US3187766A

US3187766A - Valving system for a vessel having a plurality of compartments

Info

Publication number: US3187766A
Application number: US104641A
Authority: US
Inventors: James J Black
Original assignee: Pullman Inc
Current assignee: Pullman Inc; Trailmobile Inc
Priority date: 1961-04-21
Filing date: 1961-04-21
Publication date: 1965-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-08

Description

June 8, 1965 J l BLACK 3,187,766

VALVING SYSTEM FOR A VESSEL HAVING A PLURALITY 0F coMPARTlvlENTs 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1961 Q .wv Jv 4v E mv cm .4 4 d d Q F m o# L vm Nm Nw wm am A PN s m .Gm e.v .Am nm mm mm am mm nu l l 4 a XK Nw.. m o\ wm om mm X. ,mm m. u F @A A, A E@ o .rdv @gov mv o Se e m. .IrrLl LIIILWIIrIIIl-I- 4 o L- L L F L 1 Q y, N A A A I BY l a ,JZM ATTORA/Ey.

J. J. BLACK June 8, 1965 VALVING SYSTEM FOR A VESSEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2l, 1961 IVENTOR.

,QT weil/y June 8, 1965 -VALVING SYSTEM FOR A VESSEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS Filed April 2l, 1961 J. J. BLACK 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 8, 1965 J. .1. BLACK 3,187,756

VALVING' SYSTEM FOR A VESSEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS Fned April 21, 1961 1o sheets-snee14 AT TokA/Ey.

J. J. BLACK 3,187,766

l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 8, 1965 VALVING SYSTEM FOR A VESSEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS Filed April 21, 1961 June 8, 1965 J. J. BLACK 3,187,766

vALvING SYSTEM FOR A VESSEL HAVING A PLURALITY oF CQMPARTMENTS Filed April 2l. 1961 l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 B VENTO 4M-M June 8, 1965 J. J. BLACK 3,187,765

VALVING' SYSTEM FOR A VESSEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS mea April 21, 1961 1o sheets-sheet fr A T TEA/Ey.

J. J. BLACK 3,187,766

VALVING SYSTEM FOR A VESSL HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS June 8, 1965 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 2l. 1961 A79 Tom/5x5.

June 8, 1965 J, J, BLACK 3,187,766

vALvING SYSTEM Fon A vEssEL HAVING A PLURALITY oF coMPARTMENTs Filed April 21. 1961 1o sheets-sheet e 2, y x Arm' J. J. BLACK June 8, 1965 vALvING SYSTEM Fon A vEssEL HAVING A PLURALITY oF cormnwn'rs Filed April' 21.1961

United States Patent O VALVING SYSTEM FR A VESSEL HAVBNG A PLURALITY OF COMPARTIVIENTS James J. Black, Cincinnati, Chio, assigner, by mesne assignments, to Pullman Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 21, 196i, Ser. No. 104,641

Claims. (Cl. 137-267) This invention relates to valving systems for vessels or tanks which are used in the storage or transportation of bulk liquids, such as gasoline, fuel oil and the like. The vessel or tank structure for which the valving system is particularly applicable is intended to be used as a transportable freight container, or for a railway tank car, or for highway vehicles such as trucks and trailers. In the present disclosure, a highway semitrailer, of the type which is used extensively in transporting petroleum 4products from the distributor to the retailer, has been selected to illustrate the principles of the invention.

The present valving system is intended particularly for use in conjunction with tank structures of the type i shown in the copending application of I ames I. Black et al. for Self Sustaining Vessel, Serial No. 25,324, now Patent No. 3,131,949. The copending applicaton discloses a light weight, self-sustaining vessel having a substantial length adapted to reside in a horizontal position upon a pair of spaced stationary supports, or upon running gear disposed at opposite ends of a vehicle, without requiring any external support or bridging structure. In general, the vessel comprises longitudinal upper and lower beams in the form of channel-like extruded metal sections formed of aluminum or other light weight metal, together with longitudinal tank shell sections welded to the opposite side portions of the extrusions and forming the body of the vessel.

To provide for the storage or transportation of different liquid commodities, the elongated vessel is provided with a number of internal bulkheads spaced apartV to subdivide the vessel into a series of compartments along its length, which necessarily are sealed with respect to one another. The compartments are iilled individually by Way of manholes or hatches formed in the upper extruded beam of the vessel, one manhole being provided for each compartment. At the point of delivery, it is necessary to drain each compartment separatelyV so as -to avoid any intermixing of the liquid commodities confined in the respective compartments. By way of example, if a bulk cargo of gasoline or other volatile liquid is stored or transported in one or more compartments, whilefuel oil or the like :is confined in another compartment, intermingling of the volatile commodity with the fuel oil could lower the ash point of the fuel oil to a dangerous level.

One of the primary objectives of the invention has been to provide a drainage system for a vessel compris- :ing a valve box mounted beneath the vessel and having emergency discharge valves which are isolated from one another, with one of the isolated valves in direct communication with the compartment above the valve box, the other valves of the valve box being in communication with the remote compartments by means of drainage passageways, whereby the valve box simplilies the drainage system, the isolated valves adapted to be opened selectively to drain the respective compartments individually. Y Y

Another objective has been to provide a simplified, rugged drainage system wherein the valve box includes longitudinal drainage passageways or sumps extending beneath the vessel, the sumps and valve box being generally channel-shaped in cross section and forming a unit adapted to be welded with its open top seated 3,187,766 Patented June 8, 1965 rice@ directly against the lower extrusion of the vessel, such that the extrusion coacts with the sump and valve box to form a reinforced longitudinal drainage tunnel communicating with the compartments.

