Fluid handling – Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems – By float controlled valve
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-06
2001-11-06
Walton, George L. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems
By float controlled valve
C137S441000, C141S198000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311723
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
THIS INVENTION relates to a flow control valve assembly.
The invention particularly relates to, but is not limited to, a flow control valve assembly to protect containers against over-filling with fluids (or liquids); and to a flow control valve therefor.
The term “container” shall be used to include a tank, drum, fluid (or fuel) cell, fluid (or fuel) bladder or other suitable storage device for liquids.
2. Prior Art
To rapidly fill containers, liquids, such as fuels, (eg., diesel, petrol), are pumped under pressure into the containers. A supply hose, connected to the outlet of a pressure pump, is usually provided with a flow nozzle releasably connectable to a flow coupling on the container. The flow nozzles are usually provided with shut-off valves to stop the flow of liquid to the container when the container are full. However, experience has shown that the operators have a habit of manually over-riding the shut-off valves, as the shut-off valves may “trip” before a containers are full.
In some instances, eg., when filling the fuel tanks on large equipment, eg., excavators and mining equipment, the operators have manually over-ridden the shut-off valves to the extent that the fluid pressure has caused the fuel tanks to bulge and, even rupture. Clearly, the damage to the tanks, and the loss of fuel, is unacceptable.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flow control valve which cannot be manually over-ridden.
It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such a control valve in the liquid coupling connected to the flow nozzle.
It is a further preferred object to provide such a valve which is connected to a fluid level sensor in the container, where the sensor operates the valve to shut off the fluid flow when the fluid level in the container reaches a preset level.
It is a further preferred object of the present invention to provide such a flow control valve assembly which is suitable for installation on new containers, or which can be retrofitted to existing containers.
It is a still further preferred object of the present invention, to provide such an assembly which is relatively inexpensively manufacture and install, and which is reliable and has low maintenance requirements.
Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.
In one aspect, the present invention resides in a flow control valve (for fluids) including:
a valve body having a first chamber connected at or adjacent one end to a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet being connectable to a source of fluid under pressure, and a second chamber connected to a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet being connectable to a container (as hereinbefore defined) to be filled with fluid;
at least one fluid passage or fluid port interconnecting the first and second chambers;
a bleed passage, at or adjacent an opposite end of the first chamber, connectable to a fluid level sensor in the container; and
a piston, having at least one bleed hole therethrough, urged towards a first position closing the fluid passage(s) or fluid port(s) by a resilient member; so arranged that:
when the fluid level sensor senses that the fluid level in the container is below a preset level, a portion of the fluid from the fluid inlet is bled through the bleed port(s) in the piston and through the bleed passage, to enable the fluid pressure to move the piston to a second position, against the resilient member, allowing the fluid to flow from the fluid inlet through the first chamber, the fluid passage(s) or fluid port(s), and then through the second chamber to the outlet; but when the fluid level sensor senses that the fluid level has reached (or exceeded) a preset level, the fluid level sensor shuts off the fluid flow through the bleed passage to equalise the fluid pressure on both sides of the piston in the first chamber, and the resilient member urges the piston to the first position to shut off the flow of fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet and thereby the fluid flow from the fluid source to the container.
Preferably, the valve body is assembled from two or three valve body portions, which are preferably screw-threadably connected together.
Preferably, a head body portion incorporates a coupling member releasably couplable to a fluid nozzle. (The head body portion may be omitted, where the coupling member is fitted to an end wall of a central body portion.)
Preferably, the central body portion forms the first chamber, in which the piston is mounted; and where the resilient member, in the form of a compression coil spring (or like resilient component) urges the piston to a first position closing one or more fluid passages through a cylindrical wall of the chamber.
Preferably, a bleed passage is provided at the (downstream) end of the first chamber and is connectable, eg., by a bleed pipe or hose, to the fluid level sensor, which may comprise a float valve (or other suitable fluid sensing means) incorporating a valve which can control the fluid flow through the fluid bleed passage.
Preferably, the tail body portion, which defines the second chamber, at least partially surrounds the central body portion to permit the fluid to flow through the fluid passage(s) or port(s) to a fluid outlet connectable, eg., by a hose or pipe, to the container.
In a second aspect, the present invention resides in a fluid flow control assembly including:
a flow control valve as hereinbefore described; and
a fluid level sensor, mountable in or on the fluid container and operably connected to the fluid bleed passage.
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Shipp David
Turner Robert
Browdy and Neimark
Multiflo Australia Pty Ltd.
Walton George L.
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