US3818932A

US3818932A - Safety cut-off valves for gas supply systems

Info

Publication number: US3818932A
Application number: US00339088A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Doe; W Millard
Original assignee: Bryan Donkin Co Ltd
Current assignee: Bryan Donkin Co Ltd
Priority date: 1972-03-13
Filing date: 1973-03-08
Publication date: 1974-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-25
Also published as: GB1417556A; NL7303515A; FR2175926A1; IT979825B; DE2312103A1

Abstract

A safety cut-off valve for a gas supply system a control unit of which is responsive both to a rise above a pre-determined maximum pressure and to a fall below a pre-determined minimum pressure to cause closure of the valve.

Description

United States Patent [191 Doe et a1.

1 1 SAFETY CUT-OFF VALVES FOR GAS SUPPLY SYSTEMS [75] Inventors: Ernest Edward Doe; William Harry Millard, both of Chesterfield, England [73] Assignee: The Bryan Donkin Company Limited, Chesterfield, England [22] Filed: Mar. 8, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 339,088

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 13, 1972 Great Britain 11636/72 [52] US. Cl 137/494, 137/458, 137/463, 251/65 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 17/64 [58] Field of Search 137/458, 463, 466, 494; 251/65 I 44 IO 8 1 '!i I I[[57 I I I e 55 47 as T 58 64 II- a9 I ii 1 [4 June 25, 1974 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,327,055 8/1943 McMahon 137/458 2,426,364 8/1947 Massecar. 137/458 2,701,580 2/1955 Sullivan 137/458 2,881,787 4/1959 Sullivan 137/458 X 3,021,866 2/1962 Handley 137/458 3,306,317 2/1967 Brown 137/463 X 3,422,841 1/1969 Farrer 137/463 X 3,635,239 l/1972 Farrer 137/463 Primary Examiner-Harold W. Weakley A ttorney, Agent, or Firm Brovvdly and hleimarlg 7 [5 7] ABSTRACT 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SAFETY CUT-OFF VALVES FOR GAS SUPPLY SYSTEMS The invention relates to safety cut-off valves for gas supply systems.

Safety cut-off valves are known in which a valve member is released from an inoperative position to close a flow passage through the valve when the gas pressure at some gauge point rises above a predetermined maximum pressure. It is an object of the invention to provide an improvement in or relating to such a valve.

According to the invention, a safety cut-off valve for a gas supply system includes a valve member mounted for movement towards or away from a valve seat; detent means for retaining said valve member in an inoperative position off said seat during normal operation; and a control unit co-operating with said detent means to effect the release of said valve member in response to the gas pressure at some gauge point rising above a pre-determined maximum pressure or falling below a pre-determined minimum pressure.

The control unit preferably includes a pair of flexible diaphragms of different effective areas urged in opposite directions by gauge pressure, first spring means acting against the larger of the two flexible diaphragms, second spring means acting against the smaller of said two diaphragms, lost motion means connecting said two diaphragms, and a control spindle connected to the smaller of said two diaphragms, the arrangement being such that when the gauge pressure is maintained within permissible limits the control spindle is held by the smaller of the two diaphragms against the force of said second spring means in a position in which the detent means act to retain the valve member in its inoperative position, and when the gauge pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure said gauge pressure acting against the larger of the two diaphragms overcomes the force of said first spring means to cause the control spindle to be displaced in a direction causing the detent means to release the valve member, and when the gauge pressure falls below a pre-determined minimum pressure the second spring means acting against the smaller of the two flexible diaphragms displace the latter against the force of said gauge pressure, again in a direction causing the detent means to release the valve member. The gauge pressure preferably acts in a space between the two diaphragms. Means may be provided whereby the force of the first spring means acting against the larger of the two flexible diaphragms and the force of the second spring means acting against the smaller of the two diaphragms can be adjusted.

The valve member will preferably be pivotally mounted and will preferably be arranged to move towards the valve seat under the force of a spring when released by the detent means, preferably assisted by gravity. The detent means may be such that a mechanical advantage is obtained in retaining the valve member in its inoperative position.

