of fluid and vented the downstream line to the atmosphere, the valve must be manually reset when the ambient temperature is lowered to below the temperature for which it is set. However, it cannot be reset until after the ambient temperature falls below the predetermined temperature for which it is set to be activated. The hysteresis of the SME spring requires that the valve have a lower ambient temperature than the one for which it is set .

The invention also provides such a valve which includes a relief valve mechanism actuated when the valve element is seated on the valve seat to release pressure to the atmosphere from the valve outlet.

Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a first embodiment of the valve.

FIG. la is a sectional view through a second embodiment of the valve.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the valve shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3a and 3b are partial views of the reset stem. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the emergency valve.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a further embodiment of the emergency valve. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a still further embodiment of the emergency valve.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the valve shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view through the housing of the valve shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a view of the reset sleeve as it would appear if opened to be flat.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

FIRST EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the valve is shown in the open position. There is a housing 10 which is surrounded by an upper cover 12 and a lower cover 14 which are provided with slot like openings 16 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) for a purpose which will be discussed below. The upper end is the flow inlet 18 and the bottom end is the flow outlet 20. The housing 10 has various openings and bores in it, the purposes for which will become clearer as the description proceeds.

At the upper end of the valve housing is a large bore 22 of a slightly smaller diameter at the bottom so that a washer 24 can be seated in it as shown and the fluid can easily pass therethrough. A cap 26 is threadedly connected with the bore by the meshing threads provided in each of these parts. The cap itself has internal threads so that it may be connected into a fluid line. The outlet 20 has a threaded conduit so that it may also be connected into a fluid line. The housing has a continuous opening through it from top to bottom so that the fluid may pass through when the valve remains open.

There are two horizontal bores 28 and 30 in the housing 10. The upper bore 28 has a ball 38 located at one end which is against the bottom of a reset stem 40 so that the reset stem 40 is constrained to hold the ball 38 against the end of the bore 28 by a slide 32. The reset stem 40 has a plunger head 41 which engages ball 38 and is opposed by the valve's working pressure. There is an 0-ring 43 on the reset stem 40. A shaft 47 protrudes through the housing 10 (FIGS. 3a and 3b), keyhole 99 located in slide 32 and the slot 45 in the upper cover 12 (FIG. 2) . The end of this shaft 47 has a push button 49. Any time the valve is actuated by heat for example, the reset button 40 and reset knob 17 will be in the dotted line positions shown in FIG. 1 and when the emergency is over, the valve is reset by pressing on the reset button 49 to return it to its normal position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 and vertically raising reset knob 17.

Bore 28 communicates with a reset valve seat 42 having an O-ring 44 so that when the ball is free the internal valve pressure will push back the stem 40 and the ball will seat on the O-ring 44 and thus seal the flow passage 46 through the valve seat.

When the valve is actuated it is the pressure that drives spool 64 away from the end of the lower bore 30. There is an O-ring 70 at the flange at one end of the spool 64. O-ring 70 is retained by O-ring groove 69 in the spool.

The slide 32 is in the shape of a sleeve and is disposed about the middle of the housing 10 and can move upwardly and downwardly along the outside of the housing depending upon the ambient conditions at any particular time. The cap 26 extends to the outside of the upper cover 12 and a shape memory spring 34 is located about the upper end of the housing and exerts its bias between the cap 26 and the upper end of slide 32. As seen in FIG. 1 the spring 34 is in the closed position in which there can be free fluid flow through the valve from top to bottom. Spring 34 bears against the underside of the cap 26 at its upper end and against the top of the slide 32 at its bottom end. The slide 32 has an opening 54 at a point in the area of the two bores 28 and 30 and is situated so that when the slide is moved downwardly the opening 54 is lowered to a position where it is in line with the bore 30. Through the opening 56 in the bottom of bore 30 the interior of the bore may communicate with the opening 54 in the slide 32. When shape memory spring 34 elongates the position of slide 32 is such that openings 56 and 54 are aligned. Opening 56 is drilled through the housing on the centerline of bore 30. A spring 58 biases the sleeve 32 upwardly to normally retain the sleeve in its upper position as shown in FIG. 1.

