Other

The Hansen Manufacturing Co.

M. B. Sturgis, Inc.

Malcolm B Sturgis

Richard E Hoffman

Harry H Hammond

A quick-connect coupling for connecting a gas line to a gas appliance. The coupling comprises a nipple and a socket member with a socket for receiving the nipple. A sleeve is slidable on the socket member from a retracted position in which the nipple may be inserted into the socket, to a locking position in which the nipple is held captive in the socket, and then back to the stated retracted position for disconnection of the nipple from the socket member. A first valve is biased toward a closed position and automatically opens upon insertion of the nipple into the socket. A second valve is manually movable by means of a lever on the socket member from a fully open position for permitting maximum flow of fluid through the flow passage, through a range of movement in which it is only partially open, to a fully closed position. A detent member movable conjointly with the lever is engageable by the sleeve to prevent it from being moved to its retracted position when the second valve is fully or partially open. The detent member is movable to a position for permitting the sleeve to be moved to its retracted position only when the second valve is in its fully closed position, thereby ensuring that flow through the second passage is completely cut off before the nipple and socket assembly can be connected or disconnected.

Quick-connect coupling

A connector with a safety shut-off feature for connecting a gas appliance to a source of gas. The connector comprises a tubular line, a first coupling adjacent the inlet end of the line for releasably coupling the line to the source of gas, a second coupling adjacent the outlet end of the line for releaseably coupling the line to the appliance, and a valve associated with the line movable between an open position for permitting passage of gas through the line and a closed position for preventing passage of gas through the line. An electric circuit controls the operation of the valve. The circuit comprises an electrical conductor on the line designed to break or otherwise become non-conductive in response to excessive heating or damage to the line, thereby causing an interruption in the flow of electric current through the electric circuit. The valve is responsive to such interruption to move to its closed position to prevent further passage of gas through the line.

Connector with a safety shut-off feature

This invention represents an improvement in a gas pressure regulator of the type comprising a body having an inlet, an outlet, a gas flow passage in the regulator body interconnecting the inlet and outlet, and a regulator mechanism in the valve body including a relief valve which is set to open when the pressure of the gas in the flow passage exceeds a predetermined pressure. The improvement comprises a valve seat in the gas flow passage immediately upstream from the outlet in the body of the regulator, and a check valve member in the gas flow passage disposed between the valve seat and the outlet in the body of the regulator, the check valve member being movable between an open position in which it is spaced from the valve seat to permit flow in downstream direction from the inlet to the outlet past the valve seat, and a closed position in which the check valve member prevents reverse flow in upstream direction past the valve seat. In the event gas is introduced into a downstream line to test the downstream gas line and its connection to the outlet of the regulator body, the check valve member closes to prevent opening of the relief valve even if the pressure of the gas introduced into the downstream line for testing is greater than the pressure at which the relief valve in the regulator is set to open.

Gas pressure regulator with check valve

An improved heat sensitive cut-off for blocking the flow through a gas conduit or the like of the type comprising first and second cut-off members disposed in the conduit which co-operate to block flow through the conduit when they are brought together. The first cut-off member has a socket therein. A spring biases the cut-off members together, and a spacer between the cut-off members for separates them to permit flow through the conduit. The spacer has a portion penetrating partway into the socket in the first cut-off member. A plug of a relatively low melting point material is located in the bottom of the socket for temporarily preventing the spacer from penetrating further into the socket. The socket and the spacer are configured so that when the plug melts the spacer can penetrate further into the socket sufficiently that the spring can move the cut-off members together to block the flow through the conduit. The first cut-off member and the spacer are secured together mechanically or with an adhesive to prevent them from separating and interfering with the proper operation of the cut-off.

Heat-sensitive cut-off for gas conduits and the like, and method of

An excess pressure and/or excess flow/temperature shutoff valve comprising a valve housing having an axial bore therethrough with inlet and outlet ends, a portion of the bore being enlarged to form a valve chamber, and a spool movable in the valve chamber and having a sealing fit with the walls of the chamber. In the event of an upstream pressure increase of predetermined magnitude, the spool is adapted to move from an open position in which it permits flow of fluid through the bore to a position wherein additional spool area is exposed to the upstream fluid pressure, whereupon the spool is adapted to move further downstream to a shut off position for blocking the flow of fluid through the bore. The valve may be optionally equipped to shut off the flow of fluid in the event of a downstream pressure decrease as a result of excess leakage and/or an increase in fluid temperature in excess of a predetermined value.

Fluid shutoff valve

A quick-disconnect coupling with a heat-sensitive cutoff feature for use in connecting a tank of pressurized gas (e.g., natural or LP gas) with a gas appliance, such as an outdoor gas grill. The coupling comprises interengageable plug and socket components, the latter component having a passage therethrough, a valve seat in the passage and a poppet valve in the passage comprising a valve stem and a sealing member soldered on the stem and engageable with the valve seat. A spring is engageable with the sealing member for biasing the poppet valve to a closed position for blocking flow through the passage. When inserted into the socket chamber, the plug component engages the valve stem for forcing the poppet valve open. In the event the temperature of the coupling rises to a temperature above the melting point of the solder bond between the sealing member and the valve stem, the sealing member is slidable on the stem into engagement with the valve seat for cutting off flow therepast.

Quick disconnect coupling with a heat-sensitive cutoff feature

A conduit coupling includes an improved plug assembly. The plug assembly has a valve which limits excess flow in the direction of normal flow and prevents backflow in the opposite direction. The valve includes a valve member which is operated from a first closed condition to an open condition in response to a pressure differential caused by normal flow. The valve member further moves to a second closed condition in response to a predetermined pressure differential across the valve member which would result in an excess flow in the downstream direction. The valve member operates from its open condition to the first closed condition whenever the difference between the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure is less than a predetermined amount, thus preventing backflow. A leak down passage is provided which allows fluid to flow through the valve assembly even when the valve is closed. This enables the valve member to return to its normal open position after there has been an excessive fluid flow by allowing fluid to flow from a high pressure side to a low pressure side of the valve member to reduce the pressure differential.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Malcolm B Sturgis