US3863689A

US3863689A - Splash preventor for tank truck loading rack

Info

Publication number: US3863689A
Application number: US285946A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald W Lanning; Leonard J Lambin; John G Pratt
Original assignee: Shell Oil Co
Current assignee: Shell USA Inc
Priority date: 1972-09-01
Filing date: 1972-09-01
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04

Abstract

A splast preventor device insures safe loading of a liquid into a tank by making it necessary that the loading spout be fully inserted into the tank opening and resting on the bottom of the tank before liquid can flow through the device into the tank.

Description

United States Patent Lanning et al.

SPLASH PREVENTOR FOR TANK TRUCK LOADING RACK Inventors: Donald W. Lanning, Friendwood;

Leonard J. Lambin; John G. Pratt, both of Houston, all ofTex.

Assignee: Shell Oil Company, Houston, Tex.

Filed: Sept. 1, 1972 App1. No.1285,946

Int. Cl. B6511 3/02, B67c 3/02 Field of Search 141/286, 374, 356, 115, 141/186 1 1 Feb. 4, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 738,138 9/1903 White 141/356 2,138,355 11/1938 Ryan et a1 7, 141/356 2,874,734 2/1959 Luckock et a1 141/356 Primary ExaminerHouston S. Bell, Jr.

1 1 ABSTRACT A splast preventor device insures safe loading of a liquid into a tank by making it necessary that the loading spout be fully inserted into the tank opening and resting on the bottom of the tank before liquid can flow through the device into the tank.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SPLASH PREVENTOR FOR TANK TRUCK LOADING RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method by which splash loading is prevented in loading a tank truck or tank car by requiring that the loading spout be fully inserted and resting on the bottom of the receiving vessel before fluid can flow through the nozzle and into the tank.

2. Description of the Prior Art The present practice utilized when filling a tank truck or tank car at a loading terminal generally uses an open-ended loading arm that permits loading whenever the end of the spout is inserted into the compartment opening. Operation of an open-ended loading spout is usually remote with the operator opening a valve that is some distance from the open end of the spout. Use of an open-ended loading spout gives rise to splash loading by allowing the liquid to fall freely through the empty compartment and impinge on the bottom. Such a practice of letting fluid fall freely through an open compartment can generate static electricity and can be a source of ignition for flammable vapors in the tank if sparking occurs.

Further, through the use of an open-ended loading spout there is a potential for product loss through spills due to the lack of adequate control by the operator of the loading arm when opening a valve located remotely from the open end of the spout.

Thus. it can be readily seen that an operation such as this is a hazard both to the facility as well as the personnel operating the loading spout, particularly when loading an inflammable or toxic material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention advantageously solves these problems by the addition of a splash preventor to the open end of the spout used in loading a tank car or tank truck.

Flow cannot be started through the loading arm until the nozzle end of the arm is within the receiving vessel and resting on the bottom of the vessel. The operator is not required to know the position of the arm in relation to the tank opening and is assured of liquid shut-off if the arm should inadvertently become disengaged from the bottom of the tank. This substantially reduces the potential for accidental splashing of liquid and/or the release of hazardous materials into the loading area.

The submersion of the splash preventor in the tank while loading is in progress further reduces the potential for accumulation of static charges on the nozzle and prevents the generation of a field capable of producing a spark and subsequent fire and/or explosion.

The use of a deflector on the lower end of the splash preventor aids in maintaining the loading arm in its lowest position and obviates the normal tendency of an open-ended loading arm to retract from the bottom of a vessel due to the velocity of the incoming stream and resulting reaction forces caused by the fluid impinging on the tank bottom.

The incorporation of a lever which functions as a poppet shaft extension permits the release of fluid entrained in the loading arm between the remote valve and the splash preventor and permits complete draining of the loading arm at the conclusion of the filling operation.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWlNGS The nature and extent ofthe present invention will he more fully appreciated with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus of the present invention installed on a pivotably mounted loading arm most often used with a truck loading or tank car loading dock;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing partly in crosssection the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another view illustrating the installation of the manually operated lever arm for actuating the poppet valve.

DESCRlPTlON OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings. and more particularly to FlG. 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the splash preventor of the present invention. A commercially available vertical lift single poppet valve assembly 11 has been modified and adapted for service with the present invention. The poppet valve assembly ll having a discharge part was modified by threading the shaft 12, as at l3, so that it would mate with a poppet valve extension 14 and be threadably connected with the poppet valve shaft extension 14 to the poppet l5 at the upper end of the shaft l2. The poppet valve assembly ll was further modified by adding a nipple l6 at the lower end. the nipple 16 being of a length for a fluid deflector assembly 24 to be threadably connected to the nipple 16. The fluid deflector assembly 24 has a bore 25 therethrough with a guide bushing 21 inserted and weldably attached to the deflector plate assembly 24 as at weld 22.

