EP0415991B1 - Device for automatically controlling the flow of liquid into a tank - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for automatically controlling the flow of liquid into a tank comprises a filling tube (1) with a vertical axis arranged in said tank, a shut-off valve (3) arranged in said filling tube and movable between a vertical opening position and a closing position corresponding to a pressure of said valve on a valve seat (5) in said filling tube, a float (7) elastically connected to said valve and capable of moving said valve between the opening and closing positions. The device is characterized in that the valve seat is inclined to the vertical axis of said filling tube, and in that the valve is mounted on a swivelling axis arranged between the ends of the valve and eccentric with respect to the vertical axis of the filling tube.

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic filling limiter for tanks with built-in float making it possible to compensate for the overflow of liquids when filling the tanks.

Float tank filling limiters are known which are incorporated inside the tanks as an extension of the filling orifices, said limiters consist of a valve articulated on its axis inside a tubular body extending the orifice of filling. The valve is connected to a lever arm provided externally with the tubular body of a float, so as to gradually close the filling duct as the level of the liquid in contact with the float rises in the tank. When the valve tightly closes the duct and the valve of the filling tank is closed, it is necessary to decompress the filling pipe between the tank and the valve, so that the said pipe can be drained of the liquid that it contains. One acts on the valve either by means of complex mechanical organs or on the float; this type of emptying can cause the tank to overflow if sufficient clearance has not been observed, this clearance being difficult to determine given the variable lengths of the filling pipes.

It is also known to carry out the emptying of the filling pipes, the arrangement of a valve the opening of which takes place progressively as the valve is gradually closed, by means of an articulated cam. This type of embodiment has at least one drawback; it requires constant monitoring of the filling flow rates so as to determine the lowest signifying that the valve closes the filling opening in order to to close the tank valve. The liquid contained in the pipe is evacuated through the orifice released by the valve; this detection of the change in flow rate being very delicate taking into account the gradual closing of the valve and the flow of the liquid through the orifice released by the valve, it follows that very often the tank overflows.

Also known from the addition certificate FR 2 299 264 is a device which adapts to the tank filling pipe which, when the level of the liquid increases in the tank, by means of a float connected by wires flexible, acts on an articulated arm in order to gradually release a main valve, so that the latter is positioned to intercept the flow of the filling liquid causing the closing of said conduit by pressing said valve on its seat, the pressure of the liquid contained in the conduit causing the closure of a secondary valve integral with the main valve, the liquid then flowing through a central opening arranged on the main valve, so that the level of the liquid increases in the tank so that the latter, by the intermediary of the float and the connecting wires, causes the articulated arm to move in order to close off the central opening, through which the liquid flows, and by a washer do tee of a hole allowing, if the supply valve is closed at this time, the flow of the liquid contained in the conduit as well as through a leak arranged on the main valve or on its seat; if on the other hand the valve is not closed, the flow of liquid through the hole and the leak continues to cause the liquid to rise in the tank until a shoulder fixed on the rod receiving the washer comes close said hole. Such a type of device is complex and the emptying of the supply pipe after closing the valve is relatively long.

In patent US-4,667,711, a filling limiter is described comprising a tubular body in which is housed a valve seat horizontal with respect to the vertical axis of said body, a valve, on the one hand, articulated on one of the walls vertical of said body, and on the other hand, connected to a float mounted at the end of a flexible and deformable member such as a spring. The tubular body is further provided with a sufficiently wide slot or opening to allow the float and spring to be housed in said body, after folding, in order to facilitate the insertion of said body into an access tube integral with the tank. fill.

Such a limiter nevertheless has drawbacks.

Firstly, the closure of the valve on its seat is carried out in the only high position of the float, the evacuation of the liquid contained in the filling pipe between a control valve mounted on the truck and said valve, being carried out at through an orifice in the center of said valve.

Second, it is necessary to provide a seat and a valve having a complex configuration such as a saddle shape.

Thirdly, to make the body watertight, it is essential to provide a closing plate closing the opening made for the passage of the float, and a rod system for maneuvering said plate.

Another known limiter is described in FR-2 302 472 and comprises a tube placed in a tank to be filled with liquid, a valve pivotally mounted at one of its ends and capable of coming to bear on an inclined valve seat, and a float connected to said valve. The valve is closed by moving the float as the liquid level rises in the tank.

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks described above.

A problem to be solved is to absorb the shock wave which is created during the abrupt closure of the valve on its seat, said shock wave, by its action on said valve, which can lead to deterioration of the float and of the connecting arm. said float to the valve.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problem by the solution given in claim 1.

The inclination of the valve seat makes it possible to limit the pivot angle of the float to a small value so as to allow easy retraction of said float outside and along the wall of the tubular body.

The eccentricity of the valve relative to the vertical axis of the tubular body makes it possible to produce a mechanical assembly which does not have equal forces on the valve. Therefore, the closure of the valve is not effected by the only pivoting of the float, but also by the fluid exerting a pressure on said valve. Indeed, for an intermediate position of the valve in the body and due to the eccentricity which creates a lever arm, the valve can close even when the float has not reached the high closed position.

