US3199534A - Fluid filling and draining apparatus for tanks - Google Patents

Description

1965 H. N. SHAW ETAL 3,199,534

FLUID FILLING AND DRAINING APPARATUS FOR TANKS Filed Aug. 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTORS.

HARRY N. SHAW Aug. 10, 1965 H. N. SHAW ETAL 3,199,534

FLUID FILLING AND DRAINING APPARATUS FOR TANKS Filed Aug. 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m I kmgn. LII l4 FIG. 3

I33 l2 304 -5;; 22 a 2m 206 m I37 2l2 gg E H s I!I IIIIIII I |Im| |4 E 111 1 INVENTORS.

HARRY N. SHAW ROBERT POETHIG ATT'Y.

United States Patent 3,19,534 FLUID FILLING AND DRAINING APPARATUS; FGR TANKS Harry N. Shaw, Lake Forest, and Robert E. Poethig, Glenview, 111., assignors to The Bastian-Blessing Company,

Chicago, ill., a corporation of Illinois Fiied Aug. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 214,140 12 Claims. (Cl. 137-565) This invention relates in general to a fitting and system for filling and withdrawing liquefied gas from storage tanks, and in particular to an improved, automatically operated, internally mounted, safety cut-off valve which when coupled with a high capacity pump also provides a self-contained flow control system for filling or draining a bulk storage tank with speed and safety.

The apparatus of this invention, although readily adaptable for use in conjunction with aircraft, ships and railroads, fluid transportation tanks, finds its greatest utility on fixed or mobile truck tanks utilized to store or deliver fluids to industry, as where liquefied petroleum gases or ammonia in bulk is handled under pressure.

Conventionally, bulk tanks are fitted with two major openings, a liquid eduction outlet opening in communication with the tank at the bottom thereof and an inlet opening generally protected by a back flow check valve to prevent an escape of vapor in case of an accident or overnight. Mobile tanks can be quickly filled at a plant with extensive equipment including a high volume pump and various valve arrangements for complete safety.

However, when a customers truck is to be filled from a mobile tank, road weight is at a premium due to highway load limits and filling a customers tank by gravity or a light pump guarded by an excess flow check valve takes four or five times as long to unload.

A break in a liquid filling hose, or a pump left running, or an outlet control valve left open can be extremely dangerous. Moreover, regardless of whether the tank is mobile or stationary, the conventional equipment for safe flow control and high volume pumping operation of volatile fluids is intricate and costly, is frequently inadequate or often inoperative, and requires considerable time and personal attention to operate. 7

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved flow control device, which eliminates the shortcomings and disadvantages of conventional equipment and if desired can be installed in one opening and safeguard both filling and emptying.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide an improved, light unitary self-contained valve and pump apparatus secured to the transport which rapidly drains the fluid from the tank with full safety without reliance on external flow control devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved, automatically operated, internally mounted, safe ty cut-off valve to prevent the escape of liquid from the tank in which it is mounted if a disconnect or break occurs in the hose connection.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved, fully automatic, internally mounted flow valve coupled with a high capacity pump which automatically assumes the closed position until the pump is started, precluding over-the-road travel with an open valve.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved, automatically operated flow valve secured within a tank having a safety operating mechanism permitting the valve to be operated manually in an emergency.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved valve internally mounted in a tank for fluid control having a visual indicator denoting whether the valve is in the open or closed position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an imice j proved, fully automatic, internally mounted flow control valve coupled with a high capacity pump and valve arrangement of minimized weight to be carried beneath a bulk tank whereby the tank may be filled or drained in a minimum of time and expense.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved flow control valve having a high capacity straightaway design permitting uninterrupted fluid flow with a very low pressure drop.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tank fluid draining and filling apparatus that is simple in design, rugged in construction, economical to manufacture, adaptable for mounting on existing tanks or new construction, completely self-contained to complete a fluid filling or draining operation in the minimum of time yet provides maximum safety controls and a failsafe operational characteristic.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention, throughout with references made to the accompanying drawings, in

which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partially sectioned side elevational view illustrating the draining and filling apparatus of this invention and the position of the component parts of the valve when in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary pictorial schematic illustrating the direct connection of the pump to the valve;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cut-away, partially sectioned view illustrating the relationship of the component parts of the flow control valve upon actuation by the pump;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partially sectioned cut-away view illustrating the relationship of the component parts of the flow control valve when the valve is in the-wide open position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary pictorial schematic illustrating an interconnecting conduit arrangement between the pump and the valve of the apparatus whereby the apparatus may be utilized to fill the tank without employing the pump; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary pictorial schematic partially sectioned view illustrating the relationship of an interconnecting conduit arrangement of remotely controlled filling and operation including a withdrawal pump 'disposed remote from the tank protected by a valve embodying the invention. 7

