WO2001004525A1

WO2001004525A1 - Safety gas valve

Info

Publication number: WO2001004525A1
Application number: PCT/KR1999/000799
Authority: WO
Inventors: Han Sob Shim; Jae Ui Hong; Hyung Sob Shim; Sun Man Park
Original assignee: Sun Man Park; Han Sob Shim; Jae Ui Hong; Hyung Sob Shim
Priority date: 1999-07-14
Filing date: 1999-12-21
Publication date: 2001-01-18
Also published as: AU1695700A

Abstract

When gas escapes or gas pipe burst, gas safety valve is capable of stopping supply of gas quickly. After gas pipe was repaired, gas safety valve returns to normal state easily. This gas safety valve is composed of outside pipe (16), inside pipe (20), electromagnet (66) and valve body (50). The outside pipe (16) has service port (12) through service pipe (4). The inside pipe (20) has supply port (18) through supply pipe (6). The electromagnet (20) is able to return valve body (50) to the initial state. Valve body (50) consists of fitting strip (52), closing strip (54), wing in the lower part (58) and wing in the center part (62). The fitting strip (52) inserts into service port (12). The closing strip (54) inserts into supply port (18). The wing in the lower part (58) has a lot of spiral type grooves (60) to send gas. The wing in the center part (62) has a lot of grooves in the center part of valve body (50).

Description

SAFETY GAS VALVE

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a safety gas valve, and particularly to an improved gas valve which is capable of stopping supply of gas when the gas escapes or gas pipe burst and which returns to normal state easily and quickly after the gas pipe was repaired or exchanged. BACKGROUND ART Generally, gas is a useful fuel but requires safety, thus various types of safety gas valves were introduced. For example, a safety gas valve is disclosed in Korea Patent No. 191874(registered on January 7, 1999) which is filed on Korea Patent Application No. 1996-0033390 entitled "gas safety valve for domestic use" by Park Sun Man et al. on August 7, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. According to above patent, such as Fig. 1, a safety gas valve 2 is provided between a service pipe 4 in which gas supplied from gas source, is entered and a supply pipe 6 for supplying gas supplied from the service pipe 4 to other gas pipe or combustion devices. The service pipe 4 is provided with switching valve for controlling flow of gas supplied, also the supply pipe 6 is provided with switching valve. The safety gas valve 2 includes a service port 12 which is communicated with the service pipe 4 on one side, and an outside pipe 16 which is provided with an opening 14. An inside pipe 20 which is inserted into the outside pipe 16 is provided with a supply port 18 which is inserted through the opening 14 and is communicated with the supply pipe 6. An outer surface of the inside pipe 20 in place is provided with O-ring 22 for airtight with inside of the outside pipe 16.

The inside of the inside pipe 20 is provided with a valve body 24 which is floated by pressure of the gas which is supplied from the service port 12. A fitting strip 26 which is inserted to the service port 12 is integrally formed at the one side of the valve body 24. A metal closing strip 28 which is inserted into supply port 18 and prevents the flow of gas into the supply port 18 is integrally formed at the other side of the valve body 24. The closing strip 28 is provided with O-ring 30 for airtightness of the supply port 18. Wings 32 are integrally formed on the periphery of the valve body 24, each of the wings 32 is provided with a plurality of perforating holes 34 in which the gas is passed.

The outside pipe 16 and inside pipe 20 are simultaneously by a clamping pipe 36. Also, connection of each of the pipes 16 and 20 with the clamping pipe 36 is

5 maintained by two clamp nuts 38 which are secured on the end of the inside pipe 20.

Also, the service pipe 4 is connected to the supply pipe 6 by bypass pipe 40 which is provided with a switching valve 42.

Alternatively, the safety gas valve is provided with electromagnet 44 which apply magnetic force to the metal closing strip 28. Mainly, an alarm device 46 for

10 sensing and warning gas leakage within area adjacent to the safety gas valve 2 is connected to electromagnet 44. Also, the alarm device 46 apply the electric power to the electromagnet 44 when the gas is escaped from the area adjacent to the safety gas valve 2.

In operation of such as safety gas valve 2, when the switching valve 42 of the

15 bypass pipe 40 is closed, if for example, user take open switching valve 10 of the supply pipe 6 and take on the gas combustion devices so that the user can use the gas devices, the gas is introduced the outside pipe 16 and inside pipe 20 through the service pipe 4 which is connected to gas source. The gas is pass through perforating holes 34 and is supplied through the supply port 18 to the supply pipe 6, wherein the valve body

20 24 is upwardly floated by pressure of the gas. However, the valve body 24 is floated by weight thereof, the gas pressure and the gas pressure in the supply pipe 6. Thus, both of the service port 12 and supply port 18 are opened, therefore the gas supplied through the service pipe 4 is supplied via the safety gas valve 2 to the supply pipe 6.