In the disclosure selected to illustrate the invention, the Vessel is subdivided by bulkheads into three compartments, the lower extrusion having drainage openings connecting the individual compartments with the sump and with the valve box. The sump is of longitudinally sectional construction, comprising a forward section and a rearward section, preferably in the form of individual castings, both sections leading to the valve box, which is located at an intermediate point along the length of the vessel, the sump sections having open ends which are welded to the valve box. The drainage openings of the` forward and rearward compartments communicate with the forward and rearward sump sections, while the intermediate compartment communicates directly with the valve box, so as to eliminate one sump section or drainage passageway. The sump sections and valve box form a simple, one-piece package unit which is capable of being installed in a rapid convenient mannerrby welding. The two sump sections include bottoms which slope longitudinally and downwardly in opposite directions toward the valve box, and the valve box is located at the lowest point along the vessel to provide drainage.

Each internal emergency valve of the valve box, communicates with an external, hand-operated valve adapted to provide a coupling connection with a hose for conducting the liquid to its point of delivery. The external valves are conventional and are operated by the driver to'control the delivery of the liquid from the respective compartments. The internal emergency valves are normally closed and must be opened before it is possible to drain the compartments; these valves are adapted to be closed quickly for safety purposes, as explained below.

As noted earlier, the compartments of the vessel are sealed with respect to one another and necessarily are drained separately to avoid any intermixng of the bulk liquids at the point of delivery, for safety purposes. In addition however, regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission prohibit any intercompartment transfer of the liquids, that is, the transfer, by pumping or drainage, of liquid from one compartment to another through the valving system of the vessel. These regulations are also promulgated in the interest of safety to prevent, for example, the transfer and intermingling of a volatile liquid from one compartment with fuel oil or the like in another compartment, or to prevent contamination of other kinds of liquids.

A further objective of the invention has been to provide a simple, reliable valve selector mechanism which is adapted to permit only one of the emergency valves to be opened at any given time, thereby to prevent any intercompartment transfer of liquids by way of the valving system and to prevent any intermingling in the discharge of the commodities from the different compartments of the vessel at the external point of delivery.

According to this aspect of the invention, each emergency valve is normally spring-loaded in its closing direction and includes a pull rod connected to a hand-operated valvelever arranged to be shifted manually to open a selected valve while the remaining valves are cocked in closed position, as explained later. The pull rod is connected to the hand lever at a pivot point which swings past a dead center position, so as to provide a self-locking action which holds the spring-loaded valve in open position. In order to permit the emergency valves to 'close automatically in case of fire, each pull rod is of sectional construction, the two sections being joined by a fusible, low melting point metallic connector. The connector 3 melts under a predetermined temperature, thus adapting the spring-loaded emergency valve to snap to its closed position with the hand lever in valve open position.

In order to normally lock the emergency valves in closed position and to permit the opening of only one selected valve at any giventime, each hand lever is coupled to a rotatable locking head having a locking slot extending across its upper portion, the slot being traversed by a selector bar. The selector bar is shiftable lengthwise with respect to the locking heads and includes a series of open notches, one for each head, the notches being arranged in keyed relationship with the individual locking heads. The arrangement is such that the emergency valve fora selected compartmentmay be opened only when the notch. for that particular valve is shifted into registry withV the locking head, permitting the head to rotate. The selector bar is shifted longitudinally by a hand-operated selector lever mounted formovement relative to a quadrant having indicating marks corresponding to the compartments to be selected, and including a locking position in which all three of the notches are shifted f out of registry with the locking heads, making it impossible to open any of the valves with the hand levers.

A further objective of the invention has been to provide an emergency valve control system adapting the driver to close any one of the open emergency valves from a remote point in the event of a malfunction, ksuch as the leakage or breakage of a discharge hose or other part, or in the event of a fire in the vicinity of the tank.

In general, the emergency control system comprises hand-operated emergency closing lever mounted at a point remote from the valve box, preferably at the nose of the tank, the leverrbeing connected by a pull rod to an emergency control'bar which is shiftable longitudinally in response to operation of the emergency lever. The emergency bar extends alongside' Ythe `locking heads of the several `valve levers andeach locking head includes avtrip lever mounted for swinging motion about the axis of the head, the trip levers being shifted in a valve closing direction upon manual actuation of the emergency bar. Upon being thus shifted, the trip lever of the open valve rotates the locking head in valve opening direction sufcientlyto swing the pivot of the pullV rod across and beyond its dead center position, thus allowing the spring,- loaded emergency valve to snap to its closed position.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that when a given compartment is to be drained, the selector lever is swung from its locking position Vto a position designatingthe desired compartment, and the delivery hose is coupled to the hand valve for that particular compartment. Thereafter, the operating lever for the selected valve is shifted to its open position and the hand valve is opened, allowing the contents to how from the com partment through the sump, valve box and valves to the Y hose.

When a given emergency valve is shifted to its open position, the locking head for that valve will have been rotated sufficiently to bring its slot to an angularposition relative to the selector bar; hence, the head acts asa lock with respect to the selector bar. In other words, before the barcan be shiftedto select another compartment and valve, the open valve must first be closed, thereby preventing in a positive mannerany accidental interrnixing of liquids. This interlocking action also prevents any intercompartment transfer of liquids, as ref rred to Y earlier. v

`It will also be understood that the emergency control mechanism has no function in the normal operation of the emergency valves nor does it interfere in any way with normal operationof the valving system. The fusible connectors of the pull rods also operate independently of the emergency control mechanism and provide additional protection since the connectors provide automatic closing of the open valve in the event of fire in the vicinity of the vessel. Y

The various features and advantages of the present valving system will be more fully apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a tank'type semitrailer embodying the sump and valvingV system of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, generally similar to FIGURE 1, illustrating the internal bulkheads which subdivide the tank longitudinally into separate compartment, together with the baies which subdivide the compartments.