Referring now to FIG. 1, the fluid filling and draining system 10 of this invention comprises two primary components; a flow control safety valve 12 embodying the essential inventive subject matter detachably secured to be disposed for safety reasons within the confines of a tank 17 and a high capacity flow pump 14 mounted to the valve beneath the tank. 7

To mount the flow control safety valve 12, a connecting flange 16 is suitably secured, such as by Welding, to the lower portion of a tank 17. The flange 16 has a plurality of equally spaced threaded apertures 18 formed in the lower surface of a cylindrical depending abutment 20 for receipt of stud bolts which are used first to secure the valve and to anchor the pump or a pipe fitting in position to be in open communication with the valve compartment.

The valve 12 provides a housing or body 22, preferably of carbon or nickel steel capable of withstanding high pressures, having a substantially straightaway or open configuration. The outer surface of the body 22 is substantially cylindrical and provides an outwardly extending flange 24 integral therewith which serves as a securing member in conjunction with the lower surface of the abutment 20 for retaining the valve member within the tank. The flange 24 also provides openings therethrough for receipt of a device 26 for manually operating the valve and visually indicating valve position and a flow passage control device 28, to be explained.

The upper end of the body 22 is open and provides an internal tapered seat 39 for sealing engagement with a piston. The outer upper marginal surface of the body is provided with threads 32 to receive the lower end of a piston cylinder.

A cylindrical open perforated strainer 34, preferably of metal, is received over the upper portion of the body 22 in telescoping fashion and seats on a shoulder formed in the outer surface of the body 22. As readily seen in FIG. 1, the strainer 34 has a thin cross section and is secured in position between the inside wall of the abutment 2% of the tank flange 16 and the outside of the body 22 and the lower portion of a piston cylinder. The strainer 34- extends upwardly into the tank a substantial distance above the top of the body 22.

A piston cylinder 35 is secured within the strainer 34; the upper end being secured by screw members 38 passing through a portion of the strainer and engaging the cylinder and the lower end of the cylinder threadably engaging the threads 32 on the body 22. The cylinder 36 provides a solid upper surface or wall 4% withv a depending cylindrical skirt 42 defining a cylinder space 43. The skirt 42 has a plurality of large apertures therethrough adjacent to the upper surface of the body 22 defining the valve inlet as indicated at 44.

A piston-valve 46 is slidably received in sealed relationship within the skirt 42 of the cylinder 36. A seal ring 48 is received in a groove in the side of the piston-valve to seal against the side wall of the skirt 42 as the piston- Valve reciprocates. The lower outer edge of the piston- Valve provides a tapered surface 50 complementary to the tapered seat 38 of the body 22. A shoulder 52 is formed in the lower surface of the piston-valve adjacent to the tapered surface St for receipt of a seal member 54.

A flow passage 55, concentrically formed through the piston-valve 46, provides an upper enlarged chamber 58 and a lower smaller chamber 60 separated by partition wall 62. Partition wall 62 is integral with the pistonvalve and extends partially across the enlarged upper chamber 53. A pair of thin filter members 64 are disposed on top of the wall 62 and extend across the entire diameter of the upper chamber 53 to prevent the possibility of foreign particles entering the upper chamber 58.

A compression spring 66 is disposed between the top wall 49 of the cylinder 36 and the piston-valve 46. One end of the spring 65 bears against the top wall 49, being received and held in alignment by a recess 63 formed thereinand the other end of spring as is received in the upper chamber 58 of the flow passage 56 and bears against the filters d4 to urge the piston-valve 46 in a downwardly closed position.