The detent means with which the control unit cooperates for retaining the valve member in an inoperative position off its seat or to effect the release of said valve member may include magnetisable means arranged to retain the valve member in its inoperative position when magnetically activated. In this case said de tent means will also include a magnet movable under the control of said control unit from a first position in 2 which during normal operation it activates said magnetisable means to a second position in which the magnetisable means are magnetically de-activated. Such magnetisable means may be constituted by a pair of fixed pole pieces extending through an impermeable wall between a part of the valve in whichthe magnet is disposed and a flow passage in which the valve member is located. A lever which constitutes a part of the detent means within said flow passage preferably acts as a keeper when the pole pieces are magnetically activated. A further keeper will preferably be arranged to be contacted by the magnet just before the pole pieces are magnetically de-activated consequent upon the magnet being slid off them.

On the other hand the detent means with which the control .unit co-operates for retaining the valve member in an inoperative position off its seat or to effect the release of said valve member may be constituted by a mechanical latch mechanism capable of being released by means of a rod connected'at one end to the control unit, said rod preferably extending into the flow passage and being connected to the detent means in this case wholly disposed within said flow passage.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a safety cut-off valve embodying the invention,

FIGS. 2 and'3 are views similar to FIG. 1 and illustrating possible modifications which will be referred to,

FIG. 4 is a scrap view showing a further possible modification thereof, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through a rather different construction of cut-off valve to which the invention may be applied,

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a safety cutoff valve for installation in a gas supply system includes a main body part 10 with co-axial inlet and outlet passages indicated 12 and 14 respectively. A valve member 16 is pivotally mounted within the body part as shown for movement towards or away from a valve seat which is constituted by one end of a liner l8 screwed into the outlet passage. A detent mechanism is also provided within the main body and co-operates with the valve member 16 when the latter has been raised to an inoperative position off the valve seat, as shown in full lines in the drawing. Said detent mechanism is constituted by a lever 19 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 20, and said lever is provided with a latch portion 22 which co-operates with a tail piece 24 of an arm 26 on which the valve member is carried, to retain the latter in its inoperative position against the action of a torsion spring not shown which acts to close the valve. A soft iron keeper 64 is mounted at the free end of the lever 19 and extends transversely thereof for a purpose which will be presently explained.

The valve member 16 is pivotally mounted within the body 10 on a spindle 17 which extends between a pair of brackets 29 (only one of which can be seen in the drawing) depending from an aluminum insert 32 which forms an impermeable wall between upper and lower parts of the valve body. Means for retaining the lever 19 in the position in which it is shown in the drawing during normal operation of the valve are constituted by a permanent magnet 40 located above the insert 32 at the lower end of a carrier spindle 42. During normal operation of the valve, that is to say when a certain gauge pressure is maintained within a predetermined permissible range, the poles of said magnet contact from an exposed side the upper ends of a pair of soft iron plugs 58 which are moulded in a block of synthetic plastics material 59. The soft iron plugs extend through the aluminum insert, providing an abutment surface for the soft iron keeper 64 mounted at the free end of the lever 19, and when magnetically activated by the magnet they retain the lever in its raised position. In an upper position to which it is moved in circumstances which will presently be described, the magnet is disconnected from the soft iron plugs and contacts a soft iron keeper" 62 which is disposed some distance above the upper ends of said plugs. Said plugs are thus magnetically open circuited, allowing the keeper 64 together with the lever 19 to fall so that immediate closure of the valve results.