FIGURE 3 .is an enlarged sectional viewV detailing the forward portion of the tank, the drainage sump, and the valve chamber.

FIGURE ,4 is a continuation of FIGURE 3, showing the rearward compartment and drainage sump.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 4, showing one of the baffles of the tank.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 3, illustrating one of the bulkheads of the tank.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view taken from FIGURE 1, detailing the valve chamber, the selector lever, the valve actuating levers, and the internal emergency valves'which control the delivery of liquid from the individual tank compartments.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8 8 of FIGURE 7, detailing the valve chamber and valving system.

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional View taken along line 9 9 of FIGURE 8, further detailingthe sump structure.

FIGURE l0 is an enlarged fragmentary'cross sectional view taken along line 1(9 10 of FIGURE 7, detailing the valve actuating mechanism in relation to the valve chamber and tank structure.

FIGURE 1l is a diagrammatic plan, as viewed along line 11 11 of FIGURE 7, `illustrating the valve operating levers and selector mechanism.

FIGURE l2 is a sectional view taken along line 12 12 of FIGURE 11,'showing the selector mechanism in a position locking the valves in closed position.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12, showing the selector bar shifted to a second position adapting a selected valve to be opened.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary plan,` as viewed along line 14-14 of FIGURE l2, showing the selector bar shifted to locking position with respect` to one of the valve locking heads. n

FIGURE l5 is a view similar to FIGURE 14, taken along line 15 15 of FIGURE 13, showing the selector bar shifted to the release position with respect to the locking head, with the head rotated to the valve open position.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16 16 of FIGURE 14further detailing `the selector bar and valver locking head in the locked position.k

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 16 taken along line 17 17 of FIGURE 15, showing the parts in unlocked position.

FIGURE 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18 18 of FIGURE' 15 detailing the construction of the selector bar and emergency control bar in relation to the valve FIGURE 20 is a side elevation of a tank type semil trailer partially broken away and illustrating a modied sump arrangement.

FIGURE 21 is an enlarged fragmentary View partially broken away illustrating the valve chamber of the modified structure.

Tank structure Described generally with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the drainage and valv'mg apparatus of this invention is illustrated in relation to a semitrailer comprising a generally horizontal, self-supporting vessel or tank, indicated generally at 1, which includes running gear, indicated generally at 2, at its rearward end and a fifth wheel, indicated generally at 3, at its forward end. The fifth wheel is arranged to be supported upon the mating fth wheel of a tractor (not shown) and includes a king pin 4 which establishes a draft connection with the coupling jaws of the tractor fth wheel. Thus, during roadway transport, the forward end of the tank is supported on the tractor fifth wheel and when the vehicle is uncoupled, as shown in FIGURE l, the forward portion of the vehicle is supported upon a landing gear or prop structure, which is indicated generally at 5.

Although a semitrailer has been selected to illustrate the principles of the present drainage and valving system, the system is also intended for containers or vessels used in the storage and transportation of liquids generally. For example, the valving system is intended for horizontal stationary storage tanks and for railway tank car service in the transportation of bulk liquids by rail.

Since the vessel is supported at opposite ends upon the running gear 2 and the fth wheel 3 during road transport, the Vessel acts as a hollow beam in supporting the weight load of the bulk liquid which it connes. As described in the aforesaid copending application, longitudinal stiffness sucient to resist the forces acting upon the light weight longitudinal vessel is imparted principally by an upper extrusion 6 and a coacting lower extrusion 7, both of which form a part of the tank structure. In addition, the tank includes internal bulkheads and bracing structure coacting with the longitudinal extrusions to provide a Vessel which is capable of resisting the stresses and strains of roadway transport reliably and without danger of structural failure. The prop, running gear, fth wheel and other components, adapting the vessel to roadway service, in and of themselves may be conventional. These components are connected to the lower extrustion 7, as described in the copending application.

As viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2, the running gear 2 is of the tandem type, comprising sets or" road wheels 8 8 carried on tandem axles It-10, the axles being connected to a tandem spring suspension (not shown) which equilizes the weight load imposed upon the two sets of wheels 8. The spring suspension is carried by an undercarriage 11 which includes side plates 12-12 extending downwardly from the longitudinal stiifener ribs or flanges 13-13 of the lower extrustion 7 (FIGURE 5). A series of secondary flanges or ribs 14, located between the flanges 13-13 also extend longitudinally of the lower extrusion end, in combination with the flanges 13, increase the longitudinal stiffness of the extrusion.

As viewed in FIGURE 10, the lower extrusion '7 is of l sectional construction, comprising four full length sections welded together to form a one piece-beam. Thus, in the form illustrated, the extrusion is composed of of a pair of outer extruded sections .1S-15 and a pair of inner extruded sections 16--16, the sections being joined to one another along the longitudinal weld lines 17. The drainage sump or drain tunnel, indicated generally at 18 (FIGURE 5), is channel-shaped in cross section, having its upper edges welded as at 2i) to the central portion of the lower extrusion 7.

