Fill controller for liquified gas container and apparatus for filling tank using same

• US 5,544,685 A
• Filed: 09/02/1994
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keifer Controls, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keifer Controls, Inc.
• Inventors: Stieferman, Dale M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US08/300,154
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 141/95, 141/198, 141/18, 73/319, 73/306, 73/307, 73/308, 137/429
• US Class Current: 141/198
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/021 having the height as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0385 in blocks or units
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0394 in direct contact with the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0135 Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0413 with floats
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0417 with electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0452 Concentration of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/022 Avoiding overfilling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0745 Gas bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/74 for sensing changes in level only at discrete points
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/12 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7423 : Rectilinearly traveling float

Abstract

An electronic sensor and fill controller for use with a refillable liquid gas container is disclosed. The present invention in broadest terms comprises a valve body for the container, a shaft extending from the valve body into the container, an electronic sensor disposed on the shaft, and a controller adapted to initiate, terminate or alter an electrical signal once the sensor senses contact with the liquified gas. In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a float switch and fill controller for use with a refillable LG container, comprising: (a) a shaft adapted to extend into said container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said container; (b) a float slidably attached to the shaft, the float moveable between a first position to a second position as the liquified gas container is charged with a liquified gas; (c) a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to the container so as to close the container, the valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through the liquified gas passage; (d) a electronic sensor positioned so as to sense the movement of the float from the first position to a second position, the sensor comprising an electric signal generator adapted to send an electrical signal; and (e) a controller adapted to perform at least one function selected from the group consisting of: (i) initiate an electrical signal upon sensing that the float has moved to one of the first and second positions; (ii) terminate an electrical signal upon sensing that the float has moved to one of the first and second positions; and (iii) alter an electrical signal upon sensing that the float has moved to one of the first and second positions.

Claims

1. An electronic sensor and fill controller for use with a refillable liquified gas container, said controller comprising:

a. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said container so as to close said container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage;

b. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body so as to extend into said container;

c. a float actuated electronic sensor disposed on said shaft, said electronic sensor adapted to sense the presence of said liquified gas; and

d. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing contact with said liquified gas, at least one function selected from the group consisting of;

i. initiating an electrical signal;

ii. terminating an electrical signal; and

iii. altering an electrical signal.

2. A float switch and fill controller according to claim 1 wherein said controller is adapted to control the power of said electrical signal.

3. A float switch and fill controller according to claim 1 wherein said valve body additionally comprises a pressure relief valve.

4. A float switch and fill controller for use with a refillable liquified gas container, comprising:

a. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage;

b. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body, adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container;

c. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas;

d. an electronic sensor positioned so as to sense the movement of said float from said first position to said second position, said sensor comprising an electric signal generator adapted to send an electrical signal;

e. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing that said float has moved to said second position, at least one function selected from the group consisting of;

i. initiating said electrical signal;

ii. terminating said electrical signal; and

iii. altering said electrical signal.

5. A float switch and fill controller according to claim 4 wherein said sensor comprises a reed switch.

6. A float switch and fill controller according to claim 4 wherein said sensor is integral with said valve body.

7. A float switch and fill controller according to claim 4 wherein said controller is adapted to control the power of said electrical signal.

8. A float switch and fill controller according to claim 4 wherein said valve body additionally comprises a pressure relief valve.

9. An apparatus for filling a liquified gas container, said apparatus comprising:

a. a source of a liquified gas;

b. a liquified gas conduit in liquified gas conductive connection with said source of liquified gas;

c. a pump adapted to pump liquified gas through said liquified gas conduit into said liquified gas container;

d. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage;

e. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container;

f. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas;

g. an electronic sensor disposed on said shaft, said electronic sensor adapted to sense the presence of said liquified gas; and

h. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing contact with said liquified gas, at least one function selected from the group consisting of;

i. initiating an electrical signal;

ii. terminating an electrical signal; and

iii. altering an electrical signal.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said sensor comprises a device selected from the group consisting of optical sensors and electrical conductance sensors.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said controller is adapted to control the power of said electrical signal.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said valve body additionally comprises a pressure relief valve.

13. An apparatus for filling a liquified gas container from a source of liquified gas, said apparatus comprising:

a. a source of a liquified gas;

b. a liquified gas conduit in liquified gas conductive connection with said source of said liquified gas;

c. a pump adapted to pump said liquified gas through said liquified gas conduit into said liquified gas container;

d. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquid gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of said liquified gas through said liquified gas passage;

e. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container;

f. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas;

g. an electronic sensor positioned so as to sense the movement of said float from said first position to said second position, said sensor containing an electric signal generator adapted to send an electrical signal, said sensor adapted to perform at least one function selected from the group consisting of;

i. initiating said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions;

ii. terminating said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions; and

iii. altering said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said sensor comprises a reed switch.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said sensor is integral with said valve body.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said controller is adapted to control the power of said electrical signal.

17. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said valve body additionally comprises a pressure relief valve.