In operation, if external heat is applied, for example, if there should be a fire in the vicinity of the valve, the shape memory spring 34 elongates against the bias of spring 58, and slide 32 travels downwardly along the housing 10 until the reset stem 40 is released. FIGS. 3a and 3b show portions of the slide 32 with covers 12 and 14 removed. FIG. 3a shows a small portion of keyhole 99 located in slide 32 retaining the reset stem 40. When slide 32 is moved downwardly (via elongation of shape memory spring 34) the large diameter of reset stem 40 can pass through the larger opening in the keyhole 99. There is a slot 45 in upper housing 12 and the purpose is to facilitate assembly and act as a stop for the large diameter of reset stem 40. Because of upstream pressure the ball 38 is seated on O-ring 44 and thus stopping fluid flow through the valve . When shape memory spring 34 is elongated the position of slide 32 is such that openings 56 and 54 are aligned. Opening 56 is drilled through the housing on the centerline of bore 30.

Simultaneously spool 64 is forced into detent slot 72 in slide 32 by internal valve pressure and creates an opening for the downstream fluid, such as pneumatic gas, to be vented to atmosphere upwardly through outlet 20 and around the left end of the spool 64 through and past the spring 62, through the opening 54 in the sleeve and then out through one of the slots 16 in the upper and lower covers 12 and 14, respec¬ tively. When the shape memory spring 34 cools and returns to its coil bound condition the valve can be reset . The reset procedure is a stepped one and includes:

(1) Pushing the reset stem 40 in, allows the bias spring 58 to push the slide 32 up latching the reset stem 40 into the open position.

(2) Then, the knurled knob 17 is raised vertically upwardly. Raising knurled knob 17 upwardly insures that detent slot 72 has cammed the rounded end of spool detent 98 out of slide 32 and that spool 64 has returned back into the closed position.

SECOND EMBODIMENT Another embodiment is shown in FIG. la in which those parts which are similar to those of the first embodiment shown in FIG 1 are labeled with the same numerals, and different parts have different numerals. In FIG. la the valve is shown in the open position. There is a housing 10 which is surrounded by an upper cover 12 and a lower cover 14 which are provided with slot like openings 16 as in FIG. 2. The upper end is the flow inlet 18 and the bottom end is the flow outlet 20. The housing 10 has various openings and bores in it.

At the upper end of the valve housing 10 is a large bore 22 of a slightly smaller diameter at the bottom so that a washer 24 can be seated in it as shown and the fluid can easily pass therethrough. A cap 26 is threadedly connected with the bore by the meshing threads provided in each of these parts. The cap itself has internal threads so that it may be connected into a fluid line. The outlet 20 has a threaded conduit so that it may also be connected into a fluid line. The housing has a continuous opening through it from top to bottom so that the fluid may pass through when the valve remains open. There are two horizontal bores 28 and 30 in the housing 10. The upper bore 28 has a spring 36 which engages the ball 38 at one end and the bottom of the bore at the other end so that ball 38 is against the bottom of a reset stem 40 which is constrained to hold the ball 38 against the spring 36 by a slide 32. The reset stem 40 has a plunger head 41 which engages ball 38 and is opposite the spring 36. There is an O-ring 43 on the reset stem. A shaft 47 protrudes through the housing 10 and through keyhole 99 located in slide 32 and the slot 45 in the upper cover 12. The end of this shaft 47 has a push button 49. Any time the valve is actuated by heat for example, the button will be in the dotted line position shown in FIG. la and when the emergency is over, the valve is reset by pressing on the reset button 49 to return it to its normal position as shown in solid lines in FIG. la. Bore 28 has a small sleeve 51 inserted therein with the reset stem being slidable therein to permit movement of the plunger and the entire stem.

Bore 28 communicates with a reset valve seat 42 having an O-ring 44 so that when the ball and spring are free the spring 36 will push back the stem 40 and the ball will seat on the O-ring 44 and thus seal the flow passage 46 through the valve seat.

