Automatic valving system

• US 4,024,887 A
• Filed: 11/24/1975
• Issued: 05/24/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LTV Aerospace and Defense Company
• Original Assignee: Vought Corp.
• Inventors: McGregor, Ronald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walton, G. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/634,980
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 137/209, 137/386, 137/389, 137/390, 137/393, 137/842, 73/290, 73/548
• US Class Current: 137/386
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 1/003 for process regulation, (e.g. chemical processes, in boilers or the like); for machine tool control (e.g. sewing machines, automatic washing machines); for liquid level control; for controlling various mechanisms; for alarm circuits; for ac-dc transducers for control purposes automatic washing machines D06F33/00; electric regulation of mechanical working machines B23Q35/00, G05B19/00; valve-controlled servomotors F15B9/08; thread feeding devices for sewing machines D05B51/00; special provisions on lathes B23B25/00, B23Q; non-electric signal transmission G08C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 1/14 Stream-interaction devices; Momentum-exchange devices, e.g. operating by exchange between two orthogonal fluid jets ; Proportional amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 1/18 Turbulence devices, i.e. devices in which a controlling stream will cause a laminar flow to become turbulent ; Diffusion amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/161 for discrete levels G01F23/162 - G01F23/165 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0193 using hydraulic or pneumatic amplifiers, relays or transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2273 Device including linearly-aligned power stream emitter and power stream collector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7287 Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic valving system for shutting off liquid flow into a container when the level of liquid within the container is above a predetermined level, and for permitting liquid flow when the liquid is below the predetermined level. A liquid is positioned within the container at the predetermined level, and a pressure responsive shutoff valve is fluidly connected in series between a source of liquid under pressure and the interior of the container. The shutoff valve has communication with the fluid sensor and is operative to shut off liquid flow into the container in response to a pressure variation received from the sensor upon the level of liquid within the container rising above the predetermined level.

Claims

1. A valving system for permitting substantial liquid flow into a tank upon the level of liquid within the tank being below a predetermined level and for preventing any substantial liquid flow into the tank upon the level of liquid within the tank being above the predetermined level, the valving system comprising:

a liquid sensor comprising first, second, and third fluid nozzles and means immovably supporting the nozzles within the tank, the first and second nozzles being substantially coaxially aligned, positioned above the predetermined level, and directioned toward each other, the third nozzle being positioned below the predetermined level, between the first and second nozzles, and directioned toward the common axis of the first and second nozzles;

a unidirectional valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a port, the valve comprising a means normally permitting liquid flow between the inlet and outlet and, alternatively, for preventing liquid flow upon the valve port receiving liquid under a pressure above a predetermined level relative to the pressure or liquid received through the inlet;

a first conduit having a first end connected to the valve inlet and a second end connectable to a source of liquid under pressure;

a second conduit communicating between the valve outlet and the interior of the tank;

a third conduit providing communication between the first nozzle of the liquid sensor and the first conduit and valve inlet and comprising a means for conducting liquid under pressure from the first conduit to the first nozzle to cause a jet of liquid to be ejected from the first nozzle toward the second nozzle with sufficient force to impinge upon the second nozzle;

a fourth conduit communicating between the second nozzle and the valve port and comprising a means for conducting liquid under pressure from the second nozzle to the valve port upon liquid under pressure being received by the second nozzle from the first nozzle, the valve comprising a means preventing liquid flow from its inlet to its outlet upon liquid pressure being received through the fourth conduit upon fluid ejected from the first nozzle being received by the second nozzle; and

a fifth conduit communicating between the third conduit and the third nozzle, the third nozzle comprising a means for ejecting liquid received from the fifth conduit toward the jet of liquid ejected from the first nozzle for diverting the jet from the second nozzle upon the third nozzle being above the level of liquid within the tank, whereby the valve remains open and, alternatively upon the level of liquid within the tank rising to the predetermined level, for dissipating liquid received from the fifth conduit, whereby the liquid jet ejected from the first nozzle is permitted to impinge upon the second nozzle for effecting operation of the valve to prevent liquid flow from its inlet to its outlet.

2. For a tank adapted to receive a liquid from a source of liquid under pressure, a valving system for preventing any substantial liquid flow into the tank upon the level of liquid within the tank being above a predetermined level, the valving system comprising:

means for ejecting a first jet of fluid within the tank at a location above the predetermined level;

fluid receiving means, within the tank, for receiving the first jet of fluid at a location above the predetermined level;

means for ejecting a second jet of fluid upwardly, from a location within the tank which is below the predetermined level, when the level of the liquid is below the predetermined level, toward the first jet of fluid for diverting the first jet of fluid from the fluid receiving means upon the level of liquid within the tank being below the predetermined level and, alternatively upon the level of liquid within the tank being above the predetermined level, for dissipating the second jet of fluid within the liquid whereby the first jet of fluid impinges against the fluid receiving means; and

valving means for normally providing communication between the source of liquid under pressure and the interior of the tank and, alternatively, for preventing liquid flow into the tank through the valving means upon the first jet of fluid being received by the fluid receiving means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for ejecting a second jet of fluid is a means for ejecting a jet of fluid upwardly along a substantially vertical axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for ejecting the first jet of fluid is a means for ejecting a jet of fluid along a substantially horizontal axis, and wherein the means for ejecting a second jet of fluid is a means for ejecting a jet of fluid along a substantially vertical axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for ejecting a first jet of fluid comprises a means, having communication with the source of liquid under pressure, for ejecting a jet of the liquid.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, the valving means having fluid communication with the fluid receiving means and comprising a pressure responsive valving means for preventing liquid flow through the valving means to the tank upon fluid pressure above a predetermined level being received from the fluid receiving means in response to reception by the fluid receiving means of the first jet of fluid.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a structure defining an axial passageway extending therethrough, the structure having an opening communicating with the passageway, means being provided for mounting the structure adjacent the means for ejecting a first jet of fluid and with the axial passageway in alignment between the means for ejecting a first jet of fluid and the fluid receiving means for permitting passage of the first jet of fluid through the axial passageway, the means for ejecting a second jet of fluid comprising a means for ejecting the second jet of fluid through the structure opening and into the axial passageway.