If, in use position, the gas pipe burst or the gas escapes, pressure of in the

25 supply pipe 6 is considerably lowered than the pressure of gas in the service pipe 4. At the same time, the valve body 24 is considerably lifted by high pressure of gas from the service port 12. When the valve body 24 is completely lifted, the closing strip 28 is inserted into the supply port 18, also O-ring 30 close the inlet of the supply port 18 and thus the gas is not fed into the supply pipe 6.

30 Then, the supply pipe or gas escaping parts must be repaired or exchanged in state of which the switching valve 10 of the supply pipe 6 is closed. Thereafter, when the switching valve 42 of the bypass pipe 40 is opened, the gas which is entered through the service pipe 4 by the bypass pipe 40 and is fed to the supply port 18. As above subscribed, when the gas is reversely fed to the supply port 18, the pressure of gas is applied to the closing strip 18 which is inserted into the supply port 18, thus the valve body 24 moves downwardly. When the switching valve 42 of the bypass pipe 40 is closed and the switching valve 10 of the supply pipe 6 is opened, then the gas in the service pipe 4 is entered normally to the service port 12. Thus, as above subscribed, the valve body 24 is again floated in a suitable level and the gas is fed through the supply port 18 to the supply pipe 6.

However, such as safety gas valve has a disadvantage in that, because the safety gas valve is provided with a bypass pipe and a switching valve mounted thereto so that the valve body can be floated in the pipe and returned to original position in the pipe, it is in need of sufficient space area for mounting the bypass pipe, and the structure for mounting the pipe is complicated.

Also, the safety gas valve has disadvantage in that, if the safety gas valve is applied with fine impact from outside when the valve body is floated in the pipe, then the valve body lose it's balance and is inclined, and thus the valve body is contacted with the inner wall of the inner pipe, the gas cannot be easily passed through the safety gas valve, and furthermore the valve body is upwardly lifted by pressure of gas and thus the supply port is closed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a safety gas valve with a valve body that can be returned to the original position or the floating state without needing of the complication of installation structure and the excessive installation space. The other object of the invention is to provide a safety gas valve through which, in normal state, gas can be always and easily passed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety gas valve with a valve body which can be returned to the active position and can be normally actuated even when electric power is cut off. To achieve the above objects, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a safety gas valve which is installed between service pipe in which gas is introduced from gas source and supply pipe in which the gas is flowed through the service pipe, and is capable of stopping supply of gas quickly when the gas escapes or said pipes burst, comprising: an outside pipe including a service port communicating with said service pipe in one side, and an opening in other side; an inside pipe which is inserted into said outside pipe and is provided with a supply port communicating with said supply pipe; a valve body being inserted in said inside pipe, the valve body being rotated and floated by pressure of gas which is introduced from said service port to supply the gas from the service port to said supply port when the safety gas valve is in normal state, and the valve body being moved by the pressure of the gas to close the supply port so that the supply of gas to said supply pipe is stopped when the gas escapes or the pips burst and the pressure of gas is lowered; and an electromagnet being installed on periphery said supply port of said outside pipe, the electromagnet applying magnetic force to said valve body so that said valve body can be returned to the normal state to be floated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein;

Fig. 1 is a section view showing a safety gas valve in the prior art, Fig. 2 is a section view showing a safety gas valve according to a embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section view showing a valve body of the valve in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a section view showing a safety gas valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional and broken view showing structure of a closing strip and a release valve in the safety gas valve in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional and broken view showing interaction between the engaging portion of the closing strip and the release valve in the safety gas valve in Fig. 5.

THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout Fig. 1 in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

First, referring to Figs. 2 and 3, a safety gas valve provided between service pipe 4 and supply pipe 6 includes a valve body 50 which is floated in the inside pipe 20 in which gas is entered.

Basically, a metallic floating strip 52 which can be inserted into service port 12 is formed at the one side (lower end in the drawings) of the valve body 50, and a closing strip 54 which can be inserted into the outlet port 18 is formed at the other side(top end in the drawings) of the valve body 50. Also, on the closure piece 54, there are provided with O-ring 56 for airtightly closing the supply port 18.

