A vertical shock responsive fluid valve assembly capable of automatically closing
a fluid valve in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces of a predetermined
magnitude. The vertical shock responsive valve assembly has a flow control mechanism
having a cradle that holds a movable ball in a recess at a point perpendicular
in relation to a horizontal base plate, where the ball can be rotated 360
in any direction during seismic actions or other shock forces and rolls out of
its recess at a predetermined force such that it ricochets off a housing cover
covering the cradle and pushes a trip fork mechanism having elongated walls to
provide additional leverage when the force strikes the trip fork mechanism that
is mounted on a pivoting mechanism, thereby releasing a swing arm which has a disc
on the end that functions as a plug for the hole in the valve body to interrupt
gas or fluid flow therein.
