Gauge assembly having a stop fill device

• US 7,654,281 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rochester Sensors LLC
• Original Assignee: Rochester Gauges Incorporated
• Inventors: Swindler, Danny E., Ross, Herbert G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRICE, CRAIG JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/932,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 137/441, 137/442, 137/446, 137/416, 137/420, 137/447, 137/1, 733/17, 141/198
• US Class Current: 137/447
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/306 with a valve member, e.g. stem or shaft, passing through the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/307 Additional means used in combination with the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/26 with the valve guided for rectilinear movement and the float attached to a pivoted arm
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0413 with floats
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7465 Assembly mounted on and having reciprocating valve element coaxial with inlet pipe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7478 With interposed cam, gear or threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7481 Rotary valve element

Abstract

A gauge assembly includes an indicator for providing an indication of an amount of fluid in a tank and a stop-fill assembly for stopping the flow of fluid flowing into the tank once the fluid reaches a particular level. The gauge assembly has a shaft that rotates as the fluid level changes in the tank. The indicator translates the rotational position of the shaft into a fluid level. The stop-fill assembly moves from an open position, where fluid can flow into the tank, to a closed position, where fluid is prohibited from flowing into the tank, depending on the rotational position of the shaft.

Claims

1. A stop fill assembly for an enclosed tank, the assembly comprising:

a port outside of the enclosed tank and in fluid communication with the inside of the tank and through which fluid flows into and out of the tank;

a stop fill assembly in fluid communication with the port and through which fluid enters the tank and leaves the tank, the stop fill assembly moveable between a normally open configuration allowing fluid to enter and exit the tank and a closed configuration wherein the stop fill assembly prevents additional fluid from entering the tank when the fluid level in the tank reaches a full level during a filling operation in which fluid enters the tank through the port, the stop fill assembly including;

a valve head in fluid communication with the port, the valve head having a central opening therethrough;

a valve body including an upper surface and a lower surface, a central opening extending through the valve body, at least one release slot formed adjacent the central opening, one or more fill ports extending through the valve body and opening through the upper and lower surfaces of the valve body and into the tank;

a rotatable valve shuttle that is longitudinally moveably relative to the valve body and the tank, the valve shuttle comprising a blocking member for blocking fluid flow into the tank when the fluid level in the tank reaches a full level during a tank filling operation, the valve shuttle having a shuttle body including an upper surface, a lower surface, an upper shaft extending upwardly from the shuttle body and through the valve head and a lower shaft coaxial with the upper shaft and extending downwardly from the lower surface of the shuttle body and through the central opening of the valve body, the valve shuttle having at least one release rib extending laterally from the shuttle body, the release rib having a lower end that supports the valve shuttle above the upper surface of the valve body when the stop fill assembly is in the open configuration such that the shuttle body and the valve head define a space therebetween whereby fluid entering the tank flows through the space and into and through the fill port into the tank, the release rib translating longitudinally into the release slot when the stop fill assembly closes such that the shuttle body moves downward under the force of fluid entering the tank flowing over the shuttle body and contacts the upper surface of the valve body, thereby closing the space and blocking flow of fluid through the space and the fill port and into the tank when the release rib translates into the release slot; and

an elongate support member extending downwardly into the tank from the stop fill assembly;

a vertical shaft extending downwardly from the stop fill assembly inside the elongate support member, the vertical shaft having upper and lower ends, the upper end of the vertical shaft having a connection for connecting the vertical shaft to the lower shaft of the valve shuttle such that the valve shuttle rotates with the vertical shaft; and

a float positioned in the tank remote from the elongate support member that moves in response to changes in fluid level in the tank and a float arm connected to the float, the float arm having proximate and distal end with the float being mounted on the distal end of the float arm away from the vertical shaft, the float arm operably engaged with the vertical shaft such that the float arm is rotatable around the lower end of the elongate support in response to changes in the fluid level in the tank and rotates the vertical shaft which rotates the lower shaft, shuttle body and upper shaft, moving the release rib into alignment with the release slot of the valve body when the fluid level in the tank reaches a full level such that pressure from fluid entering the tank forces the valve shuttle downward with the release rib translating longitudinally into the release slot allowing the shuttle body to close with the lower surface of the valve shuttle contacting the upper surface of the valve body and closing the space to block fluid from flowing through the fill port and entering the tank.