A control unit generally indicated 30 is provided for causing the release of the valve member 16 in response to a rise above a predetermined maximum or a fall below a predetermined minimum of the gauge pressure referred to above. The control unit includes an annular spacer member 71 disposed between flanges on the main body part and on an upstanding cover 54. An outer peripheral edge portion of a flexible diaphragm 34 is secured to a lower face of the spacer member to enclose a cavity 36 immediately overlying the insert 32, said cavity communicating to atmosphere by way of a breather 45. The head of a screwthreaded control spindle 53, clamped to said diaphragm by upper and lower disc members 31 and 33 respectively, is connected to the carrier spindle 42 to lift and lower the magnet 40. A further flexible diaphragm 35 is clamped around its outer periphery between the spacer member and the flange of the upstanding cover 54 and encloses a space 37 between the two diaphragms. It will be seen that the flexible diaphragm 35 has a larger effective area than the flexible diaphragm 34. A screwthreaded aperture 38 is provided in the side of the spacer member for the reception of a pipe connection (not shown) by means of whiqh the gauge pressure referred to above, conveyed from some convenient source, can be caused to act in the space 37. A further breather 45 is provided to vent the space overlying the diaphragm 35.

A coil spring 50 (which may be referred to as first spring means) overlies the diaphragm 35 and acts to urge said diaphragm downwardly. The spring re-acts against an abutment member 52 which can be adjustably positioned within the cover 54 to pre-load the spring to a required degree. The means provided for adjusting the abutment member within the cover are constituted by a screw-threaded sleeve 39 extending downwards from an upper end of the cover. Said sleeve is rotatably mounted but axially fixed in a bush 41 which is located at the upper end of the cover. An extraneous tool (not shown) can be applied to a squared upper end 43 of the sleeve when a cap 56 has been removed. The abutment member 52, being held against rotation in the cover 54 by guideways generally indicated 44, is caused to move upwards or downwards depending on the direction in which the sleeve 39 is turned.

During normal operation of the valve, that is to say as shown in the drawing, the spring 50 holds a flange 46 of a sleeve 47 which extends through a central aperture in the diaphragm 35 in contact with an annular abutment plate 48 which extends across the space 37. In this condition also, a relatively light coil spring 49 (which may be referred to as second spring means) acts against a nut 51 carried by the screwthreaded spindle 53 (and thus acts indirectly against the diaphragm 34) and reacts against said abutment plate, although in fact it is not sufficiently powerful to lift the magnet from its lower position against the gauge pressure acting on the diaphragm 34. Means which are provided for adjusting the position of the nut 51 on the spindle 53, to adjust the force of the spring 49, include a socket member 55 having a hexagonal opening in which said nut is axially slidable but non-rotational and a driving key 57 of square cross-section which engages a square opening in the upper end of the socket member so that it drivingly engages said socket member whilst being axially slidable relative thereto. The socket member is provided with a peripheral flange 60 at its lower end which is held loosely in contact with the upper end of the sleeve 47 by means of a screwthreaded collar 61 which engages said sleeve. The screwthreaded collar 61 is also employed to clamp the flexible diaphragm 35, a central part of which is located between upper and

lower disc members

73 and 75, against the flange of the sleeve 47. An O-ring seal 65 is provided between the collar 61 and a cylindrical external portion of the socket member to prevent the leakage of gas from the space 37. The driving key 57 on the other hand is secured by means of a pin 66 at the lower end of an adjusting spindle 67 which extends rotatably through the screw-threaded sleeve 39. The adjusting spindle is secured against axial movement in said sleeve and has a squared upper end 68 to which an extraneous tool (not shown) can be connected when it is desired to turn it to adjust the force of the spring 49.

In operation, when the valve is open as shown in the drawing, and the gauge pressure in the space 37 is within the permissible operating range, the soft iron plugs are magnetically activated and cause the detent mechanism to retain the valve member in its inoperative position as previously described. If the gauge pressure becomes higher than the predetermined maximum, however, the upward force produced against the diaphragm 35 is sufficient to overcome the force of the spring 50 acting downwards and the diaphragm 35 together with the sleeve 47 and socket member 55 are displaced upwardly. When this occurs, the sleeve 47 abuts against the underside of the nut 51 and lifts the magnet together with the diaphragm 34 (which it can do by virtue of the fact that the effective area of the diaphragm 35 is greater than that of the diaphragm 34). Consequently, as previously described the soft iron plugs are magnetically de-activated and the valve is caused to close. On the other hand if the gauge pressure drops below the predetermined minimum, the force of the spring 49 is sufficient to lift the diaphragm 34 against the force of said gauge pressure and to lift the magnet so that once again the soft iron plugs are magnetically de-activated to allow the valve to close.

