US2321062A - Repeat valve shutoff system - Google Patents

Description

J ,1943. c. RBERGMAN HAL 2 21 62 REPEAT VALVE SHUT-OFF SYSTEM Filed Sept. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 10s I I42 H 10 INVENT R5 E P. Ia EA'fJ comm. twa 5M ATTORNEYS June 8, 1943. c. P. BERGMAN Fl AL REPEAT VALVE SHUT -OFF SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1940 Patented June 8, 1943 REPEAT VALVE SHUTOFF SYSTEM Charles P. Bergman, San Francisco, Calif., and Mead Cornell, Cleveland, ()hio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Pittsburgh Equitable Meter Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 13, 1940, Serial No. 355,614

9 Claims. (Cl. 221-101) This invention relates to liquid measuringapparatus, and more particularly to a repeating valve shut-off system, especially for the rapid measured filling of large containers such as barrels.

In our co-pending application, Serial No. 316,888, filed February 2, 1940, entitled Repeating mechanical valve shut-off system, we disclosed a system of this character utilizing a valve at the nozzle end of a flexible hose, with all necessary starting controls centered at the valve, so that the operator may remain at the end of the hose and insert the nozzle into the successive barrels with no need to go to the trip register between filling operations. The complete shutoff system of the present invention is generally similar to that previously disclosed, but the trip register is wholly different. The primary objects of the present invention are to greatly simplify the trip register; to substantially reduce the cost of manufacture; and to make the same accurately operable over a large range or difference in container size.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, our invention consists in the mechanical valve shut-off elements and the relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is a perspective view of the complete automatic valve shut-ofi system;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the trip mechanism, with its cover plate removed;

Fig.3 is a front elevation of the same with a part of the front plate broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section explanatory of a clutch shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a piece of a camcarrying chain shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modified cam or chain arrangement; v

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same;

8 is a vertical section explanatory of the shaft connections between the meter and the trip mechanism; Y

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken approximately in the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken approximately in the plane of the line Iii-l0 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the shut-off system comprises a meter l2 supported on a suitable pedestal l4 and supplied with liquid at the inlet Hi. The liquid is discharged at outlet l8 into a flexible pipe or hose 20 of suitable length. A trip register 22 is mounted on top of the meter body and is driven by the piston or driving element of the meter.

At the remote or free end of hose 20, a valve 24 is connected, .the body of which includes a downwardly directed nozzle 26 adapted to be freely inserted in the filling opening 28 of a barrel 30. The valve and nozzle may be moved about by means of a suitable handle 32. The flow-of liquid into the barrel is controlled by'means of a starting lever 36 which, for this purpose, is pulled from the right-hand position shown in full lines, to the left-hand positiontt .shown in the dot and dash line, where it is held by a-suitable detent 33.

A flexible motion transmitting means. extends between the valve 24- and the trip register 22. In thepresent case this comprises a metallic bellows housed at 49 near the valve detent mechanism, and another metallic bellows housed at 42 near the trip mechanism, with a flexible tube 44 connected therebetween. By sealing a liquid in the bellows and tube assembly, movement applied to one bellows may be imparted from one bellows to the other. Thus, the opening-of the valveby lever 36 may be used to press a plunger 36, and so compress the bellowsat 40, and-the resulting movement of the bellows at 42 maybe used to latch the trip mechanism at register 22. Conversely, tripping at the registermay laterbe used to release the valve handle 36 and to cause closing of the valve. f

Referring now to Figs. 2-and 3, the bellows housed at 42 terminates in a plunger 50 disposed beneath an arm 52 secured to the-rear end of a spindle or trip shaft 54. The forward end ofthis shaft may, if desired, be bent sidewardly to form a handle 56 for manual setting of the trip mech anism, but ordinarily the handle 56 neednot be andisnotused. w

. The shaft'carries a stop 58 which is engaged by a detent or trigger .60. This holds .the trip shaft 54 against the action of a suitable trip-spring 62.