A plate 70 is secured to the lower surface of the pistonvalve 46 by a plurality of bolt members 72. Seal 73 is located in a groove in the lower face of piston valve 46 and is compressed by plate 70 to prevent lockage at this point. The periphery of the plate 79 provides an inwardly tapered surface 74 complementary to the tapered seat 30 on the body 22 and when secured in position, the plate 76 engages a portion of the lower surface of seal member 54 permitting a portion of the seal to engage the seat 30. When the piston-valve 46 is in the downward closed position, the tapered surface 59 on the bottom of the piston-valve and taper 74 of the plate 70, as well as the exposed portion of the seal member 54, will engage the seat 30 on the body 22. An aperture 76 is concentrically formed through the plate 70 for alignment with the lower chamber 6i of the flow passage 56 through the piston-valve 45. The aperture 76 is of substantially less diameter than the lower chamber 66 and the upper surface of the plate 70, adjacent the aperture 76, provides a seat for a control valve 78.

The control valve 78 is reciprocally received in the lower chamber 69. An upper end 84 of reduced diameter, of the valve 78 is reciprocally guided in an aperture 82 formed through the partition wall. 62 concentric with the lower chamber 6 3. A compression spring 84 is disposed between the under surface of the partition wall 62 and a shoulder on the valve 78 to force the valve in a downwardly closed position against the upper surface of the plate 74). A seal ring 36 is received in the lower St. face of the control valve '78 to sealingly engage the upper surface of the plate 79 when the valve is in the downward or closed position. The control valve '73 has a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the lower chamber t; to permit fluid flow past the valve when the seal between the lower end of the valve and the upper surface of plate 70 is broken. The valve 78 is held in reciprocal alignment within the lower chamber 60 by the upper portion 353 being received in the aperture 82 and is aligned at the lower end by an actuating piston 114 as will be explained.

A flow passage 88 is formed radially through the piston-valve 46 interconnecting the lower chamber till of the flow passage 56 with the valve inlet .4 in the cylindrical skirt 42 to permit fluid to flow between the space 43 and the tank 1'] whenever the piston-valve 46 is moved to equalize pressure therebetween.

A web 96, an integral portion of the cast body 22, extends partially across the open body adjacent the lower end thereof. An enlarged opening 92 is formed through the web 93 adjacent to the extended end concentric with the seat 3%? on the upper end of the body 22. The lower end of the opening 92 is provided with internal threads 94 and the upper end provides an inwardly formed shoulder $6.

A piston cylinder 98 is threadedly received within the opening 92 in sealed relationship. A combination piston seal and cylinder gasket 1% is disposed between the upper surface of the cylinder 98 and the shoulder 96 and a seal ring 102 is disposed in the outer side surface of the cylinder 93 to sealingly engage the inner surface of the opening 92. A groove 10 i is formed in the outer surface of the cylinder, above the seal ring 152, having an aperture 1% therethrough interconnecting the groove 164 with the inside of the cylinder 93. A pressure channel 168 is formed through the body 22, terminating in the groove tea at one end and a threaded aperture lit) in the side of the body 22 at the other end. A smaller bleed passage 112 is formed in the web 99 interconnecting the pressure chamber 188 with the inside of the body 22.

An actuating piston 114 is slidably received within the cylinder 93 in loose relationship to permit fluid to flow between aperture 106 and the'head space 115 within it and extends upwardly past the shoulder 96 of the opening 92. The upper portion of the actuating piston 114 provides a groove 116 in the outer surface thereof for receipt of a pin 113 of the manual adjustment and visual indicating device 26 to be explained. A valve stem 120, threadably secured at its upper end in the lower surface of the control valve 78, is universally secured to the upper end of the actuating piston 114 by any suitable means,

such as pin 122.

The manual adjustment and visual indicating device 26 is secured in the flange 24 about the outside of the body 22.. An aperture 124 is radially formed through the flange 24 and the body 22 and is provided with internal threads 125 adjacent the inner end thereof. A collar 128 is threadably received in the aperture 124 having a head portion 13% seating on the flange 24. A seal ring 132 is disposed in the outer surface of the collar in sealing relationship with the aperture 124.

