US2122949A - Device for automatically controlling the filling of reservoirs, tanks, and the like - Google Patents

Description

July 5, 1938. E PIQUEREZ 2 122,949

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICAL LY GONTROLLING THE FILLING OF RESERVOIRS, TAN AN HE LIKE Filed July 195 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 5, 1938. E. PIQUEREZ A 2,122,949

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE FILLING 0F RESERVOIRS, TANKS, AND THE LIKE Filed July 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LING THE FILLING OF RESERVOIR/S,

TANKS, AND- THE LIKE Emile Piquerez, St. Cloud, France Application July 16, 1936, Serial No. 91,012 In France July 25, 1935 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a connecting device or union for use in the filling of receptacles, reservoirs, tanks and the like, which is adapted to operate in such a manner as to automatically stop the inlet of the liquid which passes through it when the liquid in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level, the said connection either being combined or not combined with means for interchanging the atmospheres of the said receptacle and that from which the liquid is supplied.

Apparatus according to the invention is characterized by the feature that the liquid inlet conduit is provided with a closure member on valve controlled .by the fall in pressure created in the apparatus by a suction device operated by the liquid flow. The fall in pressure created by this device is applied to a chamber having at least one movable wall or partition operatively connected with the closure member or valve, the said chamber communicating with the interior of the receptacle to be filled, through a passage open at the level to which .thereceptacle is to be filled with liquid, in such a manner that the entryoi the liquid into the said passage brings about an increase of the suction effect in said chamber, up to the value necessary to cause the closing of the liquid inlet by the closure member or valve.

The above mentioned passage is advantageously provided with an appropriate member having a constricted opening to hinder the entry of the liquid, in such a manner as to obtain the max imum fall in pressure in the chamber at the moment when the liquid reaches the inletopening of the passage. To the same end, the latter may be provided with a closure member or valve controlled by the flow of the liquid, such, for example, as a float valve.

In the preferred constructional forms of the apparatus, the suction device operated by the liquid flow comprises a horn-like tube, and a particular characteristic of the invention is that the lower opening-of the tube is arranged below the inlet opening of the above mentioned passage, in such a manner that a little before the liquid has access to said passage, the outlet orifice of the horn-like tube is submerged and the latter consequently operates with thebest efficiency.

In certain particular cases, when the connection device or union is intended for the transfer of dangerous volatile liquids, forexample, hydrocarbons, it may comprise a gas outlet conduit for the exchange of the atmospheres between the receptacle in process of being filled and that in course of emptying. This modified arrangement may also constitute safety means, en-

suring the closing of the liquid inlet conduit, in

' the event of excessive pressure arising in the receptacle being filled for any cause whatever. To this end, the gas outlet opening or openings of the receptacle to be filled, in communication with the gas return conduit, are situated at a high level or at least at the same level as that of the lower opening of the passage leading to the suction chamber. On the said gas return conduit is arranged a pressure chamber opposite to the suction chamber, that is to say, situated on the other side of the movable control member for the liquid feed pipe closing device.

In this case, obviously, the connection device or union can be provided with a joint in leakproof connection with the receptable to be filled but when the connection device for union does not comprise an atmosphere-exchanging arrangement, a leak-proof connection is unnecessary. Thus the invention provides a further advantage over known devices for limiting the replenishment of receptacles and the like.

The movable wall or partition of the suction chamber which, as mentioned above may, in certain cases, be common to the said suction chamber and to a pressure chamber, may consist of piston or, preferably a membrane or equivalent. The said movable wall or partition can be attached directly to the closure member or valve, but, preferably, it cooperates with a catch which normally holds the closure member or the valve open against the action of a spring (which may be previously loaded by hand) in such a manner that the closing of said member or valve may be instantaneous.

One simple and efficacious construction comprises a pivoted lever having one end arranged to be displaced by the piston, membrane or equivalent and having its opposite end pivoted to a catch, against which a shoulder on the rod of the closure member or valve, is adapted to abut, said catch being guided for movement in a direction intersecting the axis of the said rod.

The annexed drawings show, by way of example, various constructional forms of the invention diagrammatically and also one construction in greater detail.

