Reset tool for a gas fuel tank and method for using the same
View Patent ↗A tool and method of utilizing the tool to release pressurized gas trapped between a main valve and a safety valve of a portable liquified petroleum gas tank is disclosed. The tool includes a tank safety valve release member structured to be coupled with the outlet of the fuel tank. The tank safety valve release member is configured to be inserted into the tank outlet and move the tank safety valve to an open position so that pressurized gas can escape to atmosphere.
1. A reset tool for releasing pressurized gas trapped in an interior space between a main valve and a safety valve of a valve assembly mounted on an outlet of a gas fuel tank, the valve assembly having an outlet with a threaded portion, the tool comprising:
a tank safety valve release member having a threaded portion, the release member being configured to be inserted into the valve assembly outlet with the threaded portion of the release member engaging the threaded portion of the valve assembly outlet so that rotation of the release member advances the release member into the valve assembly outlet and into engagement with the safety valve to move the safety valve to an open position;
the release member having structure defining at least one gas escape path to enable the pressurized gas trapped in the interior space to escape to atmosphere when the safety valve has been moved to its open position; and
a drive part connected to the release member for allowing a user to rotate the tool to advance the release member in the outlet,
wherein the structure defining the at least one escape path is provided on the exterior of the release member and cooperates with the valve assembly outlet to enable the pressurized gas to escape to the atmosphere around the release member, prior to the attachment of a gas utilizing device.
2. The reset tool of claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion of the release member is provided on the exterior of the release member.
3. The reset tool of claim 2 , wherein the structure defining the at least one escape path includes at least one flat surface extending longitudinally along the release member and interrupting the threads thereon.
4. The reset tool of claim 1 , wherein the structure defining the at least one escape path includes a beveled surface on an end of the release member that engages the safety valve upon insertion of the release member into the valve assembly outlet.
5. The reset tool of claim 1 , wherein the release member is substantially solid.
6. The reset tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises metal.
7. The reset tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises plastic.
8. The reset tool of claim 1 , wherein the drive part is shaped to receive a leveraging tool.
9. The reset tool of claim 8 , wherein the drive part is shaped to receive a wrench.
10. The reset tool of claim 8 , wherein the drive part is hexagonal in shape.
11. A reset tool for opening a regulator safety valve on a regulator assembly of a gas utilizing device, the regulator assembly being constructed to be coupled to an outlet of a valve assembly of a gas fuel tank to establish gas fuel delivery between the gas fuel tank and the device, the regulator assembly having a collar with a threaded interior configured to be engageable with a threaded exterior of the valve assembly outlet, the tool comprising:
a regulator safety valve release member having a threaded exterior, the release member being configured to be inserted into the collar of the regulator assembly with the threaded exterior of the release member engaging the threaded interior of the collar so that rotation of the release member into the collar and into engagement with the safety valve to move the safety valve to an open position for repositioning the safety valve prior to attachment of the regulator assembly to the valve assembly; and
a drive part for allowing a user to rotate the tool to advance the release member in the collar.
12. The reset tool of claim 11 , wherein the release member comprises a cavity portion and a protrusion disposed within the cavity portion, wherein when the release member is engaged with the collar, the protrusion moves the safety valve to an open position.