A cylindrical shaft 133 operable manually by a removable wrench 137 is received within the collar 128 in rotating relationship between bearing inserts 134 and 136 disposed within the collar adjacent each end thereof. A seal ring 133 is disposed withinthe collar between the two bearing inserts in sealing relationship with the shaft 133. Shaft 133 extends outwardly from the collar 123 and is provided with a slot 139 across the end thereof as a visual indicator and as a securing means for adaption of a wrench to operate manually the flow valve 12. An elliptical arm 140 is secured to the other end of the shaft within the body 22 to which the pin 118 is secured at one end. Pin 118 supports a roller 142 for partial rotation within the groove 116 as the actuating piston 114 reciprocates.

A pump priming passage 144 is formed vertically in the wall of the body 22 extending from the shoulder on which the cylinder 36 seats to a bleed passage 146 extending at right angles thereto into the inner chambers of the body 22. The lower end of the cylindrical skirt 42 of the cylinder 36 provides a contoured and ported inner surface to permit the fluid Within the tank to pass through the priming passage 144 and the bleed passage 146 into the body 22.

An aperture 148 is formed through the flange 24 and body 22 concentrically aligned with the bleed passage 146 and intersecting the prime passage 144. The outer portion of the aperture 148 provides internal threads 1511 to threadably receive a flow control shaft 152. The shaft 152 provides a tapered end 154 which may be adjusted manually within the passage 146 to further restrict the flow of fluid from the tank into the body 22. A slot 156 is formed in the outer end of the shaft 152 for receipt of a driving member to facilitate adjustment of the shaft 152. A suitable closure cap 158 is threadably positioned in the aperture 148 to seal off the aperture.

The lower end of the body 22 is completely open and serves as a valve outlet 160 which is in direct communication with the inlet to the pump 14 or interconnecting control valve arrangement disposed between the valve 12 and the pump 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the valve 12 and the pump 14 are secured to the flange 16 by a plurality of spaced bolt studs 162 and nuts 164. Once the flange 16 has been secured to the tank, the studs 162 are anchored in the threaded apertures 18 in the abutment 20 of the flange 16. A gasket 166 is positioned over the upper portion of the valve 12 and positioned against the upper surface of the flange 24 adjacent the body 22. The upper portion of the valve 12 is positioned up into the tank, the studs 162 extending through apertures in the flange 24 until gasket 166 engages the lower surface of the abutment 20. Nut members 164 are then threadedly engaged on the bolt studs 162 and are drawn up against the under surface of the flange 24 forcing the valve 12 upwardly into the tank and compressing gasket 166 to form a leakproof seal between the tank and valve. Second nut members 164 are threadably positioned on the bolt studs 162 and a thrust plate 168 is received over the studs and about the lower outer surface of the body 22 and adjusted to position the lower surface flush with the bottom of the body 22. A gasket member 170 is then positioned on the upper surface of a pump flange 172 and the pump 14 is positioned over the studs 162 until the flange 172 approaches the lower edge of the body 22. Third nut members 164 are then threadably engaged on the bolt studs 162 and are drawn tight compressing gasket 176, and second nut members 164 are then drawn tight to secure thrust plate 168 to pump flange 172. The bolt studs 162 have their depending ends drilled as at 163 to a point substantially above the second members 164 when assembled. By having the bolt studs 162 structurally weakened, the studs 162 will shear at a point without affecting the valve 12 if the apparatus should be subjected to an external damaging force.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a nipple 174 thread ably engages the aperture 119 in the side of the body 22 leading to the pressure channel 168 to which is secured a cross connector 176. One outlet of the cross connector 176 has a safety fuse plug 178 secured therein. Another outlet of the cross connector 176 is plugged and the remaining outlet is provided with a restricting orifice 6 bushing 180 to which a pump discharge pressure conduit 182 is secured.

