JPS6240594B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention normally opens and closes a flow path for a fluid, especially a fluid fuel such as LP gas, natural gas, or city gas, by a normal means such as a gas pump, but if an abnormality The present invention relates to a safety device that automatically and instantly shuts off the fluid flow path when a situation occurs.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, gas combustion appliances have been equipped with devices that emergencyly shut off the gas in the event of an abnormal condition such as an earthquake, overheating due to dry firing, production of raw gas due to blow-off, or gas leakage. More than one shut-off device of this kind is provided for each individual appliance, which results in high costs. Furthermore, it is extremely uneconomical to provide a shutoff device for each of the many gas appliances that are used by being exchanged with intermediate pots branched from one main pot via hoses. Furthermore, even if the shutoff device provided on the appliance performs its function in the event of an abnormality, there is a drawback that the gas supply cannot be cut off in the event of an accident with the connecting hose.

Due to this irrationality, it has been proposed to install a shutoff device in the main hose, but only on-off valves using springs or balls have been put into practical use in case of hose accidents, and other types of valves such as those mentioned above have been put into practical use. Nothing that can handle abnormal conditions has yet been put into practical use.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic emergency shutoff device for a fluid flow path that operates to shut off a source in response to various abnormal conditions such as earthquakes, overheating, generation of raw gas, and gas leaks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic emergency shutoff device for a fluid flow path that allows the flow of the flow path to be easily and reliably restored after the above-mentioned abnormal condition ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide an economical automatic emergency shut-off device that consumes low operating energy.

[Structure of the invention]

The first requirement of the present invention to achieve the above object is
According to the invention, there is provided a cylindrical valve made of a non-magnetic material that is attached to a base and forms a valve chamber having a valve seat inside and communicates both ends of the valve chamber with a fluid intake port and a fluid discharge port, respectively. A box, a valve body made of a ferromagnetic material and movably housed in the valve chamber, and an elastic member that biases the valve body in a direction toward the fluid intake port and away from the valve seat. A ring-shaped permanent magnet for holding the valve body in its seat is provided surrounding the outside of the valve seat and is slidably spaced apart from the valve seat position in the axial direction, and a flow path is provided on the upstream side of the permanent magnet. An electromagnetic coil for shutoff/starting is provided surrounding the outside of the valve chamber, and an abnormal state detection sensor that operates in the event of an abnormality is connected to the electromagnetic circuit of the electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic circuit is excited by the current flowing through the electromagnetic circuit, and the valve body is moved toward the valve seat against the biasing force of the elastic member, and the valve body is moved toward the valve seat by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. The valve body is held seated to block the fluid flow path, and when the fluid flow path is restored, the permanent magnet is separated from the valve seat position to deenergize the magnetic force holding the valve body, and the biasing force of the elastic member is removed. In combination with this, the valve body is separated from the valve seat, thereby providing an automatic emergency shutoff device for a fluid flow path.

According to the second invention, the valve chamber is made of a non-magnetic material, which is attached to the base and forms a valve chamber having a valve seat inside, and communicates both ends of the valve chamber with a fluid intake port and a fluid discharge port, respectively. A cylindrical valve box, a valve body made of a ferromagnetic material and movably housed in the valve chamber, and elasticity that biases the valve body in a direction away from the valve seat toward the fluid intake side. A ring-shaped permanent magnet for holding the valve body in the seat is provided around the outside of the valve seat, and an electromagnetic coil for starting the flow path interruption is provided on the upstream side of the permanent magnet to surround the outside of the valve chamber. A sensor for detecting an abnormal state that operates when an abnormality is connected is connected to the electromagnetic circuit of the electromagnetic coil, and a deenergizing electromagnetic circuit that deenergizes the valve body holding force is provided in the vicinity of the permanent magnet to detect the abnormal state when an abnormal state occurs. Then, the electromagnetic circuit is excited by the current flowing through the electromagnetic circuit due to the operation of the sensor, and the valve body is moved toward the valve seat against the biasing force of the elastic member, and is influenced by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. Therefore, the valve body is seated and held on the valve seat to block the fluid flow path, and to restore the flow path, the deenergizing electromagnetic coil is energized by the current flowing through the deenergizing electromagnetic circuit. An automatic emergency shutoff device for a fluid flow path is provided in which the magnetic force of a permanent magnet holding a valve body is deenergized and the valve body is separated from a valve seat in combination with the biasing force of an elastic member.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention particularly directed to gases will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Invention (FIG. 1) FIG. 1 shows a cylindrical valve box 3 connected to a normal type gas on-off valve (former Kotoku) 1 via a connecting member 2. The valve box 3 is made of a non-magnetic material such as SUS, brass, or plastic, and has an annular flange 3A formed on its outer periphery, and a conical valve whose diameter increases toward the upstream side of the fluid (gas) inside. seat 12
A valve chamber 11 is formed. A liquid discharge port 4 is provided on the downstream side of the valve chamber 11, and the connecting member 2, the valve chamber 11, and the discharge port 4 are communicated with each other in the axial direction. The discharge port 4 is connected to a gas appliance (not shown) via a hose (not shown).

