AUTOMATIC FLUID FLOW SHUT-OFF SYSTEM AND METHOD USING OPTICAL SENSORS

摘要

A one way valve is disclosed. The one way valve includes a housing having a valve seat; a valve stem configured to reciprocate within said housing between an open and a closed position; and optical sensor pair(s) disposed within the housing. Each of the optical sensor pairs has an optical transmitter and an optical detector. The optical transmitter is configured to transmit optical beam(s) across the valve seat. The light beams are detectable by the optical detector when the valve stem is biased in the open position. An automatic fluid flow shut-off system and a method of automatically shutting off fluid flow through a one way valve are also disclosed.