Abstract: A solenoid controlled valve is mounted in a threaded opening of a pressure vessel which contains compressed natural gas. The valve includes a valve body having a head, which is exposed outside of the pressure vessel, and a neck, which is located within the pressure vessel. A solenoid poppet valve is mounted to the inner end of the neck. A valve seat is mounted in a bore within the valve body. An orifice at an inner end of the valve seat exposes a flow passage between the bore of the valve body and an outlet port, which is located in the head of the valve body. The solenoid poppet valve includes a seal for closing the orifice, a bias spring which biases the seal toward the seat to close the orifice, a plunger which is connected to the seal, and a solenoid coil which, when energized, moves the plunger so that the seal moves out of engagement with the seat and permits flow of compressed gas from the interior of the pressure vessel to the outlet port.

Abstract: A thermally activated pressure relief valve includes a valve housing with an inlet communicating with an interior of a pressure vessel, and a passage from the inlet, through the housing, to an outlet for communicating with the exterior of the housing. A seal plug is disposed within a cavity of the housing and across the passage for sealing the passage. A thermal trigger engages the seal plug within the cavity to restrict movement of the seal plug and maintain a seal of the passage when a temperature adjacent to the housing is below a predetermined temperature threshold. The thermal trigger releases the seal plug, which is movable within the cavity, allowing the seal plug to relocate within the cavity when the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature threshold, thereby exposing a flow path between the inlet and outlet through which gas can escape.

Abstract: A compressed natural gas solenoid controlled valve is mounted in the threaded opening of a pressure vessel which contains the gas. The valve includes a valve body having a head which is exposed outside of the pressure vessel and a neck which is located within the pressure vessel. A solenoid poppet valve is mounted to the inner end of the neck. A valve seat is mounted in a bore within the valve body, and provides a flow passage which extends between an orifice at the inner end of the valve seat and an outlet port which is located in the head of the valve body. The solenoid poppet valve includes a seal for closing the orifice, a bias spring which biases the seal toward the seat to close the orifice, a plunger which is connected to the seal, and a solenoid coil which, when energized, moves the plunger so that the seal moves out of engagement with the seat and permits flow of compressed gas from the interior of the pressure vessel to the outlet port.

Abstract: A solenoid controlled valve is mounted in a threaded opening of a pressure vessel which contains compressed natural gas. The valve includes a valve body having a head, which is exposed outside of the pressure vessel, and a neck, which is located within the pressure vessel. A solenoid poppet valve is mounted to the inner end of the neck. A valve seat is mounted in a bore within the valve body. An orifice at an inner end of the valve seat exposes a flow passage between the bore of the valve body and an outlet port, which is located in the head of the valve body. The solenoid poppet valve includes a seal for closing the orifice, a bias spring which biases the seal toward the seat to close the orifice, a plunger which is connected to the seal, and a solenoid coil which, when energized, moves the plunger so that the seal moves out of engagement with the seat and permits flow of compressed gas from the interior of the pressure vessel to the outlet port.

Abstract: A thermally activated relief valve is used with a compressed gas storage cylinder. A valve body has a passage for communication with the interior of the cylinder. A metal diaphragm sealing the passage has a first side exposed to the interior of the cylinder and a second side opposite the first side. A hollow bayonet is mounted to the valve body on the second side of the diaphragm. A spring is used to bias the bayonet toward the diaphragm. A thermal trigger is operably coupled to the bayonet for holding the bayonet in spaced relation to the diaphragm until the thermal trigger reaches a predetermined temperature threshold. Upon reaching the predetermined temperature threshold, the thermal trigger releases the bayonet so that the bayonet moves toward the diaphragm under force exerted by the spring and so that the bayonet pierces the diaphragm.

Abstract: A raft inflation valve includes a cylinder head which is connected to a pressure vessel and which has an inlet communicating with the pressure vessel, a recess for receiving a puncture disc, and a passage which connects the inlet and the recess and which is covered by the puncture disc. A disc retainer holds the puncture disc in position in the cylinder head covering the passage. The bayonet piston has a cutting edge formed between an abbreviated cutting face and an inverted conical cutting head for cutting and not tearing the puncture disc upon collision. A bias spring applies a bias force to the bayonet piston, and an actuating cable ball prevents movement of the bayonet piston until the cable is pulled. Once the cable has been pulled to remove the ball, the bayonet piston is driven by the bias force toward the disc to clearly cut and puncture the disc and permit flow of gas from the pressure vessel through the inlet passage through the disc to the outlet passage in the outlet of the valve.

Abstract: A raft inflation valve, which is actuated by pulling a detachable cable connected to one end of a piston, thereby allowing inflation gas to flow from an attached pressure vessel into an inflatable raft includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, an internal cylinder open at one end to the valve outlet, and an inlet passage leading from the valve inlet to and intersecting with the midsection of the internal cylinder. A double-ended piston with O-ring seals on both ends is positioned in the internal cylinder so that one end blocks the passage to the outlet. In this position (valve closed) the O-ring seals are on opposite sides of the intersection of the inlet passage which results in a balancing of the gas pressure forces acting on the piston, thereby allowing the piston to be moved (for actuation) by simply overcoming the O-ring drag on the internal cylinder wall. This results in a low actuation force that is only remotely related to the operating pressure of the inflation system.

Abstract: A raft inflation valve includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, an internal cylinder open at one end to the valve outlet, an inlet passage leading from the valve inlet to and intersecting with the midsection of the internal cylinder and a firing pin passage which intersects the internal cylinder near its opposite end. A double-ended balanced piston with O-ring seals on both ends is positioned in the internal cylinder so that one end blocks the passage to the outlet. In this position (valve closed) the O-ring seals are on opposite sides of the intersection of the inlet passage which results in a balancing of the gas pressure forces acting on the piston. A compression spring located in the outlet end of the cylinder applies a bias force to the piston. In the valve closed position, movement of the piston away from the spring is physically blocked by a removable firing pin. The valve is actuated by pulling the firing pin out of the firing pin passage.

Abstract: A hydrostatic test stand provides proof-testing of pressure vessels by measuring the amount of total deformation and permanent deformation as a result of a hydrostatic pressure applied to the pressure vessel. The test stand includes a transfer cylinder (which contains a floating piston and a bias spring), first and second control valves, a graduated cylinder, a pressure sensor, an oil reservoir, a booster pump, a booster pump valve, and quick-connect couplings. The pressure vessel is filled with water and connected to the couplings. With all of the valves open, the piston is at the lower end of the cylinder, and water is used to fill a first volume above the piston and the fluid lines to the pressure vessel, as well as filling the graduated cylinder to a predetermined first level. The first control valve and the booster pump valve are then closed and the booster pump is operated to drive the piston upward by oil pressure until a predetermined pressure has been reached in the pressure vessel.