Patent ID: 6206337
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: F16K,G01M,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for rendering as an automatic shut-off valve, a ball valve with a spring-loaded cable assembly and a system of pulleys, the apparatus comprising:a housing adapted to fit over a body of said ball valve;said housing secured directly to pipes connected to said ball valve with a pair of adaptors designed to fit on said pipes;said housing containing said spring-loaded cable assembly and said system of pulleys;said spring-loaded cable assembly is fixed to a lever member and provides sufficient torque to move said lever member one-quarter turn in a closing direction;said spring-loaded cable assembly comprising a cable secured to said lever member and passing over first and second pulleys mounted on a base of said housing and passing around a third, moving pulley;said moving pulley is secured to one end of an extension spring which urges said lever member to pivot one-quarter turn;said cable, after passing around said moving pulley is fixed on an anchor base;said extension spring having the end opposite from the moving pulley attached to an anchor plate fixed on the base of said housing;said lever member having a slot engaging a latch of a retaining member;said retaining member being pivotally mounted on the base of the housing and including a first member extending horizontally from a pivot point and adapted to engage the slot of said lever member and to retain said lever member in an opened position against the urging of the extension spring;said retaining member including a second arm which extends horizontally in the opposite direction of said first member;said second arm connected to a solenoid means whereby the retaining member is pivoted to disengage the first member of the retaining member from the slot of the lever member to allow the spring-loaded cable to rotationally move the lever member in a closing direction;a switch-stopper restricting the rotational movement of said lever member to 90 degrees and remoting a signal to confirm the fully closed condition of the ball valve;a manual closing device secured to the base of said housing and providing a pushrod surrounded by a coil spring and sliding in a guide;said pushrod having one end extending axially outside said housing and the other end facing the second arm of the retaining member whereby the disengaging of the first member of said retaining member from said slot of said lever member allows the closing of the valve.