Safety system for fluid conduit

Abstract

A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising a flexible fluid conduit having first and second ends, a first valve seat disposed at the first end of the conduit and a second valve seat disposed at the second end of the conduit. The first and second valve seats are positioned a first predetermined distance from each other. A first plurality of valve bodies are disposed at the first end of the conduit and a second plurality of valve bodies are disposed at the second end of the conduit. The first and second valve seats are disposed between the first and second plurality of valve bodies, with the first and second plurality of valve bodies positioned a second predetermined distance from the first and second valve seats, respectively. A valve control means retains the first and second plurality of valve bodies the second predetermined distance from the first and second valve seats, respectively, during an open flow condition, and seats one or more of the first and second plurality of valve bodies with the first and second valve seats, respectively, during a conduit failure.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising: 
 a flexible fluid conduit having first and second ends;    a first valve seat disposed at said first end of said conduit and a second valve seat disposed at said second end of said conduit, said first and second valve seats positioned a first predetermined distance from each other;    a first plurality of valve bodies disposed at said first end of said conduit and a second plurality of valve bodies disposed at said second end of said conduit, said first and second valve seats disposed between said first and second plurality of valve bodies, said first and second plurality of valve bodies positioned a second predetermined distance from said first and second valve seats, respectively; and    valve control means for 
 retaining said first and second plurality of valve bodies said second predetermined distance from said first and second valve seats, respectively, during an open flow condition, and  
 seating one or more of said first and second plurality of valve bodies with said first and second valve seats, respectively, during a conduit failure.  
   
     
     
         2 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said flexible fluid conduit is a hose.  
     
     
         3 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a first housing attached to said first end of said conduit, wherein said first valve seat comprises an aperture in said first housing.  
     
     
         4 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a first housing attached to said first end of said conduit, said first housing having a substantially conical and hollow internal cavity disposed therein, said cavity having first and second apertures through which fluid flows, said conical and hollow internal cavity having an apex and a base with angled sidewalls extending from said base to said apex, said portion of said sidewalls near said apex comprises said first valve seat.  
     
     
         5 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said conical and hollow internal cavity has a truncated apex.  
     
     
         6 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said conical and hollow internal cavity further comprises a first recesses for retaining said first valve body during an open flow condition substantially out of the flow path of said fluid.  
     
     
         7 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said first recess is located at the base of said hollow internal cavity and defined by said base, said first sidewall and a lip extending from said base across from said first sidewall a sufficient distance to allow said first valve body to be positioned within said recess.  
     
     
         8 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said first plurality of valve bodies is comprised of two wedge shaped valve bodies.  
     
     
         9 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said wedge shape of said first plurality of valve bodies is angled substantially identical to said conical sidewalls.  
     
     
         10 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said first plurality of valve bodies seat together at said first valve seat substantially forming a single valve body.  
     
     
         11 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said valve control means comprises a flexible yet substantially rigid cable.  
     
     
         12 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said flexible yet substantially rigid cable is attached to said first and second plurality of valve bodies.  
     
     
         13 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising first and second links, each having first and second ends, wherein said respective first ends are connected to said flexible yet substantially rigid cable and said respective second ends are connected to said respective first and second plurality of valve bodies.  
     
     
         14 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said links are flexible and substantially rigid.  
     
     
         15 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising a mulitpoint connector attaching said first and second linking cables to said flexible and substantially rigid cable.  
     
     
         16 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said flexible fluid conduit and said and substantially rigid cable each have a respective length and said length of said substantially rigid cable is longer than said length of said flexible fluid conduit.  
     
     
         17 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said substantially rigid cable is positioned within said flexible fluid conduit in a substantially serpentine position.  
     
     
         18 . A safety system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a filling container connected to said first end of said flexible fluid conduit and a receiving container connected to said second end of said flexible fluid conduit.  
     
     
         19 . A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising: 
 a flexible hose having first and second ends;    a first housing containing a valve seat disposed at said first end of said hose and a second housing containing a second valve seat disposed at said second end of said hose, said first and second valve seats positioned a first predetermined distance from each other;    a first pair of generally wedge shaped valve bodies disposed within said first housing at said first end of said hose and a second pair of generally wedge shaped valve bodies disposed within said second housing at said second end of said hose, said first and second valve seats disposed between said first and second pair of generally wedge shaped valve bodies, said first and second pairs of generally wedge shaped valve bodies positioned a second predetermined distance from said first and second valve seats, respectively;    a first link connected to said first pair of generally wedge shaped valve bodies and a second link connected to said second pair of generally wedge shaped valve bodies;    a first connecting linkage connected to said first linking cable and a second connecting linkage connected to said second linking cable; and    a cable having first and second cable ends, positioned within said hose, said first cable end connected to said first connecting linkage and said second cable end connected to said second linkage, said cable retaining said first and second pairs of generally wedge shaped valve bodies said second predetermined distance from said first and second valve seats, respectively, during an open flow condition, and seating one or more of said first and second pairs of said generally wedge shaped valve bodies with said first and second valve seats, respectively, during a hose failure.    
     
     
         20 . A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising: 
 first and second housings;    a first flexible fluid conduit having first and second ends attached to said first and second housings, respectively;    a second outer flexible fluid conduit having first and second ends attached to said first and second housings, respectively, said second outer flexible fluid conduit surrounding said first flexible fluid conduit;    a cavity defined by and between said first and second flexible fluid conduits;    an indicator material located inside of said cavity to indicate a fault condition of said first or second flexible fluid conduits; and    fluid flow cut off means for stopping fluid flow upon failure of said first flexible fluid conduit.    
     
     
         21 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein said indicator material is a pressurized gas.  
     
     
         22 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein said indicator material is capable of sealing punctures, small tears or small cuts.  
     
     
         23 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 20 , further comprising a fill valve in fluid communication with said cavity.  
     
     
         24 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said conical and hollow internal cavity has a truncated apex.  
     
     
         25 . A safety system for a fluid conduit comprising: 
 a flexible fluid conduit having first and second ends;    a first valve seat disposed at said first end of said conduit and a second valve seat disposed at said second end of said conduit, said first and second valve seats positioned a first predetermined distance from each other;    a first plurality of valve bodies disposed at said first end of said conduit and a second plurality of valve bodies disposed at said second end of said conduit, said first and second valve seats disposed between said first and second plurality of valve bodies, said first and second plurality of valve bodies positioned a second predetermined distance from said first and second valve seats, respectively;    valve control means for 
 retaining said first and second plurality of valve bodies said second predetermined distance from said first and second valve seats, respectively, during an open flow condition, and  
 seating one or more of said first and second plurality of valve bodies with said first and second valve seats, respectively, during a conduit failure; and  
 first and second springs biasing said first and second plurality of valve bodies, respectively against said valve control means.  
   
     
     
         26 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein said first and second springs are each comprised of a plurality of separate springs corresponding to the number of valve bodies that comprise said first and second valve bodies, respectively.  
     
     
         27 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein each of said first plurality of valve bodies have a flap extending therefrom.  
     
     
         28 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said valve control means comprises a tube.  
     
     
         29 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein said pressurized tube has first and second ends and said valve control means further comprises pistons disposed at each end of said pressurized tube and a fluid or gas is pressurized within said tube.  
     
     
         30 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a breakaway connector disposed on at least one end of said flexible fluid conduit.  
     
     
         31 . A safety system for a fluid conduit in accordance with claim  30 , wherein said breakaway coupling contains said first valve seat and said first plurality of valve bodies.