Patent ID: 6209562
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: F17C,G01M,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for use by propane tank service personnel in detecting escaping gas in a propane tank system including a propane tank, a tank service valve and at least one regulator connected to the tank, and at least one pressure port located in the system for enabling a pressure measurement to be made of the pressure at the port, said method comprising:installing, at the selected pressure port, a valve assembly comprising a valve housing including a restricted opening in an end thereof adapted to be screwed into the pressure port and a valve unit received in a bore in said valve housing in communication with said restricted opening and including a valve operator having an actuator end located at the other end of said valve housing; andusing a separate pressure gauge, individually assigned to tank service personnel and adapted to be carried by said personnel, to provide measuring of the pressure at the port, said pressure gauge including a connector including means for actuating the valve operator of the valve unit when the connector is connected to the valve assembly, and said measuring of pressure comprising connecting the connector of the pressure gauge to the valve assembly to actuate the valve unit and thus to provide a reading of the pressure at the pressure port by the gauge, and, where gas has been introduced into the system to pressurize the system, and the tank has been turned off so as to isolate gas introduced into the tank, to provide a determination of whether gas is escaping from the propane tank system.