US2004717A - Valve actuating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 11, 1935.

F. G. THwArrs VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed June 26, 1955 INYENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED TAITES' VALVE .AOTUATING MECHANISM Frederick G;,'.lhwaits, Wauwatosa, Wis asaignor to The Hell 00., Milwaukee, Wis a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 26, 1933, Serial No. 677,671

This invention relates-in general to improvements in the construction and operation of mechanism for effecting the actuation of fluid dispensing valves from a point or station located remote from the valves.

Generally defined, an object of the invention is to provide improved valve actuating mechanism which is simple and compact in construction, and which is moreover flexible and highly eflicient in operation.

Some of the'more specific objects of the invention are as follows:

To provide improved means for controlling one or more valves associated with a liquid dispensing tank or receptacle, from a readily accessible point located remote from the valve orvalves.

To provide improved mechanism disposed excontrolled by the valve or valves.

To provide an improved liquid dispensing valve structure which may be conveniently manually operated under normal conditions, and which will be automatically actuated under other conditions.

v To provide a flexible valve controlling system wherein common operating means 'may be utilized to actuate any or all of a plurality of fluid dispensi valves associated with the several storage mpartments of a tank or other type of reservoir. i

To provide an improved packing for a reciprocable valve actuating stem, and improved mechanism for transmitting reciprocatory motion to a. valve or the like.

To provide improved regulating and control mechanism especially applicable to the dispensing valves of a. multiple compartment liquid transporting tank truck.

These and other objects and advantages ofthe improvement, will be apparent from the following, detailed description. g

A clear conception of embodiments of the several features of, the invention, and of the mode of constructing and ofoperating valve actuating mechanisms built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation of a four compartment tank truck having the improved control valve system applied thereto;

8 Claims. (01. 131-21) Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the tank shown in Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of. the valves, and the piping leading therefrom;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse horizontal section through one of the valve mechanisms, taken along the line ,3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged central vertical section. through the valve mechanism, taken along the line 4-4 of- Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the mechanism for controlling the actuation of the valves from the rear of the truck; and

Fig. 6 is a sideview oi the valve control mechanism, showing the same in valve closing position in full lines, and in valve opening position in dotand-dash lines.

While the invention has been specifically shown and described herein as being applied to a fluid dispensing valve system for tank trucks it is not intended to limit the same by such specific disclosure, since some of the features are obviously more generally applicable to other types of valves and systems.

Referring to the typical tank truck and fluid dispensing system shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the truck is of the usual construction comprising a chassis l0 carried by wheels II, and having a receptacle or tank l2 mounted thereon rearwardly oi the driver's cab l3. The tank I2 is divided by partitions I 4 into a series of segregated compartments I5, I.6,. l1, l8, each having an upper manhole normally closed by a cover l9, and a lower filling and dispensing opening provided with a valve structure 20. Each of the dispensing openings is communicable with a fluid conducting pipe .2l all of which extend rearwardly beneath the tank l2 and are provided with the usual dispensing faucets 22, and the rear end of the tank I2 is also provided with a valve control mechanism, housing 23 accessible through the usual rear doors 2|.

The improved filling and dispensing valve structure 20, associated with each compartment l5, I6, l1, I8, is shown-in detail in Figs.- 3 and 4, and comprises a frame member 25 having an annular valve seating 26 and a chamber 21 below the seating communicable laterally with the adjacent pipe 2|; a disk valve 28 cooperable with the seating 26 and having a stem 29 guided in the frame member 25; a helical compression spring 30 which constantly urges the valve 28 toward the seating 25 and the upper end of which reacts against a cap 3| also providing a guide for the valve stem 29; and mechanism within the chamber 21 for u operating the valve 28 in opposition to the spring 38.

The frame members are attached directly to the walls of the tank l2 in any suitable manner, and the caps 3| are detachably secured to integral projections 32 of the frame member. these projections being surrounded by screens 33 for straining the liquid flowing-from the compartments I5, l6, l1, 18 toward the valve seatings 26. Each of the valves 28 is provided with a renewable facing, and. the mechanism for operating each of these valves, comprises a bell-crank 34 pivotally supported by the frame member 25 within the chamber 21 and having one and cooperable with the lower end of the valve stem 29, and another arm loosely pivotally attached to an element 35 which is carried by a reciprocable rod 36. The rods 36 are horizontally slidable in sealing caps 31 reversibly secured to the frame members 25 and having cable supports 38 associated therewith, and the joints between the rods 36 and the frame members 25 are sealed by means of expansible and contractible accordion or bellows type sealing elements 39 the opposite ends of which are permanently attached to the elements 35 and to the caps 31 or members 25 respectively. Located within the housing 23 at the rear of the tank l2 and remote from the valve structures 28, is the manually and automatically operable valve control mechanism which is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This mechanism comprises a bracket 48 mounted upon a fixed cross-bar 4| having a horizontal shaft 42 journalled therein; four arms 43 releasably attached to the shaft 42 by means of screw threaded locking pins 44; a pivot pin 45 also journalled in the bracket 48 centrally of and beneath the shaft 42; a pair of toggle links 46, 41 pivotally connected to each other by a pin 48 and one of which is rigidly attached to the pivot pin 45; a manually operable lever 49 also rigidly attached to the pin 45; an arm 58 pivotally attached to the other link 41 by a pin 5| andpermanently secured to the center of the shaft 42; and a weight 52 cooperable with the pivot pin 45 for automatic actuation of the mechanism. I