The lower bore 30 in housing 10 has a narrowed portion 60 in which there is seated a spring 62 which presses against the bottom of the bore at one end, and against a spool 64 at the other end. There is an O- ring 68 and an O-ring 70 at the flange at each end of the spool 64. O-ring 68 is held captive at the bottom of bore 30 and seals against the flange located on spool 64. O-ring 70 is retained by O-ring groove 69 in the spool. A slide 32 in the shape of a sleeve is disposed about the middle of the housing 10 and can move upwardly and downwardly along the outside of the housing depending upon the ambient conditions at any particular time. The cap 26 extends to the outside of the upper cover 12 and a shape memory spring 34 is located about the upper end of the housing and exerts its bias between the cap 26 and the upper end of slide 32. As seen in FIG. la the spring 34 is in the closed position in which there can be a free fluid flow through the valve from top to bottom. Spring 34 bears against the underside of the cap 26 at its upper end and against the slide 32 at its bottom end.

The slide 32 has an opening 54 at a point in the area of the two bores 28 and 30 and is situated so that when the slide is moved downwardly the opening 54 is lowered to a position where it is in line with the bore 30. Through the opening 56 in the bottom of bore 30 the interior of the bore may communicate with the opening 54 in the slide 32. When shape memory spring 34 is elongated the position of slide 32 is such that openings 56 and 54 are aligned. Opening 56 is drilled through the housing on the centerline of bore 30. A spring 58 biases the sleeve upwardly to normally retain the sleeve 32 in its upper position as shown in FIG. la. In operation, if external heat is applied, for example, if there should be a fire in the vicinity of the valve, the shape memory spring 34 elongates against the bias of spring 58, and slide 32 travels downwardly along the housing 10 until the reset stem 40 is released. FIGS. 3a and 3b show the slide 32 with covers 12 and 14 removed. FIG. 3a shows a small portion of keyhole 99 located in slide 32 retaining the reset stem 40. When slide 32 is moved downwardly (via elongation of shape memory spring 34) the large diameter of reset stem 40 can pass through the larger opening in the keyhole 99. There is a slot 45 in upper housing 12 and the purpose is to facilitate assembly and act as a stop for large diameter of reset stem 40. Because of upstream pressure the ball 38 is seated on O-ring 44 thus stopping fluid flow through the valve. When shape memory spring 34 is elongated the position of slide 32 is such that openings 56 and 54 are aligned. Opening 56 is drilled through the housing on the centerline of bore 30. Simultaneously spool 64 is forced into detent slot 72 in slide 32 by spring 62 and creates an opening for the downstream fluid, such as pneumatic gas, to be vented to atmosphere upwardly through outlet 20 and around the left end of the spool 64 through and past the spring 62, through the opening 54 in the sleeve and then out through one of the slots 16 in the upper and lower covers 12 and 14, respectively.

When the shape memory spring 34 cools and returns to its coil bound condition the valve can be reset.

Pushing the reset stem 40 in, allows the bias spring 58 to push the slide 32 up latching the reset stem 40 into the open position. Simultaneously a cam-detent slot 72 is the cam surface that kicks the rounded end of spool detent 98 out when reset button 49 is pushed in and the slide 32 returns the spool 64 back into the closed position.

THIRD EMBODIMENT FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention in which there is a housing 10, an inlet 18 at one side, and an outlet 20 at the other side. This embodiment is intended to be mounted in the pneumatic supply line of one or more pneumatically operated valves. A ball 38 is situated between an upper valve seat or venting seat 42 and a lower valve seat 78 which controls passage of fluid through the inlet 18 to the outlet 20.

The present invention also provides a stem guide 89 mounted above the venting seat 42 and which has a bore 80 therein. A stem 40 is guided within it. This stem 40 has an enlarged end 82 and a smaller portion 84 extending therefrom. There is a shape memory spring 34 disposed between the top 88 of the guide 89 and the top of slide 32 to move the slide downwardly when heat from a fire is sensed by the shape memory spring 34, and which then permits the spring 92 to move downwardly and move the ball 38 away from the upper valve seat 42 and to the lower valve seat 78. There is a slide 32 mounted on the outside of stem guide 89. The slide 32 has an internal annular opening 90 therein, so that in one position of the sleeve 32 the detent ball 39 will be moved into this space by the camming action of the lower end of the stem and the stem can then be moved manually to test the valve since the end 84 of the stem will engage and press the ball away from upper valve seat and against the lower valve seat.