Figure 1 shows one construction in diagrammatic elevation;

Figure 2 shows another construction in a similar manner;

Figure 3 shows, in diagrammatic elevation, the addition to one of the above constructions of a gas exchange conduit;

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically the combination of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with a gas exchange conduit constituting a safety device;

Figure 5 is a vertical section of one practical constructional form of an apparatus as shown in Fig. 4; and

Figure 6 shows, in section, a lengthening membercapable of being used on the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings:'

In Fig. 1 which shows a simple construction of replenishmentdimiting union or connection, numeral I designates a downwardly enlarging or horn-like tube and 2 an injector nozzle cooperating with said tube and connected to a small liquid inlet conduit 3. A valve 4 is arranged in the conduit 3 and is provided with a rod 5 which is attached at its opposite end to the movable wall 6 of a chamber I.

The movable wall consists, for example, of a membrane which, on its inner face, is subjected to the fall in pressure produced by the flow of liquid into the tube, the chamber I being connected to the body 2 by a conduit 8. A spring 9, tends constantly to maintain the valve 4 open against the action of the fall in pressure in the chamber 1, said valve, moreover being screened normally from the inlet pressure of the liquid by a deflector Ill. n its external'face, the membrane 6 is subjected to atmospheric pressure.

Asmall passage II descends from the chamber 1, the lower opening I2 of the passage being adapted to fix the filling level of the liquid in the receptacle R. The outlet opening Id of the tube I is situated below the level of the opening I2in such a manner thatit is submerged during the useful period of the operation. The positioning of the openings I2 and I a with respect tothe receptacle R is assumed'to have been fixed, for example, by. a collar I3 which bears on a filling tube 4 of the receptacle.-

It will be easilyunderstood that when the tube functions, flow of air or gas according to the contentsof the receptacle R, will be produced in the direction l2 -I I-8 -2, and, consequently, that a certain fall in pressure will occur in the chamber I. The fall in pressure will increase when the liquid has flowed into theopening I2. In order that the increase in the fall in pressure may be very appreciable and that its final value may conform to the object sought, a diaphragm I having a constricted opening I6 has been arranged at the bottom of the tube II. In these conditions, whenthe filling level of the liquid in the receptacle R is attained, the fall in pressure produced in the chamber 1 causes the displacement of the membrane 6 against the action of the spring 9, the closing of the valve 4 and, consequently, the stoppage of ,the flow of liquid; into the nozzle 2 being brought about at the same time.

The construction shown in Fig. 2 is distinguished solely from the preceding construction in that the diaphragm I4 with its calibrated orifice I 6 is replaced-by a valve I! provided on a float I8, which is arranged in a chamber I9 provided on the tube-I I. As soon asthe liquid closes the opening I2, the sharp increase in the fallin pressure in the chamber 1 causes the liquid to rise in the chamber I9, whereby the valve I! is moved on its seat 26. As the small tube II is thus completely closed, the fall in pressure in the chamber 'Ils high, so that the valve :4 is caused tomove to'its seat. As the operation is very rapid, the filling level of the liquid in this case can be considered as beingin the plane of the opening I2.

- The apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is formed by connecting an apparatus such as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 with a conduit H for the evacuation of the atmosphere in the receptacle R in the course of filling. The said conduit terminates at its upper end in a small tube 22 which can receive piping leading to the receptacle being emptied so that there may thus be an exchange of atmosphere between the two receptacles.

At its lower end, the mouth 23 of the conduit 2| is at a higher level than that of opening I6 which marks the filling level of liquid in the receptacleR. V

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the membrane 6 forms part of the wall of the conduit 2| which, unlike the chamber 7, forms a pressure chamber. The connection of the apparatus with the receptacle R between I3 and M is necessarily, leak-proof and is furnished with a joint 24.

Assuming that the replenishment-limiting device previously described may not have functioned, for example, because the rate of flow of the liquid has been insufiicient'to produce a fall in pressure capable of closing the valve 4, the liquid will rise in the conduit 2| and will act on the membrane inthe direction to close the valve 4.

Again assuming that the apparatus has not functioned, if the piping used for exchange of atmosphere between the two receptacles is closed, then the pressure of the gas in the conduit III will act to displace the membrane in the direction to close the valve.

In any case, the pressure of the gases in the reservoir will thus not be able to attain value dangerous for the reservoir.

The construction shown in Fig. 5, arranged, for example, for use in the filling of petrol tanks of aeroplanes or other vehicles, comprises a casing5I provided with an inlet tube 52 in which a deflector53 serves as a suppora'for a valve 54 during the operation ofthe apparatus. The tube 52 communicateswith an injection nozzle 55 communicating with the tube 56. The upper end of the tube 56 opens into a chamber 51 in which a membrane 53 isarranged and is held in position by a cap 59 provided with a handle 60 for the transport of the apparatus. A chamber 6| is formed in the cap 59 opposite to the chamber 51 on the other side of the membrane 58, the chamber communicating through channels (not shown on the drawings) with the internal chamber 62 in the tubular foot 63 of the apparatus which has large openings 64 providing communication with the atmosphere of the reservoir which is to be filled. The gases from the reservoir can thus reach the chamber 6|, which is provided with a small outlet branch 65, whereby it may be connected to the reservoir in course of emptying for the exchange of atmospheres between the two reservoirs. The tubular foot 63 has a joint 66 consisting, .for example, of a ring of rubber arranged to be applied on the top of the filling tube of the reservoir so as to fulfill the function of the joint 24 shownin Fig.4.

The chamber 57 below the membrane 58 also communicates with the atmosphere of the reservoir during the filling of the latter by means of a small: passage-6'! formed in the casing of the tube 56 and corresponding to the conduit II shown in Figs. 1 to 4. a

The lower opening 61a of the passageBI, which in practice fixes thefilling level, is situated below the upperedge of the openings 64,so as to avoid an excess of pressure in the reservoir.

The passage 6'! may be provided at any point 53, which tends to force it on its seat H.

whatever in its height with a plug or diaphragm having a calibrated opening to impede the fiow of the liquid and thus to bring about an increase of the fall in pressure in the chamber 51.

It will be easily seen that during the filling of the reservoir, the tube creates in the chamber 51 a fall of pressure which is made up in proportion by the gases in the reservoir being carried up through the small passage 61. As soon as the lower opening in the latter is closed by the liquid, which will flow in the passage with greater difficulty than the gases, the fall of pressure in the chamber .5! .will increase and will be able to displace the membrane. In order to obtain the closing of the'va'lve 54, in consequence of the displacement of the membrane, the following arrangement can be advantageously used.

, The valve 54 is subjected constantly to the action of a spring I0, arranged in the deflector The seating of the valve is, however, normally prevented by a small catch 12 against which the tail 13 of the valve rod is adapted to abut. The catch is provided with a roller 14, whichbears on a rolling track 15 perpendicular'to the direction of the axis of the valve rod. At its upper end, the catch" is pivoted at 16 to a lever 1! hinged at 18 and carrying beyond the latter a roller 19, which is adapted to bear against the bottom face of a central member 80 on the membrane 58 under the action of a spring 8].

During filling, the membrane is lifted by the roller 19, the lever 11 is inclined and the lower end of the catch 12 is neatly engaged behind the adjacent face of the tail 13 of the valve rod.

When the filling level of the liquid is reached the fall ofpressure' in the chamber 51 causes the lowering of the membrane 58 and, consequently, the ascent of the catch 12 and roller 14. As the valve 54 is now freed, it is forced sharply on its seat under the action of the spring I0. It will be noted that as soon as the valve is disengaged from the deflector 53, it is assisted in its closing movement by the pressure of current of liquid.

When the valve 54 is closed, the fall in pressure in the chamber 51 is stopped and spring 8| causes the membrane 58 to be lifted again and the catch 12 to be lowered, so that it will engage in an annular groove 82 inthe valve rod.

