US3916945A

US3916945A - Float operated valve

Info

Publication number: US3916945A
Application number: US472808A
Authority: US
Inventors: David F Bennett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-05-23
Filing date: 1974-05-23
Publication date: 1975-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-04

Abstract

A pivotally mounted valve for closing or exposing a conduit end through which a liquid moves either from or into said conduit when the valve is in an open position. The float which is responsive to a liquid level within a receptacle with which said conduit end communicates is connected through a parallelogram and bellcrank linkage arrangement to the valve for opening or closing the valve as the liquid level rises or falls.

Description

United States Patent [191 Bennett Nov. 4, 1975 FLOAT OPERATED VALVE [76] Inventor: David F. Bennett, 1100 Fleetwood Ave., Daytona Beach, Fla. 32014 [22] Filed: May 23,1974

211 Appl. No.: 472,808

[52] US. Cl 137/445; 137/448 [51] Int, Cl. .Q F16K 31/18 [58] Field of Search 137/445, 448; 251/232 [56] Rer iies Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1 93, Emig 131/445 x 7/1940 'Murphy 1 7/44s x 2,427,359 9/1947 Kucnhold 137/445 X Primary Examiner Alan Cohan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John N. Randolph ABSTRACT A pivotally mounted valve for closing or exposing a conduit end through which a liquid moves either from I or into said conduit when the valve is in an open position. The float which is responsive to a liquid level within a receptacle with which said conduit end communicates is connected through a parallelogram and bellcrank linkage arrangement to the valve for opening or closing the valve as the liquid level rises or falls.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Shaet 1 of 3 3,916,945

FIG. 1

U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,916,945

FIG. 2

U.S. Pltfillt Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,916,945

55." a FIG 3 FLOAT OPERATED VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION member 28 which is disposed beneaththe conduit 17 In a sewage treatment plant, it is customary to pro-' to compensate for peak loads which would otherwise overflow the wet well and so that nearly a constant liquid level can be maintained in the wet well.

SUMMARY.

Accordingly, one primary object of the present invention is to provide a valve structure which is uniquely adapted to function in controlling the flow of liquid from the holding tank'to the wet well and which may be so arranged that the valve will open automatically when the liquid level of the wet well falls to a predetermined extent and will thereafter close automatically when the liquid level rises to a desired maximum extent.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a valve arrangement which will insure movement of the valve to an effective closed position.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the float operated valve;

FIG. 2 isa side elevational view of the same; 7

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of a slightlymodified embodiment of the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another modification of the float operated valve; I

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of still another embodim ent of the float operated valve;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevational views illustrating different arrangements of the valve of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational viewpartly broken away of the float operated valve of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more specifically to the drawings and first with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conduit extends through a portion of a wall 16 which separates a holding or surge tank from a wet well. A short length of conduit or pipe 17 is coupled in a conventional manner as seen at 174 to the outlet end of the'conduit 15 and is disposed within the wet well.

A post 18 rises from the conduit 17 and provides a support for 'a fixed axle 19. A pair of

corresponding bellcranks

20 and 21 have hubs 22 at their apexes which fit turnably on the ends of the axle 19. Said bellcranks have arms 23 extending from the hubs 22 and terminating at their distal ends in eyes 24 which turnably engage aligned trunnions 25 which project from parallel sides 26 of a rectangular frame or yoke 27. Said sides 26 straddle the conduit 17 and are spaced therefrom. The yoke 27 additionally includes a bottom cross and a detachable top cross member 29 which is disposed thereabove. The length of the yoke 27 is substantially greater than-the diameter of the conduit 17, as seen in.FIG S. 1 and 2. A hanger 30 depends from the conduit 17, in alignment with the post 18, and supports an axle 3l'which is immovably secured thereto. A'pair of levers 32, corresponding to the arms 23,- have eyes 33 at corresponding ends thereof which turnably engage the'ends of the axle 31, and eyes 34 at their oppositeends which are turnably connected'to a second pair of aligned trunnions 35 which are disposed beneath and spaced from the trunnions 25, a distance corresponding to the spacing between the

axles

19 and 31 to provide a parallelogram linkage between the conduit 17 and yoke 26.