A quick acting, lever operated valve 184 is mounted in the pump discharge pressure line 182 connected to the bushing 180. A pressure indicating device 186 and a Y- type strainer 188 are also preferably disposed, in the pump discharge pressure line 182.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a description of the sequential operation of the valve will further clarify the relationship of the several component parts just described. Referring first to FIG. 1, the operating components of the valve 12 assume a steady state position when the valve is closed and the pump 14 is in operative. In this position, the area 43 above the pistonvalve 46, the area within the body 22, the valve outlet 160, the pump 14, and the space 115 are under the pressure of the fluid within the tank through bleed passages 88, 146 and 112 respectively. The flow passage 88 radially extending through the piston-valve 46 permits the pressure to enter the lower chamber 60 of the flow passage 56 and into the area 43 above the piston-valve 46. The prime passage 144 and interconnecting bleed passage 146 permits the fluid pressure in the tank to enter the area within the body 22 and downwardly into the inlet of the pump 14, and the passage 112 balances pressures on both sides of the piston 114.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 and more particularly to FIG. 3, when the pump 14 is started, the pressure in channel 108 will increase to pump discharge pressure, enter the cylinder 98 and beneath theactuating piston 114- causing the actuating piston to move upwardly. This unseats the control valve 78 to permit the valve 78 to be moved upwardly quickly. As the control valve 78 is unseated, the pressure above the piston-valve 46 will be relieved past the valve 75 into the valve body. As the pressure above the piston-valve 46 and in the valve body 22 decreases due to the opening of the valve 78 and the suction of the pump 14, the actuating piston 114 will continue its upward movement until the upper portion of the valve 78 comes into solid physical contact with the under surface of partition wall 62 at which time the pressure beneath the actuating piston 114 will force the piston-valve 46 to open against the spring 66 and permit direct open flow from the tank into the body 22 and directly to the inlet of the pump 14. In order to assist the operation of the actuating piston 114 the area of the piston valve 46 at seal ring 48 is greater than the area created by seal member 54 and with the deduction of the pressure in the chamber above piston-valve 46, tank pressure acting on the piston-valve 46 directly under seal ring 43 will increasingly force the piston-valve 46 to open position supplementary to the force of the actuating piston 114.

As the actuating piston rises the shaft 133 of the indieating mechanism will be partially rotated due to the action of the pin 118 in contact with the upper portion of the actuating piston 114. As the actuating piston 114 continues its upward travel to unseat the piston-valve 46, the indicating shaft 133 will be further rotated making a total rotation of wherein the slot 139 in the end of the shaft 133 may be easily viewed to determine the relative position of the piston-valve 46. The piston-valve 46 will remain in the wide open position until the pump discharge pressure decreases permitting the actuating piston 114 to return to its closed or downward position under the force exerted by spring 66.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, as the pump is shut off the discharge pressure in the pressure channel 108 is bled 011 through bleed passage 112 to the inside of the body 22 permitting the actuating piston 114, through the combined action of the compression spring 66 above the piston-valve 46 and the compression spring 84 disposed above the control valve 78 and the tank pressure admitted to the chamber above piston-valve 46 through port 88 to return the piston-valve 46 to the downwardly closed position.

In addition to the normal operation of the valve by pump pressure, the valve 12 incorporates automatic emergency shut-off and manual shut-off devices. If a break should occur downstream of the pump 14 during the transfer operation of the fiuid from the tank to a storage receptacle, the loss of downstream pump pressure will cause the valve to. close in a manner similar to that just described when the pump 14 is shut off.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the quick acting, lever operated valve 134 in the pump discharge pressure line 182 is normally in the open position so that the main valve 3.2 will open when the pump 14 starts and will close when the pump 14 stops. \Vhen the pump is running, the valve 12 will close when the lever operated valve 184 is closed by cutting off the supply pressure from the pump and relieving through bieed passage H2. A cable (not shown) such as one that could extend around the tank for ready access anywhere may be attached to the lever on the quick acting valve 184 so that the valve 12 may be closed from a remote location or locations, if desired, in case of an emergency. The cable should be located and protected so that it will be free to operate and readily accessible when an emergency arises. The valve 12 will not open when the pump is started if the lever operated valve 1&4 is closed.

The fuse plug 178 in the cross connector 176 is provided to release the pressure to the actuating piston 114- and allow the valve 12 to close if a fire occurs when the pump is running and the lever operated valve 184 is open.

Additional control or actuating stations may be provided by connecting a back pressure check valve and conduit 189 to the normally plugged outlet of the cross connector 176. This conduit will be pressurized similarly to that of the pump discharge pressure line 182 and the function of any controls mounted in this extended line would be to vent the conduit to atmosphere thus releasing the pressure to the actuating piston 11d of the flow control valve 12. The additionally extended conduit from the normally plugged outlet of the cross connector 176 may also be provided with fuse plugs to release the fluid pressure in case of fire. If liquefied petroleum gas is the fluid being transferred, then discharge from additional venting controls or fuse plugs should be shielded to prevent any discharge from contacting any person working around the tank. The check valve prevents relieving of the pressure in the conduit 189 during each normal operation so that the opening and closing time functions are minimized.

