Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
96
Upon the decanting operations of a liquid from a cistern
upon draining into a vat or a tank being filled, it is very often
desixed that the decanting operation does not cause an overflow
of the fluid out of the receiving container. This is especially
the case upon decanting of liquid fuels, contained in a transport
cistern, into a stationary cistern, a vat, or storage tank such
as a vat at a petrol-station.
The transport cistern is generally provided with an out-
let valve, whose control is not self-acting, and following said
valve there are fixed draining pipes which are more or less flexible
and whose volume can be relatively great.
There are already known devices with self-acting stoppage
mounted downwardly in the liquid in the cistern, the vat, the
storage tank, in which the flow of the liquid is stopped upstream
the outlet-valve of the feeding tank by a main valve which is
closed under action of a differential pressure applied to a mem-
brane related with the main valve and arising from closing of a
secondary valve by a float related with the level of the liquid
in the container being filled.
There is also known, to palliate some deficiencies of
the preceding devices, to use devices with self-acting stoppage
of the fiiling operatior. preventing an overflow of the liquids
upon filling of the tanks or storage vats, comprising a main valve
placed in the filling duct of the tank or vat downstream the out-
let valve of a cistern containing the liquid to be decanted, and
a secondary valve which is closed when the liquid exceeds a first
predetexmined level under action of a float related with the level
of the liquid in the tank or vat being filled, by generating a
pressure which is applied to the main valve to close it, the action
of the secondary valve having the possibility to be neutralized to
ensure draining, into the storage vat, of the pipes located up-
stream the main valve due to a time-delay auxiliary valve, but
neutralization of the secondary valve being made impossible because
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of the action, on a blocking'valve, of a float related with the
level of the liquid if the same exceeds a predetermined level.
In use of the above mentioned devices, it has been noticed
that it was sometimes difficult to place the various control valves
of the main valve as well as the necessary impulse pipes. sesides,
the time-delay is sometimes a source of weakness. ~lso the unit
was sometimes not easy to test or to change in case of deficiencies.
In accordance with the invention there is provided an
apparatus for controlling the flow of liquid from a supply container
to a receiving container, the containers being connected by a flex-
ible hose during a filling operation to enable the liquid to be
transferred and the supply container having a delivery valve con-
trolling the supply of liquid to the hose, the apparatus, in use,
functioning automatically to stop the -flow of liquid into the
receiving container when the liquid in the receiving container
reaches a predetermined lever said apparatus comprising: a hollow
body having an inlet port adapted for connection to the outlet end
of the flexible hose and an outlet port adapted for connection to
the liquid filling inlet of the receiving container; a flexible
membrane mounted in the body and delimiting therein an upper cham-
ber and a lower chamber in liquid communication with each other,
the lower chamber including said inlet and outlet ports; main valve
means mechanically connected to the membrane and pendant therefrom
to control opening of said outlet port whereby liquid coming from
-~e supply container through the delivery valve and flexible hose
and said inlet port into the lower chamber raises the membrane and
opens said main valve means, liquid then flowing through said out-
let port into the receiving container; second valve means in liquid
communication with said upper and lower chambers and controlling
an auxiliary liquid flow path between said upper and lower chambers
and the receiving container; a float guided for movement relative
to said hollow body and so supported that when said outlet port is
connected to said liquid filling inlet the float is disposed within
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37~16
the receiving container, the float controlling said second valvemeans at a predetermined level of the liquid in the receiviny con-
tainer whereby when the liquid flowing into the receiving container
through the main valve means reaches said predetermined level, said
second valve means is closed and causes liquid to flow from said
lower chamber to said upper chamber so that the liquid force then
acting on the membrane causes the membrane to move down together
with said main valve means, said main valve means being thus closed
and interrupting the flow of the liquid therethrough; and means
for nullifying the closure action of said second valve means to
ensure draining into the receiving container of residual liquid
located upstream of the main valve means.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is
provided an apparatus operable to cause a self-acting stoppage of
a liquid fil.ling operation, said apparatus, in use, being placed on
an upper filling inlet of a receiving container to be filled with :
the liquid, and comprising: a main valve able to control flow of
liquid in a filling duct of the receiving container, the filling
duct being downstream of supply container containing the liquid to
be supplied to the receiving container, said main valve being con-
trolled by a membrane subjected to a liquid pressure on upper and
lower sides thereof; a float operatively related to the level of
the liquid contained in the receiving container; a secondary valve
controlling a by-pass means of the main valve, said secondary valve .