Under normal operation the pneumatic gas pressure raises the ball 38 and forms a seal to the environment at the venting seat 42. Compressed gas enter the. housing inlet 18 and is ported to the housing outlet 20. The shape memory spring 34 senses the ambient air temperature . Should an excessive ambient air temperature result from fire the shape memory spring 34 will expand and do work against the slide 32 and the bias spring 58. When the slide 32 releases detent ball 39 stem 40 can be powered downwardly by the power spring 58. Power spring 58 imparts sufficient force to move and hold the ball 38 against the lower valve seat 78 located in the housing 10. This action shuts off the supply pressure upstream of the ball 38 and ports the pressurized passages downstream of the ball 38 to atmo¬ sphere allowing the pneumatically operated valve to go normally closed.

The valve can be tested by manual movement of the slide 32 and reset by manual movement of the stem 40.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention in which there is a housing 10, an inlet 18 at one side, and an outlet 20 at the bottom. This embodiment is intended to be mounted at one or more pneumatically operated valves in the pneumatic supply line.

There is a puck 74 which is movable up and down within a confined space inside the housing 10. The pneumatic gas pressure raises the puck 74 and forms a seal to the environment at the upper O-ring 44. The pneumatic gas enters the housing inlet 18 and is ported to the housing outlet 20 through the specially designed spacer 73.

The shape memory spring 34 senses the ambient air temperature through vents 75 in cap 26. Should an excessive ambient air temperature result from a fire the shape memory spring 34 will expand and do work against the snap spring 76. There is also a retainer 77, and a stem 79 which can be used to manually actuate the valve. When the snap spring 76 passes through its over-center position it exerts a force sufficient to displace and hold the puck 74 against the lower O-ring 68 seal. This action shuts off the supply pressure upstream of the puck 74 and allows the pressurized passages downstream of the puck 74 to be vented to atmosphere allowing the pneumatically operated valve to go normally closed. The valve can be tested and reset by manual movement of the stem 40.

FIFTH EMBODIMENT In FIG. 7, another embodiment of the valve is shown in the open position. There is a housing 110 which has an upper cap 126 threaded thereto. Within the central bore of the housing there is a shuttle 125 which has limited movement upwardly and downwardly. There is an actuator sleeve 140 mounted around an upper portion of the body 110 which has limited movement upwardly and downwardly under emergency conditions . A reset sleevell4 surrounds a lower portion of the body 110 for limited up and down movement and limited rotational movement . Dog point screws 100 assist in limiting the relative movement of the reset sleeve 114 and the shuttle 125 with respect to each other. The actuator sleeve 140 and the body 110 are surrounded by an upper cover 112 which is provided with slot like openings 116 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) to permit the shape memory spring 134 to be exposed to the ambient environment. The upper end is the flow inlet 118 and the bottom end is the flow outlet 120. The housing 110 has various openings and bores in it, the purposes for which will become clearer as the description proceeds . At the upper end of the valve housing there is a cap 126 threadedly connected with the outer surface of the upper end of housing 110 by meshing threads provided in each of these parts. The cap 126 itself has internal threads so that it may be connected into a fluid line. The outlet 120 has a threaded conduit so that it may also be connected into a fluid (gas or liquid) line.

The housing 110 has a continuous opening through it from top to bottom so that the fluid may pass through when the valve is open.

There are two spiral slots 128 and 130 in the housing 110 and which are opposite one another. There is a bore 122 at a higher vertical position as shown in the drawing into which a ball is 138 located and sits in place by being located partially within an annular groove 123 formed into the shuttle 125 so that the shuttle is constrained from movement downwardly.

The lower end of the actuator sleeve 140 holds the ball 138 within the bore 122 on the outside as shuttle 125 does on the inside. However, a portion of the ball 138 sits within the annular groove 123 of the shuttle 125 and there is constant pressure on the ball 138 from the spring 158 which urges the shuttle 125 downwardly, although no movement takes place when there is no dangerously hot conditions in the area. The upper edge 129 of the annular groove 123 is at a 45° angle to provide this pressure on the ball 138.