In addition to the automatic operations of the valve 12 and the operation of safety features to close the valve 12, a manual operating device 26 for'valve control is provided. A suitable wrench 137 is adapted to fit over the extended cylindrical shaft 133 and engage the indicating slot 139 whereby the shaft 133 may be manually rotated to either open or close the control valve 78 and the piston-valve 46.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an arrangement is illustrated which further demonstrates the versatility of the invention in that selective filling or dispensing, .or both, involving one or more tanks in a bank of storage tanks can be controlled at a point remote from the tanks. In doing this valves 12 and 12a on storage tanks 17 and 17a are connected to a manifold 196 with a header 1% leading to a manifold 199 interconnecting the inlets of a transport filling pump 14a and a cylinder filling pump 14. The inlets of both pumps and of the tanks 17 and 17a are connected also through manifold 1% to a railway tank car liquid unloading line 2 2 as controlled by valve 2292a. The outputs of both pumps are connected to a valve control header 2% through manual valves 184a and 184d, respectively. The control conduits 182 and 182a of the valves 12 and 12a are each connected separately to the manifold 20% through manual valves 18% and 1840, respectively. The output of pump 14a is connected to a truck tank loading dock (not shown) equipped with a valve 12 (not shown) and is controlled by pump output pressure in line 198a. The output of pump 14- is connected to a bottle tank filling manifold 2G4 to which valve 214 and cylinder 216 are connected for filling purposes at the cylinder loading clock. I

With this, the tanks 17 and 17a can be filled from the line 2&2 selectively through valves 12 and 12a opened manually or by actuation of valves 184a, 1841) and 1840, and 184d with one of the pumps running. While this is going on, bottle tanks or track tanks can be filled by operation of pump 14 or pump 14a. The respective valves 12 or 12a do not discriminate as to the source of the control pressure and therefore the storage tanks can be filled while the bottle filling pump is also running.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 and more particularly to FIG. 5, an alternate conduit arrangement is illustrated for filling the tank through the valve 12. Although connection can be made to compartment 169 of the pump (FIG. 1) through an opening in the wall of the pump body itself, a flanged T-connector 236 is shown secured between the outlet of the valve 12 and the suction inlet of the pump 14 and a flanged strainer 288 is connected to the other end of the T-connector 236. A conduit from the pumping facilities at the storage installation as from manifold 1% or 264 can be connected to the strainer 293. The pump 14 of FIG. 5 is not utilized in this arrangement for filling the tank. The discharge pressure from the pumping facilities of the installation will act directly on the lower surface of the piston-valve 46 causing the piston-valve 46 to open, thereby permitting uninterrupted flow of fluid from the storage installation to the tank. The piston-valve 46 will remain in an open position until the pump discharge pressure from the pumping facilities of the storage installation decreases and the compression spring 56 and 84 and tank pressure forces the piston-valve 46 downwardly to the closed position. It should also be noted in FIG. 5 that the branch 21% is capped as at 212 and direct connection can be made to this outlet for draining the tank in connection with manual control of the shaft 133.

Referring now to FIG. 6, to those skilled in the art, it is now readily apparent how the objects and advantages of the apparatus of this invention are attained.

The self-contained apparatus consisting of an automatic, quick acting, pressure actuated safety cut-oif valve and a high capacity fluid pump mounted directly to the tank of a transport permits emptying of a tank in uniform shortened time increments and eliminates the necessity of relying on external inadequate pumping facilities and controls at the point of delivery. Further, the provision of the combination of a pump and valve integral with the tank permits rapid emptying of a tank at points where pumping facilities are not available.

The internally mounted valve, when mounted at the lowermost point of a tank, permits total drainage of the tank and maintains the prime of the pump at all times through the prime passage 144 as best seen in FIG. 1.

