Gas control assembly

Abstract

The gas control assembly includes a housing threaded to a vessel neck to extend into the vessel containing pressurized fluid, a fitting threaded into the housing bore and a valve body threaded to the fitting outwardly of the neck with a valve body threaded thereto. The housing and fitting having a first passageway that opens to the ambient atmosphere and to a relief device at the housing inner end to permit fluid exhausting through the first passageway upon the temperature and/or pressure in the vessel exceeding a preselected valve. The housing, fitting and valve body provide a second passageway opening to the vessel interior and an outlet connection. The fitting and housing mount a main valve in the second passageway while a solenoid is mounted to the valve body and when energized, through a rod, operates the main valve to an open condition.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is for apparatus for controlling the flow of gas into and out of a cylinder or other type of vessels for pressurized gas.

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,151 to Wass discloses a solenoid control valve mountable to the collar of a gas cylinder with the solenoid being in the interior of a cylinder for operating a valve for controlling the flow of pressurized gas from the cylinder. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,762 to Sirosh et al, there is disclosed controls for controlling the supply of gas from a gas vessel which includes a module having a pressure regulator in the interior of the vessel, pressure and temperature sensors, a pressure relief device, a solenoid valve and a check valve. Borland et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,117, discloses a valve body threaded to the neck of a pressurized vessel, the valve body having a bore opening to the ambient atmosphere and to the interior of the vessel with a relief device being mounted in bore. Further the valve body has a second bore extending axially therethrough with a solenoid valve being mounted to the inner end portion of the valve body to extend within the vessel,

[0003] In order to provide an improved assembly for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid into and out of a container for pressurized fluid, this invention has been made. The gas control assembly of this invention is mountable to the neck of a vessel containing pressurized gas or liquid and can be used, for example, for controlling the flow of fuel gas, including natural gas, to the engine of a motor vehicle, controlling the flow of gas to fuel cells, controlling the flow of gases such as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen for various industrial uses and controlling the flow of liquid for various industrial uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The gas control assembly includes an elongated housing threadedly mounted to the neck of a cylinder (vessel) for pressurized gas to extend into the interior of the cylinder and, at its inner end, to mount a relief device that blocks fluid flow from the interior of the cylinder into the housing bore until the temperature and/or pressure in the cylinder exceeds a preselected level. A fitting is threaded to the housing to extend into the housing bore and mounts a valve body external of the cylinder. The fitting and housing in combination mount an operable valve in the interior of the cylinder with there being a first fluid flow passageway through the relief device, the housing bore, the valve stem of the operable valve and the fitting to the ambient atmosphere. Further, there is a second fluid flow path from the cylinder interior and into the housing bore and through the fitting to a clearance space provided by the valve body and the fitting and therethrough to a main outlet, the operable valve being provided in the second passageway to control flow through the second passageway. A solenoid is mounted to the valve body and, upon being energized, moves its plunger to, through a rod, move the valve stem of the operable valve to its open position. There also is provided in the second fluid flow passageway, a manually operated valve and a pressure regulator that in part are defined by the valve body. Additionally, an inlet check valve is mounted to the valve body and opens to the second passageway to permit only the inflow of pressurized fluid into the second passageway, but not flow in the opposite direction.

[0005] An object of this invention is to provide a new and novel assembly for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid from the interior of a cylinder (vessel) containing fluid under high pressure. In furtherance of the above object, it is another object of this invention to provide the assembly with two separate fluid flow passageways, one passageway with a relief device opening thereto and that permits fluid flow therethrough in the event the pressure and/or temperature in the cylinder exceeds a preselected level and the other having a pressure regulator therein that is operable to allow fluid under pressure to flow to the main outlet when the pressure at the outlet is below the desired level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view of the gas control assembly of this invention with parts thereof being shown in cross section and only part of the gas cylinder being shown; said view being generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 1-1 of FIG. 5;

[0007] FIG. 2 is an enlarged showing of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1:

[0008] FIG. 3 is a further enlarged showing of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view that in part generally taken in the direction of arrow 4-4 of FIG. 1, in part generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3A-3A of FIG. 1 and in part at a different elevation;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view of the fitting that is generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

[0011] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic showing of control components of the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Referring to the drawings, the gas control assembly includes a valve subassembly, generally designated 10, having a fitting F and an axially elongated housing H extending within a vessel (cylinder) 12 for gas under high pressure. The housing upper end portion 11 has external threads for being threadedly mounted to the internally threaded port (neck) portion 12A of the vessel 12. A bore B extends axially through the housing, the upper end portion of the housing having an internally threaded portion for having an axial intermediate portion 14 of the fitting F threaded thereto to extend within the housing bore and axially outwardly of the housing and the neck portion of the vessel.

[0013] Just below the mating threaded portions of the housing and fitting, they have reduced diameter portions with an O-ring 19 mounted by the housing reduced diameter bore portion 17 to form a fluid seal between the housing wall of portion 17 and the radial adjacent portion of the fitting. Below the fluid seal 19, the fitting lower end portion 20 is of a further reduced outer diameter to provide an annular clearance space 21 with the housing. The bottom of the fitting abuts against a valve seat mount 22 and the mount in turn is in abutting relationship to the valve seat 23 to retain the seat abutting relationship to the annular shoulder 26 of the bore B, the valve seat forming a part of a main valve M.

[0014] The fitting has a main bore 25 extending axially therethrough, the lower end portion 25A of the bore having the upper end portion of the annular valve stem 28 of the main valve M axially slidably extended therein with an O-ring 29 mounted by the fitting to form a fluid seal with the valve stem. The valve stem has an axial intermediate enlarged diametric portion 28A to form a fluid seal with the valve seat when abutting there against to block axial fluid flow through the valve seat. The housing bore has a bore portion 31 of a larger diameter than each of the inner diameters of the valve seat and the enlarged diametric portion 28A to, in conjunction with the valve stem, provide an annular clearance space 30. The axial intermediate portion of the housing has cross bores 32 opening to housing bore portion 31 and through the housing radial exterior surface to the interior of the vessel. When the valve stem is in its open position, fluid can flow through the valve seat to the annular clearance space 27 between the valve seat mount and the valve stem and therefrom to the radial slots 24 in the seat mount to the annular clearance space 21.

[0015] The minimum diameter portion 36 of the housing bore opens axially to bore portion 31 and mounts an O-ring 33 to have the lower end portion of the valve stem slidably extended therethrough in fluid sealing relationship therewith. The lower end of the valve stem abuts against an annular spring retainer 34 that is in the lower end portion 35 of the housing bore. A coil spring 37 abuts against the spring retainer and an annular member 38A abutting against a boss 38 or directly against the boss. The boss is threaded in the inner end of the housing bore whereby the spring resiliently retains the valve stem in abutting relationship to the valve seat for blocking fluid flow therethrough.

[0016] A conventional pressure and/or temperature relief device 40 is threadedly mounted by the boss to, upon either one or both of the pressure and temperature in the vessel exceeding a predetermined level, allow fluid (gas) in the vessel to flow from the interior of the vessel and therethrough and through the boss into bore portion 35.

[0017] The upper end of the valve stem has a slot 42 extending diametrically there across and has the valve stem bore 43 opening thereto and through the lower end of the valve stem to the central bore of the spring retainer.

[0018] The fitting main bore 25 has an axial intermediate bore portion 25B that at its lower end opens to bore portion 25A to provide an annular shoulder above the upper end of the valve stem when it is in its valve closed position and at its upper end to the fitting reduced diameter bore portion 25C. Mounted in the fitting bore 25 is a rod 44 that has its lower end in abuttable relationship to the upper end of the valve stem and its upper end extending above the fitting. The rod is of a diameter to form a close axially slidable fit with fitting bore portion 25C and to form an annular clearance space 47 with bore portion 25B.