As viewed in FIGURE 5, the side plates 12 extend downwardly to a plane below the sump, such that there is no interference between the sump and the components or" the tandem suspension. In order to further strengthen the rearward portion of the vessel in the area of the undercarriage, there is provided a pair of internal horizontal braces 2li-21 (FIGURES 4 and 5), which rise upwardly from the lower extrusion in the vertical plane of the respective flanges 13, the lower edge of each brace 21 being welded to the extrusion, As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, similar internal horizontal braces 22 are mounted within the forward portion of the tank in the area of the fifth wheel 3. The fifth wheel 3 is in the form of aV composite plate structure which is welded to the lower edges of the flanges 13 and 14 (not shown).

The upper extrusion 6 (FIGURE 5) may also be of sectional construction, comprising several longitudinal extrusions welded in assembly. To impart additional stiff- Y ness, the upper extrusion is provided with a pair of iianges 23--23 which are T-shaped in cross section. The upper extrusion is provided with manholes or hatches for filling the individual compartments of the tank, as explained later. As viewed in FIGURES 5 and 6, the tank preferably is cylindrical in cross section, the body of the tank comprising curved side wall panels or shells 24-24 which are formed of sheet metal, the edges of the shells being welded as at 25 to the marginal portions of the upper and lower extruded metal sections. The opposite ends of the tank are enclosed by forward and rearward end walls 26 and 27 (FIGURES 3 and 4), which are welded as at 28 to the opposite ends of the tank shell.

In the present disclosure (FIGURE 2), the vessel is subdivided longitudinally by bulkheads 33 into three compartments, comprising a forward compartment 30, an intermediate compartment 31 and a rearward compartment 32, which adapt the vessel to the transportation of different liquid products which are separately discharged, as explained later, ally by way of the three manholes or hatches 34 which are formed in the upper extrusion 6. The manholes are provided with suitable covers (not shown) to seal the compartments. Y

Described with reference to FIGURES 2, 3, and 6, each bulkhead includes a marginal flange 35, joined by welding to the internal surface of the tank, that is, to the upper and lower extiusions 6 and 7 and to the sheet metal shells 24 of the tank. Each bulkhead is reinforced by bracing members 36 which interiit the concave configuration of the bulkhead, The bracing members preferably are sprung in place then welded so as to pre-stress the bulkhead. The pre-stressed bulkheads thus provide load transfer members interconnecting the upper and lower extrusions, such that the lower extrusion acts primarily as a spine component, while the upper extrusion coacts with the lower extrusion principally in compression in resisting the load and shock forces.

The

compartments

30 and 32 are subdivided by baies 37, which are generally similar to the bulk heads, including flanges 35 which are welded in place in the same manner. Each baffle includes an opening 38 permitting the ow of liquid therethrough. As viewed in FIGURE 5, the lower extrusion includes a central channel way 39. The edge of each baiiie spans the channel way, thus leaving an opening 4@ to provide drainage across the lower edge of the baffle, thereby to permit residual liquid to drain from the compartments. The upper extrusion 6 (FIGURE 5) is provided with a similar channel way 41 to provide venting of gas across the upper edges of the baiiles. In order to seal off the compartments from one another at the bulkheads 33 (FIGURES 6 and 10) the upper and

lower channel ways

41 and 39 are blocked o by suitable inserts, as indicated at 42 and 43, which interiit the opening delineated by channel way. The inserts are welded permanently inplace and seal the bulkheads with respect to the internal surface of the vessel.

Sump and valve arrangement The semitrailer is extensively used in the highway trans- The compartments are filled individuj fuel oil in one compartmentand more volatile lqiudis in other compartments. It will be understood that it is extremely important to prevent any intermixing of volatile liquid such as gasoline with the fuel oil, since such intermixing could lower the ilash point of the fuel oil to a dangerous level. The prevent valving system is provided with an individual valve fory each compartment and includes a manually controlled selector mechanism which normally locks all of the valves in a closed position and which allows only one selected valve to be opened at any given time, thereby preventing interrnxing of the different liquids.

As best shown in FIGURES l-4, the sump 18 extends longitudinally of the tank and comprises a rearward section 44, a forward section 45 and a valve chamber or box 46 interposed between the two sump sections. The sump sections and valve box preferably are in the form of castings, the ends of the

sections

44 and 45 being welded as at 47 (FIGURE 8) to the valve box to form a one-piece unit. As viewed in FIGURES 8-10, the sump sections and valve box are generally channel-shaped, each comprising a pair of side walls t3-4S, a bottom wall 50 and an open top. The bottom wall 59 of the rearward sump section 44 (FIGURE 4) slopes downwardly from the rearward end of the tank toward the valve box 46 and the bottom wall of the forward section (FIGURE 3) slopes downwardly in the rearward direction toward the valve box. Each lump section includes an end wall 51.

The sump assembly preferably is installed after fabrication of the tank, the upper edges of lthe side walls 4S being welded to the bottom extrusion, as indicated previously at 20 (FlGURES 9 and l0), whereby the extrusion forms the top closure of the sump and valve box. The

'forward compartment 30 is drained by way of an opening Y52 (FIGURE 3) in the lower extrusion, communicating with the forward sump section 45 which leads to a normally closed emergency valve 53 mounted in the valve chamberY 46. The intermediate compartment 31 is drained by Way of an opening 54 in the lower extrusion, communicating with a second emergency valve 55. The rearward compartment 32 (FIGURE `4) is drained by Way of an opening 56 communicating with the rearward sump section 44 leading to an emergency valve 57 As detailed in FIGURE 8, the valve box includes a cylindrical housing 58 joined to the side walls 48-48 of the valve box and arranged to isolate the emergency valve 55 from the sump sections. The three

emergency valves

53, 55 and 57 thus provide individual drainage of the

compartments

30, 31 and 32. It is to be understood at this point, that the tank has a natural pitch or slope toward the rear, such that the'liquid drains by gravitytowardthe openings 52,54 and Se, which are located at the rearwardrend of each compartment. slope of the Arearward sump section is greater than the pitch ofthe tank bottom, such that the liquid all drains toward the valve chamber which is positioned at the lowest point along the length of the sump assembly.. As noted earlier, the residual liquid drains from the compartments along thechannel way 39, which delineates drain openings along the lower edges of the baiiles.

