Emergency-Shutoff Valves Would Be Triggered by Accelerations

Automatic valves have been proposed for shutting off flows of liquids when abnormally large accelerations occur. These valves could be used, for example, to prevent outflows of flammable, valuable, or toxic liquids from pipelines that have been struck by vehicles or that have become involved in earthquakes or explosions. Actuation of the proposed valves would not depend on sources of electrical or fluid power, which would likely be unavailable during the emergencies in which the valves would be needed. Actuation would not even depend on pressurization of the liquids to be contained. Instead, the valves would operate similarly to spring-actuated rat traps, and like such traps, the valves could also be opened or closed manually.