The valve is pressure actuated, requiring operation of the pump before the valve will open. It thereby assures definite valve closure during over-the-road transportation. Remotely operated control valves in the valve pressure actuating line as well as heat fuse plugs permit fail safe operation of the valve even when the pump is in opera tion. The straight away, wide open valve configuration further provides for high capacity flow with virtually no pressure drop or flow turbulence through the valve.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Accordingly, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus secured to a tank for filling or draining fluid therefrom comprising:

a flow control valve secured within a tank including a housing within the tank having openings into the tank at the bottom thereof and a valve seat below said openings, a valve element reciprocable in the housing to an open position enclosed bysaid housing,

means carried by said housing above said valve urging said valve to closed position for closing said valve in the direction of flow of liquid from the tank,

a pump directly supported from the tank against the valve housing outside of the tank to transfer fluid between the tank and a reservoir, and

pressure responsive means actuated by the output pressure of the pump for opening said valve when educting fluid from said tank.

2. An apparatus for draining fluid from a tank storing liquid under pressure comprising in combination:

a tank having an opening in the wall thereof,

an automatic safety shut-off valve body secured to the tank in said opening and having a valve seat and a cylinder in said tank of a diameter greater than the valve seat,

a valve in said valve body having a head cooperating with said valve seat and including a piston portion in said cylinder,

means for opening the valve including a passage interconnecting the cylinder and the valve head and a flow control valve in said passage,

a fluid pressure pump secured to the valve body with the pump inlet in communication with same, and

means interconnecting the outlet of the pump with said control valve to open same and to apply to the valve head a force greater than the force of the pressure in the tank to urge said valve body to open position.

3. An apparatus secured to a tank for draining fluid therefrom comprising in combination:

a flange secured to the tank defining anopening therein,

an automatic safety shut-off valve received in said opening within the tank and secured to the flange with its outlet opening coaxial through said opening, and

a fluid pressure pump secured directly to the flange with the inlet thereof coaxial with and against the outlet opening of the valve in sealed relationship therewith to transfer fluid from the tank.

4. In combination with an apparatus including a pump secured to a tank for filling or draining fluid therefrom, a valve comprising:

a body having an upper end disposed Within the tank and a lower end disposed Without the tank in communication with the pump,

a cylinder secured to the upper end of the body within the tank providing a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough defining flow inlets to the body,

a piston-valve reciprocally retained within the cylinder to seal the body from the inlets when in the closed position and movable to a position above said apertures when in its open position,

an actuating piston disposed within said body,

a control valve received in said piston valve,

means interconnecting the actuating piston with the control valve, and

means interconnecting the pump with said body to transmit pump pressure to said actuating piston to eflect movement of said control valve and move pistonvalve out of the path of fluid flow to permit fluid to flow with full flow through the body to the pump.

5. In combination with an apparatus including a pump secured to a tank for filling or draining fluid therefrom, a valve comprising:

a body having an upper end disposed within the tank defining a valve seat and a lower end disposed without the tank in communication with the pump,

a cylinder secured to the upper end of the body within 1% the tank providing a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough defining flow inlets to the body,

a piston-valve reciprocally retained within the cylinder including a piston portion reciprocable above said apertures and a valve head below the apertures closing against said valve seat to seal the body from the tank when in the closed position,

, bias means and fluid tank pressure retaining said pistonvalve in said closed position,

conduit means for equalizing pressures on opposite sides of said piston portion,

an actuating piston disposed within said body,

a control valve reciprocally received in said piston-valve to place said cylinder, apertures and valve seat in communication with one another through said pistonvalve,

means interconnecting the actuating piston with the control valve, and

a pressure conduit interconnecting the pump outlet with said body to transmit pump pressure to said actuating piston to effect movement of said control valve and piston-valve to their open positions and permit fluid to flow through the body and the pump.

6. A pressure flow control valve comprising:

a body having a mounting flange, an upper end disposed above the flange defining a valve seat and a lower end disposed below the flange,

a piston guide cylinder secured to the upper end of the body and providing a plurality of spaced apertures therethrough defining flow inlets to the body at its lower end above said valve seat,

a piston valve reciprocally retained within the piston guide cylinder in sealed relationship therewith above said inlets to close against said valve seat,

a [compression spring disposed between said piston guide cylinder and said piston-valve urging the piston-valve to its closed position,

conduit means for balancing pressures on opposite sides of said sealed, relationship between the guide cylinder and the piston-valve, 1

an actuating piston disposed within said body,

a control valve reciprocally received in said piston-valve for balancing pressures on opposite sides of said valve seat for opening said valve,

a valve stem interconnecting the actuating piston with the control valve,

an indicating linkage extending through the body engaging said actuating piston, and

means for conducting pressure to said actuating piston to effect movement of said control valve and pistonvalve for permitting fluid to flow through said valve seat of the body.