The upper end of the shuttle 125 is the valve element . At this upper end there is a series of radial bores 102 which extend through the shuttle 125 so that these bores 102 extend from the outer surface to the blind bore 104 in the center. There is an annular groove 106 in the upper end of the shuttle and above the location of the radial bores 102 and at the outer surface of the shuttle 125 into which an upper O-ring 108 is seated, and below the level of the radial bores 102 is another annular groove 136 into which another and lower O-ring 148 is seated.

There is a slot 150 at the upper edge of the shuttle 125 to hold the lower end of a spring 158 , the upper end of which is located in a countersunk bore 152 in the lower end of cap 126 so that the shuttle 125 is constantly being urged downwardly.

At the lower end of the shuttle 125 there is another annular groove 154 in which another O-ring 156 is seated. Above this lower annular groove 154 is a further and wider annular groove 160 into which the smooth end 162 of the dog point screws 100 are located to limit the upward and downward sliding of the shuttle 125.

The actuator sleeve 140 may move vertically upwardly and downwardly on the body 110 from its upper position as shown in FIG. 6 when the valve is open, to a lower position which will be described below. The upper end of the actuator sleeve 140 has a notch 164 into which the lower end of an SME spring 134 sits, and the upper end of which presses against the bottom portion of cap 126. There is an internal annular groove 166 in the actuator sleeve 140 which does not function when the valve is open, but performs its function which the valve closes or starts to close. At the lower end of the actuator sleeve 140 there is a notch 168 into which the upper end of a bias spring 170 sits and the lower end of which rests against the reset sleeve 114 to be explained below.

The reset sleeve 114 surrounds the body 110 toward the lower end. As will be seen it has two partially threaded openings 172 into which dog point screws 100 are threadedly engaged. The internal ends 162 of these screws are smooth and sit within the annular groove 160 on the outer surface of the shuttle 125. Thus, the reset sleeve 114 may move vertically upwardly and downwardly to a limited extent. The screws 100 are located within the spiral slots 128 and 130 formed into the body 110 and extend all the way through the body as can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9. Thus, when the reset sleeve 114 is rotated it moves upwardly and downwardly depending upon the direction of the sleeve turning force such as from a user grasping the reset sleeve 114 and turning it. As the internal smooth portions 162 of the dog point screws 100 move rotationally they are permitted to keep moving by this annular groove 160 in which they sit. The lower end of bias spring 170 rests in a groove 179 in the upper portion of the reset sleeve 114 and normally urges the actuator sleeve 140 upwardly. At the lower end of the reset sleeve 114 is a groove 175 into which the upper end of a torsion spring 173 sits, and the bottom end of which rests in a groove 171 in the enlarged head of the housing 110.

In operation, in the event there is heat present, for example, if there should be a fire in the vicinity of the valve, the shape memory spring 134 elongates against the bias of spring 170, and actuator sleeve 140 travels downwardly along the housing 110 until the annular groove 166 in the inner surface of the actuator sleeve 140 is lowered so that it is at the same height as the ball 138. At this point shuttle 125 is being urged downwardly by action of the spring 152. As the downward travel of the shuttle 125 begins the slanted surface 129 (located on the 2 o'clock position of the ball 138) forces the ball 138 to be transferred from groove 123 in shuttle 125 to internal groove 166 in actuator sleeve 140. The radial openings 102 at the upper end of the shuttle 125 move so they are blocked from any communication with the upper or inlet end 118 of the valve and the O-ring 108 engages the valve seat 142 to stop the flow of fluid medium through the valve. When the downward travel of shuttle 125 is complete O-ring groove 154 and O-ring 156 extend past the venting valve seat 900 and is no longer in contact with the bore 901 located in housing 110. This opens a venting path for the fluid downstream of the valve to escape.