being closed under action of the float when the liquid reaches a
first predetermined level by creating an overpressure on the upper
side of the membrane by means of the liquid upon a filling operation,
closing of the secondary valve causing closing of the main valve;
a port located on said by-pass means of the main valve whereby
liquid flowing directly therethrough into the receiving container
under a filling operation creates, the main valve being closed, a
fall of pressure under an auxiliary membrane delimiting a lower `
chamber from which the liquid flows towards the secondary valve;
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7~96
means for neutralizing the closing action of the secondary valve
comprising a third, delivery, valve through which liqui~ from the
lower chamber may flow to the receiving container, said third valve
being controlled by said auxiliary membrane such that upon said
fall in pressure beneath the auxiliary membrane when the main valve
is closed, the third valve opens thereby permitting draining into
the receiving container of residual liquid filling said filling
duct located upstream of the main valve and also permitting the
liquid forced back onto the upper side of the control membrane of
the main valve, upon closure of the secondary valve, to flow into
the receiving container, thereby causing re-opening of the main
valve; and means for neutralizing the action of said third, delivery,
valve comprising a fourth valve closed under action of the float
when the level of the liquid in the receiving container reaches a
second predetermined level higher than said first predetermined
level.
Various other features of the invention are moreover shown
in the following detailed description.
Embodiments of the invention are shown by way of non-
restrictive examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of the
invention in the standing-by position;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus upon the
beginning of a decanting operation;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus at the
moment when the level of the liquid in the tank reaches the first
cri-tical level;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus when the
relief port has started its operation to neutralize the first
secondary valve;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus when the
main valve is lifted again to ensure draining of the upstream pipes;
7~3~6
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus when the
second secondary valve ensures final stoppage of the decanting ~:
operation;
Fig. 7 is a second embodiment of the apparatus of the
invention;
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7996
Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a third embodiment of the
apparatus;
Fig. 9 is a partial cross-section of a fourth embodiment
of the apparatus;
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth simplified
embodiment of the apparatus.
The self-acting apparatus 11 for stopping the filling of
tanks with liquid products, according to this invention, is shown
as being screwed on a sleeve 13 welded at the upper portion of a
tank 15, but many variants for fixing the device 11 are possible.
The device 11 comprises essentially a body 17 topped by a cover
19 and a mobile unit 21 placed inside the body 17 supporting a
control block 23 placed in the center of the tank 15.
The body 17 comprises, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1,
a cylindrical thimble-joint 31 extended, beyond a substantially
flat bottom 33, by a tube 35 screwed into the sleeve 13. The body
17 comprises a lateral inlet 37 for the liquid, provided with
components for connection of the body 17 to a pipe for the intake
of the liquid (not shown). The thimble-joint 31 has a bearing
surface 39 at its upper and a membrane 41 is mounted between the
bearing surface 39 and a complementary bearing surface of the
cover 19. The body 17 and cover 19 are fixedly connected by known
means, for example bolts and nuts. At the junction between the
tube 35 and bottom 33, the body 17 has a seat 43 on which bears
a valve 45.
The base of the mobile unit 21 is formed of a block 51
having a circular outline and which supports at the lower portion
thereof the valve 45 of a shape mating that of the seat 43. The
valve 45 is extended by guide means 53 cooperating with the inner
wall of the tube 35 to suitably drive movements of the mobile unit.
The block 51 is bored with two ducts 55 and 57 at the lower
ends of which are fastened, in a known way, two tubes 59, 61 of
which the lower ends are carrying valves 63, 65. The valve 63 is
379~6
at a level lower than that of the valve 65. soth the valves 63,
65 are placed inside a protective casing 67. Inside the casing
67, there is a ~loat 69, for example made of a porous material,
guided by the lower portion of the tube 59 between the levels of
the valves 63 and 65. The tubes 59 and 61 can be bent as bayonets,
as shown on the figures, but various other arrangements are possible
in other variants of embodiment. The casing 67 is topped by a
protective cap 71 especially designed to protect the valves and the
float from the impact of the liquid which flows down through the
tubes 35. But a space or vents are provided between the cap 71 and
the casing 67 to equalize the pressures between the inside and the
outside of the casing 67 whatever the level of the liquid in the
tank 15 may be. Then, the tube 59 is provided, at its upper por-
tion and close to its insertion into the block 51, with a port 73
of a small cross-section, the operation of which will be explained
later on.
