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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Earthquake triggered gas valve

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6312738
A gas valve automatically closed from a normally open position by a shock is described, the gas valve consisting of: a housing having a gas inlet chamber and outlet chamber, the chambers being separated by a partition, the outlet chamber having a floor; a valve seat in an opening in the partition; a valve member mounted on a valve rod passing through the center of the valve seat opening and having a first end terminating in the outlet chamber, the valve member positioned to engage the valve seat to seal the opening between the inlet and outlet chambers; and a hollow ball positioned between the floor of the outlet chamber and the first end of the valve rod for forcing the valve member out of the valve seat and to open the gas valve, the hollow ball containing a fluid having an inertia that will oppose a shock produced movement of the housing.
Assignee:
NOV; NOV-89-053134; EDB-89-076205
Patent Number(s):
US 4799505
OSTI ID:
6312738
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English