Container having fluid-weight control device

• US 5,887,609 A
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Garretson
• Original Assignee: Owen L. Garretson
• Inventors: Garretson, Owen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US08/804,132
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 137/2, 137/403, 137/413, 137/414, 137/434, 137/449, 141/198
• US Class Current: 137/2
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/165 with means sensing the weight of said fluid quantity
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/18 closed when a rising liquid reaches a predetermined level float-actuated valves F16K31/18
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/023 having the mass as the parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/04 Arrangement or mounting of valves valves per se F16K ; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/02 for filling with liquefied gases
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7339 By weight of accumulated fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7371 Fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7374 Flexible diaphragm valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7488 Ball valves

Abstract

A device, and a container having such a device, is provided for permitting filling the container with a predetermined weight of the fluid. The device and container include a main channel to introduce the fluid into the container at a fill pressure; a detector mechanism to detect a "filled" condition based on fluid weight; and a fluid-weight control mechanism to automatically prevent introducing fluid into the container in excess of the "filled" condition. A spring offsets part of the weight of a pivotally mounted displacer mounted on a pivotally mounted lever having an arm configured to permit closure of a ball valve as the container becomes "filled" and the displacer becomes buoyant. The fluid-weight control device, which is substantially independent of the composition and temperature of the fluid and of inertial effects induced in an attempt to thwart the fluid-weight control safeguard, also prevents introduction of fluid into the container as the container is non-upright. A modified embodiment utilizes a pilot valve arrangement in conjunction with the ball valve. A method of practicing the invention is also provided.

Claims

1. A device for introducing fluid into a container, comprising:

(a) body means configured to be mounted to the container;

(b) detector means, connected to said body means, configured to detect a "filled" condition of the container based on a desired weight of a fluid contained in the container;

said detector means including a pivotally mounted displacer configured such that buoyancy forces thereof slightly exceed gravitational forces thereof as the container assumes a normal operating orientation and assumes said "filled" condition; and

(c) shut off means, responsive to said detector means, configured to automatically prevent introduction of additional fluid into the container as said "filled" condition of the container is detected by said detector means.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said detector means includes a resilient member configured to partially offset the weight of said displacer.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said shut off means is configured to also prevent introduction of fluid into the container as the container is not assuming a normal operating orientation even though the container may not have assumed said "filled" condition.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said detector means is configured such that said device is substantially independent of the temperature of the fluid contained in the container.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said detector means is configured such that said device is substantially independent of the specific gravity of fluid contained in the container.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said detector means is configured such that said device is substantially independent of inertial effects induced in said detector means in an attempt to introduce additional fluid into the container as the container assumes said "filled" condition.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said shut off means includes a pilot valve arrangement configured to cause said shut off means to operably assume a closed configuration, wherein said pilot valve arrangement is configured to be activated by a fluid pressure that is substantially less than the pressure at which fluid is being introduced into the container.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a container having a cavity; and

(b) fluid-weight control means configured to control introduction of a weight of fluid into said cavity wherein said weight may be up to, but is automatically prevented from exceeding, a predetermined weight of the fluid and wherein said fluid-weight control means includes detection means includes a pivotally mounted displacer configured to detect whether said cavity substantially contains said predetermined weight of the fluid as said container assumes an upright orientation.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said detection means further includes a resilient member configured to operably partially offset the weight of said pivotally mounted displacer.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said resilient member and said pivotally mounted displacer are cooperatively adapted for use with a particular composition of fluid to be introduced into said container.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said pivotally mounted displacer is configured, in conjunction with said orifice arrangement, to operably activate said fluid-weight control means as said container assumes a "filled" condition.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fluid-weight control means is also configured to prevent introduction of fluid into said cavity as said container assumes a non-upright orientation even though said cavity may contain less weight of the fluid than said predetermined weight of the fluid.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fluid-weight control means is configured to be substantially independent of the temperature of the fluid contained in said cavity.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fluid-weight control means is configured to be substantially independent of the composition of the fluid contained in said cavity.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fluid-weight control means is configured to be substantially independent of inertial effects induced in said detection means in an attempt to introduce additional fluid into said container as said cavity substantially contains said predetermined weight of the fluid.

16. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fluid-weight control means includes a pilot valve arrangement configured to cause said shut off means to operably assume a closed configuration, and wherein said pilot valve arrangement is activated by a fluid pressure that is substantially less than the pressure at which fluid is being introduced into the container.

17. A method of preventing overfilling of a container with fluid, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) introducing the fluid into the container through a device installed through a wall of the container;

(b) using said device, cooperatively by means of a pivotally mounted displacer thereof wherein said displacer is configured such that buoyancy forces thereof slightly exceed gravitational forces thereof as the fluid contained in the container reaches a predetermined weight of the fluid, to determine whether the container substantially contains said predetermined weight of the fluid; and

(c) further using said device to automatically prevent introduction of additional fluid into the container upon determining that the container substantially contains said predetermined weight of the fluid.