2. The stop fill assembly of claim 1 further comprising a spring that biases the shuttle body toward the open position such that the stop fill assembly moves into the open configuration when fluid flow through the space and fill port and into the tank ceases, such that fluid can then be withdrawn from the tank through the stop fill assembly and the port.

3. The stop fill assembly of claim 2 where the spring for biasing the shuttle body into the open position is positioned over the lower shaft of the valve shuttle and the upper end of the vertical shaft.

4. The stop fill assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first gear affixed to the lower end of the vertical shaft and a second gear affixed to the proximate end of the float arm and operably engaged with the first gear such that the second gear rotates to drive the first gear when the float arm rotates around the lower end of the elongate support in response to changes in the fluid level in the tank.

5. The stop fill assembly of claim 1 further comprising an indicator positioned outside the tank that provides an indication external to the tank of the fluid level in the tank.

6. The stop fill assembly of claim 5 further comprising an indicator driving member affixed to the upper end of the upper shaft of the valve shuttle for coupling with the indicator in order to translate a rotational position of the upper shaft into a visual indication of fluid level in the tank.

7. The stop fill assembly of claim 6 wherein the indicator driving member comprises a magnet.

8. The stop fill assembly of claim 1 further comprising a pair of release slots formed in the valve body adjacent to and on opposed sides of the central opening and a pair of release ribs extending from opposed sides of the shuttle body and wherein the connection between the lower shaft and the vertical shaft is configured to permit longitudinal movement of the shuttle body relative to the vertical shaft when the release ribs are aligned with the release slots such that the shuttle body translates longitudinally under the pressure of fluid flowing over the shuttle body when the release ribs are aligned with the release slots.

9. A gauge assembly for a tank, the gauge assembly comprising:

a port outside of the tank and in fluid communication with the inside of the tank and through which fluid flows into and out of the tank;

an indicator positioned adjacent the port outside of the tank that provides an indication external to the tank of the fluid level in the tank;

a stop fill assembly through which fluid enters the tank and leaves the tank, the stop fill assembly including;

a valve body including an upper surface, a lower surface, a central opening extending through the upper surface and opening through the lower surface of the valve body, at least one release slot formed adjacent the central opening, at least one fill port extending through the valve body and opening through the upper and lower surfaces of the valve body;

a valve shuttle moveable relative to the valve body, the valve head, the port and the tank, the valve shuttle moveable between a normally open configuration allowing fluid to enter and exit the tank and a closed configuration wherein the valve shuttle blocks fluid flow into the tank when the fluid level in the tank reaches a full level during a tank filling operation, the valve shuttle having a shuttle body including a upper surface and a lower surface that defines a space between the shuttle body and valve body when the stop fill assembly is in the open configuration so that fluid entering the tank through the port can flow through the space and through the fill port into the tank, a first connecting feature extending downward from the center of the lower surface of the shuttle body and through the central opening of the valve, the valve shuttle having at least one release rib extending from the shuttle body that bears against the upper surface of the valve body when the stop fill assembly is in the open configuration while fluid is entering the tank during a filling operation exerting downward force against shuttle body, the release rib supporting the valve shuttle above the upper surface of the valve body when the stop fill assembly is in the open configuration such that fluid can flow through the space and the fill port into the tank, the release rib translating longitudinally into the release slot when the stop fill assembly closes such that the force of fluid entering the tank flowing in contact with the shuttle body forces the shuttled body downward with the lower surface of the shuttle body contacting the upper surface of the valve body around the fill ports and central opening and closing the space blocking flow of fluid through the space and the fill port into the tank when the release rib translates into the release slot; and

a float assembly including a vertical shaft extending from the stop fill assembly, the vertical shaft having first and second ends, the first end of the vertical shaft having a second connecting feature for connecting the vertical shaft to the first connecting feature,