This is the closed or actuated position of the emergency valve. The valve will remain in this actuated condition until after the source of heat is removed from the vicinity of the valve, but the valve will not be opened because it is blocked from doing so by the action of the ball 138 in the annular groove 166 in the actuator sleeve 140 which is blocked from doing so since no groove is present in the shuttle which can accept the ball 138. The reset is provided manually by a person moving the reset sleeve 114 rotationally in the direction of the spiral grooves 128, 130 in the body 110. When the actuator sleeve 140 moves upwardly the dog point screws 100 raise shuttle 125 upwardly until the external groove 123 located in the shuttle 125 becomes aligned with bore 122. At this point, the bias spring 170 urges the actuator sleeve to move upwardly causing the slanted surface 901 of actuator sleeve 140 to tr ansfer ball 138 from actuator sleeve groove 166 to shuttle groove 123. The dog point screws at this point rest against the upper end of annular groove 160 in the shuttle 125 and move the shuttle upwardly until the ball moves back into the outer groove 123 in the shuttle and the radial openings 102 are moved above the valve seatl42 to again permit the flow of fluid therethrough.

In the tripped position of the valve, the downstream port 120 is vented to the atmosphere by travel of the fluid around the bottom of shuttle 125 past O-ring 156 and into annular slot 160 in the shuttle 125 and into the spiral slots 128 and 130 in housing 110 into the space 179 at the top of reset sleeve 114 into cover 112 and out through slots 116 in the cover to the atmosphere. It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details, and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

Clai s

1. A self actuating, quick acting, ambient temperature responsive resettable valve, for insertion in an industrial process fluid line, comprising: a. a valve body having a flow path therethrough; b. a valve seat in said flow path; c. a valve element normally spaced from said valve seat and movable to a position onto the valve seat to block fluid flow through and along said flow path; d. reset means for holding the valve element against movement onto the valve seat and which can be manually reset only after the ambient temperature in the vicinity of the valve decreases to below a predetermined level; e. means for overcoming the reset means and moving the valve element onto the valve seat when the ambient temperature conditions in the vicinity of the valve increase to above the predetermined level; and f. relief valve means for releasing downstream pressure to the atmosphere when the valve element is on the valve seat .

2. A valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve element moving means includes a shape memory element .

3. A valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said overcoming means includes a movable element which moves longitudinally toward and away from the valve seat.

4. A valve as defined in claim 2, said reset means comprising a plunger which engages the valve element, the apparatus as a whole being arranged so that the valve cannot be manually activated unless the means for moving the valve element is exposed to said predetermined, elevated temperature.

5. A valve as defined in claim 2, wherein the valve element is a puck which is biased toward the valve seat, and the reset means is a reset stem assembly opposite the biasing force for normally resisting the biasing force, but movable into a closed position when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined point.

6. A valve as defined in claim 2, wherein the valve element is a ball which is biased toward the valve seat, and the reset means is a reset stem assembly opposite the biasing force for normally resisting the biasing force, but movable into closed position when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined point.

7. A valve as defined in claim 3 wherein the valve element is normally biased toward the valve seat and the reset means includes a ball normally engaged with the valve element to retain it open, but movable to disensage the valve element so such element moves into closed position when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined point.

8. A valve as defined in claim 6, wherein the means for moving the ball onto the valve seat includes a shape memory spring which normally is overcome by a spring biasing the valve into the open position, and when there is an increase in temperature said shape memory spring elongates and overcomes the bias of said biasing spring.

9. A valve as defined in claim 7, wherein when the shape memory spring is elongated due to sensing heat at a predetermined temperature, it moves slide means into a second position and in which the ball is seated on the valve seat, the ball detaining means is released, and the downstream fluid line is opened to the atmosphere.

10. A valve as defined in claim 5, wherein the downstream fluid line is opened by the action of the slide means moving an opening into communication with the downstream line and through an opening in the slide means to vent the downstream fluid to the atmosphere during elevated temperature conditions.