The other arms 36 of the bellcranks 20 'and 21 project from the hubs 22 at an obtuse angle to the arms 23 and have eyes 37 at their distal ends which turnably engage end portions of a shaft 38.

A post 39 is fixed to and rises from the conduit 17, adjacent its discharge end 40, to support an axle 41 which is disposed parallel to the

axles

19 and 31. A pair of corresponding bellcranks 42 have hubs 43 at the apex thereof which turnably engage on ends of theaxle 41. Bellcranks 42 have corresponding lever arms 44 extending upwardly from the hubs 43 and which terminate at their distal ends in eyes 45 which turnably receive end portions of a shaft 46. A connecting rod 47 pered outlet end or valve seat 40 of the conduit 17, in

a closed position of the valve 52, as seen in FIG. land in full lines of FIG. 2. A pair of arms 54 connect immovably to the hubs 37 and extend forwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the bellcranks 42 and are disposed at obtuse angles to the arms 36. A counterweight 55 is connected to and supported by the free ends of the arms 54.

A socket 56 mounted on the underside of the cross member 28 receives and supports a float rod 57 on which is slidably mounted a float 58, confined between

stops

59 and 60 which are adjustably secured to the rod 57. An adjustable stop 61 is secured to and depends from the upper cross brace 29, and an adjustable stop 62' is connected to and rises from the lowercross brace In FIG. 1 and in full lines ofFIG. 2, the valve 52'i's shown in a closed position and the float 58 is shown buoyantly supported between and spaced from the

stops

59 and 60. In this position of the valve, the yoke 27 is in its uppermost position with the lower stop 62 abutting the underside of the conduit 17 to limit the extent that the

bellcranks

20 and 21 can be rocked-counterclockwise for pressing the plug portion 53 into the valve seat 40. The plug portion 53 is formed of a soft material to provide a good seating engagement with the valve seat. In this position of the parts, as seen in FIG. 2,. the rod 47 is disposed coplanar with the lever arms 7 36 to resist any tendenc y for the valve 52 to be forced 3 away from the valve seat 40 and to rock the bellcranks 42 in a clockwise direction.

As the liquid level, not shown, in which the float 58 is supported falls, said float will slide down the rod 57 and come to rest on the lower stop 60. As the weight of the float 58 is substantial, when a sufficient preponderance of such weight is supported by the stop 60 and rod 57, said rod and the yoke 27 will be pulled downwardly for swinging the

bellcranks

20 and 21 and the levers 32 from their full line to their dotted line positions of FIG. 2, along with the yoke 27. This downward movement of the aforementioned parts will continue until the upper stop 61 engages the seat 63 on the upper side of the conduit 17 to prevent further downward movement of the parts. It will be apparent that the yoke 27 and rod 57 will maintain the same, substantially vertical plane during movement of said parts between their full and dotted line positions.

As the

bellcranks

20 and 21 swing clockwise from their full to their dotted line positions of FIG. 2, the lever arms 36 thereof will move to substantially upright positions and, in so doing, will exert a pull on the con necting rod 47 for swinging the bellcranks 42 clockwise as a unit from their full to their dotted line positions to move the valve 52 to its open, dotted line position, to allow the liquid or raw sewage to flow through the outlet end'40 of the conduit 17 into the wet well receptacle in which said conduit 17 is disposed. Additionally, as the

bellcranks

20 and 21 swing from their full line to their dotted line positions, the arms 54 and counterweight 55 will swing upwardly from their full line to their dottedline positions of FIG. 2. During this movement the counterweight 55 passes across the vertical plane passing through the pivot axis 42, so that in its dotted line position, counterweight 55 cooperates with the float 58 for maintaining the valve 52 in an open position. However, the weight of the float 58 is adequate to overcome the weight 55 for moving the parts from their full line to their dotted line positions.

