Patent Publication Number: US-7210495-B1

Title: Gas line safety valve system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to a valve system and, more particularly, to a gas line safety valve system for selectively toggling a gas line between operating and non-operating modes. 
   2. Prior Art 
   In general, gas appliances have not kept pace with their electrical counterparts in terms of the extended functionality afforded by the use of microprocessor-based control. One reason for this is the lack of an inexpensive and reliable electrically-controllable gas valve that can be incorporated into such devices as clothes dryers, commercial cooking equipment, warm air furnaces and domestic cooking appliances. 
   In clothes dryers, the ability to modulate the gas flame would add the benefit of shorter drying cycles. With regard to commercial cooking equipment, modulation of the gas flame has the advantage of tighter control of temperature in such appliances as ovens and deep-fat fryers. With regard to warm air furnaces, a controllable gas valve would form the heart of an advanced control system. 
   Finally, in the area of domestic cooking appliances, such as gas ranges, there is a need for gas flame modulation as well as enhanced functionality of the range. At the present time, residential gas ranges do not take advantage of the convenience, flexibility and safety possible through advanced microprocessor-based technologies. 
   Accordingly, a need remains for a gas line safety valve system in order to overcome the above noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a gas line safety valve system that is versatile and adaptable, while also providing increased safety and protection. Advantageously, such a system can be adapted for use in most structures that are equipped with gas-fired heating systems. The gas line safety valve system is conveniently able to depressurize a gas line system such that no leak is occurring, thereby averting explosions and/or fires. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gas line safety valve system. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a system for selectively toggling a gas line between operating and non-operating modes. 
   The system includes a control valve operably connected to a gas meter. Such a control valve intersects a gas flow path downstream of the gas meter and upstream of an entry point of a building. The control valve is conveniently adaptable between open and closed positions based upon stimuli received from at least one gas-powered appliance located within the building. Such stimuli are preferably defined by an electric current such that when a user control interface of the appliances is toggled to an on position, an associated one of the sensors will transmit the control signal to the control valve for advantageously allowing gas to flow to at least one of the appliances. A main gas supply line is mated to the control valve and includes a plurality of auxiliary lines branching in parallel to selected ones of the appliances. 
   The control valve may further include a two-way solenoid operably mated thereto and a bypass line in fluid communication with the two-way solenoid and one of the appliances wherein the two-way solenoid selectively allows a predetermined volume of gas to flow into one of the appliances while the control valve contemporaneously restricts gas flow to remaining ones of the appliances. 
   A plurality of sensors are operably coupled in series to the appliances and are in communication with the control valve. Such sensors are preferably operably disposed intermediately of the appliances and a plurality of 110-volt power supply sources and are preferably wirelessly connected to the control valve. The sensors may be electrically mated to the control valve. 
   The present invention further includes a mechanism for transmitting a control signal to the control valve and for eliminating a fully charged gas line when the stimuli are detected by at least one of the sensors such that the control valve can selectively allow and restrict gas flow to the appliances during operating and non-operating modes respectively. Each of the sensors generates a unique control signal when the stimuli are detected. 
   The system may further include an auxiliary sensor disposed to an exterior of the building and operably connected to the control valve for conveniently detecting alternate stimuli defined by at least one parameter selected from the group including a seismic fluctuation, a pressure fluctuation, a temperature fluctuation, and any combination thereof. 
   It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram showing a gas line safety valve system, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is front elevational view of the control shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the control valve shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram showing the auxiliary sensor and control valve connection for detecting alternate stimuli. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
   The system of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1–3  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to provide a gas line safety valve system. It should be understood that the system  10  may be used to protect many different types of gas lines and should not be limited to use in only residential applications. 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the system  10  includes a control valve  20  operably connected to a gas meter  11 . Such a control valve  20  intersects a gas flow path  12  downstream of the gas meter  11  and upstream of an entry point of a building. The control valve  20  is conveniently adaptable between open and closed positions based upon stimuli received from at least one gas-powered appliance  13  located within the building. Such stimuli are defined by an electric current such that when a user control interface of the appliances  13  is toggled to an on position, an associated one of the sensors  30  (described herein below) will transmit the control signal to the control valve  20  for advantageously allowing gas to flow to at least one of the appliances  13 . A main gas supply line  21  is mated to the control valve  20  and includes a plurality of auxiliary lines  22  branching in parallel to selected ones of the appliances  13 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the control valve  20  further includes a two-way solenoid  23  operably mated thereto and a bypass line  24  in fluid communication with the two-way solenoid  23  and one of the appliances  13  wherein the two-way solenoid  23  selectively allows a predetermined volume of gas to flow into one of the appliances  13  while the control valve  20  contemporaneously restricts gas flow to remaining ones of the appliances  13 . This feature advantageously ensures that appliances  13  that are not being used do not become the source of an unnecessary gas leak, which could lead to a fire or an explosion. The bypass line  24  further connects to a pilot light  25  of the appliances  13  such that the pilot light  25  is maintained even though gas flow is being restricted to the appliance  13 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a plurality of sensors  30  are operably coupled in series to the appliances  13  and are in communication with the control valve  20 . Such sensors  30  are operably disposed intermediately of the appliances  13  and a plurality of 110-volt power supply sources  31  and are wirelessly connected to the control valve  20 . The sensors  30  are further electrically mated to the control valve  20 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the present invention further includes a mechanism for transmitting a control signal to the control valve  20  and for advantageously eliminating a fully charged gas line when the stimuli are detected by at least one of the sensors  30  such that the control valve  20  can selectively allow and restrict gas flow to the appliances  13  during operating and non-operating modes respectively. This feature would greatly reduce the risk of fires, since there is less chance of a leak occurring at the appliances  13  not being used, and furthermore saves gas by restricting the free flow thereof. Each of the sensors  30  generates a unique control signal when the stimuli are detected, thus ensuring that the control valve  20  effectively restricts the flow of gas to the correct appliances  13 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the system  10  further includes an auxiliary sensor  40  disposed to an exterior of the building and operably connected to the control valve  20  for conveniently detecting alternate stimuli defined by at least one parameter selected from the group including a seismic fluctuation, a pressure fluctuation, a temperature fluctuation, and any combination thereof. Such an auxiliary sensor  40  advantageously alerts the control valve  20  of extreme changes in these parameters which may require the immediate elimination or increase of gas flow to the appliances  13 . 
   While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
   In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.