'which, in the present case; is. a spiral spring coiled about theshaft and having its outer end secured to a stationary, pin .64. The inner end of. the spring is connected-to theshaft'or, more'specifically, in the present case to ahub (Fig; 9)' formed integrally with the stop arm 5B (Figs. 21 and 3) The spring is securedto hub 66 in any suitable manner as by means of ascrew 68 (Fig-. 9), and the hub 66 is secured to trip shaft'fi l in any suitable manner as by slotting'thehub at it and providing the shaft with mating flatson ea.

posite sides so as to fit non-rotatably within the slot ID.

The trigger 68 is pivoted at I2 (Fig. 3) and carries a stud I4 which projects out of the casing through an arcuate slot I6. The trigger is normally urged into locking position by a pull spring I8. It will be evident that with this arrangement, the trip mechanism maybe set with the bellows arm 52 in the upper position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, it being held in that position against the action of the trip spring 62 by the trigger 60. Movement of the trigger, however, from the solid line position to the broken line position 60' releases stop 58 which thereupon moves to the broken line position 58' under the influence of spring 62 which, at the same time, moves arm 52 down to the dot and dash line position 52', and so compresses the bellows housed at 42; by de pressing the plunger 50.

The stud I4 is disposed adjacent a sprocket wheel, 80, which carries a. chainlll having a cam the. a te being dap e to ea aga n t and more the stud" from the solid line position M to the broken line position 74.. The chain 82 is hung over the, sprocket wheel 81),, and the amount of liquid delivered for each shut-01f depends uponthe length of the chain. A series of chains may be provided, appropriately. marked for different uant ties. and ny Qneof the ay b i t han c bl p ed, on. sp ocketsproc t wheel. is a ried. o h ou er e d of a shaft 86 which is driven from the meter by appropriate gearing. In the present case, an upright spindle 88 (Figs. 2 and 10-) carries, a worm 90, which meshes with a worm gear 82 mounted on sprocketshaft 86.

I is. n nien t prov deunidi ct o a m ionrnsm ttins mfi nsbetween the a 2. nd he s af 8 pe ific l n h res nt ca h h t ca ri s a coll r .4 (Fig 2 and sec th r y me ns a. s t s rew 95- One ndof a h licaisprin w r 21 permanently ecured o co lar s means of a sleeve Hi l driven th over with a force fit. The free, cndof the h lical spring is coiled about the hub M2 of worm ear 92;. The spring 98, is wound in such direction that when the meter is running, the spring is frictionally tightened and causes immediate drive of shaft 86. However, the shaft may be turned in forward direction, faster than the gear, as by means of a knob I 04 secured to. the outer end of shaft 86. The knob and clutch are convenient when first setting up the mechanism for a changed measurement, as the new chain may be hungover the sprocket in any position, with the cam remote from the trigger stud, and the chain and sprocket may then be moved ahead by the knob I0 4 until the cam reaches the trigger stud.

It is convenient to make each tooth of sprocket wheel 8!! correspond to a desired unit of measurement, for example, one gallon of liquid. Referring to Fig. 10, the meter include not only e p n s ft or d v n sha t lfidb t also -ca led: n rmediate 0 wh ch. ns s s o a ear. h usin wi h ppropr ate reduction ari therein e m atin n. sh f U0 rr n by a packing gland nut H2. The intermediate [.03. is immfirsed in the liquid being. measured, but leakage from the meter casing H4, is prevented by the packing around s aft no. Additional ears. 1 nd. 1 Hi mye p ei a 2 a upright spindle 0.- hie oax a th h s nd e 88'nr s r eie r d to. The e ra io f the nterm d ate "3 he ou ears. I. 16, 8. and the worm, and gear 90, 92,, are so selected as to obtain the desired measurement value at the sprocket Wheel 80.

In the specific case here illustrated; the sprocket wheel has ten teeth and each tooth corresponds to one gallon. If a fifty-gallon barrel is to be filled, a chain having fifty links and one cam, is hung over the sprocket. If a twentygallon barrel is to be filled, a chain having twenty links and one cam is hung over the sprocket. In this way a large range of container size may be accommodated. However, with small containers, say, fourteen or less gallons, it becomes difficult to apply or remove the chain without opening a link. For this purpose, we prefer to use a longer chain with multiple cams. Thus, in Fig. 3,

the chain is twenty-eight links in length, and has two cams 84 and thereon, each corresponding to a delivery of fourteen gallons. Fig. 1 illustrates the more usual case of a chain 8| with a single cam 83 thereon.

