Abstract:
A connector for fluids has a pipe through which the fluid flows. The pipe has a diameter, an inlet end, an outlet end, an expanded area relative to the diameter. The connector also has an excess flow cartridge disposed in the pipe, the excess flow cartridge having a housing for receipt within the diameter, the excess flow cartridge minimizing flow in the pipe if flow exceeds a desired limit, and the excess flow cartridge having a radial opening in a side thereof in register with the expanded area such that flow through the opening flows through the cartridge.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to an excess flow check valve that permits fluid flow through a flow line if the flow is below a predetermined flow rate but minimizes the flow line if the flow rate rises above the predetermined limit to prevent uncontrolled flow or discharge of fluids. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Excess check flow valves are typically used in a capsule to facilitate its installation in various flow lines, fittings, pipe systems, appliances and the like. The excess flow valve is magnetically or spring-operated in response to a low differential pressure and the packaging being in the form of a self-contained capsule which can be inserted in various flow passageways including a valve body, a connector fitting, a hose fitting, a pipe nipple, a tube, an appliance and other similar installations to provide excess flow protection. 
     A capsule facilitates assembly of the individual components into a self-contained compact package, provides for easy insertion of the capsule into a fitting or tube, provides means for substantially restricting flow, provides means for allowing small leakage flow for automatic valve resetting, precisely positions and retains the components of the valve for proper operation, provides a unique structure for coupling the two capsule components, permits flow testing as a capsule to verify performance and provides a compact configuration to minimize the size, diameter and length required to accommodate the capsule. 
     According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a connector for fluids has a pipe through which the fluid flows. The pipe has a diameter, an inlet end, an outlet end, an expanded area relative to the diameter. The connector also has an excess flow cartridge disposed in the pipe, the excess flow cartridge having a housing for receipt within the diameter, the excess flow cartridge minimizing flow in the pipe if flow exceeds a desired limit, and the excess flow cartridge having a radial opening in a side thereof in register with the expanded area such that flow through the opening flows through the cartridge. 
     According to a further embodiment disclosed herein, a method for controlling fluid flow through a connector for fluids includes the following steps: providing a pipe through which the fluid flows, the pipe having a diameter, an inlet end, an outlet end, an expanded area relative to the diameter; disposing an excess flow cartridge in the pipe, the excess flow cartridge having a housing for receipt within the diameter, the excess flow cartridge minimizing flow in the pipe if flow exceeds a desired limit; and, directing fluid flow directly from the expanded area through a radial opening in a side of the excess flow cartridge in register with the expanded area such that flow through the opening flows through the cartridge. 
     According to a further embodiment disclosed herein, a method for advertising a fluid connector includes the following steps: providing a pipe through which the fluid flows, the pipe having a diameter, an inlet end, an outlet end, an expanded area relative to the diameter; disposing a given excess flow cartridge in the pipe, the excess flow cartridge having a housing for receipt within the diameter, the excess flow cartridge minimizing flow in the pipe if flow exceeds a desired limit; and advertising uses for the pipe having the diameter and the given excess flow cartridge. 
     These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a gas coupling pipe including an excess flow capsule. 
         FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of an excess flow capsule used in the pipe of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now the Figures, a gas connector  5  includes a fluid pipe  10 , an inlet coupling  15 , an outlet coupling  20 , and an excess flow capsule  25 . The pipe may carry different fluids, such as natural gas, or other gases or liquids. 
     The pipe  10 , which may have corrugations  30 , has a non-corrugated area  35  that holds the capsule  25 , which is bounded by a radially inwardly depending shoulder  40 , which may be a groove, and an expanded area  45  for interacting with the excess flow capsule  25  as will be discussed infra. 
     The expanded area  45  has an increased diameter D e  relative to the diameter D c  of the non-corrugated area  35  to provide more area for fluid flow around and through the capsule  25 . That is, D e  is greater than D c . 
     The inlet coupling  15  and the outlet coupling  20  each have a housing  50  that surrounds flared ends  55 , as are known in the art, of the pipe  10 . The housings  50  each have an internal thread  60  for mating with external threads (not shown) of a gas supply line (not shown) at the inlet coupling  15  and a with the external threads (not shown) of an appliance (not shown) at the outlet coupling  20 . 
     The capsule  25 , which may be of any type though a magnetic capsule is shown herein, has four basic components, a valve body  65 , a magnet holder  70 , a magnet  75  and a valve plate  80 . The valve body  65 , which is generally cylindrical, has a centrally disposed flow passageway or orifice  85  and a plurality of circumferential openings  90 . The magnet holder attaches to an upstream end  95  of the valve body  65 . The magnet holder  70  has a pair of pins  100  for elastically attaching the valve plate  80  thereto. The magnet  75  is spaced upstream from the valve plate  80  by legs  105 . The flow passageway  85  has a diameter that approximates, but is smaller than, the diameter D c  of the non-corrugated area  35 . If forced by excess pressure, the valve plate  80  moves from first position A downstream until it is in a second engaged position B (see the dotted line in  FIG. 2 ) against shoulder  110 . 
     The expanded area  45  having increased diameter D e  has a tapered portion  115  at a downstream end  120  thereof that is in register with the openings  90 . The tapered portion  115  directs fluid from the expanded area  45  through the openings  90  and to the flow passageway  85  through the capsule  25 . 
     In operation, fluid (indicated by arrows C) is directed by the tapered portion  115  around the magnet holder  70  and the valve plate  80  through openings  90  in the valve body  65  and through the flow passageway  85 . Because the expanded area  45  increases the area of flow of gas around the capsule  25  there is relatively little pressure drop as the fluid flows by the valve plate  80 . The attraction of the magnet  75  thereby attracts the valve plate  80  and the magnet stays in position A. If there is a breakage or the like in the pipe  10 , gas flow may not be limited by an appliance (not shown) and there is a risk that gas may flow above a given limit without obstruction. The pressure drop upstream and downstream of the cartridge  25  increases greatly and the valve plate  80  is induced away from the magnet holder  70  and the force of the magnet  75  to seat against the shoulder  110 . 
     If the expanded area  45  is not provided, the valve plate  80  of the capsule  25  would have to have a smaller diameter to allow the proper flow of fluid around it and flow passageway  85  would be restricted because a shoulder extending into the flow passageway  85  would choke the flow. The net effect of no expanded area  45  in register with the openings  90  of the cartridge  25  would be less flow through the pipe  10 . By providing the expanded area  45 , the narrowest pipes  10  may be used to provide the proper amount of flow to an appliance thereby saving weight and material. 
     Traditionally, excess flow valves have been formed as an add-on component for gas connectors. Since add-ons may require a threaded connection, the Applicants have discovered that there is the possibility of poor connection by the consumer that may lead to leaks. Furthermore, the excess flow valves and associated connector must be matched to the supply line and appliance for proper operation. To obviate this problem, the gas connector  5  is constructed at a manufacturing facility as follows: before the flared end  55  of the inlet coupling is flared, a capsule  25  is placed into the pipe  10  through the expanded area  45  until the capsule  25  seats against the radially inwardly depending shoulder  40  within the pipe in an interference fit. The pipe  10  has a flat non-corrugated area  125  in contact with the cartridge  25  so that fluid does not escape around the cartridge  25 . The housing  50  is slid over the pipe  10  and the flared end  55  is formed. The capsule  25  may be glued or crimped, or the like, in place in the pipe  10 , if necessary. The flared end  55  may also form a portion of the expanded area  45 . A manufacturer may, away from the manufacturing facility, then market and sell the pipe  10  with the capsule  25  included with tags or other information that tell a consumer in which products or for what required fluid flow the pipe  10  with the integral capsule  25  (i.e. the gas connector  10 ) are appropriate for use. 
     The expanded area  45  is placed adjacent said inlet coupling  15  so that any breakage of said pipe  10  can minimize flow therethrough closest to the inlet coupling  15 . The expanding area  45  may be made of brass or other fluid/natural gas resistant material. The expanded area may not be corrugated. 
     Although a combination of features is shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the Figures or all of the portions schematically shown in the Figures. Moreover, selected features of one example embodiment may be combined with selected features of other example embodiments. 
     The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.