Filling limitor for small, shallow liquid storage tanks

• US 6,536,465 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clay & Bailey Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Clay & Bailey Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: David, Donald R., Borst, Ronald W., Miller, Francis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/834,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20020148505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 137/409, 137/434, 137/436, 137/437, 137/442, 141/198
• US Class Current: 137/442
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/365 using floats
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 21/18 closed when a rising liquid reaches a predetermined level float-actuated valves F16K31/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/26 with the valve guided for rectilinear movement and the float attached to a pivoted arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7446 With flow guide or restrictor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7465 Assembly mounted on and having reciprocating valve element coaxial with inlet pipe

Abstract

The limitor includes a tubular valve body that houses a poppet valve axially moveable between opened and closed positions by an external float. The poppet is protected from direct engagement with incoming pressurized liquid by an overhead deflector that diverts incoming liquid radially outwardly into an annular region around the deflector so that the liquid can pass through a port underlying and spaced below the poppet. This prevents premature closing of the valve. Preferably, the limitor is constructed from a main support tube that becomes attached to the tank and a valve subassembly that is threadably joined with the tube and projects down into the interior of the tank during use. Alternative embodiments are disclosed, including drop tube versions, for facilitating initial installation of the limitor on the top wall of a tank.

Claims

1. A filling limitor for a liquid storage tank comprising:

an elongated tubular body adapted for attachment to the top wall of a tank,

said body having an internal axial flow passage through which liquid is introduced into the tank and a port located within said passage;

a poppet valve within said body for controlling whether the port is open or closed,

said valve including a valve seat circumscribing the port and a poppet shiftable axially of the passage between a closed position in which the poppet is in sealing engagement with the seat and an open position in which the poppet is spaced from the seat;

a float operably coupled with said poppet for shifting the poppet into its closed position when the liquid level within the tank rises to a certain level; and

a deflector within the passage above the poppet to direct incoming liquid away from the poppet and thereby reduce the tendency of incoming liquid to shift the poppet to its closed position,

said poppet and said deflector being centered with said passage,

said deflector having a peripheral edge spaced radially inwardly from the body to define an annular region surrounding the deflector and through which liquid may flow to the port,

said poppet having a guide stem projecting upwardly therefrom in the direction of said deflector,

said deflector having a guide hole reciprocally receiving said stem.

2. A filling limitor as claimed in claim 1,

said guide stem also projecting downwardly from the poppet away from said deflector and extending through the port,

said body having a transverse guide bar extending across the passage below the port,

said guide bar having a second guide hole in axial alignment with the guide hole in the deflector and reciprocally receiving the lower end of said guide stem.

3. A filling limitor as claimed in claim 2,

said body having an operating arm pivotally secured thereto,

said arm having an inner end coupled with the lower end of said guide stem inside the body and an outer end coupled with the float outside the body.

4. A filling limitor for a liquid storage tank comprising:

an elongated tubular body adapted for attachment to the top wall of a tank,

said body having an internal axial flow passage through which liquid is introduced into the tank and a port located within said passage;

a poppet valve within said body for controlling whether the port is open or closed,

said valve including a valve seat circumscribing the port and a poppet shiftable axially of the passage between a closed position in which the poppet is in sealing engagement with the seat and an open position in which the poppet is spaced from the seat;

a float operably coupled with said poppet for shifting the poppet into its closed position when the liquid level within the tank rises to a certain level; and

a deflector within the passage above the poppet to direct incoming liquid away from the poppet and thereby reduce the tendency of incoming liquid to shift the poppet to its closed position,

said body having a drop tube secured to the lower end thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom,

said body having an operating arm pivotally secured thereto,

said arm having an inner end coupled with the poppet inside the body and an outer end coupled with the float outside the body,

said drop tube having a sidewall provided with an opening for temporarily receiving the float into the interior of the drop tube to reduce the width of the limitor for installation.