When the liquid level rises sufficiently, the float 58 will become buoyantly supported and will move upwardly on the rod 57 against the upper stop 59. When said float is sufficiently buoyant, it will force the rod 57 and yoke 27 upwardly for moving the parts back from their dotted line to their full line positions of FIG. 2. During this initial movement, counterweight 55 will pass back across the vertical plane of the axis 41, after which said counterweight will assist in returning the parts to their full line positions and this assistance will increase as its leverage force is enhanced by movement of the weight 55 away from the vertical plane of the pivot axis 41. Thus, the counterweight 55 will assist the float 58 in moving the valve 52 to a fully closed position for sealing the outlet 40. As the valve 52 reaches a full closed position, the collar 48 will come to rest against the post 39, as seen in FIG. 1, to prevent the levers 36 from moving past a position coplanar with the rod 47. Also, as the parts reach their full line positions, the lower top 62 will move into abutting engagement with an abutment 64 on the underside of the conduit 17.

FIG. 3 illustrates a slight modification of the float operated valve of FIGS. 1 and 2, and wherein crank arms 36 are shortened, rod 47 is lengthened, and arms 54 supporting weight 55', extend from the hubs 45 rather than hubs 37. The adjustable stop 62 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is replaced by an adjustable stop 62' which rises from the conduit 17 and is engaged by the hubs 37 when the valve 52 is in a closed position.

4 The structure and operation of the valve of FIG. 3 otherwise corresponds with the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the float operated valve which differs only slightly from the embodiment as previously described. In the float operated valve of FIG. 4, designated generally 65, the yoke 27 is replaced by a U-shaped yoke 66 which has no top cross brace and which does not include adjustable stops 6 and 62. The conduit 67 which corresponds to conduit 17, supportsan adjustable stop 68 which rises therefrom and which is engaged by a collar 69, corresponding to the collar 48, in the closed position of the valve 70.

Counterweights 71 are supported on the distal ends of the lever arms 72 of the bellcranks 73, which replace the bellcranks 42. The counterweights 71, like the counterweight 55 but unlike the counterweight 55', are

capable of swinging across a vertical plane passing through the pivot axis 74 to assist the float 75 in moving the valve 70 to a fully open or fully closed position. Operation of the valve 65"otherwise corresponds with the operation of the valve of FIGS. 1 and 2. I

FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the float operated valve. The float operated valve of these views, designated generally 76, includes a conduit 77 replacing the conduit 17 and having an open end 78 which is convexly rounded, as best'seen in FIG. 9, and which is outlined by an O-ring 79 forming a yieldable valve seat. I

A valve member 82, composed of spaced apart substantially parallel side members 83 and an intermediate valve face portion 84, is swingably supported by distal portions of the sides 83 turnably engaging trunnions 81 which project from opposite sides of the conduit77. counterweights are secured to the sides 83 and turn on trunnions 81. The valve face 84is shaped so that the inner face thereof is capable of moving into flush sealing engagement with the seat 78 as the valve 82 swings downwardly from its open portion of FIGS. 5 and 9 An inverted U-shaped yoke 85 includes spaced apart legs 86 which straddle the valve member sides 83 and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to trunnions 87 which project outwardly from said sides 83. Posts 88 rise from the conduit 77. Rigid links 89 are pivoted at 90 to aligned pivots of the posts 88 and at 91 to aligned pivots on upper portions of the legs 86. The

pivots

81 and 90 are disposed in the same vertical planes as are the

pivots

87 and 91, and the spacing between the

pivots

81 and 87 correspond with the spacing between the

pivots

90 and 91, so that the portions of the sides 83 disposed between the

pivots

81 and 87 constitute an additional pair of rigid links to form with links 89 a parallelogram, like the parallelogram linkage of FIGS. 1 to 4.

A rod 92 is secured to and extends upwardly from the top portion 93 of the yoke 85 and slidably supports a float 94 between

stops

95 and 96, which are adjustably secured to said rod.

