Connector to Be Attached to Liquid Tank and Liquid Tank Provided With the Connector

• US 20080272323A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Abe, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/149.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0829 Keg connection means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0266 by gas acting directly on the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0294 Combined with valves

Abstract

The object is to provide a connector to be attached to a liquid tank, which reduces a trouble of arranging a plug, is advantageous in cost and capable of preventing misconnection, is provided by compactly integrating two types of plugs, which are a liquid delivery plug and a gas feeding plug. The connector is to be attached to a liquid tank for delivery of an internal liquid, and is constructed of: a plug (1) fixedly mounted on the tank; and, a corresponding socket (2) connected thereto. The connector is characterized by the plug (1) and the socket (2), wherein: the plug (1) is provided with a liquid passage (8) and a gas passage (12); and, the socket (2) is provided with: a liquid passage (38) communicating with the liquid passage (8); a liquid passage connecting piece (21) communicating with the liquid passage (38); a gas passage (34) communicating with the gas passage (12); and, a gas passage connecting piece (37) communicating with the gas passage (34).

Claims

1. A connector to be attached to a liquid tank for delivery of its internal liquid, characterized in that:

said connector is constructed of a plug fixedly mounted on said tank and a socket connected with said plug;

said plug is provided with a liquid passage and a gas passage; and

, said socket is provided with a liquid passage communicated with said liquid passage and also provided with a liquid passage connecting piece communicated with said liquid passage, and further provided with a gas passage communicated with said gas passage and also provided with a gas passage connecting piece communicated with said gas passage.

3. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

said plug is provided with a plug cap which covers said plug portion at a time when said socket is not connected.

4. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:

a color ring is fitted in an opening in an upper surface of said plug, wherein said color ring is classified in color in accordance with the kinds of said liquid in said tank.

5. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

a key is formed in said opening in the upper surface of said plug, wherein said key has its installation position varied in accordance with the kind of said liquid stored in said tank.

6. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that:

an upper end of said gas passage having been formed in said plug portion is opened into an upper side surface of said plug portion.

7. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said socket is constructed of:

a sleeve;

an inner tube, which is slidably inserted in said sleeve and has its inner peripheral surface formed into said gas passage;

a valve unit installed inside said inner tube;

said liquid passage connecting piece for supporting an upper surface of said valve unit; and

, said gas passage connecting piece mounted on an upper portion of said inner tube.

8. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that one or a plurality of gas passages are formed in an outer side of said sleeve element, wherein an upper end of each of said gas passages is opened into an annular gap formed between said inner tube and said liquid passage connecting piece.

9. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said plug is provided with a male screw portion in its intermediate portion, wherein:

said male screw portion is threadably engaged with a mouth stopper portion of an upper surface of said tank; and

, a bulging portion which bulges out over an edge portion of said mouth stopper portion is provided in an upper portion of said plug; and

, said bulging portion is covered with a dust protective cap.

10. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that:

two pieces of mouth stopper portions are provided in an upper surface, wherein at least one of said mouth stopper portions is connected with said connector described in any one of claims 1 to 9 to install a circulation passage for connecting said two connectors.

11. The connector to be attached to said liquid tank as set forth in claim 10, characterized in that:

installed in said circulation liquid passage are a valve, a pump and a filter.

2. A connector to be attached to a liquid tank for delivery of its internal liquid, characterized in that:

said connector is constructed of a plug fixedly mounted on said tank and a socket connected with said plug;

said plug is provided with a plug portion provided with a engagement means engaging with said socket, and is provided with a siphon tube and a fitting means to be fixed to said tank;

formed in said plug portion are a liquid passage and a gas passage; and

, said socket is provided with an engagement means engaged with said plug and also provided with a valve unit together with a liquid passage and a liquid passage connecting piece communicated with said liquid passage, and further provided with a gas passage and a gas passage connecting piece communicated with said gas passage, wherein said valve unit is constructed of;

a sleeve element provided with a valve seat in its lower portion;

a valve disposed inside said sleeve element; and

, a spring for urging said valve seat, wherein;

said gas passage is so formed as to vertically extend along an outer side of said sleeve element and also to be communicated with said gas passage connecting piece; and

, when said valve is opened, said liquid passage disposed in the side of said plug is permitted to communicate with said liquid passage disposed in the side of said socket, wherein said gas passage disposed in the side of said socket is permitted to communicate with said gas passage disposed in the side of said plug.