Thechain here illustrated is a conventional chain having successive pairs of outside links and inside links connected by crossepins. In Fig. 5 there are inside links I22 and outside links I24.

The cam 84 replaces a pair of links, specifically a pair of inside links (although it may be designed to replace a pairof outside links). The

distance between the pins is kept uni-form. The

point or operating part of the cam is solid, so that the outside of the cam presents a broad, smooth surface for operation of the stud I4. The inside of the cam, at least at the base, is hollow forf-ree entry of the sprocket teeth. Fig. 5 shows the base or hollow side of the cam, that is, looking at cam 8d inFig. 3 from the right-hand side.

The type of cam; illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 is suitable for usewith chains having; an even number of links. A cam which may be used with a chain havingan odd number of links, is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The solid outside cam surface I26 is substantially the same asbef ore, but the base of the cam is so shaped at the end I28 as to fit around the inner links I30, while at the opposite end I32, the base of the cam is so shaped as to fit between a pair of outside links I34. .The pins are, of course, all disposed at a uniform pitch. Chains are readily provided with odd as well as even numbers of links, so that any desired integer measurement may be provided.

If the requirements of the user necessitate measurements including a whole number of gallons plus a half-gallon, this requirement may be met in several ways. One is to change the gear ratio between the meter and the sprocket wheel so that each sprocket tooth corresponds to a. half-gallon instead of a full, gallon. In such, case each link of the chain corresponds to. a half-. gallon, and a twenty-f ve link chain, may, for example, be used for a twelve and one-half gallon measurement. Anothermethod is. to. use the same gear ratio as before, and a twenty-.five link chain with two cams thereon, because any oddnumbered ch in with two cams will measure to a half gallon.

Another problem which may arise is where the trip mechanism is intended, for use with a different unit such as an imperial gallon instead of; a U. S. gallon. For constant use with; imperial gallons, it; is merely necessary to change. thegear atio b twee he meter and. h p oc et haf 5 hat ac spr cket. tooth ill c rrespond: to. one imperial" ll n. How ver. Wh r the trip mechanism is to be used in. an al ernatiye manner for either U. S. or imperial gallons, then we prefer to supply the mechanism with a ten-tooth sprocket wheel and a twelve-tooth sprocket wheel, both having the same pitch diameter so that the cams will be properly =related to the trigger stud. One complete set of chains may be supplied fitting the ten-tooth sprocket wheel and appropriately marked for imperial gallons. Another complete set of chains may be supplied for the twelve-tooth sprocket wheel, these being appropriately marked for U. S. gallons. It will not be possible to confuse one set of chains with the other, because each set will fit only its appropriate sprocket wheel. I

The housing of the trip mechanism 22 is preferably made large enough to receive a manually adjustable accuracy regulator generally designated I50 (Figs. 2 and This comprises a tiltable ring I52 which oscillates a pawl-carry ing arm I53 (Fig. 2) acting on a ratchet wheel I54 which is connected to a worm I56 (Figs. 2 and 8) which in turn meshes with a worm gear I58 (Fig. 8) secured to the lower end of spindle 88. With ring I52 in horizontal position, the output of the regulator equals its input. When the ring is tilted, the output is varied slightly relative to the input, all as is explained in greater detail in Bergman Patent No. 2,079,197, granted May 4, 1937, and entitled Accuracy regulator.

The ring I52 may be tilted by means of an adjusting screw I60 (Figs. 2 and 10), turning a pinion I6I meshing with an arcuate rack I63 securedto the ring, the resulting adjustment being locked by means of an appropriate set screw or clamp. A scale may be provided to show the percent change caused by the regulator. A plate I65 may be removed for access to the adjusting screw and plate. The accuracy regulator, while perhaps not essential, is highlydesirable in order to make it possible to accurately establish the desired one gallon or other unit of measurement at the sprocket teeth.