The poppet shaft extension 14 is provided with a slotted hole 34 therethrough having radii 35 at the top and bottom such that drain lever arm 29 will smoothly op crate the poppet shaft extension l4 and in turn the poppet IS without difficulty. The lever arm 29 is pinably mounted to the deflector assembly 24 by means of a shaft 32 mounted within two bushings 3i. the shaft being retained in position by a pair of cotter pins or equivalent means 33. The drain lever arm 29 is provided with the splash preventor assembly 10 for manual operation of the poppet 15 when moving the loading arm illustrated in FIG. I from the tank enclosure.

The poppet shaft extension 14 carries at its lower end a poppet shaft tip 20 which upon contact with the bottom of the tank enclosure the poppet shaft tip actuates the poppet l5 enabling fluid to flow indicated by arrow A. through the splash preventor into the tank and the filling operation is commenced. The poppet shaft tip 20 may be threadably connected. weldably attached. or by other means to the poppet shaft extension 14, but for disassembly and repair. welding is not preferred. The poppet shaft extension 14. the poppet shaft tip 20, and the guide bushing 21 are preferably aluminum since aluminum does not spark upon contact with other surfaces such as steel. The use of aluminum substantially reduces the risk of sparking that can cause a fire and/or explosion during a loading operation.

The deflector assembly 24 has deflector surfaces 23 disposed at its lower end deflecting fluid flow coming through to each side. The deflector surface 23 aids in 3 maintaining the loading arm in its lowest position within the tank and obviates the normal tendency of an open-ended loading arm to retract from the bottom of the vessel due to the velocity of the incoming stream.

There are obviously alternative embodiments of the present invention. As for example. a spring could be installed surrounding the poppet shaft extension 14 between the poppet shaft tip and deflector 24 to prevent accidental opening of the poppet 15 by contacting some object such as a tank vessel side. Further other materials could be utilized rather than aluminum for the parts which abutt surfaces causing sparks. For example materials such as brass or other non-sparking type materials could be utilized to make up the splash preventor 10.

Therefore. it can be seen that the apparatus of the present invention aids in solving a perennial industrial problem of improper loading procedures which has regularly resulted in serious explosions and major injury to personnel and damage to trucks and loading racks.

This is accomplished by providing the discharge port of a fluid unloading valve with a fluid deflector for deflecting the fluid stream as it leaves the valve. At the same time the poppet valve shaft l2. l3 and 14 of the poppet or check valve ll is spring-loaded so as to be actual-able to an open position on contact with the bottom of a tank being filled. At the same time manuallyoperable drain lever means 29 is provided so that the valve may be opened to drain any liquid, for example an acid. from the valve and any tank car loading arm above the valve, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

We claim as our invention:

1. A device for preventing splashes during tank filling operations. said device comprising: i

a valve assembly including a check valve having a poppet with a shaft extending downwardly therefrom and a discharge port therethrough:

a fluid deflector disposed at the lower end of the device adjacent the discharge port of said check valve and in line therewith;

means for connecting said deflector to said check valve; said poppet valve shaft including a shaft extension extending through said deflector and being connected at its upper end to said poppet shaft. said poppet shaft extension having a poppet shaft tip at its lower end; and

manually-operable drain lever means operatively engaging said valve shaft and extending to a point laterally outside said device for the operation of said valve.

2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein said lever means includes a lever pinably mounted to said deflector, said lever extending through a slotted hole in said poppet shaft extension.

3.The device of claim I wherein said deflector is provided with a guide bushing, said bushing being weldably attached to said deflector, said bushing having a central bore, said bushing acting as a guide for said poppet shaft extension.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said check valve. said deflector, said poppet shaft extension. and said poppet shaft tip are a non-sparking material.

Claims

1. A device for preventing splashes during tank filling operations, said device comprising: a valve assembly including a check valve having a poppet with a shaft extending downwardly therefrom and a discharge port there through a fluid deflector disposed at the lower end of the device adjacent the discharge port of said check valve and in line therewith; means for connecting said deflector to said check valve; said poppet valve shaft including a shaft extension extending through said deflector and being connected at its upper end to said poppet shaft, said poppet shaft extension having a poppet shaft tip at its lower end; and manually-operable drain lever means operatively engaging said valve shaft and extending to a point laterally outside said device for the operation of said valve.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said lever means includes a lever pinably mounted to said deflector, said lever extending through a slotted hole in said poppet shaft extension.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said deflector is provided with a guide bushing, said bushing being weldably attached to said deflector, said bushing having a central bore, said bushing acting as a guide for said poppet shaft extension.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said check valve, said deflector, said poppet shaft extension, and said poppet shaft tip are a non-sparking material.