×

Flow control valve

  • US 7,891,373 B2
  • Filed: 01/22/2008
  • Issued: 02/22/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A valve system for controlling the flow of fluid into a tank, comprising:

  • a remote fluid level sensor in the tank;

    an inlet head comprising a planar face having a fluid passage therethrough;

    a receiver attached to the inlet head, the receiver comprising a tube having a closed rear wall and an open front, the tube spaced a distance from the planar face of the inlet head, and multiple connection members attached to the tube and the inlet head, the multiple connection members defining gaps therebetween in the space between the open front of the tube and the inlet head and each of the multiple connection members extending down an outer surface of the tube as a raised wall to thereby define channels along the outer surface of the tube corresponding with the gaps;

    a resilient member disposed at least partially in the tube of the receiver;

    a piston having a front surface and a sidewall, with at least one bleed port passing through the front surface, which may be urged by the resilient member to a first position with the front surface sealed against a rear surface of the planar face of the inlet head and may be moved to a second position retracted against the spring into the tube of the receiver opening the fluid passage by a fluid pressure upon the front surface; and

    a bleed passage outlet in the tube of the receiver distal to the piston, the bleed passage outlet connectable to the remote fluid level sensor in the tank;

    so arranged that during use when the remote fluid level sensor senses that a fluid level in the tank is below a pre-set level, a portion of fluid from a fluid pressure flow against the front surface of the piston enters through the at least one bleed port in the piston and through the bleed passage outlet to the remote fluid level sensor, to enable a fluid pressure difference between the inlet head and the tank to move the piston to the second position, allowing the fluid pressure flow to flow through the fluid passage and into the tank;

    but when the fluid level sensor senses that the fluid level has reached or exceeded the preset level, the fluid level sensor shuts off the fluid flow through the bleed passage to equalize the pressure on both ends of the piston, and the resilient member urges the piston to the first position to shut off the flow of fluid, closing the fluid passage by bringing the front surface of the piston against the planar face of the inlet head.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×