Importance

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Abstract

The subject invention pertains to an automatic fluid-mechanical actuated emergency stop valve for inhibiting fluid flow following a catastrophic rupture or other failure in a fluid delivery system carrying a fluid from an upstream source to a downstream destination. A fluidic stop valve which responds to a sudden downstream pipe rupture by closing is provided. The operating mechanism relies upon an increased Bernoulli force acting on a mass opposing a vacuum force tunable by a secondary flow damper. When the mass experiences sufficient Bernoulli force it is then brought up into position to block further fluid flow through the stop valve. The sensitivity of the stop valve to ruptures or sudden flow increases can be tuned by geometric parameters, the stop mass density, and an adjustable setting of the secondary flow damper.

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First Claim