US2513181A - Head construction for horizontal liquiefied petroleum tanks - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1950 o. w. KILHAM 2,513,181

HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR HORIZONTAL LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM TANKS Filed March 2, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Helm!" mgm INVENTOR. 00145@ M /K/l//M/ June 27, 1950 Filed March 2, 1946 o. w. KILHAM 2,513,181

HEAD consmucrrow Foa HORIZONTAL LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM TANKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y IMVENToR. 0am? M Ku/AM Y @mgm /Wtarrgey HA'une 27, 1950 o. w. KILHAM 2,513,181

HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR HORIZONTAL LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM TANKS Filed March 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 0MM@ M /a/Lw Patented June 27, 1950 HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR HORIZONTAL LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM TANKS Oliver W. Killiam, Alhambra, Calif., assignor to Steel Corp., Alhambra,

American Pipe and Calif., a corporation o f Nevada Application March 2, 1946, Serial No. 651,654

This invention relates to a head construction for tanks designed to store liquefied petroleum products such as propane and butane.

In tanks of this character the petroleum products are maintained in the tank under pressure maintaining a large volume in a liquefied state over which there is a vapor space. The normal or conventional tank is equipped with outlets leading from the liquid space and from the vapor so that either liquid or vapor or both may optionally be withdrawn. Conventionally there is a filler valve that may be opened to supply the tank with liquefied butane or propane when the supply therein has become diminished and usually the liquid is run from the filler valve into the tank through the same conduit that supplies liquid to the liquid outlet. There is also a vapor return valve that is normally associated with the vapor outlet for returning vapor from the tank to the tank truck or other source of supply in the course of refilling. A safety valve is normally associated with the vapor outlet for protecting the tank against excessive internal pressures and provision is normally made for positively indicating when the liquid level has risen on filling to such a height that only ten percent of the volume of the tank remains for vapor space.

In tanks of this character it is desirable to associate all of the conduits and valves abovementioned together with a liquid level indicator so that all of the necessary equipment may be inserted into the tank through a single opening in the wall thereof. Where the tank is horizontally disposed and the above-mentioned valves are mounted on the top of the tank the problems of so mounting all of the valves and necessary tubes or conduits so that they may be extended into the tank through a single opening is relatively simple in that the vapor supply valve, the safety valve, and the vapor return valve can all be mounted on a single fitting and communicate directly with the vapor space immediately therebelow in the top of the tank. The filler valve and the liquid outlet may likewise be connected to a single tube extending from the top of the tank down through the vapor to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank. The pressure maintained in the tank is sufiicient to elevate the liquid through such tube and discharge it through the liquid outlet.

It is highly desirable, however, to mount all of these valves and indicators on a single fitting applicable to a. single opening in an upright or end wall of the tank as distinguished from the top thereof, and in so doing different problems arise. The vapor from the vapor space near the 15 Claims. (Cl. (i2-14) top of the tank must be conducted downwardly below the liquid level to the fitting and the conduit that conducts liquid to the fitting must lead upwardly thereto from adjacent the bottom of the tank. The fitting itself and the opening in which it is disposed must necessarily be kept reasonably small for if there is a large exposed area on the interior of the tank that is subjected to the pressure within the tank leakageis apt to result. It is also highly desirable to assemble tgether on the fitting all of the various valves and indicators together with the tubes leading therefrom prior to the assembly of the fitting with the tank. If these various parts are assembled together prior to their installation on the tank not only is assembly accomplished in a much easier manner but testing may also be preformed much easier.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fitting on which the necessary safety valve, outage valve, supply control l valve, the liquid supply control valve, the filler valve, and the liquid level indicator can all be conveniently mounted and' assembled together as a single unit and after being tested, inserted into a single opening or relatively small size in an upright or end wall of the tank and which, when installed, will function properly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through an end of a tank in which one form of fitting together with the associated structure has been installed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 2-2 upon Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation of the tank and may be regarded as having been taken in the direction of the arrow 3 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a tank illustrating an alternative form of construction embodying the invention which may be employed v particularly in large sizes;

Fig. 5 is an end view in elevation'of the tank.

illustrated in Fig. 4 and may be regarded as having been taken in the direction of the arrow 5 upon Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 6 8 upon Fig. 4 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 1-1 upon Fig. 4 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the fitting illustrated in the construction shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a partial view taken substantially upon the line 9-9 upon Fig. '1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, and particularly to that form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, I indicates a tank adapted to contain and retain in storage a liqueed petroleum product such as butane or propane. The liquid portion of such product is indicated at II and the vapor portion is indicated at I2 near the top of the tank. lIt is desirable in tanks of this character to have the tank horizontally disposed and to have all necessary equipment mounted in an upright wall thereof such as an end head I3. The particular manner in which the heads of the tank are connected to the shell of the tank is immaterial insofar as the present invention is concerned and consequently the end head I3 is 1llustrated merely as being welded to the shell such as by a weld I4. In the head I3 adjacent the center thereof there is formed a single opening in which is welded a collar I5 that is internally threaded with a pipe thread or the equivalent for the reception of an externally threaded portion I6 of a tting I1. This fitting has its interior divided into two substantially semi-cylindrical compartments I8 and I9. The upper compartment constitutes a vapor compartment and the lower compartment may be regarded as a liquid compartment. The two compartments are divided from each other by a partition 2l which adjacent the center of the tting is widened and has a central passage 2|. The outer wall of the upper compartment has threaded openings therein, one of which is adapted to receive the stem of a safety valve 22 which may be of any conventional or preferred design. Another opening is adapted to receive the stem of a manually operable control valve 23 to which a vapor supply pipe 24 may be connected that leads to the vapor system supplied by the tank. A third opening in the outer wall of the upper compartment is adapted to receive a vapor return valve 25 which may be of any conventional or preferred design.

In the back of the fitting there is formed a suitable seat 26 adapted to receive the forward end of a tube or conduit 21 that is bent upwardly and has its upper end 28 terminating in the vapor space I2. This conduit, when applied to the tting, is permanently mounted thereon such as by silver soldering or the equivalent.

The lower compartment I9 has its extreme Wall provided with internally threaded ports or apertures, one of which is adapted to receive the neck or stem of a liquid control valve 29 to which a pipe 30 may be connected leading to the liquid system that may be supplied by the tank. Another aperture in the lower compartment I9 is adapted to receive the filler valve 3I which may be of any conventional or preferred design. In the back of the lower compartment I9 there is a seat 32 adapted to receive the forward end of a liquid conducting conduit 33 that is permanently attached to the fitting I1 such as by silver soldering. This conduit is likewise bent upwardly from the tting in close proximity to the conduit 21 and extends up to a point adjacent the end 28 and then is bent downwardly so that its end 34 terminates near the bottom of the tank. f

The passage 2l has its forward end internally threaded to receive a liquid level indicator or gage generally indicated at 35. This liquid level indicator may be of any conventional or preferred design and the one illustrated consists merely of a fitting that is screwed into the forward end of the passage 2l and carries a tube 36 within whicha shaft 31 is rotatable. A float 38 carrying a counterweight 39 is pivotally mounted upon the tube 36 and is gearedly connected to the shaft 31 such as by gearing 40 so that as the float 38 rises and falls with the liquid level in the tank and shaft 31 will be rotated. The shaft 31 carries at its forward end a permanent magnet not shown and as it rotates a pointer 4I pivotally mounted upon a dial 42 is caused to rotate sympathetically with the permanent magnet. In this manner the position of the pointer 4I indicates the position of the float 38 and consequently the height of the liquid level. although the contents of the tank are retained under pressure behind the dial 42.

43 indicates a ten percent outage valve that is screwed into the side of the fitting I1 and is in communication with a small bore 44 formed 1ongitudinally through one end of the partition 20. A tube 45 is connected to this bore and is permanently mounted on the fitting I1 such as by silver soldering. This tube is bent upwardly in close proximity to the tube 21 and has its upper end 46 terminating at a level where the space thereabove is equal to ten percent of the entire volume of the tank. The ten percent outage valve may be of any conventional or preferred construction.

In some localities a pressure gage may be required or a pressure gage may otherwise be desirable. Such pressure gage when employed may be associated with the ten percent outage valve 43 or with any of the valves connected to the vapor compartment I8. Likewise in some instances pressure regulators may be required or desirable and these may be associated with the control valves 23 and 29 if desired.

In the construction 'of the tank the shell of the tank, its head I3, and the collar I5 are first assembled together. The fitting I1 has its various valves mounted thereon and the liquid level indicatoriristalled. The tubes 21, 33, and 45 are assembled with the fitting and if desired the entire assembly associated with the fitting I1 may then be tested. The assembly and testing of the various parts associated with the fitting I1 is greatly facilitated inasmuch as these parts can be assembled together and tested prior to their installation on the tank. When the assembly and testing have been completed an entire unit may be installed in the tank by rst introducing the end 34 through the opening in the collar I5 and tipping or tilting the unit as is required to feed the conduit 33 therethrough. As the tubes 21 and 45 are arranged in close proximity to the upwardly extending forward portion of the conduit 33 these may likewise be introduced through the collar along with the conduit 33. The float 38 and the tubular support 36 of the liquid level indicator are suiciently close to the tubes so that they may be introduced through the collar with the tubes. When all have been thus inserted into the tank the fitting I1 is screwed into the collar and tightened until the vapor compart ment I8 assumes an uppermost position and the liquid compartment I9 assumes a position therebelow.

With the assembly thus completed it will be appreciated that vapor from the vapor space I2 will be supplied to the vapor compartment I3 through thetube 21. The safety valve 22 is eiective to re lease pressure when the pressure in the tank becomes excessive and the control valve 23 is eiIective to release vapor into the conduit or pipe 24 to supply vapor from the tank. In a similar manner the liquid compartment I9 is supplied with liquid through the tube 33 and this may be released into the pipe 39 through the control valve 29. On refilling the tank a liquid conduit is connected to the ller valve 3| and liquid forced through the compartment I9 and tube 33 into the bottom of the tank and at the same time vapor in the tank may be returned through the tube 21, compartment IIB, and the 'vapor return valve 25. When the tank is lled to a level where the vapor space I2 is approximately ten percent of the volume of the tank, the ten percent outage valve 43 may be opened to give a. positive indication when this level is reached. This is determined by gas issuing from the valve 43 being replaced by liquid when the liquid level rises to a point higher than the upper end 46 of the tube 45.

In Figs. 4 to 9 an alternative form of construction is disclosed which `may be advantageously used on tanks of large sizes or where the liquid contained in the tank is retained therein under high pressures. In this form of construction the shell of the tank is indicated at |1 and the head at 5|. The head has a single large opening therein adjacent the center and a flange 52 is welded thereto. This ii-ange has a rebated inner edge providing a shoulder 53. In this form of construction the fitting which is receivable in the opening in the flange is divided into two main parts, 54 and 55. The larger of these parts indicated at 54 is formed to provide an upper vapor compartment 56 which is of generally semi-cylinder shape and with which the safety valve 51, the vapor outlet control valve 58 and the vapor re'- turn valve 59 communicate. The fitting 54 has a rearwardly extending extension 60, the interior of which is in communication -with the vapor compartment 56 and a straight tube 6I is silver soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to this extension and extends upwardly into the vapor space 63 near the top of the tank. The part 54 of the fitting also provides the lower liquid compartment 64 with which the liquid control valve 65 and the iiller valve 66 communicate. The lower portion of the part 54, however, does not have integral therewith lan extension corresponding to the extension 6|). The part 55 provides this extension and its interior forms a rearwardly extending continuation of the liquid compartment 64. A tube 61 is silver soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the part 55 of the fitting and extends downwardly therefrom to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank. The part 55 not only provides the continuation for the liquid compartment $4 but provides a flange 68 which at the top of the part 55 is in the form of a half of a ring 69. (See Fig. 8.) This ange nts in the rebated inner edge of the flange 52 against the shoulder 59 and the portion 69 ts about the extension |60 on the part 54.

Two gaskets are provided indicated at 19 and 1I. 'I'he outer gasket 10 is merely in the form of a ring and is formed of relatively hard material. This gasket is interposed between the part -54 and the flange 52. 'I'he inner gasket 1| is a softer gasket and is shaped to iit between the forward face of the part 55 and the rear face of the part 54. Bolt 13 extends through a ilange on the part 54 and into the flange 52 for tightening the part 54 against the flange andl compressing the two gaskets 10 and 1|.

In the wall of the part 54 there is formed a bore 14 with which the ten percent outage valve 15 vcommunicates and the end of this bore has the tube 16 silver soldered vor otherwise rigidly connected thereto. rIhis tube extends upwardly to the required level in close proximity to the tube 6|. The part 54 has -a central passage 11 therethrough in which is mounted the magnetic liquid level indicator generally indicated at 18 and which functions to indicate the level of liquid within the tank as previously described. The upper face of the part 55 is shaped as indicated in Fig. 8 to accommodate the supporting tube of this indicator.

In this form of construction the various valves are assembled with the part 54 and may be tested. The tubes 6| and 16 are rigidly mounted thereon and the tube 61 is rigidly mounted on the part 55. In installing the fitting on the tank the part 55 is first applied to the iiange 52 by inserting the tube 61 therethrough and tipping it downwardly. The part 55 may then have its tubes 6| and 16 tipped through the upper portion of the opening and positioned so as to extend upwardly in the tank. The gaskets are applied to the flange 52 just prior to the application of the part 54. On tightening the bolts 13 the more compressible inner gasket 1| compresses to form a tight seal between the parts 54 and 55 and ultimately the outer gasket 1| will be compressed to prevent leakage between the part 54 and the flange 52, thus forming a leak-proof connection capable of withstanding high internal pressures.

In both of the above-described constructions it will be observed that the head or end of the tank has but a single opening formed therein and that the various valves and tubes are applicable to the fitting that is inserted in the opening. Two of these tubes lead to the upper portion of the tank and the third leads to a point adjacent the bottom thereof. Vapor and liquid are consequently both conducted to their respective compartments in the fitting. In this way the vapor is conducted to a. compartment located below a frequent liquid level in the tank and may then be withdrawn therefrom in supplying the vapor system supplied by the tank or conducted to the refilling container when the tank is being relled. Liquid in the tank is conducted upwardly to the liquid compartment of the fitting and although the liquid level in the tank may fall below the liquid compartment only liquid is supplied thereto, it being understood that the pressure in the tank forces liquid from adjacent the bottom thereof up through the tube leading to the liquid compartment.

A feature of both forms of construction resides in the fact that the gas conducting tube 28 (Fig. 1]) and 6| (Fig. 4i that leads downwardly from the vapor space of the tank discharges into a chamber I6 (Fig. 2) and "56 (Figs. 4 and 6) at a point above the bottom thereof. Thus as viewed inv Fig. 2 the point at which tube 28 leads into the chamber I8 is adjacent the top of the arcuate chamber and the ends of the chamber I8 extend downwardly therefrom on both sides of the magnetic gage. The outlets particularly the control valve 29 from the vapor chamber I 8 are located in the top wall of this chamber so that in effect the ends of the chamber I8 function somewhat as small liquid traps for any liquid that may be carried over through the pipe 28 in the form oi' mist or any condensate that may be formed in the of the required apparatus.

asians:

pipe or tubing. Whatever the source may be for liquid that is carried with the vapor or which drains into the compartment I8 this liquid may flow by gravity to the bottoms of the chamber and remain there instead of being carried with the vapor through the control valve 23. If the pipe 24 leads to a pressure regulator the ability of the construction to retain any liquid in the chamber is highly advantageous in that when liquids are carried with the vapor to a pressure regulator the sudden expansion or vaporization of the liquid frequently causes the pressure regulator to freeze up. In this construction the retention of the liquid in the ends of the chamber IB prevents the regulator from thus freezing up. The liquid that is collected in the chamber I8 will remain there until it is subsequently vaporized. 'I'his may occur merely with the passage of time and sometimes it is induced due to the fact thatv the walls surrounding the chamber I8 are so located as to more eiiiciently conduct ambient temperatures to the interior of the chamber and thus vaporize the liquid. The constructions as herein described, therefore, are so designed as to ihherently provide a liquid trap for trapping liquid in the line of flow of the vapor between the entrance to tube 28 and the control valve 23 and retaining it in the trap until such time as it is caused to vaporize.

Consequently by means of the present construction assembly of the Various valves with the fitting and their testing is greatly facilitated and may be done prior to the installation of the fitting on the tank. Only a single opening is formed in the head which accommodates the fitting for all Furthermore all of the various valves and the indicator may be arranged in a neat and convenient cluster about the center of the head of the tank and the liquid level indicator may be conveniently located so as to be easily read at all times.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A fitting for use in upright walls of tanks adapted to retain liquefied petroleum products comprising a tting applicable to an opening in the tank, said fitting having its interior divided into a vapor compartment and a liquid compartment, a safety valve, a vapor control valve, and a vapor return valve secured to the fitting and controlling fiow through the vapor compartment thereof, a liquid control valve and a filler secured to the fitting and controlling fiow through the liquid compartment thereof, conduits secured to the fitting and communicating with the liquid and vapor compartments respectively, said conduits being receivable through the opening on application of the fitting to the tank, the conduit connected with the vapor compartment extending upwardly above the top of the opening to the vapor space in the tank and the conduit connected to the liquid compartment extending from the fitting to a point vbelow the bottom of the opening adjacent the bottom of the tank.

2. A fitting for use in upright walls of tanks adapted to retain liquefied petroleum products comprising a fitting applicable to an opening in the tank, said fitting having its interior divided into a vapor compartment and a liquid compartment, a safety valve, and a vapor control valve,

and a vapor return valve secured to the fitting` and controlling flow through the vapor comspectively, said conduits being receivable through the opening on application of the fitting to the tank, the conduit connected with the vapor compartment extending upwardly to the vapor space in the tank and the conduit connected to the liquid compartment extending from the fitting to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank, and a ten percent outage valve mounted on the fitting and having a conduit receivable through the opening and extending upwardly to a point adjacent the top of the tank.

3. A fitting for use in upright walls of tanks adapted to retain liquefied petroleum products comprising a fitting applicable to an opening in the tank, said fitting having its interior divided into a vapor compartment and a liquid compartment, a safety valve, a vapor control valve, and a vapor return valve secured to the fitting and controlling flow through the vapor compartment thereof, a liquid control valve and a filler valve secured to the fitting and controlling flow through the liquid compartment thereof, conduits secured to the fitting and communicating with the liquid and vapor compartments respectively, said conduits being receivable through the opening on application of the fitting to the tank, the conduit connected with the vapor compartment extending upwardly to the vapor space in the tank and the conduit connected to the liquid compartment extending from the fitting to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank, and a liquid level indicator mounted on the fitting and receivable through the opening and arranged between the compartments.

4. A fitting applicable to a tank adapted to contain liquefied petroleum gases having two passages therethrough providing for communication between the interior of the tank and the exterior thereof, each passage being enlarged at its outer e d to form a semi-cylindrical chamber or compar ment, one of said chambers or compartments being open to receive gas from adjacent the top of the tank, said chamber having a vapor control valve, a safety valve and a vapor return valve mounted on the outer arcuate wall thereof, the other chamber being open to receive liquid from adjacent the bottom of the tank and having a liquid control valve and a filler valve mounted on the outer arcuate Wall thereof, said valves controlling ingress and egress to and from said chambers and being operable independently of one another.

5. A fitting applicable to a tank adapted to contain liquefied petroleum gases having two passages therethrough providing for communication between the interior of the tank and the exterior thereof, each passage being enlarged at its outer end to form a semi-cylindrical chamber or compartment, one of said chambers or compartments being open to receive gas from adjacent the top of the tank, said chamber having a 9 l. opposition to each other and having inner walls spaced from each other, and a liquid level gauge extending through said space to the interior of the tank.

6.Atank adapted to contain liquefied petroleum gases having an opening in an upright wall thereof, a fitting closing said opening, liquid and vapor outlet passages in the fitting, a vapor conduit connected to the fitting for conducting vapor to the vapor passage thereof, said vapor conduit extending from the fitting to a point above the top of the opening in the tank to the vapor space at the top of the tank, and a liquid conduit connected to the liquid passage in the fitting and extending upwardly therefrom to a point adjacent the upper end of the va-por conduit and then downwardly to a point in the liquid space adjacent the bottom of the tank, the spacing between the adjacent portions of the liquid and vapor conduits being less than the dimensions of the opening whereby the conduits may be tipped into the tank through said opening while attached to the fitting on applying the tting to the tank.

7. A tank adapted to contain liquefied petroleum gases having an opening in an upright wall thereof, a fitting closing said opening, liquid and vapor outlet passages in the fitting, a vapor conduit connected to the fitting for conducting vapor to the vapor passage thereof, said vapor conduit extending from the fitting to a point above the top of the opening in the tank to the vapor space at the top of the tank, and a liquid conduit connected to the liquid passage and extending therefrom to a point below the bottom of the opening to the liquid space adjacent the bottom of the tank, there being a 10% outage passage in the fitting, a 10% outage tube secured to the fitting and communicating therewith, said 10% outage tube extending from the fitting upwardly within the tank above the top of the opening and in close proximity to the vapor conduit.

8. A tank adapted to contain liquefied petroleum gases having an opening in an upright wall thereof, a fitting closing said opening, liquid and vapor outlet passages in the fitting, a vapor conduit connected to the fitting for conducting vapor to the vapor passage thereof, said vapor conduit extending from the fitting to a point above the top of the opening in the tank to the vapor space at the top of the tank, and a liquid conduit connected to the liquid passage and extending therefrom to a point below the bottom of the opening to the liquid space adjacent the bottom of the tank, there being a 10% outage passage in the fitting, a 10% outage tube secured to the fitting and communicating therewith, said 10% outage tube extending from the fitting upwardly within the tank above the top of the opening and in close proximity to the vapor conduit, the spacing between the vapor and liquid conduits and the 10% outage tube being less than the dimensions of said opening whereby said conduits and tube may be tipped into the tank through said opening While attached to the fitting on application of the fitting to the tank.

9. A fitting applicable to an upright opening in a tank wall, said fitting having passages therethrough, a vapor tube secured to the inner end of the fitting in communication with one of the passages, a liquid tube secured to the inner end of the fitting in communication with another of the passages, both tubes extending upwardly from the fitting to a point above the top of the fitting and being sufficiently close togetherl between the fitting and said point as to be capable of being simultaneously passed through the opening in applyingl the fitting thereto, the vapor tube terminating at said point and the `liquid tube extending' from said point downwardly therefrom to a, point below the bottom of said fitting.

10. A fitting applicable to an upright opening in a tank wall, said fitting having passages therethrough, a vapor tube secured to the. inner end of the fitting in communication with one of the passages, a liquid tube secured to the inner end of the fitting in communication with another of the passages, both tubes extending upwardly from the fitting to a point above the top of the fitting and being sufficiently close together between the fitting and said point as to be capable of being simultaneously passed through the opening in applying the fitting thereto, the vapor tube terminating at` said point and the liquid tube extending from said point downwardly therefrom to a point below the bottom of said fitting, and a, 10% outage tube secured to the fittingv communicating with a third passage therethrough and extending upwardly therefrom to a point above the top of the fitting, said 10% outage tube being also arranged closely adjacent the vapor tube so as to be insertable through the opening therewith on application of the fitting to the opening; n 11. A fitting applicable to an upright opening 1n a tank adapted to contain liquefied petroleum gases, said fitting being divided into two parts adapted to cooperate to close the opening, both parts having passages therethrough to enable egress from the tank to the exterior thereof, a vapor tube secured to the inner end of one of said parts in communication with the passage therethrough, said vapor tube extending upwardly therefrom to a point above the top of the fitting and in the vapor space of the tank to which the fitting is to be applied and arranged to be insertable in the tank through the opening on application of its part of the fitting thereto, and a liquid tube secured to the inner end of the other part of the fitting in communication with the passage therethrough, the liquid tube extending from the fitting to a point below the bottom of the tting in the liquid space of the tank and being arranged to be insertable through the opening on application of its part of the fitting thereto.

12. A fitting applicable to an upright opening in a tank adapted to contain liquefied petroleum gases, lsaid fitting being divided into two parts adapted to cooperate to close the opening, both parts having passages therethrough to enable egress from the tank to the exterior thereof, a vapor tube secured to the inner end of one of said parts in communication with the passage therethrough, said vapor tube extending upwardly therefrom to a point above the top of the fitting and in the vapor space of the tank to which the fitting is to be applied and arranged to be insertable in the tank through the opening on application of its part of the fitting thereto, a liquid tube secured to the inner end of the other part of the fitting in communication with the passage therethrough, the liquid tube extending from the fitting to a point below the bottom of the fitting in the liquid spacel of the tank and being arranged to be insertable through the opening an application of its part of the fitting thereto, and a 10% outage tube Secured to the inner end of the first mentioned part and communicatingA with the passage there# through, said outage tube extending up' wardly from the tting to a point thereabove and being disposed suliiciently close to the vapor tube that it may likewise be inserted in the tank through the opening on application of the first mentioned part of the fitting thereto.

13.AA fitting device adapted to be applied to an opening in an upright wall of the tank, the fitting device comprising a tting having passageways therethrough, a vapor tube secured to the irmer end of the fitting in communication with one of the passageways, a liquid tube secured to the inner end of the fitting in communication with another of the passageways. both tubes extending upwardly from the tting to a point above the top of the fitting, the vapor tube terminating at said point and the liquid tube extending from said point downwardly therefrom to a point below the bottom of the fitting, said tubes being generally parallel with respect to one another and being spaced so that the distance measured across the parallel tubes from the outer surface of one tube to the outer surface of the other tube is less than the dimensions of that portion of the fitting which is adapted to t directly in the opening of the tank, whereby said tubes may be tipped into the tank through said opening while attached to the itting on applying the fitting to the tank.

14. A fitting for liquefied petroleum gas tanks applicable to a single opening in a wall thereof, said fitting having a gas passage therethrough to conduct gas from the tank and a liquid passage therethrough to conduct liquid to and from the tank. a tube secured to the fitting and extending from the inner end thereof to a point above the top of the fitting so that when the tube is disposed in the gas tank it may receive gas from the upper portion of the tank and conduct it to the fitting, a second tube secured to the ntting and extendingifrom the inner end of the liquid passage to a point below the bottom of the fitting so that when the second tube is disposed in a gas tank it may conduct liquid from adjacent the bottom of the tank to the agsiaisi'.

- liquid passage. valves mounted on the fitting adjacent the opposite end thereof from that to l which `theltubes are secured and controlling the flow through the passages, the gas passage being characterized by having a portion disposed below ,the valves controlling the gas passage so that any liquid conducted to the gas passage may collect in said portion and be afforded an opportunity to vaporize therein without being carried by the gas flow into the valves controlling the gas passage.

15. A liquefied petroleum gas tank having a fitting applied to a single opening in an upright wall thereof. said fitting having a vapor passage and a liquid passage therethrough, a vapor tube secured to the fitting and connected to the vapor passage thereof, said vapor tube extending from the fitting upwardly above the top thereof to a point near the top of the tank so as to receive gas from the vapor space of the tank, a second tube secured to the ntting and connected to the liquid passage thereof and extending therefrom below the bottom of the iitting to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank so as to receive liquid from the liquid space of the tank, and valves mounted on the fitting and disposed externally of the tank controlling said passages.

OLIVER W. KILHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,572,727 I Kerl Feb. 9, 1926 1,896,341 Beman Feb. 7, 1933 1,912,333 Robillard May 30, 1933 1,933,918 McInOSh NOV. 7, 1933 2,028,283 Howard et al. Jan. 21, 1936 2,105,383 White Jan. 11, 1938 2,216,917 Klumb Oct. 8, 1940 2,225,578 White Dec. 17, 1940 2,361,865 Norway Oct. 31. 1944 2,433,744 Dieterle Dec. 30, 1947 2,449,350 White Sept. 14, 1948

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