The conduit 77 is disposed in a submerged position and the float 94 is shown buoyantly supported in FIG. 5. When the level of the liquid supporting the float 94 drops to a predetermined extent, said float will strike the lower stop 95 to force the rod 92 downwardly together with the yoke 85 for swinging the links 89 and the valve member 82 downwardly in a clockwise direction for moving the valve face 84 into sealing engagement with the valve seat 79. The valve face 84 in moving to a closed position follows the path indicated by the broken lines 97 so that said valve face moves downwardly and inwardly with respect to the valve seat 79 which is inclined upwardly and inwardly relative to the axis of the conduit 77. Conversely, when the liquid level rises sufficiently to move the float 94 upwardly against the upper stop 96, the valve member 82 will swing upwardly to its open position of FIGS. 5 and 9. During this movement, the valve face 84 moves not only upwardly but outwardly and away from the valve seat 79.

In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the float 94, and stops 95 and 96 have been omitted. The remaining parts correspond to the similarity numbered parts of FIGS. 5 and 9. However, in FIG. 6, conduit member 77 has been rotated 180, so that its opening 78 is inclined downwardly and inwardly, and the valve member 82 swing upwardly to a closed position. Thus, when the liquid level rises, the valve is pulled by the float to a closed position and is caused to open by the weight of the float as the liquid level falls.

In FIG. 7, the conduit 77 and valve member 82 are disposed in the same position as in FIGS. 5 and 9. However, the supports 88 are located below the conduit 77 and the yoke 85 extends downwardly from the pivots 87. With this arrangement of the parts, the conduit 77 is disposed above the water level. The weight of the float pulling downwardly on the rod 92 swings the valve member 82 downwardly to a closed position and the rise of the water level lifts the float and rod 92 for opening the valve.

In FIG. 8, conduit 77 and valve member 82 are disposed as in FIG. 6; however, the posts 88 and yoke 85 are disposed as in FIG. 7, so that a rising liquid level causes the float to exert an upper thrust on the rod 92 for swinging the valve member 82 upwardly to a closed position and a falling liquid level causes the weight of the float to pull the rod 92 and yoke 85 downwardly for opening the valve. In the arrangement of FIG. 8, conduit 77 is disposed above the liquid level, as in FIG. 7.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A float operated valve comprising a conduit having an open end defining a valve seat, a valve, means swingably supporting said valve for movement into and out of engagement with said valve seat, a liquid level responsive float, means including a parallelogram linkage system connecting said float to the valve whereby an up or down movement of the float will produce a swinging movement of the valve into or out of engagement with said valve seat, said parallelogram linkage system including a pair of rigid links, means pivotally supporting corresponding ends of said links on said conduit, means connected to said float and to which the opposite ends of said links are pivotally connected in spaced apart relation to one another such that said links are disposed parallel to one another, one of said links comprising an arm of a bellcrank, said means swingably supporting the valve including a second bellcrank having one arm connected to and supporting the valve, and a rod connecting the other arm of the first mentioned bellcrank to the other arm of said second bellcrank for causing said bellcranks to swing in unison about parallel axes in response to up and down movement of the float.

2. A float operated valve as in claim 1, an arm fixed to and extending from the distal end of the last mentioned arm of said first mentioned bellcrank, and a counterweight supported by said arm and disposed beyond said second bellcrank in the closed position of the valve.

3. A flat operated valve as in claim 2, said counterweight being supported to swing across a vertical plane intersecting the axis of the second bellcrank during movement of the valve between a closed and open position to assist in moving and maintaining the valve in either a fully closed or fully open position.

4. A float operated valve as in claim 1, a rigid arm fixed to and extending from the distal end of the last mentioned arm of the second bellcrank and in a direction away from said first mentioned bellcrank, and a weight secured to the outer end of said last mentioned arm.

5. A float operated valve as in claim 1, and a counterweight supported on the distal end of the last mentioned arm of the second bellcrank for swinging movement across a vertical plane intersecting the pivot axis of the second bellcrank, during swinging movement of the valve between an open and closed position for cooperating with the float in maintaining the valve in either a fully open or fully closed position.

6'. A float operated valve as in claim 2, said valve comprising a plug valve and being receivable in said open end of the conduit in a closed position of the valve.

Claims

6. A float operated valve as in claim 2, said valve comprising a plug valve and being receivable in said open end of the conduit in a closed position of the valve.