Importance

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Abstract

A shock responsive fluid valve assembly capable of automatically closing a fluid valve in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces of a predetermined magnitude. The shock responsive valve assembly has a flow control mechanism having a cradle that holds a movable ball in a recess at a point perpendicular in relation to a horizontal base plate, where the ball can be rotated 360° in any direction during seismic actions or other shock forces and rolls out of its recess at a predetermined force such that it ricochets off a housing cover covering the cradle and pushes a trip fork mechanism having elongated walls to provide additional leverage when the force strikes the trip fork mechanism that is mounted on a pivoting mechanism, thereby releasing a swing arm which has a disc on the end that functions as a plug for the hole in the valve body to interrupt gas or fluid flow therein. The improvement comprises a novel reset valve mechanism so that a respective reset valve mechanism is located on both sides of the valve body. In this way, regardless of how the valve mechanism is installed, at least one reset valve mechanism will be on the side of the valve body away from the structure wall and will be easily accessible to reset the valve after it is tripped.

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First Claim