In many cases it may be desired to automatically correct the measurement for temperature variation, so that the measurement will be correct at a standard temperature, say 60 F., or will be correct even in terms of weight. Referring to Fig. 10, this is taken care of in the present case by a temperature compensating unit I36, the casing I38 of which is disposed between the trip mechanism 22 and the neck of the meter body II4. This mechanism need not be described in detail, it being substantially the same as that disclosed in Whittaker Patent No. 2,206,540, granted July 2, 1940, entitled Temperature compensated fluid measuring system. It comprises a bellows I40 secured to the meter body at its lower end and there connected to a coil of tubing I42 with a closed end, this coil acting as a bulb which is surrounded by the liquid being measured. The bulb and bellows are filled with an appropriate liquid, and the bellows expands or contracts with temperature changes. The upper end of the bellows is connected through a post I44 to an arm I45 on a tiltable ring I46 which continuously appropriately varies the output of unit I36 relative to its input, in the same manner as was described for the accuracy regulator I50.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be understood that the worm bearing I62 of the temperature compensating unit is secured to the first spindle I20, and that the worm gear I64 is secured to the second spindle I66, but is freely rotatable relative to the first spindle I20. Similarly, the worm bearing I68 of the accuracy regulator is secured to the second spindle I66, while the worm gear I58 is secured to the spindle 68, but is freely rotatable relative to the spindle I66. It will also be understood that the accuracy regulator I50 may be used independently of the temperature compensator I36, and vice versa.

It may be pointed out that the casing of the trip unit 22 is so dimensioned. that it will fit directly on and may be secured to the neck '5 of the meter body II4. That is to say, the bottom of the trip casing is the same (size and holes, etc.) as the bottom of the temperature regulating casing, and the top of the temperature regulator is the same as the top of the meter body. When temperature regulation is not needed, the entire temperature regulating unit may simply be omitted. It will also be observed that the top plate of the trip unit is itself removable, and that the top of the trip unit is the same dimension as the top of the temperature regulator and the top of the meter body. In this way, one or more further units may be added. For example, it may be desired to mount a register, or a recorder, or a totalizer, or any combination of the same on top of the trip unit.

In the form disclosed herein, the chain is exposed and normally this is a preferred arrangement. However, if in any particular installation it is thought desirable or necessary to enclose the chain, this may be done by a suitable relatively flat generally upright housing which may be secured to the outside of the trip unit around the chainand sprocket. Such a housing may, if desired, be made of one of the modern transparent plastics, so that the chain may be observed as easily as when exposed. If the circumstances require special precaution, a suitable lock or seal may be applied between the-chain cover and the trip casing, thus making it impossible for anyone other than a properly authorized person to tamper or change the chain.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of our improved valve shut-off mechanism, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. To set the unit up for any particular measurement, it is merely necessary to select a chain of proper size and to hang the same on the sprocket. The knob I04 isthen turned until the cam reaches the trigger. The operator then stands at the end of the hose and inserts the valve nozzle in a barrel and pulls the operating handle to open the valve. This at the same time latches the trip mechanism because compression of the bellows 40 expands the bellows 42 and so raises the arm 52, whereupon the trigger 60 en ages the stop 58. At the end of the desired measurement, the cam reaches the trigger stud I4, and actuates the trigger to release the stop 58, whereupon the trip spring 62 causes a downward movement of bellows arm 52, thereby compressing the bellows 42 and so expanding the bellows 40, which in turn dislodges or frees the valve handle 36, thereby shutting off the valve.- The operator then removes the nozzle from the barrel and inserts it in another barrel, whereupon the operating handle 36 of the valve is again pulled to open the same. Inasmuch as the stopping point of each valve operation is the starting point of the next valve operation, the arrangement is accurate regardless of the shape of the cam or/and its spacing from the trigger stud but, of course, where more than one cam is used on a single'chain, the cam profiles should be alike.