In particular, a lower wing 58 is integrally formed on the lower part of the valve body 50. On the circumstance of the wing 58, there are a plurality of grooves 60 in which gas introduced from inlet port 12 can be passed. Preferably, each of grooves 60 has an oblique type or a spiral type. Thus, pressure of gas is applied to the grooves 60 when the gas pass therethrough, so that the valve body 50 can be rotated.

Also, center wing 62 is integrally formed on the substantial center part if the valve body 50, the center wing 62 is provided with a plurality of through holes 64 so that the gas passing the grooves 60 pass through the through holes 64. In the drawings, while the valve body 50 only has one center wing 62, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the valve body can be provided with two or more center wings.

In particular, the valve body 50 of the safety gas valve according to present invention is provided with an electromagnet 66 which is able to return the valve body 50 to the initial position or the floating state. More specifically, the electromagnet 66 installed on the lower part of the outside pipe 16 apply magnetic force on the fitting strip 52 of the valve body 50 when the valve is set to the floating state after repairing the valve in the state of which the valve body 50 is moved upwardly to close the supply port 18, so that the valve body 50 can be returned to the floating state or the normal position. Of course, a wire code 68 which can be connected to electric power source is connected to the electromagnet 66.

Alternatively, in Fig. 3, the valve body 50 includes a body portion 70 which has a lower wing 58, and a axial member 72 which is inserted to core of the body portion 70 and has a fitting strip 52 in an end and a closing strip 54 in other end.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, safety gas valve according to a second embodiment of the invention includes a release valve 74 which manually force the valve body 50 to the normal position or to the floating state. More specifically, the release valve 74 is located to the supply port 18 or around thereof so that the valve body 50 is urged to the floating state when the valve body 50 moves upward and close the supply pipe 6. The release valve 74 includes a pipe part 76 communicating with the supply portl8, a cam 78 rotationally located in the pipe part 76 and a handle 80 which can control the cam 78 in the outsides. Also, the release valve 74 is provided with a spring 82 for applying elastic power on the cam 78 so that the cam 78 always can be return to the horizontal state in normal state.

On the other hand, in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, when the safety gas valve is provided with the release valve 74, the closing strip 54 of valve body 50 preferably has an elongation portion so that the closing strip 54 contacts with the can 78 of the release valve 74 in the state that the valve body 50 close the supply port 18. Also, the end of the closing strip 54 is formed with a round type contact portion 84 so that the end of the closing strip 54 can be smoothly contacted to the cam 78.

The operation and effect of the safety gas valve according to embodiments of the present invention will now be explained.

When user opens switching valve 10 of the supply pipe 6 for using gas equipments or proving with the gas, the gas is introduced through the inlet port 12 of the inlet pipe 4 connected to the gas source into the outside pipe 16 and the inside pipe 20. While gas is supplied through the through recesses 60 formed at the lower wing 58 of the valve body 50 and the through holes 64 the middle wing 62 to the supply port 18, the gas pressure is applied to the lower portion of the valve body 50, and thus the valve body 50 is upwardly moved. However, the valve body 50 is not fully moved upward so that the valve body floats in the inside pipe 20 by the weight of the body 50, the gas pressure and the pressure formed the supply pipe 6. Particularity, the valve body 50 is rotated by the pressure of the gas when the gas pass through a plurality of oblique or spiral grooves 60 formed at the lower wing 58 of the valve body 50. Thus, the valve body 50 always can be rotated in the floating state without stopping due to contact of the valve body 50 with the inner pipe 200 by the inclination or the deflection of the body. Therefore, the service port 12 and the supply port 18 are opened, and the gas introduced through the inlet pipe 4 is supplied through the safety gas valve 2 to the supply pipe 6. For example, when the supply pipe 6 burst or gas escapes therefrom, the gas pressure in the supply pipe 6 is lowered considerably than the gas pressure in the service pipe 4. At this time, the valve body 50 is suddenly moved upward by the strong gas pressure from the service port 12. When the valve body 50 is completely lifted, the closing strip 54 is inserted into the supply port 18, also O-ring 56 close airtightly the inlet of the supply port 18, thus the gas is not supplied to the supply pipe 6.

After the supply pipe or the gas escaping portion are completely repaired or exchanged, when the user connects the wire cord 68 to the electric power source the electric power is applied to the electromagnet 66, thus the electric magnet 66 generates the magnetic force. When the fitting strip 52 of the valve body 50 is attracted by the magnetic force, the valve body 50 is moved downward and returned to the original position or floating state. Therefore, the valve body 24 is rotated in the floating state within a constant level, so that the gas introduced into the inlet port 12 is supplied through the supply port 18 to the supply pipe 6.