In order that the apparatus may be able to function again after having been removed from the reservoir, it is necessary to re-set it; To this end, there is used, for example, a push rod 83, connected to an external knob 84 which, under the -action of aspring 85, occupies normally a withdrawn position. Any suitable means is provided to ensure tightness against leakage between the member 86 and the push rod 83. The resistance which will be opposed by a stufiing box, for example, is not to be entertained, since the push rod will be actuated by hand. If, on the contrary, the valve rod itself had been prolonged, the means for ensuring tightness would have been incompatible with the liberty of its movements. In the arrangement adopted, assuming that there is a slight escape of liquid around the valve rod from the chamber 52 into the chamber 51, it will be sucked back by the tube 56.

The actuation of the push rod 83 causes the forward movement of the tail 13 of the valve 54 which, through the inclined face 13a on the valve rod, will act to lift the catch 12, the lower end of which is also inclined in such a manner that the catch will be able to pass from the other side of the swelling of the tail 13 and retake the. position shown in Fig. 5. Thereafter, the push rod can be moved in the reverse direction.

If, for any reason, the operation of the replenishment-limiting device which hasjust been described does not take place and if the liquid continues to rise in the reservoir until the ports 64 have been closed, then the pressure of the atmosphere of the reservoir would be raised and the liquid which is rising in the chambers 62 and BI would act to force the membrane to deflect downwardly by means of the pressure acting on its upper face before the pressure in the reservoir had reached a dangerous value.

Finally, it will be advantageous, as shown on the drawings, to provide the membrane with a guide 8'? leading to the exterior of the apparatus, so that in case of locking or wedging in the interior of the apparatus, the valve can always be closed by pushing on the rod 81.

The lengthening member shown in Fig. 6 permits the apparatus to be applied to reservoirs having long filling tubes. The central tube 88 of the lengthening member is screwed on to the end of the tube 56, whilst the member 89 which surrounds it forms'a joint with the ring 90 of the said tube. The conduit 6'50 therefore communicates with the space between the two mem, hers-88 and B9. The filling level of the liquid isthen appreciably that of the lower inlet of the member 89. The latter is centered on the member 88 for example, by ribs 85a and by a six-sided mouth 88a which permits the screwing of the member 88 on to the tube 56.

It follows that the invention is not limited to the constructional formdescribed and shown of which it comprises all variations.

I claim:

lnLevel limiting connection for filling receptacles with liquid, comprising, a casing having a liquid conduit comprising an inlet tube, a downwardly enlarging outlet tube, and an injector nozzle connecting said inlet tube with said outlet tube, a valve for closing said conduit, said casing forming a chamber having a movable wall comprising a diaphragm, said casing forming an inclined annular air conduit of small cross section communicating with said liquid conduit between the. injector nozzle and outlet tube thereof, and with said chamber, the lower end of the outlet tube emptying freely into the receptacle being filled, said casing having an air passage having its upper end opening into said air conduit and its lower end opening to the receptacle being filled, said lower opening being situated at a higher level than the discharge end of said liquid outlet tube, and means mechanically connecting said diaphragm with'the valve to close said valve through the effect of the reduction of pressure produced in the chamber when the liquid in the receptacle closes the lower opening of said air passage.

2. Level limiting connection for filling vessels with liquid, comprising a casing having a liquid inlet conduit, 8. stop valve for said conduit, said valve being disposed to close by movement in the same direction as the liquid flow, a deflector behind said valve to shield it from the pressure of the flowing liquid, a chamber, having a movable wall, a rod directly connecting said wall to said stop valve so that movement of said wall, responsive to a pressure reduction, causes a movement of said stop valve towards its seat, and thus permit the liquid to add its action for closing the valve, a blast tube in .said liquid conduit to create a suction. in said chamber, said casing being formed .with a passage connecting said chamber with the atmosphere of the ,ves; sel being filled, said passage having an orifice atits lower end, said orifice having means for restricting the flow of the liquid into said passage and a, spring for normally holding said movable wall and said stop valve in the open position.