It 'will be apparent'that while We have shown and described our invention in a-preferredform, many changes and modifications'may be made in the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

W claim:

1. Repeating valve shut-off mechanism comprising'a casing adapted to be secured to ameter body, a horizontal shaft having one end projecting from the casing, means for driving said shaft from the meter, a sprocket on the exposed outer end of "the shaft, a readily removable chain hung on said sprocket-a cam on said chain, a trip, a trip spring, trigger mechanism for holding the trip against the action of the spring, and means connected to said trigger and disposed adjacent the sprocket in such position as to be actuated by'the cam to release the trip for movement by the trip spring.

2. Repeating valve shut-off mechanism comprising-a casing adapted to be secured to 'a meter body, a horizontalshaft having one end projecting from the casing, means including a unidirectional clutch for gearing said shaft to the meter, a sprocket and a knob on the exposed outer end of the'shaft, a readily removable chain hung on said sprocket, a cam on said chain, a trip, a trip spring, trigger mechanism for holding the trip against the action of the trip spring, and means connected to said trigger and disposed adjacent the sprocket in such position as to be actuated by the cam to release the trip for movement by the trip spring.

3. Repeating valve shut-off mechanism comprising a casing adapted to be secured to ameter body, a vertical shaft therein to be driven by the meter, a horizontal shaft having one end projecting from the casing, means for driving said shaft including a worm on the vertical shaft, a worm gear on the horizontal shaft, and a unidirectional clutch between said gear and shaft, a sprocket on the exposed end of the shaft, a readily removable chain hung on said sprocket, a cam on said chain, a trip shaft, a trip spring connected to said shaft, trigger mechanism including a stop on said shaft and a trigger for holding the same against the action of the trip spring, and means connected to said trigger and disposed adjacent the sprocket in such position as to be actuated by the cam to release the stop and trip shaft for movement by the trip spring.

4. Valve shutoff mechanism comprising a shaft, a sprocket on said shaft, means for driving said sprocket from a fluid meter, a chain on said sprocket, valve latching means including a trigger for holding a valve in open positicn, means --biasifig said latching means in one direction, and 'at'leastone tripping cam -on said chain 'co-operating with said trigger to trip said latching means.

5. Valve shutoff mechanism comprising a shaft, a sprocket-on said shaft, one-way driving means for driving said sprocket from a fluid meter, a chain on said sprocket, valve latching means including a trigger 'for holding a valve in open position, meansbiasing said latching means in one direction, at least one tripping cam on said chain co-operating with said trigger to trip said latching means to close the valve and stop operation of the meter. v

6. Valve shutoff mechanism comprising a shaft,a sprocket on said shaft, means for driwng saidsprocket from a fluid meter, a chain on said sprocket, valve latching means including a trigger for holding a valve in open position, atleast one tripping cam on said chain co-operating with said'trig'ger to trip said latching means to close said valve and stop operation of the meter, and manual means for retaining said valve in open position to initiate operation of said meter and cam until said cam passes said trigger, and means of moving said latching means into latching position to latch the valve in open position.

'7. Repeating valve shutoff mechanism comprising a valve in the fluid line of a meter, a shaft, a sprocket on said shaft driven by the meter, an endless band on said sprocket, at least one cam on said band movable therewith, means for maintaining the valve in open position, and valve closing means actuated by said cam at a predetermined position thereof in its movement.

8. Repeating valve shutoff mechanism "comprising a valve in the fluid line of a meter, a shaft, "a sprocket on said shaft driven by the meter through a variable ratio drive connection, a chain on. said sprocket, at least one cam on said chain movable therewith, means for maintaining the valve in open position, and valve closing I'near'is released by said cam at "a predetermined position in its movement, whereby closing of the valve stops operation of the meter.

9.- Repeating valve shutoff mechanism comprising a valve in the fluid line of a meter, a shaft, a sprocket on said shaft driven by the meter through a temperature compensated variable drive connection, a chain on said sprocket, at least one 'cam on said chain movable therewith, means for maintaining the valve in open position, and valve closing means released by said cam at a predetermined position in its movement, whereby closing of the valve stops opera tion of the meter.

CHARLES P. BERGMAN- MEAD CORNELL.

Images