REFUELING APPARATUS WITH AN AUTOMATIC STOP

• US 20110079320A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spillx LLC
• Original Assignee: Spillx LLC
• Inventors: MITROVICH, MICHAEL J., BYRNE, JOHN
• Granted Patent: US 8,281,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/198
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3218 relating to emergency shut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/367 the float acting pneumatically on a shut-off valve
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/78 Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7371 Fluid pressure

Abstract

A combination float control module and fluid flow control valve for use in high pressure, high flow rate refueling systems.

Claims

1. A refueling apparatus for use in refilling a container with a fluid from a fluid source, said refueling apparatus comprising:

a fluid flow control valve module;

a fluid level sensor; and

a testing module;

said fluid flow control valve module having a fluid passage there-through for connection with said fluid source, said fluid flow control valve module having a shutoff valve, wherein said fluid is able to travel from said fluid source through said fluid flow control valve module and into said container when said shutoff valve is open, and wherein when said shutoff valve is closed said fluid is prevented from flowing through said fluid flow control valve module, wherein said fluid level sensor is able to control the opening and closing of said shutoff valve;

said fluid level sensor module having a sensor configured sensing the fluid level in said container, said fluid level sensor module configured for closing said fluid flow control valve module upon said sensor sensing that said fluid level is higher than a predetermined level in said container and opening said fluid flow control valve module upon said sensor sensing that said fluid level is lower than a predetermined level in said container; and

said testing module comprising means for simulating a predetermined fill level in said container thereby allowing the function of the fluid level sensor module to be tested.

2. A refueling apparatus for use in refilling a container with a fluid from a fluid source, said container having air space above a fluid space, said fluid having a fluid level within said container, said refueling apparatus comprising:

a fluid flow control valve;

a float control module having an inlet port; and

a testing module;

said fluid flow control valve connecting with said fluid source containing fluid, wherein said fluid is able to travel from said fluid source through said fluid flow control valve and into said container when said fluid flow control valve is open, and wherein when said fluid flow control valve is closed said fluid is prevented from flowing through said fluid flow control valve, said fluid flow control valve comprising a valve body, said valve body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said fluid flow control valve comprising a piston having a head, said head having a beveled edge,

said upper portion comprising an orifice defining a tapered seat configured for mating engagement with said beveled edge, wherein the internal space of the upper portion defines a first chamber,

said lower portion having a piston housing configured for receiving said piston therein, said piston housing having an internal sidewall defining an open topped cylinder having an end wall, the piston slidably received within said cylinder, the space within the cylinder between the end wall and the piston defining a second chamber, wherein at least one lateral fluid flow passage is defined in said internal sidewall, said at least one lateral fluid flow passage for allowing fluid passing through the fluid flow control valve to be conveyed into the container, wherein said piston'"'"'s head sealing against the seat closes said at least one lateral fluid flow passage, said lower portion comprising a lower port interconnecting said second chamber with a bleed passage terminating at an upper port, said upper port configured for connecting with a supply line connecting with said float control module at said inlet port, said piston having said head with said beveled edge, said edge configured for creating a mating seal against said tapered seat, said piston having an external sidewall having at least one sidewall groove configured for receiving at least one sealing member therein for slidably sealing the piston'"'"'s external sidewall to the housing'"'"'s internal sidewall, wherein the said head further comprising a bleed hole defined there-through, said bleed hole interconnecting the first chamber with the second chamber;

said float control module comprising said inlet port, said inlet port interconnected with an outlet port in said float control module, said float control module having an upper float bore and a lower float bore defined therein, wherein when the fluid level is below a preset level in said container, the float control module allows the flow of fluid through said inlet port to said outlet port, and wherein when the fluid level is above a preset level in said container, the float control module blocks the flow of fluid through said inlet port to said outlet port causing a fluid pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber which moves the piston away from said seat, allowing the fluid to flow from the fluid source, through the fluid flow control valve, out said lateral fluid flow passage, and into said container, wherein as said fluid level raises, said float raises within said upper float bore and connected base raises within said lower float bore until raising of said float brings said base into sealing engagement with a sealing face thereby by blocking fluid passage from the supply line through said inlet port and out said outlet port, thereby shutting off fluid flow through the bleed passage, causing an equalization of pressure between the first and second chambers, the pressure difference urging the piston'"'"'s beveled head into sealing engagement with the seat, shutting off the flow of fluid from the inlet port through the fluid flow control valve; and

said testing module comprises means blocking said fluid passage from the supply line through said inlet port and out said outlet port thereby simulating a predetermined fill level in said container and allowing the function of the float control module to be tested.

