Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – With signal – indicator – recorder – inspection means or exhibitor – Level or pressure in receiver
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-05-08
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
With signal, indicator, recorder, inspection means or exhibitor
Level or pressure in receiver
C141S286000, C220S086200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227264
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Storage tanks or vessels have apertures that are used for various purposes. Typically, one of these apertures is used for permanently installing a pump. Other vessel apertures are used for filling, installing a level-monitoring device and for installing a sight-gauge or other devices.
A level-monitoring device installed in a vessel aperture makes it easy to quickly monitor the level of liquid or solid in a vessel. Simplifying the level-monitoring leads to more frequent monitoring of the vessel and therefore lowers the chances of unexpectedly finding empty vessels. For example, if the vessel is a diesel fuel storage tank on a farm, and the tank unexpectedly becomes empty, this will cause downtime on the farm equipment. This may also cause downtime for equipment operators while they wait for more fuel to be delivered.
Many older vessels have only two apertures. One of these apertures usually has a permanently installed pump
If the owner wants to prevent unexpected empty tanks, he may install a level-monitoring device in this available aperture. However, every time the vessel needs to be filled, the monitor device must be removed, the tank filled and then the monitor device reinstalled. This is time consuming, may damage the level-monitoring device and may lead to the device being lost or not being reinstalled.
One proposed solution is to install more apertures into a vessel, however this requires many steps. First, the vessel must be completely empty, moreover, if it is a fuel tank, it needs to be filled with water to prevent a flash fire while drilling. Next, a vertical opening must be drilled into the vessel, and then a threaded collar must be permanently vertically installed into the aperture. Finally, all of the water and debris must be cleaned from the tank. This process is expensive, time consuming and may be dangerous if performed improperly.
Another drawback associated with vessel apertures is backflow, which is the fluid that spills out of the vessel during the vessel filling process. Backflow is generated by air venting up into the fluid coming down the fill nozzle. Backflow wastes fuel, is bad for the environment and slows down the filling process.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an adapter which allows simultaneous filling and level-monitoring through a single vessel aperture. There is also a need for an adapter that can fill a vessel with minimal fluid backflow.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to an adapter that satisfies this need for simultaneous level-monitoring and filling of a vessel through a single vessel aperture. The adapter also satisfies the need for reducing the backflow that may occur while filling a vessel.
Accordingly, the invention provides in one aspect an adapter including an inlet end having a plurality of inlets and an aperture engagement end for coupling with an aperture of a vessel. This adapter has three pathways, wherein the first pathway is substantially straight, provides a straight line of sight therethrough and is adapted to receive a level-monitoring device therein. The first pathway extends from a first inlet to a first outlet. The second pathway extends from a second inlet to a second outlet. The third pathway extends from a third inlet to the first outlet. The second pathway is free from fluid communication with the first and third pathways.
In an alternative embodiment, the adapter may include, for example, a level-monitoring device disposed in the first inlet. In addition, the adapter may further comprise an endcap fitting adapted to receive a cap to simultaneously close both the second inlet and the third inlet.
The present invention provides, in a different aspect, a method for simultaneously filling and monitoring the material level of the vessel through a single aperture.
This method includes providing an adapter having an inlet end and an aperture engagement end, in which the inlet end includes a plurality of inlets, and the aperture engagement end is adapted for being coupled with the aperture of a vessel. The adapter has first, second and third pathways, in which the first pathway extends from a first inlet to a first outlet, the second pathway extends from a second inlet to a second outlet, and the third pathway extends from a third inlet to a first outlet. The first pathway is substantially straight to provide a straight line of sight therethrough and is also adapted to receive a level-monitoring device therein. The second pathway is free from fluid communication with the first pathway and the third pathway.
Subsequent steps include coupling the aperture engagement end with the vessel aperture and installing a level-monitoring device into the first pathway. The vessel is then filled through the second pathway of the adapter. An additional step includes monitoring the material level in the vessel with the level-monitoring device.
The above and other features and advantages of this invention will be more readily apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 4997013 (1991-03-01), Peckles
Douglas Steven O.
Robertshaw Controls Company
Sampson & Associates P.C.
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