On the one hand, after the supply pipe or the portion of which the gas is escaped are repaired or exchanged, when the electric power can not be applied to the electromagnet 66, the user can force the valve body 50 to the body floating position using the release valve 74 which is located between the supply port 18 and the supply pipe 6. Namely, when the contact portion 84 of the closing strip 54 of the valve body 50 contacts with the cam 78 of the release valve 74 and the supply port 18 is closed, the user makes to rotate the handle 80 of the release valve 74, then the cam 78 is rotated and urges the contact portion 84 and the closing strip 54 downwards. At this time, the valve body 50 is moved downwards and is returned to the original position or the floating state, thus the gas instructed from the service port 12 again is supplied through the supply port 18 to the supply pipe 6. Of course, when the user keeps his hands off the handle 80, then the cam 78 again is returned to the original position by the spring 82.

In addition, the safety gas valve for domestic use can be provided with a gas leakage warning device which is not specifically disclosed in the above detailed description and the accompanying drawing. Thus, if the gas escapes in the safety gas valve, the inlet pipe or the supply pipe, the warning device senses the gas escape, warns the user of the gas escape and prevents the gas from supplying or flowing.

As scribed above, the safety gas valve according to the present invention is easily and simply installed to the various gas supply pipe without needing the enlarged installation spaces, also the valve body is easily and simply returned to the original position after the pipes were repaired or when the electric power is cut off. Therefore, the safety gas valve according to the present invention can be suitably used for the domestic gas supply pipe in which the gas is supplied from the gas supply pipe.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A safety gas valve which is installed between service pipe in which gas is introduced from gas source and supply pipe in which the gas is flowed through the service pipe, and is capable of stopping supply of gas quickly when the gas escapes or said pipes burst, comprising: an outside pipe 16 including a service port 12 communicating with said service pipe 4 in one side, and an opening 14 in other side; an inside pipe 20 which is inserted into said outside pipe 16 and is provided with a supply port 18 communicating with said supply pipe 6; a valve body 50 being inserted in said inside pipe 20, the valve body 50 being rotated and floated by pressure of gas which is introduced from said service port 12 to supply the gas from the service port 12 to said supply port 18 when the safety gas valve is in normal state, and the valve body 50 being moved by the pressure of the gas to close the supply port 18 so that the supply of gas to said supply pipe 6 is stopped when the gas escapes or the pips burst and the pressure of gas is lowered; and an electromagnet 66 being installed on periphery said supply port 18 of said outside pipe 16, the electromagnet applying magnetic force to said valve body 50 so that said valve body 50 can be returned to the normal state to be floated.

2. The safety gas valve of claim 1, wherein said valve body 50 including: a metallic fitting strip 52 which is able to insert into said service port 12; a metallic closing strip 54 which is able to insert into said supply port 18 and having O-ring for airtightly closing said supply port 18; a lower wing 28 having a plurality of spiral grooves 60 in which the gas introduced from said inlet port 12 obliquely is passed so that said valve body 50 can be rotated and floated; and a center wing 62 being provided with a plurality of through holes 64 in which the gas passing through the through holes 60 of said lower wing 58 is passed.

3. The safety gas valve of claim 2, wherein said valve body 50 includes a body portion 70 having integrally the lower wing 58 and the center wing 62 and being formed with plastic material, and a axial member 72 being inserted into said body part 70 and having integrally the fitting strip 52 at one end and the closing strip 54 at other end.

4. The safety gas valve of claim 1, wherein further comprising a release valve 74 being installed between said supply pipe 6 and said supply port 18 so that said valve body 50 can be manually returned to the normal state.

5. The safety gas valve of claim 4, wherein said release valve 74 includes a pipe part 76 communicating with said supply port 18, a cam 78 which is able to rotate in said pipe part 76 so that urged force can be applied to said valve body 50, a handle 80 for adjusting said cam 78 at outside of said pipe part 76, and a spring 82 for returning said cam 78 and said handle 80 to the floating state.

6. The safety gas valve of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said closing strip 54 of said valve body 50 is lengthily formed so that the valve body 50 contact with said cam

78 of said release valve 74 in the state of which said supply port 18 is closed, and the end of said closing strip 54 is provided with a rounded contact portion 84 which can be contacted to said cam 78.