13. The reset tool of claim 11 , wherein the tool comprises metal.
14. The reset tool of claim 11 , wherein the tool comprises plastic.
15. The reset tool of claim 11 , wherein the drive part is shaped to receive a leveraging tool.
16. The reset tool of claim 15 , wherein the drive part is shaped to receive a wrench.
17. The reset tool of claim 15 , wherein the drive part is hexagonal in shape.
18. A reset tool for releasing pressurized gas trapped in an interior space between a main valve and a safety valve of a valve assembly mounted on an outlet of a gas fuel tank, the valve assembly having an outlet with a an interior threaded portion and for opening a regulator safety valve on a regulator assembly of a gas utilizing device, the regulator assembly being constructed to be coupled to the outlet of the valve assembly to establish gas fuel delivery between the tank and the device, the regulator assembly having a collar with a threaded interior configured to be engageable with a threaded exterior of the valve assembly outlet, the tool comprising:
a tank safety valve release member having a threaded portion, the release member being configured to be inserted into the valve assembly outlet with the threaded portion of the tank safety valve release member engaging the interior threaded portion of the valve assembly outlet so that rotation of the release member advances the release member into the outlet and into engagement with the safety valve to move the safety valve to an open position;
the tank safety valve release member having structure defining at least one gas escape path to enable the pressurized gas trapped in the interior space to escape to atmosphere when the safety valve has been moved to its open position;
a regulator safety valve release member having a threaded exterior, the regulator safety valve release member being configured to be inserted into the collar of the regulator assembly with the threaded exterior of the regulator safety valve release member engaging the threaded interior of the collar so that rotation of the regulator safety valve release member into the collar and into engagement with the regulator safety valve to move the regulator safety valve to an open position for repositioning the regulator safety valve prior to attachment of the regulator assembly to the valve assembly; and
a drive part disposed between the tank safety valve release member and the regulator safety valve release member for allowing a user to rotate the tool to advance the tank safety valve release member in the valve assembly outlet and to advance the regulator safety valve release member in the collar.
19. The reset tool of claim 18 , wherein the threaded portion of the tank safety valve release member is provided on the exterior of the tank safety valve release member.
20. The reset tool of claim 19 , wherein the structure defining the at least one escape path includes at least one flat surface extending longitudinally along the tank safety valve release member and interrupting the threads thereon.
21. The reset tool of claim 19 , wherein the structure defining the at least one escape path is provided on the exterior of the tank safety valve release member and cooperates with the valve assembly outlet to enable the pressurized gas to escape to the atmosphere around the tank safety valve release member.
22. The reset tool of claim 21 , wherein the structure defining the at least one escape path includes a beveled surface on an end of the tank safety valve release member that engages the safety valve upon insertion of the tank safety valve release member into the valve assembly outlet.
23. The reset tool of claim 18 , wherein the tank safety valve release member is substantially solid.
24. The reset tool of claim 18 , wherein the regulator safety valve release member comprises a cavity portion and a protrusion disposed within the cavity portion, wherein when the regulator safety valve release member is engaged with the collar, the protrusion moves the regulator safety valve to an open position.
25. The reset tool of claim 18 , wherein the tool comprises metal.
26. The reset tool of claim 18 , wherein the tool comprises plastic.
27. The reset tool of claim 18 , wherein the drive part is shaped to receive a leveraging tool.
28. The reset tool of claim 27 , wherein the drive part is shaped to receive a wrench.
29. The reset tool of claim 27 , wherein the drive part is hexagonal in shape.
30. A method for releasing pressurized gas trapped in an interior space between a main valve and a safety valve of a valve assembly mounted on an outlet of a gas fuel tank, the valve assembly having an outlet, the method comprising:
inserting a reset tool into the outlet of the valve assembly;
engaging a release member of the reset tool with the safety valve to move the safety valve to an open position;
allowing the pressurized gas trapped in the interior space to escape therefrom; and
removing the reset tool from the outlet of the valve assembly prior to coupling an inlet of a regulator assembly of a gas utilizing device to the outlet of the valve assembly.
31. A method for releasing pressurized gas trapped in an interior space between a main valve and a safety valve of a valve assembly mounted on an outlet of a gas fuel tank, the valve assembly having an outlet, the method comprising:
inserting a reset tool into the outlet of the valve assembly;
engaging a release member of the reset tool with the safety valve to move the safety valve to an open position; and
allowing the pressurized gas trapped in the interior space to escape therefrom,
wherein the release member comprises threads and engaging the release member with the safety valve comprises screwing the release member into the outlet of the valve assembly.
32. A method for opening a regulator safety valve on a regulator assembly of a gas utilizing device, the method comprising:
inserting a reset tool into the regulator assembly;
engaging a release member of the reset tool with the regulator safety valve;
moving the regulator safety valve to an open position for repositioning the regulator safety valve with the release member; and
removing the reset tool from the regulator assembly prior to coupling the regulator assembly to an outlet of a valve assembly of a gas fuel tank.
33. A method for opening a regulator safety valve on a regulator assembly of a gas utilizing device, the method comprising:
inserting a reset tool into the regulator assembly;
engaging a release member of the reset tool with the regulator safety valve; and
moving the regulator safety valve to an open position for repositioning the regulator safety valve with the release member,
wherein the release member comprises threads and engaging the release member with the regulator safety valve comprises screwing the release member into the regulator assembly.