[0019] The fitting axial intermediate portion 45 is of a larger cross sectional area than the vessel port (inner diameter of the neck) and may be, for example, of a hexagonal shape in transverse cross section. The fitting portion 45 has a cross bore 48 extending transversely there across and fluidly connecting the clearance space 47 to the ambient at atmosphere. Thus, when the pressure and/or temperature in the vessel interior exceeds a predetermined level, pressurized fluid in the vessel flows through the relief device and a fluid passage P provided by the boss 38, the part of bore portion 35 between the boss and the spring retainer, the valve stem bore 43, the slot 42, the annular clearance space 47 and the cross bore 48 to the ambient atmosphere.

[0020] The gas control assembly also includes a valve body V threadedly mounted to the upper end portion of the valve subassembly. That is, the valve body V has a bore X extending axial therethrough with an axial intermediate portion 50 of the valve body bore being threaded mounted to the upper end portion 51 of the fitting, the lower end of bore X being of a sufficiently greater diameter than fitting portion 45 to permit threading rotation of the valve body relative to the fitting. The central axes of the valve body bore and the fitting bore 25 are axially aligned. Above the threaded portions of the valve body bore and the fitting, the valve body bore and the fitting are of further reduced diameters 57, 58 respectively with an O-ring 52 providing a fluid seal therebetween. Above the fitting portion 58, the fitting has a still further reduced diameter top end bore portion 54 to form an annular shoulder 53 with fitting portion 57. In axially spaced relationship above the annular shoulder the fitting top end portion 54 extends into a valve body further reduced diameter bore portion 55 with an O-ring 59 providing a fluid seal therebetween. With the above there is provided an annular main chamber (clearance space) 70 surrounding the fitting portion 54. A vent aperture 71 opens to the valve body bore portion 55 above the fitting.

[0021] The valve body main bore has a minimum diameter portion 74 that opens to bore portion 55 and to the main bore top end portion 75 which opens through the top surface of the valve body. The minimum diameter bore portion 74 forms a close fit with rod 44 which is axially movable therein and extends through an O-ring that forms a fluid seal between the rod and bore portion 74. The rod 44 extends into bore portion 75 in both the open and closed positions of the valve stem.

[0022] A linear solenoid, generally designated 77, has its housing attached to the valve body V by cap screws 78, the solenoid having a plunger 79 in abuttable relationship to the top end of the rod 44. When the solenoid coil 75 is energized, the plunger forces the rod 44 to force the valve stem 28 to move to its valve open position. When the solenoid is deenergized, the spring 37 acting through the spring retainer forces the valve stem to its valve stem closed position. Thus, when there is any interruption of power to the solenoid, the valve stem is resiliently moved to block fluid flow through the valve seat 23. With reference thereto, it is to be noted, the rod 44 is abuttable against each of the plunger and valve stem and is not attached to either one of them.

[0023] A conventional inlet check valve 80 is threaded into a valve body bore 81 which opens to the clearance space 70 to permit pressurized fluid flowing through the check valve and to the clearance space and thence through axial fitting passages 72 to cross bores 73 that open to the clearance space 21. When the solenoid is energized to move the valve stem 28 to its open position and pressurized fluid is being applied through the check valve from a conventional source of pressurized fluid (not shown), the pressurized fluid in the clearance space 21 flows through the slot 24 to the fitting main bore, through the valve seat to the annular clearance space 30 and therefrom, flows to and through the cross bores 32 to flow into the interior of the vessel 12. Upon the pressure in the vessel increasing sufficiently high relative to the inlet pressure and/or the discontinuance of applying pressurized fluid at the check valve, the solenoid is deenergized and the valve stem resiliently moves to its closed position.