5. A filling limitor as claimed in claim 4,

said drop tube having an internal spring-loaded cover yieldably biased into covering relationship with said opening,

said cover being yieldable away from the opening under the urging of the float when the float is moved into the opening.

6. A filling limitor as claimed in claim 5,

said arm being resilient to permit flexing thereof during movement of the float into the opening of the drop tube.

7. A filling limitor as claimed in claims 5,

said arm being jointed intermediate its opposite ends to present a pair of relatively pivotable sections,

said arm having a spring operably connected between the sections to yieldably bias the sections toward an operating position,

said sections being pivotable relative to one another against the action of the spring to permit movement of the float into the opening of the drop tube when the poppet is at the limit of its stroke at said open position.

8. A filling limitor assembly for a liquid storage tank having an annular flange associated with a hole in the top wall of the tank, said assembly comprising:

an externally threaded mounting tube adapted to be inserted into said flange and threadably secured thereto in axial alignment with the hole; and

a valve subassembly secured to the lower end of said mounting tube and supported thereby,

said subassembly including

a support cylinder having a central axis,

a reduced diameter annular boss at an upper end of the cylinder coaxially received within and threadably engaged with the lower end of said mounting tube,

said boss having a central port and a circular valve seat that circumscribes said port;

a valve stem coaxially supported within said cylinder for reciprocation along said axis;

a poppet secured to said stem for reciprocation therewith between a closed position in which the poppet is in sealing engagement with said seat and an open position in which the poppet is spaced axially from the seat;

an operating arm for said valve stem pivotally supported on the cylinder for up and down swinging movement,

said arm having an inner end operably coupled with the lower end of said valve stem within the cylinder and an outer end located outside the cylinder;

a float secured to said outer end of the operating arm for shifting the poppet between its open and closed positions depending upon the level of liquid in the tank with which the limitor assembly is used; and

a deflector supported by the cylinder in axial alignment with the poppet above the latter for directing incoming liquid away from the poppet,

said tube having an annular, interior surface,

said deflector having a peripheral edge spaced radially inwardly from said interior surface of the tube to define an annular region surrounding the deflector and through which liquid may flow to the port,

said boss having a plurality of support members projecting upwardly therefrom to support said deflector.

9. A filling limitor assembly for a liquid storage tank having an annular flange associated with a hole in the top wall of the tank, said assembly comprising:

an externally threaded mounting tube adapted to be inserted into said flange and threadably secured thereto in axial alignment with the hole; and

a valve subassembly secured to the lower end of said mounting tube and supported thereby,

said subassembly including

a support cylinder having a central axis,

a reduced diameter annular boss at an upper end of the cylinder coaxially received within and threadably engaged with the lower end of said mounting tube,

said boss having a central port and a circular valve seat that circumscribes said port;

a valve stem coaxially supported within said cylinder for reciprocation along said axis;

a poppet secured to said stem for reciprocation therewith between a closed position in which the poppet is in sealing engagement with said seat and an open position in which the poppet is spaced axially from the seat;

an operating arm for said valve stem pivotally supported on the cylinder for up and down swinging movement,

said arm having an inner end operably coupled with the lower end of said valve stem within the cylinder and an outer end located outside the cylinder;

a float secured to said outer end of the operating arm for shifting the poppet between its open and closed positions depending upon the level of liquid in the tank with which the limitor assembly is used; and

a deflector supported by the cylinder in axial alignment with the poppet above the latter for directing incoming liquid away from the poppet,

said tube having an annular, interior surface,

said deflector having a peripheral edge spaced radially inwardly from said interior surface of the tube to define an annular region surrounding the deflector and through which liquid may flow to the port,

said deflector having a guide opening reciprocally receiving said stem above the poppet.

10. A filling limitor assembly as claimed in claim 9,

said valve subassembly further including a transverse guide bar across said cylinder below said port,

said guide bar having a guide opening reciprocally receiving said stem below the poppet.