The

emergency valves

53, 55 and 57 are commercial products Vand have not been-disclosed in detail, These valves are spring-loaded as at 6@ (FIGURE l0) and are normally heldin a closed position, being Vopened only by manual operation of the selector mechanism, as described in detail later. The purpose of the emergency valvesis to stop the flow of liquid immediately yshould any malfunction develop (such as hose leakage or tire), while the compartment is being drained. The'actual rate of ow is regulated by conventional hand-operated, flow control valves disposed to the exterior of the valve TheV g chamber, as indicated at 61 in FIGURE l0. The emergency valves also prevent loss ofthe liquid in case the flow control valves should accidentally become opened or broken.

Each emergency valve includes a cage 62 (FIGURE l0) projecting upwardly through. an opening 63 formed in the bottom `wall 50 of the valve box orhousing. Each cage includes a circular flange 64 having a gasket 65 seated against the bottom wall 5-0 and surrounding the opening 63. The flange of each cage is clamped in place by means of screws 66 (FIGURES 7 'and 8) threaded into lugs 67 formed in the valve box, the heads of the screws being countersunk in the flange 64. The valve may thus be removed from the bottom of the valve box for maintenance or replacement, simply by removing the screws 66.

Each emergency valve communicates with an elbow 68 (FIGURE l0) which includes a flange 70 at its outer end, a mating liange 71 of the outlet valve 61 being bolted as at '72 to the flange 70. The elbow 68 forms a shear section adapted to be broken under a predetermined impact forceso as to protect the sump 18 and other drainage components in case of an accident, as required by law. Each outlet control valve '61 includes an outlet tting 73 which is screw threaded as at 74 to accommodate the couple of a hose for conveying the liquid from the compartment to its delivery point or storage tank. The valve 61 is conventional and` includes a stem 75 having a hand grip 76 for regulating the flow of liquid from the compartment.

Each normally closed emergency valve is opened by an arm 77 (FIGURE 10), the arm being secured to a rock shaft 73 which is interconnected with the valve element 79 of the emergency valve. When the arm is shifted inthe direction Vindicated by the arrow, the valve element 79 is shifted to an open position counter to its spring biasing means 60. It will be understood that bothy the control valve 61 and the related emergency valve must be opened before the liquid can be delivered from the compartment.

The swinging end of each control arm '77 is pivotally Yconnected as at S0 to a clevis 81 which is secured to the lower end of a pull rod 82. The upper end of each pull rod is pivotally connected as at 83 (FIGURE27) to a manually operated lever, indicated generally at 84, there being provided an individual pull rod and lever for each of the emergency valves. As shown in FIGURES 7 and l0, each pull rod 82 `is of two-piece construction, the two pieces being joined together by a fusible coupling collar 85 formed of a metal having a melting point in the neighborhood of 200 degrees F. Thus, in the event ofra re in the area of the tank, the fusible collar will melt, allowing any open spring-loaded emergency valve to snap automatically to its closed position, thereby to shut off the flow of liquid.

Valve selector and emergency valve closing mechanism As shown in FIGURE 7, each of thevalve operating levers S4 is secured as at .86 to a valve locking stem, which is journalledrin a housing indicated generallyat 87. The valves are unlocked individually by a longitudinally shiftable selector bar S8 `which passes through the housings 87; Athe selected valve opened by shifting its lever 84.

' vOne end of the bar S is connected to a manually operd Y The selectorl lever 90 may be sealed in the locking position by aconventional metal sealing strip, if` necessary.

, Described in detail with reference to FIGURE 10, each housing 87 comprises a body portion 92 including a mounting bracket 93 which is attached by screws to the side ange 13 of the lower extrusion. The body 92 includes a base or cover plate 94 which is secured in place by screws 95. The wall of the body portion 92 includes rectangular openings 96 at opposite side to accommodate the selector bar 88 which passes slidably therethrough. The body 92 includes a second pair of rectangular openings 97 to accommodate the emergency control bar 9S, as explained later in detail.

Referring to FIGURES 14-18, the base plate 94 of each housing 87 includes a bearing boss 100 in which is journalled the valve locking stem 101. The stem includes a cylindrical locking head 102, the upper portion of the head being diametrically slotted as at 103 (FIGURE 14) to accommodate the selector bar 88. The valve locking stem 101 includes a square socket 104, and the valve operating lever 84 is provided with a square lug 105 intertting the socket and providing keyed connection with the valve locking stem. Adjacent the lug 105, the lever 84 includes a forked portion 106 (FIGURE 18). The pivot pin, previously indicated at 83, passes through the fork and the head 107 of the pull rod 82, thus connecting the pull rod to the lever.