The lower swinging end of each of the arms 43 is pivotally attached to one end of a longitudinally rigid'but laterally flexible cable 53, by a connector, and the opposite end of each of these cables 53,"*"is secured to one of the reciprocable valve actuating rods 36 by means of a connector 55as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These cables 53 are concealed within tubular casings 56 attached to the supports 38 and to the bracket 48 respectively, and these casings may be gradually curved at the bends therein, so as to permit free reciprocation of the cables 53 therethrough. When the locking pins 44 are adjusted to connect the arms 43 to the shaft 42, oscillation of this shaft by virtue of the spring and hydraulic pressures acting downwardly thereon, but when this lever 49 is swung into dot-and-dash line position, the toggle links 46, 41 are carried over the toggle center and the arm 58 is swung upwardly to cause 'the.shaft 42 to rotate sufficiently to open those valves 28 which are operatively connected to this shaft by their locking pins 44. The lower toggle link 46 then engages an adjustable stop screw 51 carried by the bracket 48, and the toggle remains in valve open position until released. The releasing of the toggle and consequent closing of all of the open valves 28, may be effected in either of three ways, the most common of which is to merely manually swing the hand lever 49 from dot-and-dash to full line position of Fig. 6.

Mounted in the central ears of the bracket 48, is a shaft '58 having an eccentric or crank portion movable in the plane of swing of the toggle links 46, 41, and this shaft 58 is oscillatable from a remote point such as the cab l3, by a lever and suitable cranks and connections, in a well known manner. The crank portion of the shaft 58 does ,not ordinarily interfere with the free actuation quickly close these valves, and to return the hand lever 49 to valve closed position. This shaft 58 therefore constitutes the second manual mode or mechanism for closing all of the valves 28.

The weight 52 which constitutes the third agency for closing the valves 28, operates automatically and in emergency cases such as by exposure of the control mechanism to fire or excessive heat. The pivot pin 45 has a reduced and 59 upon which the weight 52 is normally loosely supported, and the weight has a quadrant lug 68 formed integral therewith and coacting with the reduced end 59 of the pivot pin 45 as shown in Fig. 6. The upper extremity'of the weight 52 is suspended from a bracket 6 secured to an upper wall of the tank 12, by a fusible link 62, and the quadrant lug 68 does not normally interfere with free oscillation of the pivot pin 45 sufficiently to permit opening and closing of the valves 28 by means of the lever 49. If, however, the link 62 is ruptured through any cause, the weight 52 will drop and thequadrant lug 68 will be swung about the axis of the pivot pin 45 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, to such an extent that the left face of the lug 6.8 will strike the top face of the reduced pin end 59 and will rotate the pin 45 and lever 49 into valve closed position in case these elements are otherwise positioned at that time.

During normal transportation of the tank l2, all of the valve structures 28 will be in closed condition and the lever 49 will be in vertical position as shown in Fig. 1. opened, the lever 49 may be swung rearwardly to simultaneously open those valves 28, the locking pins 44 of which are effective, to permit either filling or draining of the compartments I5, l6, l1, l8 through the faucets 22 and the pipes 2|. The open valves 28 may subsequently be simultaneously closed, by manipulation of either the lever 49 on crank shaft 58, and will be automatically closed by the weight 52 in case the link 62 is melted or otherwise ruptured. Any one or more of the valve structures 28 may be conveniently connected to' or disconnected from the actuating shaft 42, and the stop 51 may be readily adjusted to insure complete opening of the valves 28. The cables 53 may be extended to cooperate with valve structures 28 located at any place remote from the operators station, and the bellows sealing element 39 provides for effective sealing around the When the doors 24 aresliding bearing ofthe rod 36 so as to positively eliminate all leakage. The use of the cables 53 obviously provides a simple and compact valve actuating system, and the valve structure 20 is also of simple and compact construction. The pipes 2| may be disposed and-arranged in any convenient manner, and the entire dispensing system is obviously simple and highly efficient in use.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:-

1'. In combination, a receptacle comprising a plurality of compartments'each having a. fluid outlet, an emergency valve for each of said outlets, means for automatically closing each of said valves, a rock-shaft disposed remote from said valves, independent motion transmitting mechanism connecting each of said valves with said rock-shaft, a lever, a toggle interposed between said lever and said rock-shaft, said rock-shaft being movable by said lever through said toggle to open said valves and said toggle serving to lock said valves in open position, and automatically operable means other than said lever for releasing said toggle to permit said automataic valve closing means to act.

