Patent ID: 7458387
Filing Date: 2008-12-02
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve comprising: a housing having a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a gas passage there between; a gate mounted in said housing so as to be movable in a direction across the gas passage between open and closed positions, said gate including a first portion having an opening therein that is positioned across said gas passage in said open position and a second portion that is positioned across said gas passage in said closed position; a spring positioned so as to bias said gate toward said closed position; and a release pin movable between one position in which said release pin prevents said spring from moving said gate toward said closed position and another position in which said release pin releases said spring and said gate so that said gate moves to said closed position under the biasing force of said spring; wherein said release pin, in said open position of said gate, engages a member fixed with respect to said gate; wherein said release pin comprises a connector having an axial space therein and an actuator for actuating said release pin, said actuator comprising a link member that extends into said axial space and is axially movable therein; and wherein said link member is positioned in said axial space so that when said actuator is actuated to move said gate to said open position, said link member axially moves a predetermined distance without axially engaging said connector of said release pin before axially engaging said connector of said release pin.