Filling device for preventing overflow of liquid-containing tanks

[57] ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a filling device for preventing overflow of liquid-containing tanks during the filling thereof and includes a liquid inlet unit having a float controlled valve designed to close to prevent further flow of liquid into the tank when the liquid therein has reached a predetermined level and an air inlet unit having a float controlled valve which prevents venting of air from the tank when the liquid therein has reached a predetermined level, so that the air pressure in the tank would build up quickly to prevent introduction of additional liquid.

Claims, 2 Drawing Figures

<img file="US3732902A_D0001.tif" />

ΡΛ1! ΝίΠίΗΛΪΙ 51073

3,732,902

<img file="US3732902A_D0002.tif" />

ATTORNEY

3,732,902

FILLING DEVICE FOR PREVENTING OVERFLOW OF LIQUID-CONTAINING TANKS

As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it is to be noted that when tanks such as gasoline tanks for example, are filled with liquid, it is important that the introduction of such gasoline be discontinued promptly as soon as the liquid in the tank has reached a desired critical level.

Overflow of the tank is highly undesirable for many reasons. Thus, aside from the bad odors resulting as well as spots and dirt, the highly imflammable nature of the liquid that overflows may result in any spark causing fire or explosion. To prevent such overflow, in some cases the tank may be equipped with a measuring instrument or a gauge. However, if the attendant does not carefully watch such gauge during the filling operation, overflow may still occur. Even where the attendant does watch the gauge, as the result of the high rate of filling speed, the indication on the measuring instrument may be distorted with the result that overflow may still result. In addition to the foregoing, when the filling hose by means of which gasoline is introduced into the tank is uncoupled, a dripping action may occur, which even though negligible, is also detrimental and dangerous.

It is accordingly'among the objects of the invention to provide a filling device which has relatively few parts and is not likely to be deranged even with long use and which will dependably and automatically cut off flow of fluid into a tank when the fluid level has reached a predetermined amount.

Another object of the invention is to provide a filling device of the above type which will permit drainage of fluid remaining in the filling device after the filling operation has been completed.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and more particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention;

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the filling device, and

FIG. 2 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the filling device.

Referring now to the drawings, the filling device is mounted on the cover 3 of a fuel tank 6, the latter having a flanged opening 4 to which the cover 3 is secured as by peripheral bolts (not shown), a suitable gasket being interposed between the cover and the flange.

In the embodiment shown, the filling device comprises two distinct elements, i.e., a liquid inlet unit 1 and an air vent unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid inlet unit 1 comprises an qlbow 5 having a flange 5' at one end which is adapted to be secured to the cover 3 around the periphery of an opening 6' therein by suitable bolts (not shown), a gasket being provided to afford a seal between the flange and the top surface of the cover 3. The flanged end of the elbow 5 has a tube 7 secured at one end thereto and extending through the opening 6' into the tank 6.

Positioned in the tube 7 and coaxial therewith is an inner tube 9, the lower end 9” of which extends outwardly beyond the inner end of tube 7 and the upper end 10 of which flares outwardly to define a funnel, the periphery of which is secured as by welding as at 10' to the inner surface of the tube 7. As the diameter of the inner tube 9 is considerably less than that of tube 7, an annular space will be provided therebetween to accommodate a cylindrical float 8 which encompasses the inner tube 9.

Positioned above the funnel 10 is a cylindrical cupshaped member 11 of diameter less than that of tube 7 to define an annular space 12 therebetween. The upper end of the cup 11 is secured to the flanged end of the elbow 5. A bell shaped member 13 is positioned in the cup 11 and extends coaxial therewith, said bell shaped member having a laterally projecting nipple 14 which is secured to the side wall of the cup 11, the nipple providing both a rigid support for the member 13 in the cup and also providing communication between the annular space 12 and the interior of the bell shaped member 13. As is clearly shown, the belli shaped member 13 has its lower end spaced above the floor 11' of the cup 11, the floor 11' having an axial guide nipple through which the stem 16 of a valve plate 17 extends, said stem 16 extending axially through the inner tube 9 and having a cross bar 15 secured at its free end, said cross bar extending outwardly through transversely aligned openings 9' in the lower end 9 of inner tube 9, the float 8 being secured to the ends of said cross bar 15.

As a result of the above arrangement, the valve plate 17 which is designed to seat against the lower edge or mouth of the bell shaped member 13 to close the latter, is guided to move axially by the axial guide nipple on the floor 11' of the cup 11.

A stem 18 extends axially through a guide nipple at the upper end of the bell shaped member 13 with the lower end of the stem 18 adapted to abut against the valve plate 17. The elbow 5 has a cylindrical extension 20 rising therefrom through which the stem 18 extends, the upper end of the cylindrical extension being closed by a plug 19 through which the upper end of the stem 18 extends. The protruding end 18' of the stem 18 is pivotally connected to a rocking bar 21 pivoted at 21' to a fixed support rising from the plug 19 with a coil spring 24 being provided to urge said rocking bar 21 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 21' normally to lift stem 18. The free end of the rocking bar 21' has secured thereto as at 22' one end of the movable flexible shaft of a cable 22, the outer casing of which is clamped at one end as at 22 to the plug 19. The other end of the outer casing of cable 22 is clamped to a bracket 50' secured to a hollow fitting 50 with the free end of the flexible shaft of the cable 22 being secured to a handle 23 pivoted to the fitting 50 as at 23'.