2. In combination, a receptacle comprising a plurality of compartmentseach having a fluid outlet, an emergency valve for each of said outlets, spring means for automatically closing each of said valves independently oi the others, a

' rock-shaft disposed at one end of said receptacle mechanisms of which are operatively connected with said rock-shaft, and automatically operable means other than said lever for automatically moving said rock-shaft to permit said automatic valve closing means to act.

3. In combination, a receptacle comprisinga plurality of compartments each having a fluid outlet, an emergency valve for each of said outlets, spring'ineans for automatically closing each i of said valves independently of the others, a rockshaft disposed near one end of said receptacle remote from saidvalves, motion independent transmitting mechanism normally connecting each of I said valves with said rock-shaft, manually operable means for readily selectively disconnecting said mechanisms from said rock-shaft to permit the spring means of the corresponding valve to maintain said valve closed, a lever, a toggle interposed between said lever and said rock-shaft, said rock-shaft being movable by said lever through said toggle to open said valves the motion transmitting mechanisms of which are operatively cc mected with said rock-shaft and said toggle serving to lock the said valves in open position, and automatically operable means other than said lever for automatically releasing the lock afforded by said toggle to permit said automatic valve closing means to act. i

4.'In combination, a receptacle comprising a plurality of compartments each having a fluid outlet, an emergency valve for each of said outlets, means for automatically closing each of said valves, a rock-shaft disposed at the rear end of said receptacle remote from said valves, independent motion transmitting mechanism connecting each of said valves with said rock-shaft, a pivotally supported lever, a toggle interposed between said lever and said rock shaft, said rockshaft being movable by said lever through said toggle to open said valves and said toggle serving to lock said valves in open position, and a weight cooperable directly with the pivot of said lever to automatically release said toggle to permit said automatic valve closing means to act.

5. In combination, a receptacle comprising a plurality of compartments each having a fluid outlet, an emergency valve for each of said outlets, spring means for automatically closing each of said valves independently of the others, a rock-shaft disposed at one end of said receptacle remote from said valves; independent motion transmitting mechanism normally connecting each of said valves with said rock-shaft beneath said receptacle, manually operable means for said rock-shaft being movable by said lever through said toggle to open said valves the motiontransmitting mechanisms of which are operatively connected with said rock-shaft and said toggle serving to lock the said valves in open position, and a weight cooperable directly with the pivot of said lever to automatically release the lock afforded by said toggle to permit said automatic valve closing means to act.

6. In combination, a receptacle comprising a plurality of compartments each having a fluid outlet, an emergency valve for each of said outlets, means for automatically closing each of said valves, a rock-shaft disposed at one end of said receptacle remote from said valves, independent motion transmitting mechanism connecting each of said valves with said rock-shaft, a pivotally supported lever, a toggle interposed between said lever and said rock-shaft, said rock-shaft being movable by said lever through said toggle to simultaneously open said, valves and said toggle serving to lock said valvesin open position, a weight mounted upon the pivot 01' said lever,.and means associated with said weight for automatically rei-easing the same to thereby automatically release said toggle so as to permit said automatic valve closing means to act.

'7. In combination, a receptacle comprising a plurality of compartments each having a fluid outlet, an emergency valve for each of said outlets, spring means for, automatically closing each of said valves independently of the others,,a rockshaft disposed at one endof said receptacle remote-from all of said valves, independent motion I transmitting mechanismincluding cables and lev erable means for readily selectively disconnecting said connecting l vers from said rock-shaft to permit the spring cans of the corresponding valve to maintain said valve closed, a lever for 4- g said rock-shaft, and automatically operable means other than said lever for automatically moving said rock-shaft to permit said automatic valve closing means to act.

8. In combination. a receptacle comprising a plurality of compartments each having a fluid outlet, an emergency valve for each of said outlets, spring means for automatically closing each of said valves independently of the others, a rockshaft disposed at one end of said receptacle remote from all of said valves, independent motion transmitting mechanism including cables and levers connecting the ends of said cables with said valves and with 'said rock-shaft, manually operable means for readily selectively disconnecting said connecting levers from said rock-shaft to permit the spring means of the corresponding valve to maintain said valve closed, a lever, a toggle interposed between said lever and said rock-shaft, said rock-shaft being movable by said lever through said toggle to open said valves the motion transmitting mechanisms of which are operatively connected with said rock-shaft and said toggle serving to lock the said valves in open position, and automatically operable means other than said lever for automatically releasing the lock afforded by said toggle ,to permit said automatic valve closing means to act.

FREDERICK G. THWAIT S.

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