• la figure 1 est le limiteur de remplissage mis en place dans une cuve,
• la figure 2, le limiteur en position d'arrêt d'écoulement,
• la figure 3, la position du flotteur lors de la mise en place du limiteur dans la cuve.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example,
or:

• FIG. 1 is the filling limiter installed in a tank,
• FIG. 2, the limiter in the flow stop position,
• Figure 3, the position of the float during the establishment of the limiter in the tank.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the tank filling limiter comprises a tubular body 1 which adapts and extends the filling orifice 2 of the tank. Inside the body 1, a valve 3 is maintained which is integral with a pivot constituted by a transverse axis 4, said axis 4 being eccentric with respect to the vertical axis of the tubular body 1 and this, so as to favor the tilting of the valve 3 at the end of filling and the closing of the tubular body 1, by pressing the valve 3 on a seat 5 arranged in an inclined manner inside the body 1. Preferably, the inclination of the seat 5 is between 30 and 60 ° and preferably about 45 ° relative to the vertical axis of the tubular body 1. The valve 3 is extended by an arm 6 provided, outside the body 1, with a float 7 serving as a counterweight for keeping the valve 3 in the open position during filling of the tank while in contact with the liquid, when the level rises in the tank, it causes the pivoting of the valve 3 and, therefore, the progressive closure of the tubular body. The valve 3 is provided with a deflector 9 of rounded shape, opposite the connection of the arm 6, said deflector spreading the liquid during filling when the valve 3 is in full opening. Said valve 3 is provided with two valves 10 and 14 provided with springs 11 and 15, the pressure of which is adjustable by means of the screws 12 and 16 or they are calibrated. The valve 10 has the function of absorbing, by its opening, the shock wave and the overpressure of the liquid in the conduit during the sudden closing of the valve 3 which takes place after the rotation of said valve 3 generated by the float 7 and arm 6 in contact with the liquid contained in the tank, the abrupt closing being caused by the flow pressure of the filling liquid greater than the weight of the arm 6 and float 7. Once the normal pressure is restored, the valve 10 resumes support on its seat 13 by means of the spring 11, the flow of liquid through the limiter then being interrupted because the valve 14 is supported on its seat 20 by the pressure of the liquid. On the other hand, in order to avoid deterioration of the arm 6 and float 7 by the shock wave, the arm 6 is connected to the valve 3 in a semi-elastic manner by means of an axis 17 with nut 19 and a return spring 18 for example. When the flow of liquid through the limiter is interrupted and after closing the valve of the filling tank, the liquid contained in the filling pipe between the valve and the filling limiter partially flows through a leak arranged on the seat 5, not shown, which can be an orifice. During the flow of the liquid and when the latter reaches a determined pressure, the flow is accelerated by opening the valve 14 by the extension of the spring 15 calibrated or adjusted to the desired pressure by the screw 16, towards the end of decompression of the filling pipe. When the pressure on the valve 3 has almost disappeared, said valve 3 partially pivots due to the weight of the arm 6 and its float 7 out of the filling liquid when said valve 3 is in the completely closed position, which then allows total emptying. filling hose. In order to allow the implementation place of the limiter through the filling orifice 2, the arm 6 and the float 7 are retracted into a housing 8 arranged on the body 1, the retraction being made possible thanks to the position of the deflector 9 relative to the end of the screw 12 of the valve 10 which, by compression of the spring 11, allows said retraction delimited by the end of the deflector 9 bearing on the internal wall of the body 1. The arm 6 and float 7 as well as the valve 3 resume their normal open position by extending the spring 11 and replacing the valve 10 on its seat 13. Depending on the hardness setting of the spring 11, the retraction of the arm 6 and of the float 7 can be completed by the pivoting of the arm 6 around its articulation axis 17 on the valve 3.

Claims (7)

1. Automatic tank overfill device, of the type comprising a filling tube (1) having a vertical axis and disposed in said tank, a closing flap valve (3) disposed in said filling tube and movable between a vertical opening position and a closing position which corresponds to a bearing of said flap valve on a flap valve seat (5) provided in said filling tube, a float (7) elastically connected to said flap valve and capable of shifting said flap valve between said opening and closing positions, said flap valve seat (5) being inclined relative to the vertical axis of said filling tube and mounted on a pivot pin (4) which is disposed between ends of said flap valve and is eccentric relative to said vertical axis of the filling tube (1), characterized in that said flap valve comprises at least one first valve (10, 14) which is mounted on elastic return means (11, 15) for returning the first valve to a position in which it bears against the flap valve.
2. Automatic tank overfill device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first valve (10) bears against the inner side of the flap valve.
3. Automatic tank overfill device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the flap valve comprises a second valve (14) which is elastically mounted on the upper side of the flap valve.
4. Automatic tank overfill device, according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the flap valve is provided with a deflector (9) mounted on the upper side of said flap valve.
5. Automatic tank overfill device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastic return means (11, 15) comprise a spring mounted on a rod (12) constituting an abutment for the movement of the flap valve toward the inner wall of the filling tube.
6. Automatic tank overfill device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the flap valve seat (5) is inclined at an angle of 30 to 60°.
7. Automatic tank overfill device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall (8) of the filling tube is locally deformed so as to provide a recess for the float in a position parallel to the vertical axis and outside the filling tube.

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