Abstract:
A simple and inexpensive self-closing spring-loaded ball valve assembly that can be latched in the valve open position and consequentially triggered to automatically close and shut off the flow of fluid therethrough.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fluid supply shut-off valve that automatically closes when its spring-loaded handle and latching mechanism are triggered. This invention references the following U.S. patent classifications as fields of endeavor: 
     CLASS 251 Valves and Valve Actuation 
     CLASS 137 Fluid Handling 
     A need exists for a practical, compact, inexpensive and “simple to manufacture” self-closing ball valve that, without the use of any electrical power, will automatically shut off the flow of fluid therethrough when its biased handle is triggered to allow valve closure. This need is reflected in our prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,785. FIG. 1 of said prior art is a self-closing ball valve assembly, but the capped riser pipe  31 , spring wheel  30  and spring  28  depicted are not practically desirable or economic. Said assembly also requires a considerable amount of space for its installation and operation. 
     Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,453 is also self-closing but strictly by manual release means only. It is not equipped with a means for latching its biased handle in the valve open position nor equipped with a means to trigger automatic valve closure. Said prior art also requires the addition of a costly and unnecessary mounting pad on the valve body in order to attach its hardware. 
     The invention disclosed herewith is practical, compact, simple, economic, and non-electric and is superior over the prior art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The purpose of this invention is to economically render a typical prior art ball valve and its handle into a self-closing spring-loaded ball valve that can be latched in the valve open position and consequently triggered to automatically close and shut off the flow of fluid therethrough. Our U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,785 is an application where the present invention is needed and can be applied. The present invention is fabricated and assembled using “off the shelf” parts and materials that can be found in a typical hardware store. The present invention does not require a new manufactured ball valve body or handle. No hardware-mounting pad on the valve body is required. Hence minimal capital is required for tooling and production. An entire valve, handle and latch assembly can be fabricated in very short time and very economically. Clearly this invention is a significant improvement and an advantage over the prior art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention fully assembled and latched in the valve open position ready for operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art quarter-turn ball valve, generally referenced as  1 , comprised of a valve body  2 , a valve stem housing  5 , a valve stem  13  and a handle  20 . Valve body  2  has a typical longitudinal conduit  3  extending completely therethrough for allowing fluid to flow through. Known to those who are skilled in the art, a ball headed member (not shown) is positioned within longitudinal conduit  3  and is movable between a first position which blocks flow through ball valve  1 , and a second position which allows flow through ball valve  1 . Attached to the ball headed member is valve stem  13 . Valve stem  13  extends from valve body  2  through a valve stem housing  5  and is then secured with a packing nut  8 . Valve stem  13  terminates as a threaded stem end  15 . Handle  20  shown here in the valve open position is attached to valve stem  13  by passing stem end  15  through a handle mounting hole  21  and then ordinarily securing with a hex nut (not shown). Handle  20  is used to rotate valve stem  13  and its ball headed member in order to control the flow of fluid therethrough. Handle  20  has a stub  22  and a stub  23 . Rotation of handle  20  is limited to 90 degrees of travel by the abutment of stubs  22  and  23  against a typical rotation limiting flange stop  7 . In lieu of a hex nut, handle  20  of the present invention is secured to stem end  15  with a female threaded tubular member such as a standard rod-coupling nut  25 . A spring support sleeve  30 , such as a standard bearing is fitted over coupling nut  25 . A torsion spring coil  35  is fitted over spring support sleeve  30 . A spring end anchor hole  10  is drilled through flange stop  7 . A first protruding spring end  32  can now be anchored to valve body  2  at valve stem housing  5  by inserting spring end  32  into anchor hole  10 . A spring end anchor hole  24  is drilled through handle  20 . A second protruding spring end  33  can now be anchored to handle  20  by inserting spring end  33  into anchor hole  24 . A latch assembly generally referenced as  40  is comprised of a latch bolt  41 , a roller bearing  42 ,a stop nut  43 , a drilled hole  44  through handle  20  and a stop nut  45 . Latch bolt  41  is inserted through bearing  42  and then secured with stop nut  43  leaving bearing  42  free to rotate around latch bolt  41 . Latch bolt  41  is then inserted through hole  44  and secured with stop nut  45 . 
     FIG. 2 is an example of the present invention shown installed in a water supply line  4  that supplies water to a water heater storage tank  60 . In this example water heater storage tank  60  is equipped with a leak detection triggering means, such as shown in our U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,785, that will cause a hooked member  50  to travel upward when activated. With spring end  32  anchored, handle  20  is manually rotated to the valve open position as shown, forcing anchored spring end  33  to travel alongside accordingly. During this said rotation, torsion spring cod  35  compresses around spring support sleeve  30  resulting in the creation of considerable tension in the torsion spring coil. Handle  20  completes a 90-degree rotation to the valve open position once stub  22  abuts against flange stop  7 . In this valve open position water is allowed to flow from water supply line  4  into water heater storage tank  60 . Handle  20  is maintained or “latched” in this valve open position by hooking the hooked member  50  over roller bearing  42 . The present invention is now in the “spring-loaded” or “self-closing” position. When hooked member  50  is activated to travel upward, a hooked member face  51  simultaneously travels up sliding against roller bearing  42  eventually clearing and freeing handle  20  to yield to the tension of torsion spring coil  35  thus forcing stub  23  to abut against flange stop  7 . The present invention has now “self-closed” automatically shutting off the flow of fluid therethrough. An operator may return this invention back to the valve open position when so desired.