ADVANCE/New quake valve introduced by Pacific Enterprises and The Gas Co.(ADVANCE) LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 1996--After more than a year of research and testing, Pacific Enterprises Energy Services, in affiliation with its sister organization, Southern California Gas This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. Co., Tuesday introduced a unique earthquake safety valve safety valve, device attached to a boiler or other vessel for automatically relieving the pressure of steam before it becomes great enough to cause bursting. for its residential customers. It automatically shuts off gas in a seismic shock seismic shock n → Erdstoß m of approximately 5.4 magnitude or greater. The aluminum valve, which will be installed by The Gas Co. or another authorized installer, will be sold for $199 (plus tax and permit). It will be sold in parts of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , Orange County and Riverside County. Expansion to other areas will take place in 1997. Installed at the meter inlet, the valve is the invention of a team of technicians at The Gas Co. The device (patent pending) works on a simple yet sophisticated displacement principle. Inside the 2-1/2-inch unit, a stainless-steel ball the size of a large marble Large Marble (Euchloe ausonides, also called the Creamy Marblewing) is a species of butterfly. sits on a tiny pedestal that looks like the top of a golf tee. Gas normally flows freely through the valve and into the home. If the house to which the valve is braced is shaken by an earthquake of approximately 5.4 magnitude or greater, the ball tips from its pedestal, falls into the gas stream and instantly shuts off the flow. Later, the ball can easily be reset using a screwdriver or coin. Built into the valve housing is a small viewing port to help the homeowner ensure that the ball is properly repositioned. ``We think this new valve should give residents great peace of mind,'' said Scott Beals, PE energy services manager. ``It automatically shuts off the gas during an earthquake, even if you're not at home. In most cases, customers need not be present when the unit is installed, and there is no interruption in gas service during installation.'' The valve, he added, is corrosion-resistant and virtually tamperproof tam·per·proof adj. Designed to prevent tampering or provide evidence of tampering: tamperproof aspirin containers. . The valves are assembled in The Gas Co.'s manufacturing and repair-services facility in Pico Rivera. The valve has been rigorously tested and is approved by the American Gas Association, the Office of the State of California Architect and the city of Los Angeles
Beals added: ``Our valve meets or exceeds all performance required by the state and city of Los Angeles, and because of its simple design, it can be offered to the customer at a price well below the competition.'' The installed valve will be promoted through advertising including direct mail and print ads. Telephone orders can be made by calling 800/365-3636. Pacific Enterprises Energy Services and The Gas Co., the nation's largest natural-gas distribution utility, are both subsidiaries of Los Angeles-based Pacific Enterprises (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :PET). Pacific Enterprises Energy Services is a newly established, nonregulated subsidiary developed to market energy-related products and services. (End of advance for release Oct. 29) CONTACT: Pacific Enterprises, Los Angeles Anthony P. Hatch, 213/244-3030 http://www.pacent.com (Internet) |
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