A ball valve body 5 (made of steel in this embodiment) made of a ferromagnetic material is movably built into the valve chamber 11.
Under normal conditions, the elastic member 6 has one end fixed to the discharge port.
That is, it is biased upstream by a coil spring and is located at the bottom of the valve chamber 11 indicated by a chain line.
In this case, the valve seat 12 is not closed by the ball valve body 5, so when the on-off valve 1 is opened, the fluid flows from the on-off valve 1 to the valve chamber 1.
1 and is sent to the gas appliance.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a ring-shaped permanent magnet loosely fitted on the outside of the valve seat 12, and a permanent magnet elastic member 8 fixed to the discharge port.
It is formed so as to abut against the above-mentioned flange portion 3A. The flange portion 3A is such that when the ball valve body 5 is pressed against the valve seat 12 by the permanent magnet 7 against the biasing force of the elastic member 6, the center of the ball valve body 5 is located on the flange portion 3A. Advantageously, it is formed to lie in a plane containing the trailing side. The permanent magnet 7 has the role of holding the ball valve body in place.

An electromagnetic coil 9 for flow path interruption starting is fixed to the outer periphery of the valve box 3 radially outward of the valve chamber 11 . This electromagnetic coil 9 constitutes an electromagnetic circuit 10 in cooperation with a battery B, a seismic sensor P, a thermosensor Q, a photo sensor R, a gas leak sensor S, and the like. Of the above sensors, seismic sensor P usually detects earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 5 or higher, thermosensor Q detects overheating, photosensor R detects blowout status by the color of the nichrome wire attached to the device, and detects gas leaks. sensor S
are used to detect gas leaks and raw gas generation, respectively. Although four types of sensors are incorporated into the circuit 10 in this embodiment, it goes without saying that any type of sensor can be used.

Next, the operation of the device of the first embodiment will be described.
As mentioned above, when the gas on-off valve 1 is normally opened, the fluid sent from the supply source flows inside the valve box 3, passes through the discharge port 4 from the gap between the ball valve body 5 and the valve seat 12, and is then passed through the hose to the gas appliance. supplied to In this case, since the weight of the ball valve body 5 and the biasing force of the spring are relatively large, and the elastic member 6 has elasticity, the ball valve body 5 is not pressed against the valve seat 12 by fluid pressure.

When an abnormal condition occurs, for example, an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 5 or more occurs, the seismic sensor P turns on, current flows instantaneously in the electromagnetic circuit 10, and the electromagnetic coil 9 forms a magnetic field, resisting the biasing force of the elastic member 6. Then, the ball valve body 5 is moved toward the valve seat 12 and held in pressure contact with the valve seat by the attractive force of the permanent magnet 7. Immediately after that, the seismic sensor P turns off.
At this point, the magnetic field of the electromagnetic coil 9 disappears, but before that, the ball valve body 5 has entered the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 7, so the ball valve body 5 is still pressed against the valve seat 12 by the permanent magnet 7. It is kept in the same condition. Therefore, on-off valve 1
The supply of fluid to the gas appliance is stopped even if it is in the open state.