7. The combination called for in claim 6 includinga restricted flow conduit in said body bypassing said valve seat, and

a restricted flow conduit interconnecting said pressure conducting means and said lower end of said body.

8. For use in combination with an apparatus including a pump secured to a tank for filling or draining liquefied gas therefrom,

a valve above the pump interconnecting the pump and tank and comprising:

a body having an open upper end disposed within the bottom of the tank and a lower end disposed outside of the tank in communication with the inlet of said pump, 1

closure means including a piston having a working area greater than said valve seat reciprocally disposed above the upper open end of the body sealing said body from the fluid liquefied gas within the tank,

cylinder means in said tank reciprocably receiving said piston,

actuating means including pressure responsive means connected to the outlet of said pump for actuating said piston,

a flow restricted passage interconnecting the tank with the body above the pump to maintain liquid prime of the pump,

a flow restricted conduit interconnecting said cylinder means and said body including a valve actuated by said pressure responsive means,

conduit means interconnecting the outlet of said pump with said pressure responsive means to transmit pump pressure to said pressure responsive means to activate movement of said closure means and permit fluid to flow through the body and the pump, and

a flow restricting conduit interconnecting said conduit means and said body to deactivate said pressure responsive means and subject said piston to tank pressure for closing said valve.

9. The valve defined in claim 8 in which said actuating means further includes:

a manually operated element having indicia means exposed externally for observation to indicate the position of the closure means, and

removable handle means engaging the indicia means for operating said actuating means.

10. For use in combination with an apparatus including a pump secured to a tank for filling or draining fluid therefrom,

a valve comprising:

a body having an upper open end defining a valve seat disposed within the tank, a cylinder space above it and a lower end disposed outside of the tank in communication with the inlet of the pump,

closure means cooperating with said valve seat reciprocally disposed above the valve seat for sealing said body from the fluid within the tank and including a piston in said cylinder space for actuation by pressure in said tank to open said valve seat,

normally closed valve means to place said cylinder space in communication with said body to vent said space for the pressure in the tank to actuate said piston, Y

actuating means disposed within said body including linkage engaging saidnormally closed valve means, and

conduit means interconnecting the outlet of the pump with said actuating means to transmit pump pressure to said actuating means and effect movement of said valve means and closure means to permit fluid to flow through the valve seat, body and the pump.

The combination called for in claim it? including 1 2 a manually actuated indicator means connected to said actuating means for movement therewith to operate same and indicate the position of said closure means.

12. For use in combination with an apparatus including a pump secured to a tank for filling or draining fluid therefrom,

a valve comprising:

a body having an upper open end defining a valve seat receivable within the tank with the lower end disposed outside the tank in communication with the p p,

closure means reciprocably disposed above the upper open end of the body to close against said valve seat and seal said body from the fluid within the tank,

actuating means for said closure means disposed within said body,

linkage means interconnecting the actuating means with the closure means,

a manually operable element connected to said actuating means for physically opening said closure means and having indicia exposed externally for observation to indicate the position of the closure means, pressure responsive means connected to the outlet of the pump for operating said actuating means and manually operable element to move said closure means to open position and permit fluid to flow from the tank through the body and the inlet of the pump, and

removable handle means engaging the indicia for operating said linkage means to reciprocate said closure means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT L. MARTIN, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 3. AN APPARATUS SECURED TO A TANK FOR DRAINING FLUID THEREFROM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A FLANGE SECURED TO THE TANK DEFINING AN OPENING THEREIN, AN AUTOMATIC SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVE RECEIVED IN SAID OPENING WITHIN THE TANK AND SECURED TO THE FLANGE WITH ITS OUTLET OPENING COAXIAL THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND WITH THE INLET THEREOF COAXIAL WITH AND AGAINST THE A FLUID PRESSURE PUMP SECURED DIRECTLY TO THE FLANGE

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