| 摘要 |
A method and assembly (kit) are provided for use by propane tank service personnel to detect escaping gas in propane tank systems. The standard connection between the regulator and tank service valve is replaced with a permanent valve assembly including a main connection between the regulator and valve and a valve unit disposed in a branch connection of the valve assembly. A separate pressure gauge is individually assigned to tank service personnel and adapted to be carried by such personnel in testing the pressure in the propane tank. The pressure gauge is affixed, e.g., through a hose, to a valve unit connector including an actuator, i.e., a valve stem operator, for actuating the valve unit. When the pressure gauge is connected to the valve unit, the latter is actuated to provide an immediate reading of the tank pressure. A determination is made from this reading whether the tank is out of gas, and if the tank is out of gas, the service valve is turned on, gas introduced, the service valve turned off and a further pressure check made to determine whether gas is leaking. In one embodiment, the valve unit comprises a saddle valve directly connected to the main connection over a drilled hole in the latter. In another embodiment, a manifold block, which includes a through bore and an orthogonal, communicating bore, mounts the valve unit.
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