Each lever 84 normally resides inthe valve closing position shown in FIGURE 14, and is swung to the position shown in FIGURE 15 when the valve is to be opened. It will be understood at Ithis point, that the selector bar 88 in its locked position passes through the slot 103 of head 102, thus locking the head and hand lever 84 in the valve closing position (FIGURES 14 and 16). In order to selectively release the hand levers 84 to permit opening of one of the valves, the selector bar is provided with three open notches indicated at 108, 110 and 111 (FIGURES 1l-13), each having a length slightly greater than the diameter of the locking heads 102. In the locked position of the selector lever 90, as shown in FIGURES 1l and 12, the selector bar is held in a position wherein the notches are out of registry with the cylindrical locking heads 102 of the three levers, with the bar passing through the slots 103 thereof, thus locking all three valve levers 84 in closing position. The notches are located in keyed relationship to the three locking heads 102, the arrangement being such that, as the bar is shifted longitudinally, the notches are successively aligned with the three locking heads, thus unlocking the hand levers 84 in sequence.

As viewed in FIGURE 7, the quadrant 91 is provided with a iiange 112 which is secured to the iiange 13 of the lower extrusion in the same manner as the housings 87. The selector lever 90 is pivotally connected by a pin 113 (FIGURE 1l) to the quadrant. The quadrant includes an arcuate slot 114 and the lever has a pin 115 transversing the slot and serving as an indicator with respect to the indicating marks 116 of the quadrant. The selector har S3 is connected to the lever 90 by a pin 117 projecting from the bar and engaged in a slot 118 formed in ythe lever.

Thus, when the lever 90 is shifted from the lock p0- sition shown in FIGURE l1 toward the left to align the pin 115 with the 3 graduation, the notch 111 will be shifted into registry with its related locking head 102, thus releasing the head for rotary motion. This permits the valve for the rearward tank compartment 32 to be opened. When the selector lever 90 is shifted to the 2 graduation, then the intermediate notch 110 registers with its related head 102 of the intermediate valve, as shown in FIGURE 13, adapting the intermediate compartment 31 to be drained. When the lever is shifted to the l graduation, the notch 108 registers with the head of the valve which controls the forward compartment 30.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the selector mechanism either locks all of the emergency valve levers in the closed position (with the selector lever 90 in the locked position) or permits only one of the three valves `to be opened individually at any given time, thereby to prevent any intermixing of the contents of the three tank compartments. It will also be noted that when one of the locking heads 102 is shifted to valve open position (FIGURES 15-17) the slot 103 of the head is turned substantially to a right angular position with respect to the selector bar S3. Accordingly the locking head now acts as an interlock which prevents selector bar 88 from being shifted from its previously selected position; hence, the other valves are locked positively in closed position and cannot be selected or opened until the open valve is shifted back to the closed position.

Referring to FIGURES 14 and 15, it will be noted that the valve operating lever 84 and stern 101 coact in toggle fashion with respect to the pull rod 82 to hold the spring-loaded emergency valve in open position when the lever 84 is shifted to the limit of its valve open position of FIGURE 15. Thus, as the lever is swung toward the left, as indicated by the arrow, from the position of FIG- URE 14, the center of the pivot pin 83 swings through a dead center position with respect to the center of the valve stem 101, as indicated by the broken line A in FIGURE 15 In the fully open position, the center of the pivot pin S3 (as indicated by the line B) passes beyond the dead center point, as indicated by the angle C, thus locking the emergency valve in its open position counter t-o its spring. In order to close the valve manually, therefore, it is necessary to force the lever 84 toward the right to and beyond the dead center point, allowing the spring biasing means to force the valve to its closed position, and thereby bringing the control lever 84 back to the position of FIGURE 14.

For emergency valve closing, each locking head 102 includes a radial finger 120 (FIGURE 15) which engages a lug 121 projecting upwardly from a trip lever 122 into the valve open position of lever 84. The trip levers 122 form part of the emergency control mechanism for closing the valves from a remote point in case of emergency, as described below. As viewed in FIG- URES 1 and 11, the remote valve closing lever 123 is pivotally connected as at 124 to a bracket 125 which is attached to the flange 13 at the forward end of the tank. This lever has no function during normal unloading operations; however, in the event of an emergency, such as the breaking of a discharge hose, or in case of fire in the vicinity of the tank while draining a compartment, the remote emergency lever 123 is shifted forwardly to close that emergency valve which is open.

As shown in FIGURE 11, the emergency control bar 98, which passes slidably through the control housing 87, has its forward end pivotally connected as at 129 to a pull rod 126. The forward end of the pull rod is pivotally connected as at 127 to the slotted portion 128 of the emergency lever 123, such that bar 98 is shifted lengthwise in a forward direction when the lever 123 is swung forwardly through its arc of motion. AS shown in FIG- URES 11, and 14-17, the emergency control bar 98 includes three slots indicated at 130, each slot being' traversed by a pin 131 projecting upwardly from the respective trip levers 122. Each trip lever 122 is rotatably mounted upon an upper portion 100:1 of the bearing boss 100, such that the trip lever is mounted for swinging motion in concentric relationship with the valve locking spindle 101 and independently of the spindle.