a float positioned in the tank remote from the support member that moves in response to changes in fluid level in the tank, the float operatively connected to the vertical shaft to rotate the shaft in response to a change in the fluid level in the tank such that when the float reaches a fluid level in the tank corresponding to a full level the shuttle body is rotated to align the release rib with the release slot such that fluid entering the tank flows against the shuttle body forcing the shuttle body downward with the release rib translating into the release slot and the valve shuttle body moving into the closed configuration with the lower surface of the valve body contacting the upper surface of the valve body to block fluid from flowing around the shuttle body and through the space and the fill port and entering the tank; and

wherein the valve shuttle is biased toward the open position such that the valve shuttle moves into the open configuration when fluid flow around the shuttle body and through the fill port and into the tank ceases, such that fluid can be withdrawn from the tank through the stop fill assembly and the port after the filling operation is completed.

10. The gauge assembly of claim 9 further comprising a valve head positioned at least partially in the tank, the valve head having a central opening therethrough in fluid communication with the port.

11. The gauge assembly of claim 9 wherein the valve shuttle further comprises an upper shaft extending upwardly into the valve head.

12. The gauge assembly of claim 11 wherein the valve head and upper shaft of the valve shuttle define an annular space through which fluid flows into and out of the tank.

13. The gauge assembly of claim 11 further comprising a magnet affixed to an end of the upper shaft of the valve shuttle, such that rotation of the valve shuttle in response to changes in the fluid level in the tank rotates the magnet, driving the indicator to indicate the level of fluid in the tank.

14. The gauge assembly of claim 13 wherein the indicator is a dial indicator.

15. A method of filling a enclosed tank, comprising:

directing a fluid through a port outside the enclosed tank and through a stop-fill assembly including a valve shuttle, a valve body, and a float operatively connected to the valve shuttle, the valve shuttle supported in an open configuration against the valve body with a release rib extending from the valve shuttle that rides on an upper surface of the valve body and maintains the valve shuttle in an open configuration, the valve shuttle operable to engage the valve body and block the flow of fluid into the tank when the liquid level in the tank reaches a predetermined level, and wherein the fluid flows through an annular space between the valve shuttle and the valve body when the valve shuttle is in an open configuration;

directing the fluid through a fill port in the valve body and into the tank while the release rib supports the valve shuttle in the open position on the valve body against the force of fluid flowing over the shuttle and into the tank;

lifting the float to a predetermined location in the tank by filling the tank with fluid, the predetermined location corresponding to a tank full level;

rotating the valve shuttle with the float to a predetermined location whereby the release rib extending from the valve shuttle is aligned with a release slot in the valve body when the valve shuttle is rotated to the predetermined position, wherein pressure from the fluid flowing into the tank forces the valve shuttle to translate longitudinally such that the release rib enters the release slot and the valve shuttle engages the valve body to close the annular space and block fluid flow into the tank when the fluid level in the tank reaches a predetermined level; and

moving the valve shuttle to the open configuration with a biasing member such fluid may be released from the full tank through the annular space between the valve shuttle and the valve body.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of displaying the fluid level in the tank with a level indicator mounted on the outside of the tank.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising rotating the shuttle body with the float to rotate a magnet connected to the valve shuttle whereby the fluid level in the tank is displayed on a dial indicator mounted on the exterior of the tank.

18. A gauge assembly for a tank, the gauge assembly comprising:

a body defining a port accessible from outside a tank, the port allowing fluid to be moved in and out of the tank;

a shaft that rotates according to a change in fluid level within the tank;

an indicator for providing an indication external to the tank of the fluid level in the tank based on a rotational position of the shaft; and

a stop-fill assembly for transitioning between an open configuration and a closed configuration based on the rotational position of the shaft, the stop-fill assembly including a valve shuttle that is rotationally engaged with, but longitudinally independently movable from, the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft when the shaft rotates but so as to translate longitudinally independent of the shaft for moving between an open position corresponding with said open configuration and a closed position corresponding with said closed configuration as the shaft rotates, wherein the stop-fill assembly includes a valve body having a release slot, wherein the valve shuttle has a release rib that does not engage the release slot when the stop-fill assembly is in the open configuration, but translates longtudinally into the release slot when the valve shuttle rotates into the closed position and the stop-fill assembly is in the closed configuration.