GB2285113A

GB2285113A - Shut-off valve for use in testing pipe lines in petrol pump installations

Info

Publication number: GB2285113A
Application number: GB9326359A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry C Risbridger
Original assignee: W&J Risbridger Ltd
Current assignee: W&J Risbridger Ltd
Priority date: 1993-12-23
Filing date: 1993-12-23
Publication date: 1995-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-23
Also published as: GB2285113B; GB9326359D0

Abstract

An angle shut-off valve for a fuel pipe line has a valve body 1 having a valve seat 10, and a plunger 7 adapted to engage with the seat to close the valve. The valve seat has a non-uniform rim or lip 11, e.g. having one or more notches or depressions 12, so that if a standard poppet valve is employed to replace the plunger, it will not seal onto the rim or lip of the valve seat. <IMAGE>

Description

SHUT-OFF VALVE FOR USE IN TESTING PIPE LINES IN PETROL PUMP INSTALLATIONS This invention relates to a shut-off valve which is particularly useful for incorporating in the pipework connecting a fuel tank to a fuel dispensing means.

In our copending patent application No. 9306893 (publication No. 2265988), we describe a method of testing the integrity of the fuel supply line from a fuel tank to a dispensing pump. This method involves modifying an angle valve by providing a plunger which seals off the pipe connecting the fuel tank to the supply line. The integrity of the supply line from the valve to the pump can then be tested via a test point tapping in a closure cap for the valve or, alternatively, through access elsewhere in the supply line. Also, by closing off the pipe or pipes leading to the fuel tank, the integrity of the tank can be tested.

There is, however, a danger that after making the test, the cap and plunger can be removed from the angle check valve body and replaced with a spring or gravitybiased poppet valve,which opens in response to suction applied by the pump and thus ensures that the line between the tank and the pump remains filled with fuel. Many local authorities (who are responsible for approval of the operation of filling station equipment), have disapproved of the use of such poppet valves to such fuel lines on the ground of safety. There is, therefore, a need for a shut-off valve which cannot be retrofitted to accept a poppet valve.

In our above prior application, an adapter ring is fitted to the top of the check valve casing in such a way that it is not easy to remove and this restricts the refitting of a standard poppet valve. However, this arrangement does add to the cost and there is need for a simpler solution.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an angle shut-off valve is provided for use in a fuel line in which a seat for the shut-off valve has a non-uniform lip.

The lip may typically be formed with one or more notches so that a standard poppet valve flange does not make a fluid-tight seal with the valve seat. The shut-off valve itself may be provided with a profile such that it seals onto a surface of the valve seat away from the lip.

In one example, the valve head is tapered and mates with a corresponding taper on the inner face of the valve seat. In other respects, the shut-off valve may be similar to that described in our prior patent application No. 9306893 and may, for example, comprise a screw-down shut-off valve or one which is operated by a toggle lever which may be assisted by a spring to hold the valve in a closed position.

The shut-off valve may be used in the testing of the integrity of fuel lines and fuel storage tanks in the manner described in our above-mentioned copending application.

The present inventionisillustrated by the following specific embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a first embodiment of a valve in accordance with the invention; Figure 1A is a scrap view showing an alternative seat design with the valve head seated in the valve seat; Figure 1B is an elevation taken in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 1; Figure 1C is a view of the same valve seen from above; Figure 2 is a vertical section through a second embodiment in accordance with the invention, while Figure 2A is a scrap view showing an alternative seat design with the valve head seated in the valve seat; Figure 2B is a side elevation showing the valve as seen in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 2; and Figure 2C is a view of the valve seen from above.

Referring to Figures 1, 1A, 1B and 1C, the valve comprises a body 1 having a threaded inlet port 2 and a threaded outlet port 3. A valve cap 4 closes off the upper part of the body 1 by means of bolts 5 received in a flange 6. A seal is clamped between the cap 4 and the flange 6. The valve head 7 is carried by a spindle 8 which can be rotated by the handle 9 to open or close the port 2. Valve head 7 has a tapered profile which is shaped to mate with a similarly chamfered valve seat 10.

Valve seat 19 is formed with a rim or lip 11, formed with notches e.g. at 12.

The valve head 7 is provided with an O-ring 13 to ensure that the head seats in a fluid-tight manner against the surface 10.

The purpose of the notches 12 is to prevent the use of the valve body with a substituted standard poppet valve. Such a standard valve has a horizontal surface designed to mate with the rim 11 of the valve seat.

However, the presence of the notches 12 prevents a seal being made between the standard poppet valve and the valve seat.

An alternative seat design is shown in Figure 1A. In this case, the valve seat is generally cylindrical and the valve head 7 has a portion 15 which enters the valve seat and seals by means of an O-ring 13 against thS tuner surface of the valve seat 11. In an analogous w 4 to the arrangement in Figure 1, the valve seat is provided with notches 12 so that there is no seal between the horizontal surface and the rim of the seat.

Referring to Figures 2 to 2C, the design of the valve body and the valve head and seat is the same as shown in Figures 1 and 1A and the same reference numerals are used to indicate equivalent parts. The difference between the embodiments of Figures 2 to 2C and Figures 1 to 1C is that instead of the valve head being carried on a spindle, it is instead carried on a rod 21 which is moved upwardly or downwardly to open or close the valve, by means of the lever 22. The lever 22 is pivotably attached to the shaft 21 at a pivot point 23 and the lever 22 is formed with a cam surface 24, so that as lever 22 is lifted, shaft 21 moves downwardly under the influence of the spring 25 so as to press the valve head 7 firmly into contact with the seat 10.

The valve caps 4 may be provided with a tests point tapping, such as shown at 144 in Figure 4B of our above copending application. Alternatively, the supply line can be tested by applying a pressure measuring device to another convenient point on the supply line, e.g. at the under pump valve through a test point such as indicated at 66 in Figures 5 and 5A of our above copending application.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A valve for use in a fuel line between a tank and a fuel pump comprising a valve body, a valve seat and a plunger adapted to close onto the seat to shut off the valve, wherein the seat has a non-uniform lip.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lip comprises a peripheral surface having one or more notches or depressions therein, the plunger having a portion which seals onto a part of the seat inwardly of the peripheral surface.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the valve seat is tapered and the plunger has a head having a matching taper.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the plunger has a cylindrical head which mates with a cylindrical bore in the valve seat.

5. A valve as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 in which a deformable sealing ring is provided on the plunger head to ensure a seal between the plunger head and the valve seat

6. A valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the plunger head is carried on a spindle which extends through a closure plate and is movable axially of the spindle to open and close the valve.

7. A valve as claimed in claim 6 in which the plunger is spring biassed into the closed position of the valve.

8. A valve as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 in which the spindle is controlled by a toggle lever.

9. A fuel supply installation which comprises a fuel storage tank, a pump for dispensing fuel from the tank, a pipe line connecting the tank with the pump and a shut-off valve located in the pipe line between the tank and the pump, the valve comprising a body having a valve seat and a plunger adapted to shut off the valve by engaging with the seat, wherein the valve has a nonuniform peripheral rim or lip.