The Foot-Controlled Gas Valve, developed by University of Nebraska agricultural engineers, provides quick shut-off of the gas flow to a torch in the event it is dropped. With a typical acetylene torch, a double-shutoff valve controls the flow of both the oxygen and gas and the weight of a torch shuts off the flow; thus, when the torch is lifted, a spring opens the valves. The Nebraska device has a linkage with a spring to hold the valve closed even when the torch is lifted. Stepping on the foot pedal lifts the lever that opens the gas flow. When the foot pressure is removed, the gas flow stops.