Thus there is provided a safety cut-off valve of relatively simple construction which is responsive to either a rise above a predetermined maximum or a fall below a predetermined minimum in a certain gauge pressure. It is also fail-safe in the sense that if over a long period of time the magnet 40 looses its strength the valve will shut and, being unable to be held open despite the gauge pressure being within the prescribed limits, will give an indication that the magnet should be replaced.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in a modified and somewhat simplified version of the valve just described, no special provision is made for the force of the spring 49, i.e., the second spring means, to be adjusted and consequently the predetermined minimum gauge pressure at which the release of the valve member is effected is pre-set according to the strength of the spring (although it will be understood that the effective lengthof the spring, and thus its strength, could be slightly adjusted by shimming between the spacer member 71 and the main body part). As a result of this it has been possible to omit the adjusting spindle 67 and the mechanism associated with it, and the screwthreaded sleeve for adjusting the position of the abutment member has been replaced by an axially fixed adjusting spindle 76. In addition, the means now provided for preventing rotation of the abutment member 52 are constituted by a spindle 77 which depends from an upper end of the upstanding cover and extends freely through a hole in said abutment member.

The control spindle 56 is not screwthreaded, except at its lower end, and is provided with a head 63 against which the spring 49 acts, the head of the spindle being located within a screwthreaded cap 69 which takes the place of the socket member 55 and screwthreaded collar 61 of the first described embodiment. It will be seen that in this case the abutment plate 48 has been omitted and that, in effect, the lower one of the

disc members

73 and 75, between which the flexible diaphragm 34 is claimed, takes the place of said abutment plate by virtue of the fact that at normal and low gauge pressure it seats itself upon abutment members 74 which are provided within the spacer member 71. It will also be seen that at normal and high gauge pressures the lower one of the disc members 31 and 33, between which the flexible diaphragm 34 is clamped, seats itself upon an upstanding annular part 27 of the insert 32. The carrier spindle 42 will also be seen to be offset from the axis of the control spindle 56 on a bracket 38 secured to the lower end of the latter.

It will be understood however that despite these various differences just described the valve operates in a very similar manner to that previously described. The overall length of the adjusting spindle 76 is such that it acts as a stop against which the screwthreaded cap 69 can abut to locate the magnet 40 in alignment with the keeper 62 whatever the rise in the gauge pressure above the high trip pressure might be. Similarly, the distance between the head of the control spindle and the upper surface of the interior of the screwthreaded cap is such that the magnet 40 is again located in alignment with the keeper 62 whatever the drop in the gauge pressure below the low trip pressure might be.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in a further modified form of the valve (in many ways similar to that just described) the spring 49 has been omitted from beneath the head of the control spindle 56 and a spring 78 (which again can be referred to as second spring means) has been located within the cavity 36 to act upwardly against the lower one of the disc members 31 and 33 between which the central part of the flexible diaphragm 34 is clamped. In this case, an excessive gauge pressure causes the collar 72 of the sleeve 47 to act directly against the head 63 of the control spindle and to lift the magnet 40. As in the case of the valve illustrated in FIG. 2, the abutment of the screwthreaded cap 69 against the lower end of the adjusting spindle 76 limits the upward movement of the magnet due to an excessive gauge pressure so that said magnet is aligned with the keeper 62 (but in this case said adjusting spindle is provided with a pair of locknuts 79 to limit the extent by which the spring 50, Le, the first spring means, can be pre-loaded by the abutment member 52). Similarly, the abutment of the head 63 of the control spindle against the upper surface of the interior surface of the screwthreaded cap limits the upward movement of the magnet due to a fall in the gauge pressure below the pre-detennined minimum so that said magnet is again aligned with the keeper 62.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is illustrated a simple modification which can be made to any of the safety cut-off valves previously described but which for the sake of illustration has been shown applied to the valve illustrated in FIG. 1. In this modification a so-called pot magnet has been located in a depression formed in the aluminium insert 32. Said pot magnet acts to hold the carrier spindle 42 in its lower position so that the magnet 40 remains in contact with the soft iron plugs 58 until the hold of the pot magnet is overcome by the force by the force tending to lift the magnet 40 as a result of the gauge pressure being outside the permissible limits. A decisive trip action then results.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, in a somewhat different kind of safety cut-off valve to which the invention has been applied, a main body part is provided with co-axial inlet and outlet passages indicated 112 and 114 respectively. A valve member gen erally indicated 116 is pivotally mounted within the body part about the axes of oppositely disposed spigots 118 of screwed plugs (not shown) which are screwed in alignment from opposite sides of the body part, said spigots engaging the opposite ends of a tube 120 which is welded to one end of an arm 122. The tube 120 and arm 122, together with spigots 118, constitute a hinge mounting for the valve member 116.