3. Level limiting connection for filling vessels with liquid, comprising a frame having a liquid inlet conduit, a shut-oil valve in said liquid conduit, a spring pressing on said valve in the closing direction, a catch for holding said valve open against the action of said spring, a pressurereduction chamber having a movable wall consisting of a diaphragm, a lever, a medial hinge for said lever, one end of said lever being arranged in contact with the center of said diaphragm, and the other end being hinged on said catch so that the latter moves backwards and releases said valve when said diaphragm effects an inward movement, a spring opposing the inward movement of said diaphragm and holding said catch engaged, a blast tube arranged in said liquid inlet conduit and sucking in the pressurereducticn chamber, and a conduit of small crosssection connecting said pressure-reduction chamber with the atmosphere of the vessel being filled, the lower orifice of said small conduit determining the filling level, and means for bringing said valve into the position in which it is engaged by said catch.

4. Level limiting connection for filling vessels with liquid, comprising a frame having a liquid inlet conduit, a shut-off valve in said liquid conduit, a spring pressing on said valve in the closing direction, a catch for holding said valve open against the action of said spring, a pressure-reduction chamber having a movable wall consisting of a diaphragm, a lever, a medial hinge for said lever, one end of said lever being arranged in contact with the center of said diaphragm and the other end being hinged on said catch so that the latter moves backwards and releases said valve when said diaphragm effects an inward movement, a spring opposing the inward movement, of said diaphragm and holding said catch engaged, a blast tube arranged in said liquid inlet conduit and sucking from the pressure-reduction chamber, and a conduit of small cross-section connecting said chamber with the atmosphere of the vessel being filled, the lower orifice of said conduit determining the filling level, a plunger sliding oppositely to said valve, a retracting spring for said plunger, and another plunger outwardly fixed to the center of said diaphragm to enable said catch to be disengaged at will.

5. Level limiting connection for filling vessels with liquid comprising a frame having a liquid inlet conduit, a stop valve for said conduit, means, having two oppositely directed pressure responsive surfaces, for controlling said valve, means for generating a fall of pressure by the flow of liquid in said conduit and applying said reduced pressure to one of said pressure responsive surfaces when'the level in the receptacle being filled reaches a predetermined level, and means for applying the pressure of the receptacle being filled to theother of said surfaces.

1 6.: Level limiting connection for filling vessels with liquid, comprising a frame having a liquid inlet conduit, 2. stop' valve for said conduit, a chamber having a movable wall, means for controllingsaid Valve from said movable wall, a blast tube in said liquid conduit to create a suction in said chamber, a conduit connecting said chamber with the atmosphere of the vessel being filled through alower orifice determining the filling level, and asecond chamber formed on the other side of said movable wall of the first-mentioned chamber, said second chamber communicating on the one hand with the atmosphere of the vessel, and on the other hand with an orifice to be connected with the atmosphere of the vessel supplying. the liquid.

'7. Level limiting connection for filling vessels with-liquid, comprising a frame having a liquid inlet conduit, a stop valve for said conduit, a chamber having a movable wall and means for controlling'the closing of said valve from said movable wall,a blast tube in said liquid conduit, and adapted to produce a suction in said chamber, a conduit for connecting said chamber with the atmosphere of thevessel being filled, said conduit opening into the vessel through a lower orifice which determines the filling level, a second chamher on the opposite side of the movable wall from the first chamber, said second chamber communicating, on the one hand with the atmosphere of the vessel through an orifice located at a level at least as high as the level of the lower orifice of the conduit leading from said first chamber, and on the other hand with an orifice adapted to be connected with the atmosphere of the cistern supplying the liquid.

8. Level limiting connection for filling vessels with liquid, comprising a frame having a liquid inlet conduit, a shut-01f valve in said liquid conduit, a spring pressing on'said valve in the closing direction, a catch for holding said valve open against the' action of said spring, a chamber having a'movable Wall consisting of a diaphragm, a lever, a medial hinge for said'lever, one end of said lever being arranged in contact with the center of said diaphragm and the other end being hinged on said catch sothat the latter moves backwards and releases said valve when said diaphragin efiects an inward movement, a spring opposing the return movement of the diaphragm, a blast tube arranged in said liquid inlet conduit of small cross-section connecting said chamber withthe atmosphere of the vessel being filled, the lower orifice of said conduit determining the filling level, and a second chamber formed on the other side of the movable Wall of the first chamber, said second chamber communicating with the atmosphere of the vessel being filled, and means for hermeticallysealing the connection with the vessel.

. EMILE PIQUEREZ.

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