In the valve closed position of FIGURE 14, the pin 131 of trip'lever 122 resides at a mid-point with respect to the slot 130. The outer edge of the slot is developed along an arc, as indicated at 132 to permit swinging movement of trip lever pin. Thus, when the valve lever 84 is swung to the valve open position of FIGURE 15,

' the radial iinger 120 of the locking head 102 swings into ed trip lever i222, through operation of the pull rod, is

held in cocked position by engagement of its pinl 131 with the slot of the emergency control bar 93.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 19, it will be observed that when the remote emergency lever 123 is swung forwardly, the control bar 9S will be shifted toward the left, as indicated by the arrow, thus swinging the trip lever 122 toward the left from'the position of FIG- URE 15 to the position of FIGURE 19. The trip lever, through engagement of the lug T121 and radial i'inger 12d, thus rotates the head 102 and swings the valve lever 34 toward the right (in valve closing direction) toward the position shown in full lines in FGURE 19. As the lever reachesthe broken line position, the center of the pivot pin S3 will have passed beyond the dead center position, as indicated by the line A (FIGURE 19), to the position indicated by the line D. At this point, the

spring-loaded valve closes itself, and through operation of Y the spring-loaded pull rod 82, swings the lever 84 tothe valve closed position, as shown in full lines.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the emergency control bar 93 and its coacting parts do not in any way interfere with the normal selection and operation of the emergency values. On the other hand, the emergency mechanism is effective in a positive and rapid manner to close the open valve from a remote point in case of any malfunction or accident. The fusible coupling collars S5 mentioned earlier, operate independently of the emergency control mechanism described above. In other words in case of lire, the fusible collar will allow the valve to snap to its closed position automatically if no one is at the scene to operate the emergency remote control lever.

- Modified sump structure Abox 137 which may be welded directly to the lower extrusion, as described earlier with 'reference to the valve box 46. The lower extrusion includes an opening 133 providing direct communication between the intermediate compartment 31 and the valve box.

The internal construction of Vthe valve box yidentical to that shown in FIGURE 8 except for the addition of walls 14th- M0 at opposite ends (FGURE 21) to'receive the pipe sections 133 and 134, the pipe sections preferablybeing welded into the end walls. The emergency valves are mounted within the valve box, together with the actuating mechanism described earlier for manual and emergency remote control of the valves.

Having described my invention I claim:

l. A valving system for a generally horizontal vessel having a plurality of compartments disposed longitudinally thereof and adapted to com'ine hulk liquids,.said valving system comprising, a ,single drain passageway extending longitudinally along the lower portion of said vessel, said passageway being generally channel-shaped in cross section and having upper edges secured to the lower. portion of the vessel, a valve box communicating with said passageway, said compartments each having a drain opening communicating individually with said passageway and with the valve box, respective normally closed discharge valves mounted in said valve box, said valve box including an internal separator isolating said valves from one another, the internal separator of the valve box preventing communication between the individual compartments and valves, each of said valves having an individual discharge means adapted to deliver liquid externally of the valve chamber, and a respective manually operated valve control element connected to each of said valves for CIJ operating the same, whereby said valves may be opened to drain said compartments individually.

2. A valving system comprising, a vessel having a plurality of compartments adapted respectively to contain bulli liquids, a valve box associated with the said vessel at a low extremity thereof, conduit means extending from the respective compartments of the vessel to the said valve box, a plurality of drainage means positioned relatively below said valve box for` flow of liquid from said valve box through said drainage means, manually operated internal selective flow control means interposed between said drainage means and said valve box and cooperating therewith, said selective flow control means having a movable member which is capable in one position of obstructing iiow from any conduit means through said valve box to said drainage means, said movable member being movable to other positions in which liquid may flow from any selected one of said conduit means, through said valve box and through one of the drainage means, and external manually operated flow control means mounted on said respective drainage means for controlling the flow of liquid from said valve box.

3. A valving system for a generally horizontal vessel having an intermediate compartment and a pair of endwise compartments disposed longitudinallythereof and adapted to corinne bulk liquids, said valving system comprising, a pair of axially aligned drainage passageways extending longitudinally along the lower portion of said vessel and having inner. ends disposed adjacent one another, said passageways being generally channel-shaped in cross section, and a valve chamber interposed between the adjacent inner ends of said passageways, said valve chamer having opposite ends joined to the inner ends of said passageways, whereby the drainage passageways communicate with said valve chamber, said endwise compartments each having a drain opening communicating individually with said passageways, said intermediate com-V partment having a drain opening communicating with said valve chamber, respective discharge valvesr mounted in said valve chamber, said valve chamberincluding internal means isolating said valves from one another, whereby the valves communicate with said compartments individually, eachl of` said valves having an individual discharge means adapted to deliver liquid externally of the valve chamber.

4. A drainage system for a generally horizontal vessel having a plurality of compartments disposed longitudinally thereof and adapted to confine bulk liquids, said vessel having abeam-like metal section extending along the lower portion thereof and adapted to impart longitudinal stitness` to the vessel, sai-d drainage system comprising,

v a drain passageway extending longitudinally along and beneath said metal section, a valve chamber interposed in said passageway and having opposite ends joined to said passageway, said passageway and valve chamber being generally channel-shaped in cross section and having upper edges secured to said metal section, whereby the metal section forms a top closure for the passageway and valve chamber, said compartments each having a drain opening formed in said metal section and communicating individually with said passageway and valve chamber, and respective normally closed discharge valves mounted in said valve chamber and isolated from one'another, said valves adapted to be opened selectively to drain said compartments individually.

aisvfrae valves having an individual external liquid discharge means, a rst manually operated selector mechanism interconnected in common with said internal valves, and adapted to shift a selected valve to an open position while locking the remaining valves in closed position, whereby said internal valves may be opened to drain said compartments individually and a second set of manually operated external valves associated with said external discharge means and adapted to control the delivery of liquid from the compartment which communicates with the selected open internal valve.

