Container having collapsible inline fluid-weight control device

• US 6,230,730 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2000
• 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:
  US09/503,392
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 137/1, 137/2, 137/38, 137/43, 137/44, 137/403, 137/413, 137/414, 137/430, 137/416, 137/425, 137/449, 141/1, 141/4, 141/5, 141/198, 222/55, 222/57, 222/64, 222/67
• US Class Current: 137/2
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/307 Additional means used in combination with the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/34 acting on pilot valve controlling the cut-off apparatus
• 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 137/7426 Float co-axial with valve or port

Abstract

A device, and a container having such a device, is provided for filling the container with a predetermined weight of fluid. The device includes an input portion with a throat and a shoulder for introducing fluid into the container. A shut-off mechanism has a shut-off member and a control port. A control mechanism maintains one or more spheres in an inline configuration with the shut-off member such that fluid flow is permitted between the shut-off member and the control port as the device is disposed in an open configuration. A stabilizer is provided for each of the one or more spheres to maintain the inline configuration. As the fluid contained in the container reaches a predetermined weight, a displacer becomes buoyant and lifts the stabilizers with a destabilizer mechanism, which allows the one or more spheres to move transversely, causing the inline configuration to collapse and allowing the shut-off member to settle against the control port to establish a fluid-tight sealing engagement therewith, whereupon the upper surface is displaced such that a fluid-tight sealing engagement is established between the upper surface and the shoulder, shutting off filling of the container. One or more nudgers may be provided to assist with collapsing of the inline configuration. A method of practicing the invention is also provided.

Claims

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

(a) body structure configured to mount to the container;

(b) a fluid-weight detection mechanism, contained within said body structure, configured to detect a desired weight of the fluid contained in the container; and

(c) a fluid-weight control mechanism, including a collapsible inline control mechanism and a shut-off mechanism, responsively configured to control introduction of additional fluid into the container as said fluid-weight detection mechanism detects said desired weight of the fluid in the container, said collapsible inline control mechanism including a plurality of inline members wherein said plurality of inline members are aligned in abutting engagement with said shut-off mechanism as said device is disposed in an open configuration and wherein said plurality of inline members are not aligned with said shut-off mechanism as said device is disposed in a closed configuration.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) said body structure includes an input portion having a shoulder; and

(b) said shut-off mechanism includes an upper surface; and

wherein said device is disposed in said open configuration as the fluid can flow between said shoulder and said upper surface, and wherein said device is disposed in said closed configuration as a fluid-tight sealing engagement is established between said shoulder and said upper surface.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a sealing member configured to establish said fluid-tight sealing engagement between said shoulder and said upper surface.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said fluid-weight control mechanism further includes:

(a) a shut-off member; and

(b) a control port; and

wherein said shut-off member and said control port are spaced apart such that fluid can flow therebetween as said device is disposed in said open configuration, and wherein a fluid-tight sealing engagement is established between said shut-off member and said control port as said device is disposed in said closed configuration.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said collapsible inline control mechanism comprises at least one sphere, wherein said at least one sphere forms an inline configuration with said shut-off member as said device is disposed in said open configuration, and wherein said at least one sphere does not form an inline configuration with said shut-off member as said device is disposed in said closed configuration.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one sphere comprises two spheres.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein one of said two spheres is larger than the other.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said spheres is smaller than said shut-off member.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein each of said two spheres is smaller than said shut-off member.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-weight detection mechanism includes a displacer that extends substantially the entire depth of the container as the container assumes a substantially upright operating orientation.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said detector means includes:

(a) a displacer; and

(b) a spring member configured to partially offset the weight of said displacer such that said displacer is buoyant as the container assumes a substantially upright operating orientation and the container contains said desired weight of the fluid.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-weight control mechanism is further configured to prevent introduction of fluid into the container as the container is not assuming a substantially upright operating orientation even though the container may not contain said desired weight of the fluid.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-weight detection mechanism is configured to be substantially independent of the temperature of the fluid contained in the container.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-weight detection mechanism is configured to be substantially independent of the density of the fluid contained in the container.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-weight detection mechanism is configured to be substantially independent of inertial effects induced in said fluid-weight detection mechanism in an attempt to introduce additional fluid into the container even though the container contains said desired weight of the fluid.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

a) said body structure includes a tail portion; and

b) said fluid-weight detection mechanism includes a displacer configured to slide axially within said tail portion.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a container having a cavity; and

(b) a device having;

(1) body structure configured to mount to said container;

(2) a fluid-weight detection mechanism, contained within said body structure, configured to detect a desired weight of the fluid contained in said container; and