[0024] Also opening to the clearance space 70 is the reduced diameter portion of a bore 83 in the valve body. The valve stem mount 82 of a manually operated on-off valve, generally 86, is threaded in bore 83. Valve 86 includes a valve stem 84 threaded therein and has an enlarged diametric portion for, in a closed position, abutting against a valve seat 85 to block fluid flow from the clearance space 70, through cross slots between the valve seat and the stem mount and to the annular clearance space 87 defined by the wall of bore 83, the stem mount and valve seat. When the valve stem 84 is threaded to its open position, it permits fluid flow from the clearance space 70 to the clearance space 87.

[0025] The valve body has a pressure regulator bore W of varying diameters with the outer largest diameter bore portion 92 having an annular portion 93A of cap, generally designated 93, of the pressure regulator R thread therein. The regulator includes a piston 94 having an enlarged diametric bore portion 94A axially movable in the annular cap recess 95 and the body bore portion 97 which opens to bore portion 92 and is of a smaller diameter than bore portion 92. The piston portion 94A mounts an O-ring in fluid sealing relationship with the radial adjacent part of the cap annular portion and the wall defining bore portion 97 respectively when axially adjacent thereto. Bore portion 97 opens to a further reduced diameter bore portion 98 to form a shoulder to limit the axial movement of the piston away from the cap while a coil spring 99 extending within the recess and abutting against the piston enlarged diametric portion resiliently urges the piston away from the cap. The cap has vent holes 100 opening to the recess 95,

[0026] The cap includes an axially elongated valve stem 102 that in part with the cap annular portion 93A together with the inner surface of the cap end portion 93B defines the cap recess. The valve stem extends further away from the end portion 93B than the cap annular end portion. The end part of the valve stem remote from the cap end portion mounts a valve seat 103. The valve stem has an annular shoulder 104 axially intermediate its opposite ends to limit the axial movement of the piston toward the cap end portion, provided the valve seat 103 in abutting against the part of the piston at the opening of the reduced diameter bore portion 111 to clearance space 107 has not already limited the movement of the piston in the same direction.

[0027] The piston having a central bore extending axially therethrough, the piston bore has a bore portion 105 at one axial end to have an intermediate diameter part of the valve stem extending therein with the piston mounting an O-ring in fluid sealing relationship with the valve stem. In a piston closed position, on the axially opposite side of bore portion 105, the piston bore is of a larger diameter while the valve stem is of further reduced diameters to form an annular clearance space 107. In an axial direction away from the valve stem shoulder 104 and toward the valve seat, the piston is of reduced outer diameters from the piston enlarged diametric portion to, in combination with the wall defining bore portion 98, provide a control chamber (relatively large annular clearance space) 108. The valve stem has a plurality of apertures 110 for fluidly connecting the clearance spaces 107, 108 regardless of whether the piston is in its open position or in its closed position.

[0028] The piston bore has a reduced diameter end portion 111 axially opposite the cap, the opening of the bore portion 111 to the clearance space 107 being of a diameter that when the valve seat 103 abuts there against, the piston is in its closed position to block fluid flow from bore portion 111 to the clearance space 107, and when axially spaced therefrom, the piston is in its open position. The valve body V has a central sleeve (tubular) portion 112 extending toward the cap in a direction away from end wall 113 that in part defines the axial end of bore portion 98 that is remote from the cap. The piston mounts an O-ring to provide an axially slidable fluid seal between the piston and the sleeve. The bore 88 extends axially through the sleeve to open to the bore portion 111.

[0029] When the pressure in the control chamber 108 drops below a preselected level, the spring 99 moves the piston away from the cap end 108 to the piston open position. By selecting the spring 99 having the desired spring characteristics, the desired level of output pressure can be controlled and if it is desired to change the outlet pressure, a spring having different spring characteristics can be used. Thus, the desired reduction of pressure from that in bore portion 111 to that in the control chamber can be obtained.