6. A valve box for a generally horizontal vessel having a plurality of compartments disposed longitudinally thereof, said vessel having conduit means communicating with said compartments, said Valve box comprising, a housing adapted to be mounted at a low point relative to said vessel, separator means within said valve box delineating a plurality of chambers corresponding with the compartments of the vessel, said conduit means communicating individually with said chambers, whereby the bulk liquid in said compartments is adapted to drain to said chambers, respective normally closed internal discharge valves mounted in said chambers, each of said valves including a discharge opening for ydelivering liquids from said chambers to the exterior of the valve box, manual control elements adapted to operate said valves,

vthereby to drain said compartments individually, and an individual external valve associated with each of the discharge openings of the valve box and adapted to control the flow of liquid which is drained from the selected compartment by said internal discharge valve.

7. A Valve box as set forth in claim 6 in which there is provided a selector mechanism having a shiftable member interconnected with said manual control elements and normally locking the control elements in valve closed position, said selector mechanism adapted to unlock a selected control element upon shifting motion of said shiftable member while maintaining the remainin-g control elements locked in valve closed position.

8. A valving system for a generally horizontally vessel having a plurality of compartments disposed longitudinally thereof and adapted to conline bulk liquid, said valving system comprising, a valve chamber, respective normally closed internal discharge valves mounted in said valve chamber, separator means within said valve chamber isolating said internal discharge valves from one another, said compartments each having a drain opening communicating with said valves by way of said valve chamber, a shittable selector mechanism interconnected in common with said valves and normally locking the same in a closed position, the selector mechanism adapted to be shifted to positions to release selected valves, adapting only one of the selected valves to be shifted to an open position, and an emergency valve closing mechanism interconnected with said valves and including an actuating device lmounted to a point' remote from the valve chamber, said emergency mechanism adapted to close the open valve upon operation of said actuating device.

9. A valving system for a generally horizontal vessel having a plurality of compartments disposed longitudinally thereof and adapted to confine bulk liquid, said valving system comprising, a drain passageway extending along the lower portion of said vessel, a valve box communicating with said passageway, respective normally closed spring-loaded discharge valves mounted in said valve box and isolated from one another, said compartments each having a drain opening communicating with said vaives individually by way of said passageway and valve box, each of said valves having an individual liquid discharge means, a respective manually operated control element connected to each of said valves for opening the same, a shiftable selector mechanism interconnected in common with said control elements and normally locking the same in a valve closing position, the selector mechanism adapted to be shifted to positions to release selected control elements while locking the remaining elements in valve closing position, thereby adapting the selected control element to :be shifted to a valve open position, and an emergency valve closing mechanism interconnected with said control elements and including an actuating device mounted to a point remote from the valve chamber, said emergency mechanism adapted to close the open valve upon operation of said actuating device.

10. A valving system for a generally horizontal vessel having a plurality of compartments disposed longitudinally thereof and adapted to confine bulk liquid, said valving system comprising, a valve box, respective normally closed discharge valves mounted in said valve box and isolated from one another, sai-d compartments each having a drain opening communicating with said valves individually by way of said valve box, each of said valves having an individual liquid discharge means, a respective manually operated control element connected to each of said valves for opening the same, a shiftable selector mechanism interconnected in common Vwith sai-d valves and normally locking the same in a closed position, the selector mechanism adapted to be shifted to positions to release selected control elements, adapting the selected valve to be shifted to an open position, and an emergency valve closing mechanism interconnected with said control elements and including a manually operated actuating device mounted to a point remote from the valve chamber, said emergency mechanism adapted t'o trip the control element of an open valve to close the open valve upon manual operation of said actuating device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,422,107 7/22 Kramer.

1,968,422 7/34 Proctor 137-608 X 1,985,207 12/ 34 Jensen 137-267 2,041,320 5/ 36 Bradley.

2,078,384 4/ 37 leilerson 137-267 2,098,682 11/37 Ward IS7-637.1 2,223,571 12/40 Meyer.

2,301,821 11/42 Scott 137-267 2,632,577 3/53 Sacco 280-5 X 2,639,729 5/53 Tulumello 137-635 2,692,617 10/54 Jensen 137-637.1

ISADOR WEIL, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM F. ODEA, M. CARY NELSON, Examiners.

Claims

1. A VALVING SYSTEM FOR A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL VESSEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO CONFINE BULK LIQUIDS, SAID VALVING SYSTEM COMPRISING, A SINGLE DRAIN PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID VESSEL, SAID PASSAGEWAY BEING GENERALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION AND HAVING UPPER EDGES SECURED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE VESSEL, A VALVE BOX COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PASSAGEWAY, SAID COMPARTMENTS EACH HAVING A DRAIN OPENING COMMUNICATING INDIVIDUALLY WITH SAID PASSAGEWAY AND WITH THE VALVE BOX, RESPECTIVE NORMALLY CLOSED DISCHARGE VALVES MOUNTED IN SAID VALVE BOX, SAID VALVE BOX INCLUDING AN INTERNAL SEPARATOR ISOLATING SAID VALVES FROM ONE ANOTHER, THE INTERNAL SEPARATOR OF THE VALVE BOX PREVENTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTS AND VALVES, EACH OF SAID VALVES HAVING AN INDIVIDUAL DISCHARGE MEANS ADAPTED TO DELIVER LIQUID EXTERNALLY OF THE VALVE CHAMBER, AND A RESPECTIVE MANUALLY OPERATED VALVE CONTROL ELEMENT CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID VALVES FOR OPERATING THE SAME, WHEREBY SAID VALVES MAY BE OPENED TO DRAIN SAID COMPARTMENTS INDIVIDUALLY.