An emergency shutoff valve is provided that includes a housing defining a
fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow passage extending
therebetween. The valve includes a valve element disposed within the
housing and releasably latched in an open position by a latching
mechanism. An expansible member defines at least a portion of a sealed
expansible chamber that is sealed at locations downstream and upstream of
a weakened portion of the housing. The emergency shutoff valve defines a
failure mode wherein the structural integrity of the housing is
compromised to an extent wherein fuel can flow into the expansible
chamber when a predetermined load is applied to a portion of the housing,
wherein the expansible member is operable for uncoupling the latching
mechanism so that the valve element moves from the open position to the
closed position.