[0030] The valve body has a bore 115 for having a conventional pressure sensor 119 threaded therein. The bore 115 opens to the control chamber 108 whereby the pressure in said chamber can be sensed. Also opening to the control chamber 108 is a bore 117, the outlet end of bore 117 threadedly mounting an outlet relief valve 118 that permits fluid in the control chamber exhausting to the ambient atmosphere in the event the pressure in the control chamber exceeds a preselected value. An outlet bore 119 opens to bore 117 and is threaded to have a suitable outlet connector 120 connected thereto for connection to the mechanism (not shown), for example the engine of a vehicle or other apparatus that utilizes the fluid from the vessel. Accordingly, there is provided a passageway from the vessel to the outlet connector which includes cross bores 32 opening through the housing radially outer peripheral surface to the vessel interior and to the clearance space 30, through the valve seat 23 to the clearance space 27 when the valve member 28 is in its opened position, thence through slots 24 to space 21 and successively thereafter through cross bores 73, axial passages 72 in the fitting, space 70, bore 83, the manual valve 86 when open, bore 88, control chamber 108 when the piston 94 is in its open position, bore 117 and bore (main outlet) 119 which opens to the outlet connector 120. Thus, the last mentioned passageway has the manual valve 86 and the pressure regulator therein which permit fluid flow therethrough when the valve stems 28 and 84 are in their open positions and the piston 94 is in its open position.

Claims

1. A gas control assembly mountable to the neck of a vessel for containing fluid under pressure and extendable into the vessel interior, comprising: an axially elongated housing having an outer end portion removably mountable to the neck of the vessel and axial intermediate and inner end portions extendable within the vessel interior, said housing having a main bore extending axially therethrough, a relief device mounted to the housing inner end portion and opening to the housing bore for blocking fluid flow therethrough to the housing bore until exposed to at least one of a pressure and a temperature exceeding a preselected level and then permitting fluid flow therethrough, a fitting having an inlet end portion extending within the housing bore and an outer end portion outwardly of the vessel when the housing is mounted thereto, a valve body mounted to the fitting outer end portion and having a main outlet, at least one of the housing and fitting having a first fluid flow passageway opening through the housing bore to the relief device and to the ambient atmosphere through at least one of the housing outer end portion and the fitting outer end portion, the housing, fitting and valve body having a second fluid flow passageway for conducting fluid exterior of the housing from axially inwardly of the housing outer end portion to the main outlet, a main valve in the second passageway and operable between an open position permitting fluid flow therethrough and a closed position blocking fluid flow through the second passageway, said main valve being mounted in the housing bore, a solenoid mounted to the valve body remote from the housing, said solenoid having a solenoid coil and a plunger movable to an extended position upon energizing the solenoid coil and means for being moved by the plunger moving to its extended position to operate the main valve to its open position.

2. The gas control assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fitting and valve body defines a main chamber and a pressure regulator is incorporated with the valve body in the second passageway intermediate the main chamber and the main outlet for permitting fluid flow from the main chamber to the main outlet as long as the pressure at the main outlet is below a preselected value.

3. The gas control assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fitting and valve body defines a main chamber, an inlet check valve is mounted to the valve body in fluid communication with the main chamber to have fluid under pressure applied therethrough to the main chamber while blocking fluid flow therethrough from the main chamber.

4. The gas control assembly of claim 1 wherein the main valve includes a valve stem axially movable between a valve open position and a closed position and means for resiliently urging the valve stem to its valve open position and the means for being moved by the plunger comprises an axially elongated rod axially movably mounted by the fitting and having one end abuttable against the plunger and an opposite end abuttable against the valve stem.

5. The gas control assembly of claim 1 wherein the main valve includes a valve seat, a valve stem axially movable between a valve open position and a closed position, said valve stem extending through the valve seat and having a bore extending axially therethrough, the first passageway in part being defined by the valve stem bore, and means for resiliently urging the valve stem to its valve open position.

6. The gas control assembly of claim 5 wherein the valve seat and at least one of the housing and fitting form first and second annular clearance spaces with the valve seat being axially therebetween and the first clearance space being axially more closely adjacent to the relief device than the second clearance space and a cross bore opening to the first clearance space and to the interior of the vessel when the housing is mounted to the vessel neck, the second passageway including the first and second clearance spaces and the cross bore.

7. The gas control assembly of claim 6 wherein the fitting has a central bore extending axially therethrough, the fitting bore having an outer end, the means movable by the plunger being an axially elongated rod having one end abuttable against the plunger and an opposite end abuttable against the valve stem, the rod in combination with the wall defining the fitting bore forming a first passage axially elongated third clearance space that at one end opens to the valve stem bore and an opposite end, the fitting having a bore fluidly connecting the opposite end of the third clearance space and providing the opening of the first passageway to the ambient atmosphere when the housing Is mounted to the neck of the vessel.

8. The gas control assembly of claim 7 wherein at least one of the fitting and valve body defines a main chamber that comprises a part of the second passageway, the fitting extending through the main chamber and there is a pressure regulator in the second passageway between the main chamber and the main outlet for reducing the pressure of the fluid flowing from the main chamber to the outlet.

9. The gas control assembly of claim 8 wherein a manually operated off-on valve is disposed in the second passage intermediate the pressure regulator and the main chamber, the pressure regulator and valve body form a control chamber, the regulator having means for reducing the fluid pressure of the fluid flowing from the off-on valve to the control chamber and permitting fluid flow from the off-on valve to the control chamber when the fluid pressure at the main outlet is below a preselected level, a pressure sensor mounted by the valve body to sense the pressure in at least one of the control chamber and at the main outlet, and a outlet relief device mounted to the valve body to open to the second passageway intermediate the control chamber and the outlet to exhaust fluid when the fluid pressure is above a preselected level in the control chamber.

10. A gas control assembly mountable to the neck of a vessel for containing fluid under pressure and extendable into the vessel interior, comprising: a valve subassembly that has a threaded portion for being threadedly mountable to the neck, an inner end portion locatable in the vessel interior and an outer end portion locatable exterior of the vessel when threaded to the neck, a first fluid flow passageway having a first end in the interior of the vessel and a second end opening to the ambient atmosphere when the threaded portion is threaded to the neck and a second fluid flow passageway having a first end and a second end opening to the vessel interior when the threaded portion is threaded to the neck, a relief device mounted to the subassembly inner end portion and opening to the first passageway first end for blocking fluid flow through the first passageway until at least one of pressure and temperature exceed a preselected level and then permitting fluid flow through the first s passageway, a main valve in the second passageway and having a valve seat through which the second passageway extends and a valve stem extending through the valve seat and movable between a closed position to block fluid flow through the second passageway and an open position permitting fluid flow through the second passageway and means for resiliently urging the valve stem to its closed position, means for acting against the valve stem to selectively move the valve stem to its open position, the valve stem having a bore extending axially therethrough and forming a part of the first passageway that permits fluid flow therethrough regardless of whether the valve stem is in either one of its open and closed positions.

11. The gas control assembly of claim 10 wherein a valve body is mounted to the valve assembly outer end portion, the valve body having a main outlet and a passage fluidly connecting the second passageway first end to the main outlet and a pressure regulator in the passage for controlling the pressure at the main outlet.

12. The gas control assembly of claim 11 wherein the means for acting against the valve stem includes a solenoid mounted to the valve body and having a solenoid coil and a plunger movable to an extended position by energizing the solenoid coil and means for being moved by the plunger moving to its extended position to move the valve stem to its open position.

13. The gas control assembly of claim 11 wherein the valve subassembly includes an axially elongated housing having the subassembly threaded portion and inner end portion, an outer peripheral surface portion within the vessel interior when threaded to the neck and a first bore extending axially therethrough, the valve seat and the means for resiliently urging being located in the housing first bore, the relief device opens to the housing bore, the housing having a second bore opening through the peripheral surface portion and to the housing bore axially opposite the valve seat from the second passageway first end, the housing first and second bores defining part of the second passageway.

