Patent ID: 7665482

Claim:
A float operated shut off valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a fluid, either a liquid or gas, comprising: a housing including a first part forming an elongated flow passage and a second part forming a float passage; a valve at one end of said flow passage; said float passage, having upper and lower ends, arranged perpendicular to said flow passage; a float in said float passage and displaced vertically by an escaping liquid entering said float passage; a rotatable spindle mounted in said housing and secured to said valve to open or close said valve thereby permitting the fluid to enter or to prevent the fluid from entering said flow passage; a trigger mechanism, including a lever, having one end mounted on said spindle; and a spring interconnected to said lever and to said housing; a retainer for holding said trigger mechanism including said lever and said spring in a cocked position which corresponds to the open position of said valve, said retainer including, a pivot arm carried by said housing, with a first part located in said float passage at the upper end thereof and a second part forming a loop located on the outside of said housing; said retainer also including a swingable vertical arm, having upper and lower ends, with the upper end thereof supported by said housing, and with the lower end of said swingable arm aligned and engageable within said loop; said shut off valve mechanism, when the valve is open having said trigger mechanism cocked and retained in said cocked position by the vertical arm of said retainer having the lower end thereof engaged within said loop, said vertical arm being released from said loop by said float as the float rises in said float passage as a result of an escaping fluid entering the lower end of said float passage thereby creating a force on said float which engages and moves said first part of said pivot arm in a direction to release the vertical arm of said retainer from said loop, thus enabling the spring of said trigger mechanism to cause the lever to rotate said spindle in a direction to close said valve and to prevent the fluid, either a gas or a liquid, from entering said flow passage.