| WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A smart safety valve (1 ) comprising: a safety valve (10) of the type having an inlet means (11 ) and an outlet means (12), a plunger shaft (13), and a biasing spring (14); an actuating means (15); a connecting rod (13a) connecting said plunger shaft (13) to said actuating means (15); and a switch means (16), characterized by said switch means (16) is reachable from floor level. 2. A smart safety valve (1) as claimed in Claim 1 further characterized by said switch means (16) being operated by a pneumatic system. 3. A smart safety valve (1) as claimed in Claim 2 further characterized by said pneumatic system comprises an actuating means (15) and a toggle switch. 4. A smart safety valve (1) as claimed in Claim 3 further characterized by said actuating means (15) is an air cylinder. 5. A smart safety valve (1) as claimed in Claim 1 further characterized by said a toggle switch is an air valve. 6. A smart safety valve (1) as claimed in Claim 1 further characterized by said switch means (16) is a mechanical switch. 7. A smart safety valve (1) as claimed in Claim 6 further characterized by said mechanical switch is mechanically linked to said safety valve (10). 8. A smart safety valve (1) as claimed in Claim 1 further characterized by said switch means (16) is an electrical switch. 9. A smart safety valve (1) as claimed in Claim 8 further characterized by said actuating means (15) is a solenoid switch. |
1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a safety valve, especially to a smart safety valve having a user-friendly testing facility capable of being activated from floor level.
2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Safety valves or sometimes also called as check valves are mandatory devices provided under the Acts when dealing with high pressure vessel or air receiver. These safety devices need to be tested regularly to ensure they are functioning properly to ensure their continuing relevance. Normally these safety devices are positioned in the highest point of the pressure vessel for safety reason, making it difficult to reach and operate. Ladder and other equipment are normally- used to reach the safety valve to test it. This is troublesome not to mention the hazard it may pose. This is one of the many reasons that many of the safety valves are left unattended and seldom tested thus not known whether they are still in good working condition or otherwise.
The present invention is aimed at overcoming the above drawback by providing a smart safety valve. The smart safety valve is provided with a switch that is placed conveniently at the side of the air receiver reachable from the floor without the aide of ladder and other equipment.
3. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a smart safety valve having a user-friendly testing facility.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a smart safety valve having a user-friendly testing facility reachable from the floor. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a smart safety valve having a user-friendly testing facility that needs minimal periodical maintenance and servicing.
These and other object of the present invention are accomplished by,
A smart safety valve (1) comprising:
a safety valve (10) of the type having an inlet means (1 1 ) and an outlet means (12), a plunger shaft (13), and a biasing spring (14);
an actuating means (15); and
a switch means (16),
characterized by
said switch means (16) is reachable from floor level.
4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a smart safety valve (1) comprising a safety valve (10) of the type having an inlet means (11 ) and an outlet means (12), a plunger shaft (13), and a biasing spring
(14) . The end of the plunger shaft (13) is provided with a connecting rod (13a) that connects end of the plunger shaft (13) to an actuating means
(15) . The actuating means (15) is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir (10a) through a pressure regulator (1 Ob) and a switch means
(16) . The invention lies in the provision and positioning of the switch (16) that is reachable from floor level making it very much easier to test the safety valve (10).
5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Non-limited and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with references to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various view unless otherwise specified:
FIG. 1 showing a general plan view of the smart safety valve according to one embodiment of the present invention. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIG. 1 showing a general plan view of the smart safety valve according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the broadest aspect of the present invention, the smart safety valve (1) comprises a safety valve (10) of the type having an inlet means (11) and an outlet means (12), a plunger shaft (13), and a biasing spring (14). The end of the plunger shaft (13) is provided with a connecting rod (13a) that connects end of the plunger shaft (13) to an actuating means (15) that is capable of moving up and down in response to the input signal from a switch means (16). The actuating means (15) is an air valve and is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir (1 Oa) through a pressure regulator (10b) that reduces the pressure before entering the switch means (16). The invention lies in the provision of the smart system and positioning of the switch means (16) that is reachable from floor level making it very much easier to test the safety valve (10). With the introduction of the present smart safety valve gone are the days when one will have to use ladder and other equipment just to reach the safety valve to test it. It is safer and much more convenient to use.
In another embodiment the smart safety valve may use a totally mechanical system. This is done by replacing the actuating means by some means of a lever system and the piping by a linking rod or a light duty wire rope. The switch means is repJaced by a lever actuator that may be pulled or pushed to actuate the lever system that will in turn push or pull the connecting rod to open or close the safety valve. In yet another embodiment the smart safety valve may use a totally electrical system. For an electrical system the actuating means may be replaced with a solenoid valve that will move the connecting rod up or down. An ON/OFF switch may be used as the switch means while the piping is replaced with electrical wiring.
While the preferred embodiment of the present invention and their advantages have been disclosed in the above Detailed Description, the invention is not limited thereto but only by the scope of the appended claim.