3. The refueling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the float control module comprises:

said upper float bore connecting with said lower float bore via a float pin passageway, the float control module comprising an air vent passageway extending through said module for interconnecting the upper float bore with said container air space, said air vent passageway for enabling venting of air into and out of the upper float bore, wherein the upper float bore receives therein a float, the float having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end having a pin extending there-from, said pin extending through the float pin passageway and connecting with a lower float base, the float control module comprising said outlet port extending through said module for interconnecting the lower float bore with said fluid space of said container,

wherein when the fluid level is below a preset level in said container, a fluid pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber moves the piston away from said seat, allowing the fluid to flow from the fluid source, through the fluid flow control valve, out said lateral fluid flow passage, and into said container, wherein as said fluid level raises, said float raises within said upper float bore and connected base raises within said lower float bore until raising of said float brings said base into sealing engagement with a sealing face thereby by blocking fluid passage from the supply line through said inlet port and out said outlet port, thereby shutting off fluid flow through the bleed passage, causing an equalization of pressure between the first and second chambers, the pressure difference urging the piston'"'"'s head having a beveled edge into sealing engagement with the seat, shutting off the flow of fluid from the inlet port through the fluid flow control valve.

4. The refueling apparatus of claim 2, wherein said testing module further comprises a reset means.

5. The refueling apparatus of claim 2, wherein said fluid flow control valve does not comprise a spring for biasing the piston'"'"'s head having a beveled edge against the seat of the upper portion.

6. The refueling apparatus of claim 2, wherein said bleed hole is configured for receiving a piston jet therein, said piston jet for allowing the diameter of the bleed hole to be modified.

7. A refueling apparatus for use in refilling a container with a fluid from a fluid source, said container having air space above a fluid space, said fluid having a fluid level within said container, said refueling apparatus comprising:

a fluid flow control valve;

a float control module having an inlet port; and

a testing module;

said fluid flow control valve connecting with said fluid source containing fluid, wherein said fluid is able to travel from said fluid source through said fluid flow control valve and into said container when said fluid flow control valve is open, and wherein when said fluid flow control valve is closed said fluid is prevented from flowing through said fluid flow control valve, said fluid flow control valve comprising a valve body, said valve body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said fluid flow control valve comprising a piston having a head, said head having a beveled edge, said beveled edge configured for creating a mating seal against said tapered seat,

said upper portion comprising an orifice defining a tapered seat configured for mating engagement with said beveled edge, wherein the internal space of the upper portion defines a first chamber, said fluid flow control valve comprising an upper fluid bleed passage terminating at an upper port, said upper port configured for connecting with a supply line connecting with said float control module at an inlet port,

said lower portion having a piston housing configured for receiving said piston therein, said piston housing having an internal sidewall defining an open topped cylinder having an end wall, the piston slidably received within said cylinder, the space within the cylinder between the end wall and the piston defining a second chamber, wherein at least one lateral fluid flow passage is defined in said internal sidewall, said lateral fluid flow passage for allowing fluid passing through the fluid flow control valve to be conveyed into the container, wherein said beveled edge sealing against the seat closes the lateral fluid flow passages, said lower portion having an end wall at generally the second end of the lower portion, said lower portion comprising a lower port interconnecting said second chamber with a lower fluid bleed passage, said lower fluid bleed passage configured to fluidly connect with said upper fluid bleed passage, said piston having an external sidewall having at least one sidewall groove configured for receiving at least one sealing member therein for slidably sealing the piston'"'"'s external sidewall to the housing'"'"'s internal sidewall, wherein the said head further comprising a bleed hole defined there-through, said bleed hole interconnecting the first chamber with the second chamber;

said float control module comprising said inlet port, said inlet port interconnected with an outlet port in said float control module, said float control module having an upper float bore and a lower float bore defined therein, said upper float bore connecting with said lower float bore via a float pin passageway, the float control module comprising an air vent passageway extending through said module for interconnecting the upper float bore with said container air space, said air vent passageway for enabling venting of air into and out of the upper float bore, wherein the upper float bore receives therein a float, the float having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end having a pin extending there-from, said pin extending through the float pin passageway and connecting with a lower float base, the float control module comprising said outlet port extending through said module for interconnecting the lower float bore with said fluid space of said container,

when the fluid level is below a preset level in said container, a fluid pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber moves the piston away from said seat, allowing the fluid to flow from the fluid source, through the fluid flow control valve, out said lateral fluid flow passage, and into said container, wherein as said fluid level raises, said float raises within said upper float bore and connected base raises within said lower float bore until raising of said float brings said base into sealing engagement with a sealing face thereby by blocking fluid passage from the supply line through said inlet port and out said outlet port, thereby shutting off fluid flow through the bleed passage, causing an equalization of pressure between the first and second chambers, the pressure difference urging the piston'"'"'s beveled head into sealing engagement with the seat, shutting off the flow of fluid from the inlet port through the fluid flow control valve; and

said testing module comprises means blocking said fluid passage from the supply line through said inlet port and out said outlet port thereby simulating a predetermined fill level in said container and allowing the function of the float control module to be tested.

8. The refueling apparatus of claim 7, wherein said testing module further comprises a reset means.

9. The refueling apparatus of claim 7, wherein said fluid flow control valve does not comprise a spring for biasing the piston'"'"'s beveled head against the seat of the upper portion.

10. The refueling apparatus of claim 7, wherein said bleed hole is configured for receiving a piston jet therein, said piston jet for allowing the diameter of the bleed hole to be modified.