Patent ID: 6209560
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: F16K,F17C,G01L,G01M,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for use by propane tank service personnel in detecting escaping gas in a propane tank system including a regulator and a tank service valve connected together by a valve and connector assembly including first and second end connections connected to the tank service valve and the regulator, respectively, a branch connection portion, and a valve unit disposed in said branch connection portion and including a valve stem actuable to open said valve unit, said method comprising using a separate pressure gauge assembly individually assigned to tank service personnel and adapted to be carried by said personnel for testing the pressure in the propane tank, said pressure gauge assembly including a pressure gauge; a valve assembly connector including means for actuating the valve unit when the valve assembly connector is connected to the valve assembly, said testing of pressure comprising connecting the valve assembly connector of the pressure gauge assembly to the branch connection portion of the valve and connector assembly to actuate the valve unit and thus provide an immediate reading of the tank pressure by said gauge, using the reading of tank pressure in determining whether the tank is out of propane gas, and thereafter taking one or the other of the following two steps depending on the determining step: if the tank is determined to not be out of propane gas, introducing gas into the tank as needed; and if the tank is determined to be out of propane gas, turning the tank service valve off, pressurizing the tank, turning the service valve on, introducing gas into the system to pressurize the system, thereafter turning the tank service valve back off again so as to isolate the gas introduced into the tank, and reading the gauge pressure to determine whether gas is escaping from the propane tank system.