US1726567A - Vacuum tank - Google Patents

Description

p 3, 1929- n J. N. JOHNSON 1,726,567

VACUUM TANK Filed Feb. 23, 1927 i7 73 I I 11 9 7 2 l I: I I33 I I: 1 l 1 IN VEN TOR.

JOSEPH N. JUHNSDN ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

JOSEPH N. JOHNSON, OF IRWIN, CALIFORNIA.

VACUUM TANK.

Application filed February 23, 1927. Serial No. 170,324.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum tanks commonly employed for the purpose of feeding gasoline or like motor fuel to an engine by gravity from a remotely placed tank at a lower level.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means for more positively opening and closing the valves of the vacuum tank in counter distinction to the rather sluggish action now present in the device of this character.

, A further object is to eliminate unnecessary levers and their bearings which contribute to the sluggish action.

A still further objectis to reduce the cost of manufacture to the lowest possible amount.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a vacuum tank of standard construction having my invention applied thereto, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the spring and float connection.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Practically all automobiles now upon the market employ a vacuum tank for the purpose of delivering the gasoline from a low hung tank to a point above the carburetor and thence delivering the same to the carburetor. These tanks all employ a float for the purpose of moving the valves. In order to operate these valves a system of levers has been employed. These levers require a number of bearings and fulcrum points in order to perform and function, and due to the friction of the bearings, and especially the weight of the float on upward movement. the action of the float is oftentimes retarded so that an insufficient quantity of gasoline is delivered. This is particularly true at high speeds.

I have overcome these difficulties by eliminating a number of parts and by viewing the drawings the numeral 5 designates the storage tank, having an inner filling tank 6. Th'ese tanks are connected only through a discharge pipe 7 having a valve 8. A cover 9 is provided for the tanks 5 and 6 within which cover is located a supply pipe 11. The cover also has attached thereto a'vacuum pipe 12 and an air pipe 13. The air pipe has a branch 14; which connects with an orifice 16 to the interior of the tank 5. Suspended from the cover 9 is a bearing 17 on which are pivoted levers 18 and 19. The lever 19 carries a vacuum valve 21 and an air valve 22. The vacuum valve 21 is adapted to move against a valve seat formed in the under side of the cover 9,

while the valve 22 is adapted to move against a valve seat formed between the air pipe 13 and the interior of the tank 6. A spring 23 having hooked extremities 24 and 26 extend between the ends of thelevers 18 and 19. The hooked extremities of the spring 23 are each provide with re-inforcing semi-circular pieces 27 (see Figure 2) which are adapted to engage the pointed ends of the levers 18 and 19. This construction gives a single point of con tact between the spring and the ends of the lever thereby reducing friction. This point of contact is shown at 28, Figure 2.

A rod 29 having the stops 31 and 32, serves to position a float 33 within the tank 6, the lower end of this rod extending into the pipe 7 while the upper end has secured thereto an ofiset rod 34, having an offset portion 34 terminating in a hooked extremity 36. The offset portion 34 is arranged in the path of the upper side of the adjacent end of the lever 18 (see Figure 3.) A shoulder is formed at 37 which is adapted to contact the under portion of the lever 18 as will be hereinafter described.

\Vhen in action the operation of my device is as follows Gasoline or other motor fuel is caused to enter the tank 5 through the pipe 11, the same being drawn into the tank through vacuum pipe 12 exhausting the air within the tank. It is of course assumed that the float 33 is at its lowest position, as the fluid within tank 5 rises the float 33 will rise and contact stop 31. As soon as a slight upward pressure is brought to bear upon this stop, the offset lever rising will cause the shoulder 37 to contact the under side of the lever 18 moving the same upwardly. As soon as this end of the lever has moved above the pivotal point of its connection to the bearing 17, the spring 23 will cause the same to snap upwardly with a quick motion and at the same time the lever 19 will also move upwardly. This toggle action is well known and needs no further devalve 21 will seat itself cutting off the vacuum to the tank 5 and opening the air valve 22. This will allow air to pass from the pipe 13 into tank 5 thus relieving the vacuum and al lowing the gasoline within the tank 5 todischarge through the pipe 7, past the valve 8. The float 33 will now descend and engage the stop 32. This will cause a downward pull through the offset lever 34 which movement will be transferred to the lever 18 through the offset portion 34 of the hooked extremity 36. As soon as this lever again passes its pivotal point, the spring 23 will cause the lever 19 to move to position of Figure 1, again opening the vacuum valve and closing the air valve with the result that the tank 5 will again start to fill.

It will thus be seen that I have eliminated through the use of the offset lever 34, many of the complicated parts now commonly employed in vacuum tanks, which complicated parts are well known.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subj oined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In a vacuum tank of the character described, a pair of tanks, one within the other, a float positioned within one of said tanks, a rod extending through said float and freely movable in respect thereto, stops positioned on said rod and adapted to be contacted by said float, an offset lever secured to said rod, said o'fliset lever having an offset portion terminating in a hooked extremity, a shoulder formed on said ofiset lever and positioned within said hooked extremity, means for causing a flow of liquid into said tank having said float therein, said means including a vacuum valve and an air valve, levers for operating said valves, a spring positioned between the ends of said levers, reinforcing members on the ends of said spring and being engageable with the outer ends of said levers, one of said levers being engaged by the offset portion of the hooked extremity of said offset lever and the shoulder respectively.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH N. JOHNSON.

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