14. The gas control assembly of claim 13 wherein the valve subassembly includes an axially elongated fitting having an intermediate portion threadedly mounted to the housing and extending within the housing bore and an outer end portion, one of the fitting outer end and intermediate portions having the second passageway first end, the fitting having a passage in fluid communication with the valve stem bore and to the first passageway first end, the fitting passage constituting a part of the first passageway.

15. The gas control assembly of claim 14 wherein the fitting has a central bore extending axially therethrough and has an axially intermediate bore portion and an inner end portion in fluid communication with the valve stem bore, the means for being moved by the plunger comprises an elongated rod having one end abuttable against the valve stem and an opposite end abuttable against the plunger, the first passageway in part being defined by the fitting intermediate bore portion and the rod forming an annular clearance space.

16. The gas control assembly of claim 14 wherein the valve body has a bore extending therethrough and opening to the fitting bore, the valve body bore and the fitting having cooperating wall portions defining an annular main chamber which forms the second passageway first end, the valve body passage opening to the main chamber, an inlet check valve is mounted to the valve body and opens to the main chamber to permit high pressurized fluid flowing therethrough and into the main chamber while preventing fluid in the main chamber exhausting therethrough, a manually operated valve is mounted by the valve body to extend in the passage to permit blocking fluid flow through the passage, and a pressure regulator is provided in the valve body passage intermediate the manually operated valve and the main outlet for reducing the pressure of the fluid flowing from the main chamber to the main outlet.

17. A gas control assembly mountable to the neck of a vessel for containing fluid under pressure and extendable into the vessel interior, comprising: an axially elongated housing having an outer end portion removably mountable to the neck of the vessel and axially intermediate and inner end portions extendable within the vessel interior, said housing having a main bore extending axially therethrough, the housing inner end portion having a peripheral surface portion, a fitting removably mounted to the housing, said fitting having an inlet end portion extending within the housing bore and an outer end portion outwardly of the vessel when the housing is mounted thereto, a valve body removably mounted to the fitting outer end portion and having a main outlet, a valve seat located in the housing bore, a valve stem movably extending within the housing bore for axial movement relative to the valve seat between open and closed positions, said valve stem extending through the valve seat and having an enlarged diametric portion abuttable against the valve seat axially opposite the fitting, means in the housing bore for resiliently urging the valve stem to its closed position with the enlarged diametric portion abutting against the valve stem, a valve body removably mounted to the fitting axially opposite the housing and in combination with the fitting providing a main chamber, said valve body having a main outlet and a first passage fluidly connecting the main chamber to the main outlet, the fitting having a second passage opening to the main chamber and to and through the housing bore to open to the valve seat axially opposite the valve stem enlarged diametric portion, the housing having a fluid passage opening through the peripheral surface and to the housing bore opposite the valve seat from the fitting, a solenoid mounted to the valve body and having a solenoid coil and a plunger movable to an extended position upon energizing the coil and means for being moved by the plunger moving to its extended position for moving the valve stem to its open position, said means being axially movable mounted by the fitting and having one end abuttable against the plunger and an opposite end abuttable against the valve stem.

18. The gas control assembly of claim 17 wherein a pressure regulator is provided in the first passage, the fitting has a bore extending axially therethrough and having one end opening to the valve stem and an opposite end, the valve body has a bore extending therethrough in alignment with the fitting and the plunger is mounted in alignment with the valve body bore opposite the fitting, the means being axially moved by the plunger movably extending through the valve body bore and at least partially through the fitting bore.

19. The gas control assembly of claim 18 wherein the fitting has an inner end portion abuttable against the valve seat and extends within the housing bore to in combination therewith form an annular clearance space that forms part of the second passage and the valve stem extends into the fitting bore.