11. A self actuating, quick acting, ambient temperature responsive valve resettable by hand operation, for insertion in an industrial process fluid line, comprising: a. a valve body having a flow path therethrough; b. a valve seat in said flow path; c. a valve element for movement onto said valve seat to cease flow through said flow path; d. means, using the shape memory effect, for moving said valve element from a position normally spaced from said valve seat to a position on said valve seat to stop flow through said flow path when the ambient temperature conditions in the vicinity of the valve increase above a predetermined level; and e. relief valve means actuated when said valve element is seated on the valve seat, to release pressure to the atmosphere from the valve outlet.

12. A self actuating, quick acting,ambient temperature responsive valve for insertion in an industrial process fluid line, comprising: a. a valve body having a flow path therethrough; b. a valve seat in said flow path; c. a valve element normally spaced from said valve seat and movable to a position onto the valve seat to block fluid flow through and along said flow path; and d. shape memory means for moving the valve element onto the valve seat when the ambient temperature conditions in the vicinity of the valve increase to a predetermined level, said means including a reset means which, in the normal position, allows the valve element to be held in a position away from the valve seat, said reset means including a plunger which causes the valve element to move to a position against said valve seat when there is a temperature above said predetermined level which is sensed by said shape memory means; and e. relief valve means actuated when said valve element is seated on the valve seat, to release pressure to the atmosphere from the valve outlet.

13. A valve as defined in claim 11, wherein the biasing force is the force of pressure of the fluid.

14. A valve as defined in claim 11, wherein the valve element is a puck which is biased toward the valve seat, and there are reset means including a reset stem assembly opposite a spring for normally resisting the spring force, but movable into closed position when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined point.

15. A valve as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for moving the ball onto the valve seat includes a shape memory spring which normally is overcome by a spring biasing the valve into the open position, and when there is an increase in temperature elongates and overcomes the bias of said spring.

16. A valve as defined in claim 15, wherein when the shape memory spring is elongated due to sensing heat, it moves slide means into a second position and in which the ball is seated on the valve seat, the ball detaining means is released, and the downstream fluid line is opened to the atmosphere via said relief valve means .

17. A valve as defined in claim 16, wherein the downstream fluid line is opened by the relief valve means by the action of the slide means moving an opening into communication with the downstream line and through an opening in the slide means to vent the downstream fluid to the atmosphere during elevated temperature conditions.

18. A self actuating, quick acting, ambient temperature responsive valve for insertion in an industrial process fluid line, comprising: a. a valve body having a flow path therethrough; b. a valve seat in said flow path; c. a valve element normally spaced from said valve seat and movable to a position onto the valve seat to block fluid flow through and along said flow path; and d. shape memory means for moving the valve element onto the valve seat when the ambient temperature conditions in the vicinity of the valve increase to a predetermined level, said means including a reset means which, in the normal position, allows the valve element to be held in a position away from the valve seat, said reset means including a plunger which causes the valve element to move to a position against said valve seat when there is a temperature above said predetermined level which is sensed by said shape memory means; and e. relief valve means actuated when said valve element is seated on the valve seat, to release pressure to the atmosphere from the valve outlet.

19. A valve as defined in claim 18, wherein the valve element is a ball which is biased toward the valve seat, and the reset means is a reset stem assembly opposite the spring for normally resisting the spring force, but movable into closed position when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined point.

20. A valve as defined in claim 18, wherein the valve element is a puck which is biased toward the valve seat, and the reset means is a reset stem assembly opposite the spring for normally resisting the spring force, but movable into closed position when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined point.

21. A valve element as defined in claim 18, wherein the means for moving the puck onto the valve seat includes a shape memory spring which normally is overcome by a spring biasing the valve into the open position, and when there is an increase in temperature said shape memory spring elongates and overcomes the bias of said biasing spring.

22. A valve as defined in claim 21, wherein when the shape memory spring is elongated due to sensing heat, it moves slide means into a second position and in which the puck is seated on the valve seat.

23. A valve as defined in claim 22, wherein when the slide means is moved into the second position the ball detaining means is release, and the downstream fluid line is opened to the atmosphere.

24. A valve as defined in claim 18, wherein the downstream fluid line is opened by the action of the slide means moving an opening into communication with the downstream line and through an opening in the slide means to vent the downstream fluid to the atmosphere during elevated temperature conditions.