Fluid handling – Diverse fluid containing pressure systems – Fluid separating traps or vents
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-06
2004-11-30
Michalsky, Gerald A. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Diverse fluid containing pressure systems
Fluid separating traps or vents
Reexamination Certificate
active
06823885
ABSTRACT:
This application claims priority to Japanese patent application serial number 2002-032817, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to liquid drains. In particular, the present invention relates to liquid drains that include a float for controlling a liquid level.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vertical cross sectional view of a known liquid drain
102
is shown in FIG.
18
. The liquid drain
102
includes a drain body
120
, a valve seat
134
, a float valve
136
and a float
140
.
A float chamber
130
is defined within the drain body
120
in order to store a liquid (e.g., water). A liquid inlet port
131
is formed on a top wall of the drain body
120
and communicates with a liquid outlet port (not shown) formed on a gas/liquid separator
101
. The gas/liquid separator
101
may separate a mixed gas/liquid flow that may contain a gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) and relatively small liquid particles (e.g., water particles) into the gas and the liquid. The liquid separated by the separator
101
may flow into the float chamber
130
via the liquid outlet port and the liquid inlet port
131
.
The valve seat
134
defines a drain hole
135
and the liquid stored in the float chamber
130
can be discharged through the drain hole
135
. In addition, a liquid discharge channel
133
extends from the drain body
120
. One end of the liquid discharge channel
133
communicates with the drain hole
135
and the other end of the liquid discharge channel
133
communicates with the atmosphere. A check valve
132
is disposed within the liquid discharge channel
133
in order to prevent liquid counter flow.
The float valve
136
may be designed as a needle valve and may be vertically movably disposed within the valve seat
134
. The float valve
136
may open and close the drain hole
135
as the float valve
136
moves upward and downward.
The float
140
may include a float lever
141
that can move together with a float body
142
. The float body
142
may float on the surface of the liquid stored within the float chamber
130
. The float lever
141
is coupled to the float valve
136
fixed to the float body
142
. The float lever
141
is pivotally mounted on an inner wall of the drain body
120
by means of a pin
145
, so the float body
142
can vertically pivot about the pin
145
. The float lever
141
is coupled to the float valve
136
, so that the float valve
136
will move vertically as the float lever
141
pivots.
When the level of the liquid stored in the float chamber
130
becomes higher than a predetermined level, the float body
142
moves upward. Then, the float valve
136
moves upward in response to the movement of the float lever
141
, so that the float valve
136
opens the drain hole
135
. Therefore, the liquid within the float chamber
130
is discharged to the outside through the liquid discharge channel
133
via the drain hole
135
, so that liquid level is lowered. As the liquid level in the float chamber
130
is lowered, the float body
142
moves downward. Then, the float valve
136
moves downward in response to the movement of the float lever
141
. When the liquid level reaches the predetermined level, the float valve
136
closes the drain hole
135
. Therefore, further discharge of the liquid within the float chamber
130
is stopped.
As a result, the liquid drain
102
serves to discharge the liquid within the float chamber
130
when the liquid level exceeds the predetermined level, so that the amount of the water within the float chamber
130
may be maintained at a predetermined amount.
Liquid drains similar to the liquid drain
102
described above are taught by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 62-75393 and 9-329271 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-92195.
However, when the liquid drain
102
is installed on vehicles, e.g., automobiles, a possibility exists that the liquid surface within the float chamber
130
may wave due to vibrations of the vehicles, which vibrations may be produced during the driving or movement of vehicles. As a result, the float
140
may shake due to the waving of the liquid surface. This phenomenon is known as a shaking phenomenon.
When the shaking phenomenon occurs, the float valve
136
coupled to the float
140
also may shake. Therefore, the liquid within the float chamber
130
a
may leak to the atmosphere via the liquid discharge channel
133
. In addition, if the shaking is strong, the gas existing in the upper space of the float chamber
130
also may leak to the atmosphere via the liquid discharge channel together with the flow of the liquid through the discharge channel
133
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is according an object of the present invention to teach improved techniques for preventing a float from shaking due to waving of a liquid within a float chamber.
According to one aspect of the present teachings, liquid drains are taught that may include a drain body. A float chamber may be defined within the drain body and may be adapted to store a liquid. A liquid level adjusting mechanism may serve to adjust the liquid level within the float chamber and may include a float. The float may have a float body that is adapted to float on the surface of the liquid surface within the float chamber. A damper may inhibit or minimize the movement of the float body due to waving of the liquid within the float chamber.
Therefore, the liquid level adjusting mechanism may not cause accidental leakage of the liquid to the outside even if the drain body vibrates due to vibrations transmitted from the outside. In addition, a gas that may stored in an upper space within the float chamber also may be prevented from accidental leakage. Further, the liquid level within the float chamber can be reliably adjusted to a desired level.
According to another aspect of the present teachings, the damper may interfere with the waving liquid within the float chamber. Therefore, the float will not shake even if the liquid surface within the float chamber waves.
According to another aspect of the present teachings, the damper may be disposed on the float chamber.
According to another aspect of the present teachings, the damper may include a hollow space that is defined within the float body. Therefore, the damper may have a simple construction.
According to another aspect of the present teachings, the damper may include a hollow space that is defined by an auxiliary member. The auxiliary member may be fitted onto the float body. Therefore, the float body may be designed with and without the damper in response to a required design.
According to another aspect of the present teachings, the damper may be a projection that extends outward from the float body.
According to another aspect of the present teachings, the damper may be disposed below a center of buoyancy of the float body. Therefore, the damper may always be positioned below the liquid surface, so that the damping effect can be efficiently performed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6009898 (2000-01-01), Risch et al.
patent: 62-75393 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 07-092195 (1995-04-01), None
patent: 09-329271 (1997-12-01), None
Abstract of French Publication No. 2,563,336, Published Oct. 25, 1985.
Hotta Akihisa
Suda Koichi
Yoshizumi Kiyoshi
Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Dennison Schultz Dougherty & MacDonald
Michalsky Gerald A.
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