Overfill prevention valve with remote testing
First Claim
1. An overfill prevention system comprising:
- a conduit having a conduit wall extending from an inlet end to an outlet end, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said inlet end to said outlet end;
a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body actuatable from an open position to a closed position;
a valve actuator moveable relative to said valve body between an overfill-prevention position and a filling position,said valve actuator urging said valve body toward said closed position when said valve actuator moves from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, andsaid valve actuator permitting said valve body to be in said open position when said valve actuator is in said filling position; and
a non-contact test mechanism having a first component operably coupled to said valve actuator and a second component moveably retained by said first component within a defined range of motion between a service position and a test position,said second component of said non-contact test mechanism functionally decoupled from said valve actuator when said second component of said non-contact test mechanism is in said service position, such that said valve actuator is moveable with respect to said non-contact test mechanism when said valve actuator moves between said overfill-prevention position and said filling position,said second component of said non-contact test mechanism engaging said valve actuator when said test mechanism is in said test position, such that actuation of said second component of said non-contact test mechanism from said service position to said test position advances said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, whereby said actuation of said non-contact test mechanism urges said valve body toward said closed position without the presence of an overfill condition, andsaid non-contact test mechanism positioned outside of said conduit such that said conduit wall is interposed between said non-contact test mechanism and said fluid path, said non-contact test mechanism operable to actuate said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position without physically penetrating said conduit wall, whereby said non-contact test mechanism does not require creation of a leak path in said conduit in order to function as a test mechanism.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An overfill-prevention valve system includes a testing mechanism, operable by a user from the inlet end of the drop tube, which can be used to verify proper valve function without actually filling the storage tank. The testing mechanism allows the user to actuate the valve manually using a test probe, such as by elevating a float to simulate a full storage tank. The testing mechanism may be located upstream of the valve to facilitate the testing operation without interfering with the valve body. The mechanism may further provide non-contact functionality, such as with magnetic actuators on either side of the drop tube wall, to eliminate a potential test mechanism leak points. The test probe used to actuate the test mechanism may be shaped to define a desired rotational position at the test location within the drop tube, ensuring proper rotational alignment of the magnetic actuators.
-
Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An overfill prevention system comprising:
-
a conduit having a conduit wall extending from an inlet end to an outlet end, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said inlet end to said outlet end; a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body actuatable from an open position to a closed position; a valve actuator moveable relative to said valve body between an overfill-prevention position and a filling position, said valve actuator urging said valve body toward said closed position when said valve actuator moves from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, and said valve actuator permitting said valve body to be in said open position when said valve actuator is in said filling position; and a non-contact test mechanism having a first component operably coupled to said valve actuator and a second component moveably retained by said first component within a defined range of motion between a service position and a test position, said second component of said non-contact test mechanism functionally decoupled from said valve actuator when said second component of said non-contact test mechanism is in said service position, such that said valve actuator is moveable with respect to said non-contact test mechanism when said valve actuator moves between said overfill-prevention position and said filling position, said second component of said non-contact test mechanism engaging said valve actuator when said test mechanism is in said test position, such that actuation of said second component of said non-contact test mechanism from said service position to said test position advances said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, whereby said actuation of said non-contact test mechanism urges said valve body toward said closed position without the presence of an overfill condition, and said non-contact test mechanism positioned outside of said conduit such that said conduit wall is interposed between said non-contact test mechanism and said fluid path, said non-contact test mechanism operable to actuate said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position without physically penetrating said conduit wall, whereby said non-contact test mechanism does not require creation of a leak path in said conduit in order to function as a test mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An overfill prevention system comprising:
-
a conduit having a conduit wall extending from an inlet end to an outlet end, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said inlet end to said outlet end; a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body actuatable from an open position to a closed position; a valve actuator moveable relative to said valve body between an overfill-prevention position and a filling position, said valve actuator urging said valve body toward said closed position when said valve actuator moves from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, and said valve actuator permitting said valve body to be in said open position when said valve actuator is in said filling position; and a non-contact test mechanism moveably coupled to said valve actuator, said non-contact test mechanism having at least one component moveably retained within a defined range of motion between a service position and a test position, said non-contact test mechanism functionally decoupled from said valve actuator when said non-contact test mechanism is in said service position, such that said valve actuator is moveable with respect to said non-contact test mechanism when said valve actuator moves between said overfill-prevention position and said filling position, said non-contact test mechanism engaging said valve actuator when said test mechanism is in said test position, such that actuation of said non-contact test mechanism from said service position to said test position advances said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, whereby said actuation of said non-contact test mechanism urges said valve body toward said closed position without the presence of an overfill condition, and wherein said non-contact test mechanism comprises; an exterior non-contact coupler disposed adjacent said conduit wall exterior surface; and a test actuator coupled to said valve actuator such that actuation of said non-contact test mechanism from said service position to said test position advances said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, whereby said actuation of said non-contact test mechanism urges said valve body toward said closed position without the presence of an overfill condition, said non-contact test mechanism positioned outside of said conduit such that said conduit wall is interposed between said non-contact test mechanism and said fluid path, said non-contact test mechanism operable to actuate said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position without physically penetrating said conduit wall, whereby said non-contact test mechanism does not require creation of a leak path in said conduit in order to function as a test mechanism; and a test probe comprising; a proximal portion manipulable by an operator at said inlet end of said conduit; a distal portion connected to said proximal portion and receivable within said conduit such that said distal portion is positioned adjacent to said non-contact test mechanism; and an interior non-contact coupler in force transferring relationship with said exterior non-contact coupler when said distal portion is adjacent to said non-contact test mechanism, said interior non-contact coupler moveable from said service position to said test position, said interior and exterior non-contact couplers cooperating to allow said test actuator to be placed into said filling position when said interior non-contact coupler is in said service position, said interior and exterior non-contact couplers cooperating to move said test actuator into said overfill-prevention position when said interior non-contact coupler is in said test position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An overfill prevention system comprising:
-
a conduit having a conduit wall extending from an inlet end to an outlet end, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said inlet end to said outlet end; a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body actuatable from an open position to a closed position, a valve actuator moveable relative to said valve body between an overfill-prevention position and a filling position, said valve actuator urging said valve body toward said closed position when said valve actuator moves from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, and said valve actuator permitting said valve body to be in said open position when said valve actuator is in said filling position; and wherein said valve actuator comprises a non-contact valve actuator, said conduit wall interposed between said non-contact valve actuator and said fluid path, said non-contact valve actuator operable to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position without physically penetrating said conduit wall; a non-contact test mechanism moveably coupled to said valve actuator, said non-contact test mechanism having at least one component moveably retained within a defined range of motion between a service position and a test position, said non-contact test mechanism functionally decoupled from said valve actuator when said non-contact test mechanism is in said service position, such that said valve actuator is moveable with respect to said non-contact test mechanism when said valve actuator moves between said overfill-prevention position and said filling position, said non-contact test mechanism engaging said valve actuator when said test mechanism is in said test position, such that actuation of said non-contact test mechanism from said service position to said test position advances said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, whereby said actuation of said non-contact test mechanism urges said valve body toward said closed position without the presence of an overfill condition, and said non-contact test mechanism positioned outside of said conduit such that said conduit wall is interposed between said non-contact test mechanism and said fluid path, said non-contact test mechanism operable to actuate said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position without physically penetrating said conduit wall, whereby said non-contact test mechanism does not require creation of a leak path in said conduit in order to function as a test mechanism, wherein said valve body further comprises; a contact valve actuator positioned interior of said conduit wall, whereby said conduit wall is interposed between said contact valve actuator and said non-contact valve actuator, said contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby actuation of said contact valve actuator causes said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into a position in which a flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, said contact valve actuator moveable independent from said valve body; said contact valve actuator magnetically linked to said non-contact valve actuator, so that movement of said non-contact valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position actuates said contact valve actuator so that said contact valve actuator actuates said valve body from said open position toward said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An overfill prevention system comprising:
-
a conduit having a conduit wall extending from an inlet end to an outlet end, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit starting at an upstream location at said inlet end and ending at a downstream location at said outlet end; a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body actuatable from an open position to a closed position; a valve actuator moveable relative to said valve body between an overfill-prevention position and a filling position, said valve actuator urging said valve body toward said closed position when said valve actuator moves from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, and said valve actuator permitting said valve body to be in said open position when said valve actuator is in said filling position; and a non-contact test mechanism moveable between a service position and a test position, said non-contact test mechanism comprising; a test actuator coupled to said valve actuator and positioned outside of said conduit such that said conduit wall is interposed between said test actuator and said fluid path, actuation of said non-contact test mechanism from said service position to said test position advancing said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, whereby said actuation of said non-contact test mechanism urges said valve body toward said closed position without the presence of an overfill condition; and an exterior non-contact coupler adjacent said conduit wall and selectively coupled to said test actuator; and a test probe comprising; a proximal portion manipulable by an operator at said inlet end of said conduit; a distal portion receivable within said conduit such that said distal portion is positioned adjacent to said non-contact test mechanism; an interior non-contact coupler in force transferring relationship with said exterior non-contact coupler when said distal portion is adjacent to said non-contact test mechanism, said interior non-contact coupler moveable with respect to said distal portion from said service position, in which said interior and exterior non-contact couplers cooperate to allow said test actuator to be placed into said filling position, to said test position, in which said interior and exterior non-contact couplers cooperate to move said test actuator into said overfill-prevention position, whereby said distal portion may remain stationary within said conduit while said interior non-contact coupler is manipulated to toggle said valve body toward or away from said closed position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An overfill prevention system comprising:
-
a conduit having a conduit wall extending from an inlet end to an outlet end, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said inlet end to said outlet end; a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body actuatable from an open position to a closed position; a valve actuator moveable relative to said valve body between an overfill-prevention position and a filling position, said valve actuator urging said valve body toward said closed position when said valve actuator moves from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, and said valve actuator permitting said valve body to be in said open position when said valve actuator is in said filling position; and a non-contact test mechanism moveably coupled to said valve actuator, said non-contact test mechanism having at least one component moveably retained within a defined range of motion between a service position and a test position, said non-contact test mechanism functionally decoupled from said valve actuator when said non-contact test mechanism is in said service position, such that said valve actuator is moveable with respect to said non-contact test mechanism when said valve actuator moves between said overfill-prevention position and said filling position, said non-contact test mechanism engaging said valve actuator when said test mechanism is in said test position, such that actuation of said non-contact test mechanism from said service position to said test position advances said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position, whereby said actuation of said non-contact test mechanism urges said valve body toward said closed position without the presence of an overfill condition, and said non-contact test mechanism positioned outside of said conduit such that said conduit wall is interposed between said non-contact test mechanism and said fluid path, said non-contact test mechanism operable to actuate said valve actuator from said filling position to said overfill-prevention position without physically penetrating said conduit wall, whereby said non-contact test mechanism does not require creation of a leak path in said conduit in order to function as a test mechanism, wherein said non-contact test mechanism comprises a float having a surface with a groove formed therein, said groove engaging said at least one component. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
-
Specification