The valve member 1 16 is provided with a sheet metal pressing 124 with an annular lip 1.26 formed integrally with it. An annular disc 128 is welded to the inwardly dished surface of the pressing 124 to form an annular space 130 which is filled with a resilient material. A seating ring 132 is screwthreaded into the upstream end of the outlet passage as shown and is provided with an annular projection 134 constituting a valve seat arranged to bite into the resilient. material filling the space 130 in the door, thereby providing a good gastight seal when the valve member has been closed. A screwthreaded spindle 136 is provided for securing the valve member to the arm 122, and said spindle is surrounded by a pair of abutting rubber bushes 138 where it extends through a hole in said am. This improves still further the seal which is made when the valve member has been closed, since the valve member is able to adjust its position upon the valve seat.

A detent mechanism arranged to retain the valve member in the raised inoperative position in which it is shown in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 5, is constituted by a mechanical latch mechanism including a trip lever 140 pivotally mounted at 142 in a bracket 144 depending from the insert 32 located between upper and lower parts of the valve body; a roller 146 abutting a notched part 150 of the trip lever when the valve member is inoperative; a roller carrier assembly comprising a link 152 secured at one end to a pair of plates 148; a bracket 154 projecting from the arm 122 and pivotally connected to the other end of the link 152; and a further link 156 pivotally mounted at one end to the roller carrier assembly and pivotally mounted at its other end about the axis of a spindle 158. A spring 160 encircles the spindle 158 and acts against the link 156, the arrangement being such that when the detent mechanism is tripped, that is to say released, the spring acts to cause the valve member to be slammed shut upon its seat, being assisted in this of course by gravity and by any flow of gas-which there may be through the valve as the valve member approaches its seat. It will be seen that, in slamming shut, the valve member causes the linking arrangement constituted by the

links

152 and 156 to move over-centre and a pin 162 which is also mounted between the plates 148 abuts against the link 156 to retain the links in a near straight condition so that the valve member is held hard upon its seat with the annular projection 134 biting into the resilient material which fills the space 130 in the door.

Means for tripping the detent mechanism in response to a rise above a predetermined maximum or a fall below a predetermined minimum of a certain gauge pressure include a control unit as any of those previously described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 but for the sake of illustration the control unit described with reference to FIG. 1 is shown to have been adapted for fitment to the safety cut-off valve illustrated in FIG. 5. Consequently, a rod 176 which is connected at its upper end to the head of the spindle 53 (which is connected to diaphragm 34) extends slidably through a bush 178 which extends through the insert 32. At its lower end the rod is connected to a fork member 180 between the arms of which a roller 182 is mounted. The arms of the fork member straddle the trip lever and the roller bears against an upper part of the surface of an aperture 184 which is considerably larger than the roller as shown. The bush 178 is recessed as shown for the reception of a rubber O-ring 186 which surrounds the rod 176 and forms a seal against the leakage of gas along the rod. The O-ring is retained in position by means of a cap 188 screwed on the lower end of the bush.

