Fluid handling – Line condition change responsive valves – Pop valves
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-07-24
Buiz, Michael Powell (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Line condition change responsive valves
Pop valves
C137S493800, C137S533210, C137S534000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263907
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve device of a storage tank for transporting oils or chemical compounds, and more particularly, to a valve for maintaining the pressure of the storage tank to be always safe by preventing supersaturated pressure or negative pressure which is the opposite phenomenon of the supersaturated pressure, the supersaturated pressure being generated in the storage tank of transportation vessels such as an oil tanker. Also, the valve device in the present invention prevents the entry of flames into the storage tank from outside the storage tank.
2. Description of the Related Art
Usually, supersaturated pressure and negative pressure (vacuum phenomenon) are generated frequently in storage tanks for storing various oils or chemical compounds. The pressure in a storage tank can be increased by volatile gases from various oils or chemical compounds stored in the storage tank. Pressure in the tank can also vary due to changes in temperature in different climates in each district when an oil tanker or a transportation vessel of chemical compounds sails in the wide ocean. In almost all such cases, supersaturated pressure is generated. If an oil or a chemical compound is discharged from the storage tank by pumping, the pressure is lowered in the storage tank and negative pressure (vacuum phenomenon) is caused.
If the pressure is changed in a closed space, not only oils or chemical compounds which are highly explosive and inflammable become unstable, but also here is a high probability for an explosion or fire to occur. A serious accident results if such a storage tank explodes. Therefore, every storage tank for storing oils or chemical compounds is equipped with vent pipes which are connected to the outside at all times. However, since these vent pipes are always open, a large amount of oils or chemical compounds are evaporated through them. This eventually causes economic loss as well as contaminated air.
There have been a few inventions to resolve the above-identified problems. They include Korean Utility Model Registration No. 125817 entitled “A valve device for absorbing or discharging air of a transportation tank of oils or chemical compounds” owned by the applicant of the present invention, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,688. In these invention, however, suction means for external air into the storage tank and discharging means for expanded gases which discharge volatile gases from the storage tank, are separated from each other, crossing at a right angle and are connected to each other by means of other connection pipes. They are therefore disadvantageous in that they occupy a large installation space. Further, there is a problem of increasing the weight of a vessel if the above conventional equipments are installed in a transportation vessel since their own weight is considerable. Since more than ten of these devices are installed in one vessel, their weight is not insignificant. Further, it has been inconvenient to repair them since their unit price has increased and their structure is unreasonably complicated. Still further, it has been difficult to clean foreign materials trapped inside the device when it is in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention for solving the above problem by providing a valve device of a storage tank for transporting oils or chemical compounds which prevents supersaturated pressure and negative pressure generated inside the storage tank of a transportation vessel for moving oils or chemical compounds such as an oil tanker, and for maintaining safe pressure at all times.
The above object can be achieved according to the present invention with a valve device of a storage tank for transporting oils or chemical compounds, including: an upper body having an inclined hole including a V-type groove at an upper portion thereof and, at least, more than one screw hole to assemble a cock at a lower portion thereof; a lower body having two terminals, where an enforcing frame forming a plurality of pathways is formed as an entity for connection irons; a stem having three-terminal ring-type rod portions extending as an entity at a lower portion of a terminal, and a screw portion; a disc coupled by bolts to a protrusion having the form of a ring, the protrusion being supported by a plurality of enforcing irons; two hammering prevention discs assembled with a ring-type rod portion of the stem; a weight assembled at a lower portion of the hammering prevention discs; three bushings assembled between the hammering prevention discs and the weight; a lock nut assembled at a bottom surface of the weight; the enforcing frames for assembling the disc by the bolts; and, a cap having a hole for inserting the ring-type rod portion of the stem.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4938247 (1990-07-01), Yandle, II
patent: 5060688 (1991-10-01), Sorensen
patent: 5465753 (1995-11-01), Schwartz
patent: 5873384 (1999-02-01), Pedersen et al.
patent: 6029706 (2000-02-01), Joo
Buiz Michael Powell
Korea Steel Power Co. Ltd.
Krishnamurthy Ramesh
Notaro & Michalos P.C.
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