In order to return the device to a normal state, that is, a state in which fluid flows again after the abnormal state ends, the permanent magnet 7 is moved downstream against the biasing force of the permanent magnet elastic member 8 manually or by a mechanism such as a lever. Slide it to the side. Since the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 7 that held the ball valve body 5 in pressure contact with the valve seat 12 is removed or deenergized, the ball valve body 5
is the valve seat 1 due to its own weight and the biasing force of the elastic member 6.
2 and becomes idle at the bottom of the valve chamber 11, allowing fluid to flow therethrough. Furthermore, since the electromagnetic coil 9 operates only instantaneously, its power consumption is extremely small.

Second Invention (FIGS. 2 and 3) In the embodiments described above, the device must be touched directly in order to perform the return. That is, when the shutoff device is located at a location far from the user, it takes time and effort to reset the shutoff device, so it is desirable to do this by remote control. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a shutoff device whose reset is remotely controlled. Components common to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the permanent magnet 7 is fixed at the position shown in FIG. A reverse electromagnetic circuit 13 is connected which generates a magnetic field in the opposite direction to that at the time of interruption start.

To end the abnormal state and make the fluid flow again, the electromagnetic circuit 13 is closed by the switch T, and current flows through the electromagnetic coil 9.
A magnetic field is generated in the opposite direction to that at flow path interruption startup. Therefore, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 7 holding the ball valve body 5 is deenergized, and the ball valve body 5 is separated from the valve seat 12 to allow fluid to flow in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the electromagnetic circuit 13 of the second embodiment is removed, and instead a second electromagnetic coil 14 is installed downstream of the permanent magnet 7 and close to the permanent magnet.
will be established. A second reverse direction electromagnetic circuit 15 is connected to this electromagnetic coil 14, and when the switch T is closed, a magnetic field is generated in the second electromagnetic coil 14 in the opposite direction to that when the electromagnetic coil 9 starts cutting off the flow path. It is. Therefore, upon return, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 7 is deenergized by the magnetic field of the second electromagnetic coil 14, and the ball valve body 5 separates from the valve seat 12 to allow fluid to flow in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Compared to the second embodiment, in the third embodiment, the two electromagnetic coils 9 and 14 are used to perform the work, so that it is possible to select appropriate coils.
Note that in the second and third embodiments, the return is instantaneous, so the power consumption is minimal.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with respect to gas, the present invention can also be applied to automatic emergency shutoff devices for flow paths for liquid fuels such as kerosene. Although the valve chamber was arranged horizontally in the above embodiments, it may be arranged vertically or inclined, and although the valve body was formed into a spherical shape, it may be formed into a spherical shape such as a bullet shape.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention is configured as described above, and the shutoff device is not provided on each appliance, but is attached to the on-off valve (former Kotoku), so there is no need for an emergency shutoff device for each appliance, and the structure is simple, the operation is reliable, and it is economical. There is no problem even if there is an accident with the connecting hose. By selecting the sensors used in the electromagnetic circuit, it is possible to obtain an automatic emergency shutoff device for the fluid flow path that corresponds to a desired state. Regarding the return means, the first invention provides a manual, simple and reliable means, and the second invention provides a means that can be remotely operated, and has many other advantages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 are partially cutaway sectional views showing first to third embodiments of the automatic emergency shutoff device for a fluid flow path according to the present invention, respectively. 2...Fluid intake (connection member), 3...Valve box, 4...
Fluid discharge port, 5... Valve body, 6... Elastic member, 7... Permanent magnet, 8... Elastic member for permanent magnet, 9... Electromagnetic coil, 10... Electromagnetic circuit of electromagnetic coil, 11... Valve chamber, 12 ... Valve seat, 13... Reverse electromagnetic circuit, 14...