As shown in FIG. 1, a bellows device 25 has one end secured to the plug and the other end secured to a closure pla|e 25' through which the stem 18 axially extends to provide a seal, the stem being secured to said plate 25'.

The fitting 50 is secured to the outer end of elbow 5 and as shown in FIG. 1 such fitting 50 has a valve seat 50α at its outer end against which a valve member 27 is designed to be moved, the valve member being actuated by an eccentric cam 28 positioned in a cage 29 rigid with the valve member, the cam being rotatable manually by means of a key 26 from the exterior of the fitting 50.

In place of the valve member 27, shown in FIG. 1, the valve member 30 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2

3,732,902 could be employed. This valve member 30 is designed for rocking movement onto its seat 50α by means of the key 26 shown in FIG. 2. The valve member 30 by means of its position when open, offers less resistance to the flow of fluid.

The outer end of the fitting 50 is provided with a claw type coupling 31 of conventional type which is adapted to be engaged by the corresponding claw 31' at the end of a filling hose 32, the latter having a manually operated valve 33 adjacent its connecting end 3Γ.

The vent unit 2 comprises a base portion 34 in the form of a nipple having an annular flange adapted to be secured by bolts (not shown) to the periphery of an opening in the cover 3 with a gasket (not shown) being interposed between the flange and the top surface of the cover.

Depending from the nipple into the tank 6 is a perforated basket 35 in which a float 36 is positioned. The upper end of the float 36 mounts a valve plate 37 designed to move against a seat 38 defined by the inner end of a funnel shaped member 38' depending from the nipple 34. The float 36 is guided for axial movement by means of a pin 36' secured at one end thereto and extending axially through the floor of the basket 35.

The float 36 is placed above the critical level line 39 so that it can only function to move the valve 37 when this level is exceeded.

Positioned in the nipple 34 and axially aligned with the valve 37 is a valve head 40 having an axial bore 40' with which a slidable needle valve 41 is aligned. The stem of the needle valve is guided axially and the needle valve 41 is urged to closing position with respect to axial bore 40' by means of a coil spring 43. The valve head 40 is urged downwardly to closing position with respect to openings 40α by means of a coil spring 42. Thus, it is clear that the needle valve is urged upwardly to closed position by spring 43 and the valve 40 is urged downwardly to closed position by spring 42.

In the operation of the filling unit above described, after the filling hose 32 is coupled to the fitting 50, and the valves 27 and 33 are opened, the liquid such as gasoline will flow into the tank 6, the path of the liquid being through the open valves 33, 27, fitting 50, elbow 5, cup 11, past the open valve 17 into the bell shaped member 13 through nipple 14 and annular space 12 and thence through inner tube 9 into the tank 6.

During the transfer of the liquid, the stem 18 does not act on the valve 17. As soon as the liquid in the tank reaches the critical level, the float 8 will act on the valve 17 to move it against the seat defined by the lower edge or mouth of bell shaped member 13, the valve being securely retained on its seat by the pressure of the liquid entering through the filling pipe 32' which reacts against the undersurface of the closed valve 17.

As a result, flow of further fluid into the tank 16 is prevented. Thereupon the attendant need merely manually close the valves 27 and 33 to permit uncoupling of the filling hose 32. The attendant then may actuate the handle 23 to cause the stem 18 to be moved downwardly to react against the closed valve 17 momentarily to open the latter so that the fluid remaining in the fitting 50 and'the elbow 5 may be discharged therefrom, sufficient clearance being provided in the tank 6 about the critical level to accommodate this slight additional discharge. Thereupon, the handle 23 is released so that the valve 17 will again close.

The rise in level of the liquid in the tank will cause the float 36 to rise to move the valve 37 carried thereby against its seat 38 to cut off venting of air past the valve member 40 which is normally moved upwardly by the pressure of the air in the tank 6 as the fluid level rises, such air venting through the tube 2 to the atmosphere.

By reason of the cutoff of the venting action, it would be extremely difficult for any further fluid to be discharged into the tank if for some reason the valve 17 should be inoperative, as the air pressure in the tank would build up to prevent entry of such fluid.

After the tank is filled, in which condition the valves 40 and 41 are closed, as are the valves 17 and 37, when it is desired to remove liquid from the tank 6, a suitable valve (not shown) is opened. Initially, there will be free flow of liquid from the tank and as the liquid level descends, the valves 17 and 37 would open. However, with further reduction in the level of the liquid, since the valves 40 and 41 would be closed, there would normally be no air entering the tank so that a negative air pressure would build up preventing further discharge of liquid. This problem is rectified by the provision of the needle valve 41, which, by reason of such negative pressure, will be moved downwardly to open bore 40' to permit air to enter the tank so that liquid may be discharged therefrom.