(3) a fluid-weight control mechanism, including a collapsible inline control mechanism and a shut-off mechanism, responsively configured to control introduction of additional fluid into the container as said fluid-weight detection mechanism detects said desired weight of the fluid in the container, said collapsible inline control mechanism including a plurality of inline members wherein said plurality of inline members are aligned in abutting engagement with said shut-off mechanism as said device is disposed in an open configuration and wherein said plurality of inline members are not aligned with said shut-off mechanism as said device is disposed in a closed configuration.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said fluid-weight detection mechanism includes a displacer that extends substantially the entire depth of the fluid in said cavity as said container assumes a substantially upright orientation.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said fluid-weight detection mechanism includes:

(a) a displacer; and

(b) a spring member configured to operably partially offset the weight of said displacer such that said displacer is buoyant as said container assumes a substantially upright orientation and said container contains said predetermined weight of the fluid.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said fluid-weight control mechanism is further 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.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said fluid-weight control mechanism is configured to be substantially independent of the temperature of the fluid contained in said cavity.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said fluid-weight control mechanism is configured to be substantially independent of the composition of the fluid contained in said cavity.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said fluid-weight control mechanism is configured to be substantially independent of inertial effects induced in said fluid-weight detection mechanism in an attempt to introduce additional fluid into said container as said cavity substantially contains said predetermined weight of the fluid.

24. 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) detecting a predetermined weight of fluid contained in the container;

(c) responsive to step (b), collapsing an inline control mechanism from an open configuration to a closed configuration, wherein said inline control mechanism includes a plurality of inline members aligned in abutting engagement with a shut-off mechanism in said open configuration and said plurality of inline members are not aligned with said shut-off mechanism in said closed configuration; and

(d) responsive to step (c), preventing further introduction of fluid into the container.

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

(a) body structure configured to mount to the container;

(b) a fluid-weight detection mechanism, contained within said body structure, configured to detect a desired weight of the fluid contained in the container;

said body structure includes an input portion having a shoulder;

(c) a fluid-weight control mechanism, including a collapsible inline control mechanism and a shut-off mechanism, responsively configured to prevent introduction of additional fluid into the container as said fluid-weight detection mechanism detects said desired weight of the fluid in the container;

said shut-off mechanism includes an upper surface;

said fluid-weight control mechanism further includes a shut-off member and a control port;

said collapsible inline control mechanism comprises at least one sphere; and

(d) a stabilizer for each of said at least one sphere; and

wherein said device is disposed in an open configuration as the fluid can flow between said shoulder and said upper surface and said device is disposed in a closed configuration as a fluid-tight sealing engagement is established between said shoulder and said upper surface, said shut-off member and said control port are spaced apart such that fluid can flow therebetween as said device is disposed in said open configuration and a fluid-tight sealing engagement is established between said shut-off member and said control port as said device is disposed in said closed configuration, said at least one sphere forms an inline configuration with said shut-off member as said device is disposed in said open configuration and said at least one sphere does not form an inline configuration with said shut-off member as said device is disposed in said closed configuration, and said stabilizer is configured to maintain said inline configuration of said at least one sphere and said shut-off member as said device is disposed in said open configuration and to responsively allow said inline configuration to collapse as said fluid-weight detection mechanism detects the desired weight of the fluid in the container.

26. The device according to claim 25, including at least one destabilizer configured to interact with said stabilizer such that said stabilizer responsively allows said inline configuration to collapse as said fluid-weight detection mechanism detects the desired weight of the fluid in the container.

27. The device according to claim 26, further including at least one nudger configured to assist said at least one sphere to be displaced from said inline configuration with said shut-off member.

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

(a) body structure configured to mount to the container;

(b) a fluid-weight detection mechanism, contained within said body structure, configured to detect a desired weight of the fluid contained in the container;

(c) a fluid-weight control mechanism, including a shut-off mechanism and a collapsible control mechanism comprising a plurality of inline members including at least one sphere, wherein said plurality of inline members form an inline configuration with said shut-off member as said device is disposed in an open configuration wherein fluid is allowed to enter said container, and wherein said plurality of inline members do not form an inline configuration with said shut-off member as said device is disposed in a closed configuration wherein fluid is prevented from entering said container; and

(d) a stabilizer for each of said at least one sphere wherein each said stabilizer is configured to maintain respective said at least one sphere in said inline configuration with said shut-off mechanism as said device is disposed in said open configuration, and wherein each said stabilizer is further configured to responsively allow respective said at least one sphere to not maintain said inline configuration with said shut-off mechanism as said fluid-weight detection mechanism detects said desired weight of the fluid in the container to thereby operatively prevent fluid from entering the container.