Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Multiple passage filling means for diverse materials or flows – With flue or vent externally returning to supply
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-11
2001-07-24
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Multiple passage filling means for diverse materials or flows
With flue or vent externally returning to supply
C141S018000, C141S021000, C141S301000, C137S596200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263927
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a venting trans-fill or transfer station for pressurized gases. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transfer station that is ventable for transferring a high-pressure gas from one storage container to another storage container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Military-like sporting events always have ever-increasing popular appeal among individuals. One military-like sporting event that has become increasingly popular is an event in which paintballs are propelled using compressed gases from a paintball gun.
Typical of these sporting events, a participant working either alone or in a group has as his or her objective the location and capture of other participants. The participant fires projectiles, such as paintballs, at the opposing participant. In that it is desirable to avoid injuring an opposing participant with the projectiles, paintballs are used. These paintballs are liquid filled projectiles that burst when striking a participant. The paint contained within the paintball provides readily visible indication that a participant has been struck.
During these sporting events, the participants carry their guns, which are powered by a compressed gas to propel the paintballs. In a typical arrangement, a small canister or bottle can be mounted directly to the gun to provide a predetermined supply of compressed gas. Alternately, a participant can carry a compressed gas bottle mounted, for example, to their back much like a scuba tank is carried by a diver. In this arrangement, the tank is connected to the gun by a hose to supply the compressed gas.
The quantity or weight of compressed gas that can be stored in these portable bottles is quite limited. To this end, subsequent to use, the bottle must be refilled. Typically, a bottle is refilled from a larger storage tank of a high pressure gas. Although the refilling of these portable bottles is a rather straightforward process, because the gas is at a high pressure, if it is mishandled or if filling is carried out incorrectly, there is the potential for injuring the individual carrying out the portable bottle refill.
Various types of valving arrangements have been used to carry out this refilling in a safe and cost-effective manner. There are, however, certain minimum requirements or design considerations that must be made to assure safe, portable bottle refilling. For example, such a transfer valving arrangement must be configured to assure that both the supply tank and the portable bottle can be isolated from one another. In addition, such a valving arrangement must also be configured to assure that the gas pathway between the storage tank and the bottle can be vented prior to disconnecting either the storage tank or bottle from the valving arrangement.
It has been observed that certain known valving arrangements include multiple component types that require considerable maintenance. If these components are not maintained properly, leakage can occur from the compressed gas pathway. In one known arrangement, a plurality of ball valves is used in order to interconnect the tank and to provide a venting pathway. It has, however, been found that such valves are generally not properly rated for this use and can leak, thus providing an undesirable pathway which, if not attended to, can ultimately result in personal injury.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a venting trans-fill station that is easy to use and that provides a controlled, venting pathway. Desirably, such a station is configured for use in high pressure gas transfer assemblies. Most desirably, such a trans-fill station minimizes the number of potential leakage pathways for escape of the pressurized gas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A venting trans-fill station is used to transfer a gas from a supply tank to a second tank and to provide a vent between the supply tank and the second tank after filling. The station includes a body defining an inlet port and a discharge port in flow communication with one another, which define a fill flow path extending therebetween. The body further defines a venting port in flow communication with the fill flow path and an environment outside of the station. A vent flow path is defined between the fill flow path and the environment. A vent plug port is formed in the vent flow path intermediate the fill flow path and the environment.
A vent plug is configured for receipt in the vent plug port. The vent plug is engagable with the plug port to isolate the fill flow path from the environment and to provide flow communication between the fill flow path and the environment.
In a current embodiment, the vent flow path traverses through a bottom portion of the vent plug port and a side portion of the vent plug port. The portion of the vent flow path that traverses through the bottom portion of the vent plug port is in flow communication with the fill flow path, and the portion of the vent flow path that traverses through the side portion of the vent plug port is in flow communication with the venting port.
In an alternate embodiment, the body defines an inlet port, a discharge port, a venting port, a vent plug port and a shut-off port. The inlet and discharge ports are in flow communication with one another and define a fill flow path extending therebetween. The venting port is in flow communication with the fill flow path and an environment outside of the station and defines a vent flow path between the fill flow path and the environment.
The vent flow path intersects the fill flow path at a venting path/fill path juncture. The vent plug port is formed in the vent flow path intermediate the fill path and the environment. The shut-off port is disposed in the fill flow path intermediate the venting path/fill path juncture and the inlet port.
In this embodiment the vent plug is configured for receipt in the vent plug port. The vent plug is engagable with the plug port to isolate the fill flow path from the environment and to provide flow communication between the fill flow path and the environment. A shut-off plug is engagable with the shut-off port for isolating flow communication between the inlet port and the discharge port.
In still another embodiment, the venting trans-fill station body defines an inlet port and a discharge port in flow communication with one another defining a fill flow path therebetween. The body further defines a venting port in flow communication with the fill flow path and an environment outside of the station. A vent flow path is defined between the fill flow path and the environment. The body further defines a chamber common to the fill flow path and the vent flow path.
A supply seat is disposed at about a juncture of the inlet port and the chamber in the fill flow path and a venting seat is disposed at about a juncture of the vent port and the chamber in the vent flow path. The station includes an elongated plug movable through the main body for engaging the venting and supply seats. When the elongated plug is engaged with the supply seat the vent flow path provides flow communication between the chamber and the environment, and when the elongated plug is engaged with the venting seat the fill flow path provides flow communication between the inlet port and the discharge port.
In a preferred configuration of this embodiment, the supply seat and the venting seat are each formed having a beveled surface for engaging and centering the elongated plug as it traverses through the respective seats. Most preferably, seals are disposed at the venting and supply seats in opposing relation to the beveled surfaces, and the seats maintain the seals in place to provide a gas-tight seal.
The station can be configured having an inlet side insert and a plug side insert. The inserts engage the supply and venting seats, respectively, to position the seats within the station body and to secure seals at the seats. The elongated plug can include a connecting portion having a sealing area and a seal to further maintain the station in a gas-tight condition.
These and other features a
Douglas Steven O.
Hose Shop, Ltd.
Welsh & Katz Ltd.
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