During normal operation, the valve member 116 is latched up in its inoperative position out of the main gas stream by the detent mechanism. However, if the pressure in the space 37 of the control unit exceeds a pre-determined maximum, or becomes less than a predetermined minimum, the detent mechanism is tripped by the control unit so that the valve member is immediately slammed shut by the spring 160. As previously described, the

links

152 and 156 more over-centre as the valve is shut, but the valve can be re-opened and the mechanism re-set when normal operating conditions have been re-established by turning the spindle 158 in an anti-clockwise direction when viewed as in FIG. 5. For this purpose an end of the spindle which extends through the wall of the main body part has a square portion (not shown) for the connection of an extraneous key (not shown).

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, particularly in the manner in which the valve member is suspended within the main body part of the valve and in the details of the detent mechanism for retaining it in its raised inoperative position. Furthermore, the exposed surfaces of the parts which constitute the magnetic circuits of the control units illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings may be coated with lacquer to prevent corrosion or, instead of this, the side surfaces of the soft iron plugs and of the keeper 62 may lie just beneath the surface of the synthetic plastics material. The gauge pressure need not necessarily act in a space between the pair of flexible diaphragms; it could act in separate chambers on opposite sides of the diaphragms, the space between them then being vented to atmosphere.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a safety cut-off valve for a gas supply system, a valve member mounted in a flow passage for movement towards and away from a valve seat; detent means for retaining said valve member in an inoperative position off said seat during normal operation; and a control unit controlling said detent means and effective to release said valve member in response to the gas pressure at some gauge point rising above a predetermined maximum pressure and in response to said gas pressure falling below a pre-determined minimum pressure, the improvement wherein said control unit includes a pair of flexible diaphragms of different effective areas urged in opposite directions by gauge pressure acting in a space therebetween, first spring means for acting with sufficient force against the larger of said two flexible diaphragms to hold it in a pre-set position dictated by the presence of an abutment plate when the gauge pressure is below a pre-determined maximum pressure reached, second spring means for acting against the smaller of said two flexible diaphragms with sufficient force to hold it in a pre-set position when the gauge pressure is above a pre-determined minimum pressure and for urging said smaller of the two diaphragms towards the larger of the two diaphragms, lost motion means connecting said two diaphragms for causing said smaller diaphragm to be displaced in response to the displacement of said larger diaphragm, and a control spindle connected to the smaller of said two diaphragms and movable in one direction to release the valve member, the arrangement being such that when the gauge pressure acting in a space between the two diaphragms is within the pre-determined limits, said control spindle is held by the smaller of the two diaphragms against the force of said second spring means in a position in which it causes said detent means to retain said valve member in its inoperative position but when said gauge pressure exceeds the pre-determined maximum pressure it acts against the larger of the two diaphragms to overcome the force of said first spring means and to move said control spindle in said one direction, by means of said lost motion means, to a position in which it causes said detent means to release said valve member, and when said gauge pressure falls below the predetermined minimum pressure said second spring means acting against the smaller of the two'diaphragms displace the control spindle against the force of said gauge pressure, again in said one direction, to cause said detent means to release said valve member.

2. A safety cut-off valve as claimed in claim 1, in which adjusting means are provided for adjusting the force of said first spring means.

3. A safety cut-off valve as claimed in claim 1, in which adjusting means are provided for adjusting the force of said second spring means.

4. A safety cut-off valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said valve member is pivotally mounted and a spring is provided for moving said valve member towards said valve seat when it has been released by the control spindle having been displaced in said one direction to cause the release of said detent means.

