Service valve assembly having a stop-fill device and remote liquid level indicator
First Claim
1. A combination tank valve apparatus providing fluid flow control, overfill protection, and fluid level gauging for use on a storage tank for liquefied gas, the storage tank having an internally threaded outlet port, the apparatus comprising:
- a service valve having a body defining a tank connection, a valve seat, a valve outlet, and a pair of wrench flats;
the tank connection having external threads formed thereon adapted for threaded connection into the outlet port of the tank, and defining an internal passage including a throat disposed on a first side of the valve seat and connected to a lower port;
the valve outlet defining an internal passage disposed on a second side of the valve seat and connected to an outlet port;
the wrench flats projecting from opposite exterior sides of the body adjacent to the throat to define substantially flat surfaces oriented parallel to one another, at least one of the wrench flats having a pointer magnet recess formed entirely in the flat surface;
an overfill protection device mounted to the tank connection of the service valve and including a float, a shaft, a overfill valve, and a shaft magnet;
the float adapted to float at the liquid/gas interface of a liquefied gas in the tank;
the shaft operably connected to the float to rotate in response to changes in the position of the float and the shaft having an upper portion extending into the throat of the service valve;
the overfill valve operably connected to the shaft to transition between opened and closed configurations when the shaft rotates into a predetermined position;
the shaft magnet firmly mounted to the upper portion of the shaft within the throat of the service valve adjacent to the wrench flats to rotate with the shaft about a first axis and having a first magnetic flux field extending therefrom; and
a dial mounted on the body of the service valve and having a body, a pointer magnet, and a pointer;
the body having a pointer magnet housing extending therefrom and dimensioned to be received within the pointer magnet recess of the wrench flat;
the pointer magnet being rotatably mounted in the pointer magnet housing to rotate about a second axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the first axis and having a second magnetic flux field extending therefrom and at least partially overlapping the first magnetic flux field, the first and second magnetic flux fields magnetically coupled to cause rotation of the pointer magnet about the second axis in response to rotation of the shaft magnet about the first axis;
the pointer being mounted on the pointer magnet to rotate with the pointer magnet and provide a visual indication of the liquid level within the tank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for determining a fluid level in a pressurizable container comprising is disclosed. The system includes a service valve having a set of wrench flats defining parallel flat surfaces, one of the wrench flats having a recess defined entirely within its flat surface, a stop-fill device interconnected with the service valve and operable to rotate a first magnet inside the service valve in proximity to the recess in proportion to the amount of fluid in the pressurizable container, and a dial assembly having a dial face and a pointer attached to a second magnet, the second magnet housed in a magnet protrusion on a side of the dial face opposite the pointer and operable to fit into the recess in the service valve such that the dial moves on the dial face proportionately to the degree of rotation of the first magnet inside the service valve. In one variation, a sensor placed in the recess or adjacent a throat of the service valve is electrically connected to a remotely located gauge for displaying a reading corresponding to the level of fluid in the container.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A combination tank valve apparatus providing fluid flow control, overfill protection, and fluid level gauging for use on a storage tank for liquefied gas, the storage tank having an internally threaded outlet port, the apparatus comprising:
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a service valve having a body defining a tank connection, a valve seat, a valve outlet, and a pair of wrench flats; the tank connection having external threads formed thereon adapted for threaded connection into the outlet port of the tank, and defining an internal passage including a throat disposed on a first side of the valve seat and connected to a lower port; the valve outlet defining an internal passage disposed on a second side of the valve seat and connected to an outlet port; the wrench flats projecting from opposite exterior sides of the body adjacent to the throat to define substantially flat surfaces oriented parallel to one another, at least one of the wrench flats having a pointer magnet recess formed entirely in the flat surface; an overfill protection device mounted to the tank connection of the service valve and including a float, a shaft, a overfill valve, and a shaft magnet; the float adapted to float at the liquid/gas interface of a liquefied gas in the tank; the shaft operably connected to the float to rotate in response to changes in the position of the float and the shaft having an upper portion extending into the throat of the service valve; the overfill valve operably connected to the shaft to transition between opened and closed configurations when the shaft rotates into a predetermined position; the shaft magnet firmly mounted to the upper portion of the shaft within the throat of the service valve adjacent to the wrench flats to rotate with the shaft about a first axis and having a first magnetic flux field extending therefrom; and a dial mounted on the body of the service valve and having a body, a pointer magnet, and a pointer; the body having a pointer magnet housing extending therefrom and dimensioned to be received within the pointer magnet recess of the wrench flat; the pointer magnet being rotatably mounted in the pointer magnet housing to rotate about a second axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the first axis and having a second magnetic flux field extending therefrom and at least partially overlapping the first magnetic flux field, the first and second magnetic flux fields magnetically coupled to cause rotation of the pointer magnet about the second axis in response to rotation of the shaft magnet about the first axis; the pointer being mounted on the pointer magnet to rotate with the pointer magnet and provide a visual indication of the liquid level within the tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for determining a fluid level in a pressurizable container comprising:
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a service valve having a set of wrench flats defining parallel flat surfaces, one of the wrench flats having a recess defined entirely within its flat surface; a stop-fill device interconnected with the service valve and operable to rotate a first magnet inside the service valve in proximity to the recess in proportion to the amount of fluid in the pressurizable container; and a dial assembly having a dial face and a pointer attached to a second magnet, the second magnet housed in a magnet protrusion on a side of the dial face opposite the pointer and operable to fit into the recess in the service valve such that the dial moves on the dial face proportionately to the degree of rotation of the first magnet inside the service valve. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A system for determining a fluid level in a pressurizable container comprising:
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a service valve having a set of wrench flats defining parallel flat surfaces, one of the wrench flats having a first concave feature defined entirely within its flat surface; a stop-fill device interconnected with the service valve and operable to rotate a first magnet about a first axis inside the service valve in proximity to the first concave feature in proportion to the amount of fluid in the pressurizable container; a magnetic field sensor in a sensor housing interfitting with the first concave feature; at least one signal wire connected to the magnetic field sensor; and a fluid level display connected to the at least one signal wire to receive electrical signals corresponding to a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor and provide a fluid level display corresponding to the sensed magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification