US2886052A - Filler valve construction - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1959 P. A. SMITH 2,886,052

FILLER VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 6, 1956 86 IN V EN TOR.'

ea 7 mm 9 ATTORNEYS;

United States Patent FILLER VALVE CONSTRUCTION Peter A. Smith, Marshalltown, Iowa, assignor to Fisher Governor Company, Marshalltown, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application February 6, 1956, Serial No. 563,502

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-109) This invention relates generally to a filler valve construction, and more particularly to such devices intended for use in liquefied petroleum gas storage and dispensing systems.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over the structure disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 474,897, filed December 13, 1954, now Patent No. 2,813,401 granted November 19, 1957. In my said copending application, I disclosed a unitary filler valve construction for introducing a replenishing supply of liquid petroleum gas into the vapor space of a storage container having dip pipe means for emergency liquid removal. In the present case, I have again disclosed a construction of this same general type, wherein the additional improvement of an excess flow check feature is provided. a

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a control valve devic'e serving to permit the introduction of a volatile fluid, and more particularly liquefied petroleum gas, into the vapor space of a closed storage and dispensing container, wherein undesired discharge of fluid from the container during normal dispensing of gas therefrom is effectively prevented.

It is another object of this invention to provide im-' proved liquid inlet control means for spraying or diffusing a volatile fluid into the vapor space of a closed container, while confining the expansion of such fluid to the actual point of entry into the vapor space, thereby achieving a refrigeration effect to permit filling operations to be completed entirely without the use of any vapor return systems.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a filler valve construction of the type described, wherein an excess flow check feature is embodied to prevent excess discharge of fluid from the container during withdrawal operations. i

It is still another object of this invention to provide a filler valve construction having a relatively great capacity with respect to the entry of incoming fluid into the container, and a relatively low capacity with respect to the withdrawal of fluid from the container, whereby careful regulation and control of the relatively small flow of outgoing fluid may be achieved while efiiciently performing the primary function of introducing fluid into the container at a substantial rate.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

,Figure l of the drawing is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in cross section, showing on a greatly reduced scale a liquid petroleum container provided with a filler valve assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the filler ICE.

I storage and dispensing container or tank of the'type commonly used by the liquefied petroleum gas industry. The container 10 serves to enclose and confine a quantity of liquid petroleum gas 12 having a maximum liquid level 14. The liquid level 14 is spaced below the top wall 16 of the tank so as to define a vapor zone or space 18. In practice, the vapor zone 18 is normally a minor fraction of the total container volume. In the case of the storage of propane gas, for example, the space 18 which represents the vapor phase of the fluid within the tank is about 20 percent of the total container volume.

A filler valve assembly or unit, employing the features of the present invention, is indicated generally at 20. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, the assembly 20 includes a generally hollow open-ended mounting coupling 22, which is externally screw-threaded at 24 for fixed and gas-tight cooperation with a suitable aperturedefining fixture in the top wall 16 of the container 10. Inthis way, the entire assembly 20 may be removably mounted in a predetermined position.

An adapter coupling 26 of generally hollow openended form is screW-threadedly received at 28 in cooperating gas-tight relation within the upper end of the coupling 22. A suitable gasket 29 is provided, and is disposed on an internal shoulder of the coupling 22. The coupling 26 provides an internal shoulder at its upper end to receive a sealing ring 30, and is internally screwthreaded at 32, for cooperation with removablefittings of the well-known type which provide conduit means from the filler valve assembly to a supply truck or the like. A suitable removable closure cap 34 (see Figure 2) is provided in conventional manner.

' Adjacent the lower end of the coupling 26, an internal wall portion serves to define a downwardly-directed annular valve seat 36. Valve guiding and supporting means 38 are integrally formed within the mounting coupling 22 and centrally positioned therein in the manner of a spider so as to provide flow passageways 40 therearound. A valve member 42 isslidably carried in vertically reciprocable manner upon the upper end of the means 38. The valve member 42 carries a sealing disc 44 in removably replaceable manner at its upper end for eooperativesealing engagement with the valve seat 36. Suitable clearance and apertures are provided peripherally about the valve member 42 relative to the inner side wall of the coupling 22 so as to permit fluid flow therearound when the sealing disc 44 is spaced from the valve seat 36, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. A bias spring 46 of conical form seats against the lower surface of the valve member 42 and against a suitable .internal shoulder 48 formed by the coupling 22. The

spring 46 serves to urge the valve member 42 in an upward direction into seating engagement against the valve seat 36. Under normal fuel storage conditions, the valve member 42 effects a closure so as to preclude any outward flow.

' j of fluid upwardly through the coupling 26.

Such structures are conventional and well-known in theart. The present invention is primarily directed to those portions of structure which are cooperatively mounted Patented May 12,1959

in combination with thefiller valve structure to accomplish the objectives of the invention. These improvements will now be described in detail.

The spray filling means and withdrawal-flow back-check feature of thepresent invention are embodied in a unitary assembly having a vertically elongated main housing 50 of generally hollow open-ended form. The housing 5'0 is suitably screw-threaded at its upper end 52 for mounting cooperation with the lower end of the filler valve coupling 22. In this way, the spray filling means is mounted entirely within the tank and within the vapor space 18.

Closely adjacent the upper end of the main housing 50, a restricted inner wall portion of generally downwardly tapered conical form serves to define a downwardly-facing valve seat 54. The lower end of the main housing 50 removably carries a dip-pipe coupling member 56, which is suitably threaded for attachment to the main housing 50 and for removable attachment of a dip-pipe 58 (see Figure l). Thedip-pipe 58 is of the well-known type which extends vertically downwardly to a point well below the upper level 14 of the liquid 12 and closely adjacent the bottom of the tank. The upper end of the dip-pipe coupling 56 provides an inwardly extending annular shoulder portion which serves to define an upwardly-facing valve seat 60 within the housing 50.

A generally hollow valve cup member 62, having an open top and a closed bottom is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement within the main housing 50. The valve cup 62 provides a relatively enlarged cylindrical side wall 64 at its upper end, and a relatively restricted cylindrical side wall 66 at its lower end. A bottom wall 68 provides a centrally apertured boss 70, which extends upwardly within the valve cup 62 and terminates in an annular seating lip 71. The side wall portion 64 is disposed closely adjacent a generally cylindrical inner side wall portion 72 of the housing 50. The substantial vertical height of the wall portion 64 enables the entire valve cup 62 to effect vertical sliding movement within the housing 59.

A plurality of spray ports 74 extend laterally through the side wall portion 72 of the housing 50 and are circumferentially spaced from each other, as best seen in Figure 4 of the drawing. An internal shoulder 76 is formed by the housing 50 at the upper end of the wall portion 72 and serves to provide an annular abutment or valve seat against which the annular upper end or lip of the valve cup 62 is adapted to seat. Such an upper position of engagement between the valve cup 62 and the shoulder 76 is shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, and it -will be apparent that in this position the side wall portion 64 of the valve cup serves to overlie the laterally directed spray ports 74. When thus positioned, the upper lip of the valve cup 62 and the shoulder 76 operate in the manner of a valve and valve seat.

The wall portion 66 of the valve cup 62 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 78. In this way, fluid flow may pass through the interior of the valve cup 62 and through the wall portion 66 into the annular space between the wall portion 66 and the adjacent housing wall 72.

The boss 70 serves to provide guiding and supporting means for mounting an excess flow check valve member comprising a stem 80 having an enlarged poppet or valve head 82 at its upper end. A valve cup biasing spring 84 is positioned about the wall portion 66 in engagement with the upper end of the dip-pipe cup 56 and the annular wall surface of the valve cup 62 formed intermediate the wall portions 64 and 66. The spring 84 serves to urge the valve cup member 62 upwardly toward a position of seating engagement against the valve seat 76, as shown in Figure 2.

A poppet valve biasing spring 86 is positioned about the portion of the poppet valve stem 80 which extends downwardly below the valve cup member 62. The upper end of the spring 86 seats against thelower surface of the cup bottom wall 68', and the lower end of the spring 86 seats against an adjustably positionable shoulder member 88. The lower end of the stem is suitably threaded for cooperation with the member 88 so that the biasing force of the spring 86 may be suitably adjusted as desired. The spring 86 normally serves to withdraw the valve poppet 82 into seated engagement upon the annular seating lip 71, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

During filling operation, incoming liquid passes downwardly through the adapter coupling 26, and provides a sufficient force by virtue of its incoming velocity and weight to move the valve member 42 downwardly away from the valve seat 36 against the bias of the spring 46. With the filler valve back-check 42 now in its open position, the incoming fluid continues to pass downwardly about the valve member 42 and through the mounting coupling 22 and the apertures 40 into the restricted conical upper end of the main housing 50 of the spray filling means. The liquid passes downwardly through the valve seat 54 and engages the valve cup member 62. Once again, the force and velocity of the incoming liquid is sufiicient to depress the valve cup 62 against the bias of the spring 84 from the position seen in Figure 2 to that seen in Figure 3 of the drawing. The spray filling ports 74 are then exposed and the liquid passes laterally outwardly therethrough for expansion and spraying into the vapor space 18.

The bottom wall 68 of the valve cup member 62 is caused to seatingly engage the valve seat 69 by the force of the inwardly flowing liquid, thereby preventing liquid flow downwardly through the dip-pipe coupler 56 and the dip-pipe 58. All of the incoming liquid, therefore, is directed outwardly through the spray ports 74 into the container 10.

During liquid Withdrawal operations, the filler valve back-check 42 is positively moved to its open position by means of a suitable tool or stem introduced through the adapter coupling 26 in the well-known manner. The pressure within the tank 10 causes the fluid 12 to pass upwardly through the dip-pipe 58, through the coupling 56 and valve seat 60, through the apertures 78 and the valve cup member 62, around the poppet 82, upwardly through the main housing 50 and mounting coupling 22, and finally through the valve seat 36 and the adapter coupling 26. In the event that the discharge of the liquid upwardly through the assembly exceeds a predetermined limit, the pressure differential created about the annular orifice defined by the poppet 82 and the side wall 64 of the valve cup member will serve to cause the poppet 82 to be lifted above the boss 70 against the bias of the spring 86. As the excess flow check poppet 82 moves upwardly a sutficient distance, it effects engagement against the valve seat 54, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, and serves to close the fluid passage through the main housing 50. In this way, withdrawal flow is interrupted until such time as the pressure conditions which create the excess flow are returned to a normal level.

It is a highly important feature of this invention, that the operation of the back-check poppet valve 82 is regulated by the pressure flow conditions through the relatively restricted annular passageway defined by the poppet 82 and the valve cup member side wall 64. As clearly appears in the drawing, this annular passageway is of substantially restricted cross-sectional area in comparison to the other flow passage areas through the assembly 20. The arrangement of parts is designed so that the maximum restriction in the flow stream through the valve assembly will occur at this particular point surrounding the poppet 82. The maximum pressure differential in the flow stream through the assembly 20, therefore, is effective to actuate the excess flow check valve or poppet 82.

The particular form and configuration of the poppet 82 is of considerable importance. As best seen in Figure 3 of the drawing, the poppet 82 is fixedly positioned by its engagement upon the boss 70 when the valve cup member has been moved downwardly to its spray filling position. The upper end of the poppet 82 is conically tapered at 82a. As seen by the flow direction arrows on Figure 3, this tapered form of the poppet 82 serves to channel and direct the incoming flow toward and through the spray filling ports 74. The conical portion 820 of the poppet is also desirable for the purpose of providing a relatively modulated or progressive constriction of the fiow passage through the valve seat 54 during flow closing movement of the poppet 82. Stepped cylindrical portions 82b and 820 of the poppet 82 below its conical portion 82a serve to provide the annular restricted flow passageway, heretofore described in connection with the actuation of the poppet during withdrawal flow. As seen in Figure 2, the portion 82c serves as the valving element for sealing cooperation with the valve seat 54. The concurrent movement of the poppet 82 with the valve cup member 62, when incoming fiuid is directed through the assembly, serves to eliminate the poppet 82 as a direct obstruction to the liquid flow in a manner which might cause undue turbulence.

It will be understood by those familiar with the liquefied petroleum gas art that the features of the present invention may be adapted for use in multiple valved head assemblies. In such constructions, it is often common to provide a fluid passage communicating with the upper valve body at a point below the upper back-check valve 42. Such a fluid passage might be provided with a shut-off valve, in conventional manner, and could be utilized for the purpose of withdrawal of liquid from the container for various applications in which vapor is not a satisfactory fuel form. For safety purposes, it is mandatory that such a liquid flow outlet be provided with an excess flow check feature.

If the present invention is adapted for use in a multiple valved head construction, a liquid withdrawal passage may be positioned intermediate the upper back-check valve 42 and the lower back-check valve seat 54. The lower check valve or poppet 82 of the present invention would satisfy the requirement of an excess flow check feature for such a liquid withdrawal outlet, thereby serving the dual function of protecting both emergency withdrawal flow through the filler valve connection and dispensing withdrawal flow through the additional outlet. The necessity of installing a separate excess flow check valve in the additional liquid outlet would be avoided. In this way, it is possible to provide an excess flow check valve of suflicient sensitivity to protect a liquid dispensing outlet connection in a multiple valved head without unnecessarily restricting normal inlet flow during filling operations.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my filler valve construction without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by the claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical improvements which may be reasonably included within their sco e.

\Efhat I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patents of the United States is:

1. In a liquid petroleum gas dispensing installation of the type including a tank and a filler valve mounted in the top wall thereof, the combination with said filler valve of flow directing means comprising an open-ended vertically-elongated body of hollow form having its upper end in flow communication with said filler valve and having its lower end adapted to communicate with a dip-pipe,

means forming a first valve seat intermediate the ends of said body and providing an eduction passageway therethrough, said body being formed with a laterally extending filling port above said valve seat, control valve means mounted within said body for movement between operative positions to alternately close said eduction passageway and said filling port, means forming a second valve seat intermediate said first valve seat and said filler valve, and an excess flow check valve carried by said control valve means for movement therewith, said excess flow check valve being reciprocably movable relative to said control valve means for cooperation Wllh said second valve seat, said excess fiow check valve being normally biased in spaced relation below said second valve seat.

2. In a liquid petroleum gas dispensing installation of the type including a tank and a filler valve mounted in the top wall thereof, the combination with said filler valve of flow directing means comprising an open-ended vertically-elongated body of hollow form having its upper end in flow communication with said filler valve and having its lower end adapted to communicate with a dip-pipe, means forming a first generally horizontal valve seat intermediate the ends of said body and providing an eduction passageway therethrough, said body being formed with a laterally extending filling port above said valve seat, control valve means mounted within said body for movement between operative positions to alternately close said eduction passageway and said filling port, means forming a second generally horizontal valve seat intermediate said first valve seat and said filler valve, and an excess flow check valve carried by said control valve means for movement therewith, said excess flow check valve being reciprocably movable relative to said control valve means for cooperation with said second valve seat, said excess flow check valve being normally biased in spaced relation below said second valve seat.

3. In a liquid petroleum gas dispensing installation of the type including a tank and a filler valve mounted in the top wall thereof, the combination with said filler valve of flow directing means comprising an open-ended vertically-elongated body of hollow form having its upper end in flow communication with said filler valve and having its lower end adapted to communicate with a dippipe, means forming a first valve seat intermediate the end of said body and providing an eduction passageway therethrough, said body being formed with a laterally extending filling port above said first valve seat, control valve means mounted within said body for movement between operative positions to alternately close said eduction passageway and said filling port, means normally biasing said control valve means to a position spaced entirely above said first valve seat and fully overlying said filling port to close said port and open said eduction passageway, said control valve being spaced below said filling port to open it when said control valve means is moved downwardly against said biasing means to a position of seated engagement upon said first valve seat to close said eduction passageway, means forming a second valve seat above said filling port, and an excess flow check valve reciprocably mounted within said body and supported entirely below said second valve seat for cooperation therewith, said excess fiow check valve being normally downwardly biased in open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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