5. A safety cut-off valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said detent means controlled by said control unit for retaining said valve member in an inoperative position off its seat during normal operation and to effect the release of said valve member in response to the gas pressure at said gauge point rising above said predetermined maximum pressure and in response to said gas pressure falling below said pre-determined minimum pressure includes a magnet movable in said one direction by said control spindle in response to changes of gas pressure at said gauge point and magnetizable means arranged to retain said valve member in its inoperative position when magnetically activated by the proximity of said magnet.

6. A safety cut-off valve as claimed in claim 5, in which said detent means includes a lever which acts as a keeper when said magnetizable means are magnetically activated.

7. A safety cut-off valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said detent means controlled by said control unit for retaining said valve member in an inoperative position off its seat during normal operation and to effect the release of said valve member in response to the gas pressure at said gauge point rising above said pedetermined maximum pressure and in response to said gas pressure falling below said pre-determined minimum pressure includes a mechanical latch mechanism and a rod extending into said flow passage and connected to the control spindle of said control unit, said rod being capable of releasing said latch mechanism when moved in said one direction in response to the gas pressure at said gauge point rising above said predetermined maximum pressure and in response to said gas pressure falling below said predetermined minimum.

Claims

1. In a safety cut-off valve for a gas supply system, a valve member mounted in a flow passage for movement towards and away from a valve seat; detent means for retaining said valve member in an inoperative position off said seat during normal operation; and a control unit controlling said detent means and effective to release said valve member in response to the gas pressure at some gauge point rising above a predetermined maximum pressure and in response to said gas pressure falling below a pre-determined minimum pressure, the improvement wherein said control unit includes a pair of flexible diaphragms of different effective areas urged in opposite directions by gauge pressure acting in a space therebetween, first spring means for acting with sufficient force against the larger of said two flexible diaphragms to hold it in a pre-set position dictated by the presence of an abutment plate when the gauge pressure is below a pre-determined maximum pressure reached, second spring means for acting against the smaller of said two flexible diaphragms with sufficient force to hold it in a pre-set position when the gauge pressure is above a pre-determined minimum pressure and for urging said smaller of the two diaphragms towards the larger of the two diaphragms, lost motion means connecting said two diaphragms for causing said smaller diaphragm to be displaced in response to the displacement of said larger diaphragm, and a control spindle connected to the smaller of said two diaphragms and movable in one direction to release the valve member, the arrangement being such that when the gauge pressure acting in a space between the two diaphragms is within the pre-determined limits, said control spindle is held by the smaller of the two diaphragms against the force of said second spring means in a position in which it causes said detent means to retain said valve member in iTs inoperative position but when said gauge pressure exceeds the pre-determined maximum pressure it acts against the larger of the two diaphragms to overcome the force of said first spring means and to move said control spindle in said one direction, by means of said lost motion means, to a position in which it causes said detent means to release said valve member, and when said gauge pressure falls below the predetermined minimum pressure said second spring means acting against the smaller of the two diaphragms displace the control spindle against the force of said gauge pressure, again in said one direction, to cause said detent means to release said valve member.

5. A safety cut-off valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said detent means controlled by said control unit for retaining said valve member in an inoperative position off its seat during normal operation and to effect the release of said valve member in response to the gas pressure at said gauge point rising above said pre-determined maximum pressure and in response to said gas pressure falling below said pre-determined minimum pressure includes a magnet movable in said one direction by said control spindle in response to changes of gas pressure at said gauge point and magnetizable means arranged to retain said valve member in its inoperative position when magnetically activated by the proximity of said magnet.

7. A safety cut-off valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said detent means controlled by said control unit for retaining said valve member in an inoperative position off its seat during normal operation and to effect the release of said valve member in response to the gas pressure at said gauge point rising above said pe-determined maximum pressure and in response to said gas pressure falling below said pre-determined minimum pressure includes a mechanical latch mechanism and a rod extending into said flow passage and connected to the control spindle of said control unit, said rod being capable of releasing said latch mechanism when moved in said one direction in response to the gas pressure at said gauge point rising above said pre-determined maximum pressure and in response to said gas pressure falling below said pre-determined minimum.