Limit control device for filling a liquid storage tank

• US 6,318,421 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LaFon Productions Co.
• Original Assignee: LaFon Productions Co.
• Inventors: Lagache, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/581,591
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 141/198, 141/95, 137/429, 137/430, 137/433
• US Class Current: 141/198
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/367 the float acting pneumatically on a shut-off valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7426 Float co-axial with valve or port

Abstract

A limit control device for filling a liquid storage tank has a hollow upper body, a plunger tube integral with the upper body, a valve mounted in the hollow upper body and capable of moving between an opening position and a closing position, a valve seat arranged in the hollow upper body and whereon the valve is urged to rest in a closing position, a floater vertically mobile in a chamber arranged at least partially inside the plunger tube. The device is characterized in that the floater is integral with a moving element forming a piston, the moving element being displaced by thrust of the liquid acting on one of its ends.

Claims

1. Fill limiter for a liquid storage tank, said limiter being adapted to be at least partially introduced into said storage tank and comprising:

a hollow upper body,

a drop tube secured to said upper body and having a bottom open end and a chamber formed at least partially inside said drop tube,

a valve element mounted in said hollow upper body and capable of being moved between an open position and a closed position,

a valve seat formed in said hollow upper body and against which said valve element rests in said closed position,

a float which can move vertically in said chamber, said valve element and said drop tube being arranged to permit the liquid fed into said hollow upper body to pass said valve element and be discharged in said storage tank through said bottom end of said drop tube,

moving parts forming a piston body located inside a stationary internal tube which is housed in said drop tube and secured to said hollow upper body, said float being secured to said moving parts to be moved therewith by the thrust of the liquid exerted on said moving parts inside said internal tube.

2. Limiter according to claim 1 wherein said internal tube is provided with a central through passage formed between said moving parts.

3. Limiter according to claim 2, wherein the float is formed with a central bore approximately coaxial with the said central through passage of the piston body, the float further having a tube placed in the said central bore of the float.

4. Limiter according to claim 2, wherein the internal tube has a lower end, said limiter further having a grating closing said lower end of said internal tube.

5. Limiter according to claim 2, wherein the internal tube comprises an upper part provided with an air discharge orifice, said hollow upper body having a vent orifice in flow communication with said discharge orifice.

6. Limiter according to claim 2, wherein the piston body is equipped with a valve element at its lower end.

7. Limiter according to claim 2, wherein the moving parts of the float have at least one channel spaced laterally from said central through passage, said one channel having opposite ends, said piston body further having a front chamber and a rear chamber formed above and below the moving parts, respectively, said opposite ends of said one channel opening into said front and rear chambers, said valve element further having an intermediate piece mounted in said front chamber and secured to the hollow upper body and said float and provided with a channel coaxial with said central through passage of said piston body.

8. Limiter according to claim 1, characterized in that the float (26) comprises at least one through passage (31), one end of which opens into a front chamber (8) formed between an intermediate piece (9) secured to the upper body (1) and the said float (26), and the other end of which opens into the piston body (25).

9. Limiter according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate piece comprises at its top a limit stop against which the tube of the float abuts, and, two orifices, through which a downstream chamber formed at the rear face of the valve element can be connected to the inside of the said tube of said valve element, said tube being able to move in said passage formed in the intermediate piece.

10. Limiter according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate piece comprises at least one port, said hollow upper body being provided with a lateral duct being in flow communication with said front chamber through said one port, and with a duct valve selectively closing said one port, said valve element having an upstream chamber formed above said cone and in flow communication with said lateral duct.

11. Limiter according to claim 1, wherein the valve element has a conical shape and is equipped at the top of the cone with a passage, said valve element having a front face and rear face communicating via said passage.

12. A fill limiter for controlling a liquid flow, comprising:

an elongated outer tube extending along a longitudinal axis and receiving a liquid, said outer tube having a top end, a bottom, which is adapted to be submerged in a liquid storage tank, and an inner peripheral wall;

an inner tube mounted in said outer tube and spaced radially inwardly from said inner peripheral wall, so that said outer and inner tubes form an axial passage traversed by the liquid, an interior of said inner tube being in flow communication with said passage;

a piston mounted in said inner tube and having a respective top end;

a float attached to said top end of and axially displaceable with said piston in said inner tube toward and away from a blocking position, which corresponds to a predetermined level of liquid in said liquid storage tank; and

a valve element mounted in said outer tube between said top ends of said outer and inner tubes and displaceable between a closed position, wherein the liquid flow is interrupted after said float has reached said blocking position, and an open position;

said bottom of said outer tube being open to said liquid storage tank to allow liquid traversing said passage to be discharged in said open position of said valve element.