...Second electromagnetic coil, 15...Second reverse electromagnetic circuit, PQRS...Sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An automatic emergency shut-off device that instantly shuts off a fluid flow path in the event of an abnormality, which is attached to a base and forms a valve chamber 11 having a valve seat 12 inside, and which has a valve seat 12 at both ends of the valve chamber. the fluid intake port 2 and the fluid discharge port 4, respectively.
A cylindrical valve box 3 made of a non-magnetic material communicated with
, a valve body 5 made of a ferromagnetic material and movably housed in the valve chamber 11 , and elasticity that biases the valve body 5 in a direction away from the valve seat 12 toward the fluid intake port side. A ring-shaped permanent magnet 7 for holding the valve body seated is provided surrounding the outside of the valve seat and is slidably spaced apart from the valve seat position in the axial direction. On the upstream side, an electromagnetic coil 9 for starting the flow path interruption is provided surrounding the outside of the valve chamber, and an abnormal state detection sensor (PQRS) that is activated in the event of an abnormality is connected to the electromagnetic circuit 10 of the electromagnetic coil 9. When the condition occurs, the electromagnetic coil is excited by the current flowing through the electromagnetic circuit due to the activation of the sensor, and the valve element is moved toward the valve seat against the biasing force of the elastic member, thereby causing permanent damage. The magnetic force of the magnet holds the valve body on the valve seat and blocks the fluid flow path, and when the flow path is restored to flow, the magnetic force that holds the valve body by separating the permanent magnet from the valve seat position is used. An automatic emergency shutoff device for a fluid flow path, which deenergizes the valve and causes the valve body to separate from the valve seat together with the biasing force of an elastic member. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the annular permanent magnet 7 is biased by a permanent magnet elastic member 8 toward a position on the valve body 3 outside the valve seat 12. 3 This is an automatic emergency shutoff device that instantly shuts off the fluid flow path in the event of an abnormality, and is attached to the main body and forms a valve chamber 11 having a valve seat 12 inside, and connects both ends of the valve chamber to fluid intake ports 2, respectively. and fluid outlet 4
A cylindrical valve box 3 made of a non-magnetic material communicated with
, a valve body 5 made of a ferromagnetic material and movably housed in the valve chamber 11 , and elasticity that biases the valve body 5 in a direction away from the valve seat 12 toward the fluid intake port side. A ring-shaped permanent magnet 7 for holding the valve body in a seated position is provided surrounding the outside of the valve seat, and an electromagnetic coil 9 for starting flow path interruption is provided on the upstream side of the permanent magnet 7, and is provided around the outside of the valve chamber. The electromagnetic coil 9 is provided surrounding the electromagnetic coil 9.
The electromagnetic circuit 10 is connected to an abnormal state detection sensor (PQRS) that operates in the event of an abnormality, and deenergizing electromagnetic circuits 13 and 15 are provided in proximity to the permanent magnet to deenergize the valve body holding force. At the time of occurrence, the electromagnetic coil is excited by the current flowing through the electromagnetic circuit due to the activation of the sensor, and the valve body is moved toward the valve seat against the biasing force of the elastic member, and the permanent magnet The valve body is held seated on the valve seat by the magnetic force of the valve, thereby blocking the fluid flow path, and when the fluid flow path is restored, the deenergizing electromagnetic coil is energized by the current flowing through the deenergizing electromagnetic circuit. An automatic emergency shutoff device for a fluid flow path, in which the magnetic force of a permanent magnet holding the valve body is deenergized, and together with the biasing force of the elastic member, the valve body is separated from the valve seat. 4. The deenergizing electromagnetic circuit is a reverse electromagnetic circuit 13 that is connected to the electromagnetic circuit 10 and generates a magnetic field in the electromagnetic coil 9 in a direction opposite to that at the time of starting the flow path interruption. Device. 5 The deenergizing electromagnetic circuit includes a second electromagnetic coil 14 provided on the downstream side of the permanent magnet 7, and applies a magnetic field to the second electromagnetic coil in a direction opposite to that at the time of starting to interrupt the flow path of the electromagnetic coil 9. 4. The device according to claim 3, which is a second reverse electromagnetic circuit 15 for generating.