The block 51 of the mobile unit 21 is bored with an eccen-
tric chamber 81 into which comes out the duct 57. Above the eccen-
txic chamber 81 is positioned a chamber 83 whose general symmetry
is that of the block 51. The separation between the two chambers
81 and 83 is made by a plate 85, fixed in a known way in the block
51. An upwardly tapered cover 87 is placed on the block 51, and
between the block 51 and cover 87 is inserted a part 89 having edges
pinching the periphery of a membrane 91 against a cooperating
flange of the block 51. The membrane 91 separates the chamber 83
from an upper chamber 93 and is provided with a finger 95 which can
control the opening of a valve 97 placed at the outlet of the duct
57 into the chamber 81. The finger 95 can be guided for example
by aligned holes made in parts 85 and 89. Another hole is designed
in the part 85 for inlet of the duct 55 into the chamber 83. On
the upper portion of the mobile unit 21, i.e. on the upper portion
of the cover 87, there is fixed in a known way the central portion
of the membrane 41 whose periphera portion is tightened, as above
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99~
described, between the body 17 and the cover 19. The membrane 41
separates the space inside the body 17 and cover 19 into two cham-
bers 101 and 103. The lower chamber 101 contains the main portion
of the mobile unit 21 and the inlet 37 for the liquid comes freely
therein. The chamber 103 is itself formed between the cover 19
and membrane 41.
In the thickness of the wall laterally surrounding the
chambers 83 and 93 there is bored a duct 105 which freely comes
into the chamber 83, into the chamber 101 through a port 105a and
into the chamber 103.
Above the cover 19, a chamber 111 communicates with the
chamber 103 by a port 113 provided with a valve 115. The mobile
unit 21 is topped by a tube 117 which penetrates, in a tight way,
into a guiding means 119 located inside the chamber 111 and
establishes connection between the chambers 111 and 93.
The apparatus of the invention operates as follows:
The device has been placed at the upper portion of a stor-
age tank into which decanting operations have to be made. The port
37 has been provided with an inlet for the liquid (not shown). If
there is assumed that it is desired to decant the liquid contained
in a mobile cistern (not shown) provided with a delivery valve,
then a line of pipes is placed between the cistern to be drained
and the cistern 15. As long as the valve of the cistern to be
drained remains closed, the device has its components in the posi-
tions shown in Fig~ 1, with the main valve 45 bearing on its seat
43
If the level of the liquid in the cistern 15 is rather low,
both the valves 63 and 65 are open; if, on the contrary, the level
of the liquid is too hi~h, it is one of the conditions met herein-
below upon filling. In the case of Fig. 1, the float 69 bears ona lever thereby lifting the closing component of the valve 63 above
its seat; also a weight lifts the closing component of the valve
65 above its seat. Valves 97 and 115 are closed.
. ~ "
I:E the delivery valve o:E the cistern to be decanted is open,
the liquid flows into the chamber 101 and lifts the mobile unit 21,
partly due to action of the Archimedean thrust thereon and partly
due to the pressure exerted by the liquid on the membrane 41. The
valve 45 being lifted above its seat, the liquid flows through the
tube 35 into the cistern 15. It can be noted that a small flow of
liquid enters the duct 105, through port 105a, then the chamber 83
and flows through the tube 59 to exit both through the valve 63
and port 73. This is the state of the device shown in Fig. 2. .: -
Besides it should be noted that the valve 115 is lifted which per-
mits a free communication to occur between the chambers 103 and 111.
When the level of the liquid in the cistern 15 i5 sufficiently -
high the float 69 is lifted by the liquid and consequently the valve
63 is closed. The only flow remaining through the tube 59 relates
to the port 73. Also, the level of the liquid goes up into the duct
105 and the liquid overflows into the chamber 103 and loads the
membrane 41. The mobile unit 21 thus weighted moves down, the
valve 45 applies on its seat 43 and the decanting operation stops.
A portion of the liquid in the chamber 103 can penetrate into the
chamber 111 since the valve 115 is initially lifted. Then the valve
115 is closed since it is no longer lifted by the mobile unit 21.
Normally, the people in charge of the control of the decanting
operation close the delivery valve of the cistern to be decanted:
this is the condition of the device shown in Fig. 3. It should be .
noted that there remains a flow of the liquid to be decanted through
the port 73, fed by the volume of liquid which is upstream the main
valve 45.
As the liquid continues to flow through the port 73, a
certain drop in pressure appears in the chamber 83, then the mem-
brane 91 deviates downward and the finger 95 opens the valve 97,
which causes a faster draining-off of the chambers 83 and 103
through the tube 61 and valve 65. This is the condition shown in
Fig. 4. Normally, at that very moment, the people in charge
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release the connection of the pipe conveying the liquid on the
draining-valve of the delivery cistern.
Draining of the chamber 103 permits lifting of the mobile
unit 21 as during flowing of the liquid at the start of the
decanting operation. The liquid can therefore flow again between
the main valve 45 and its seat 43, the lower valve 63 nevertheless
remaining closed. This step of the decanting operation is shown
in Fig. 5, and enables the liquid in the conveying pipe to be
drained.
If, subsequently to the re-starting of the quick draining
shown in Fig. 5, the float 69 causes closing of the valve 65, the
liquid goes up again into chamber 103, which causes closing of the
main valve 45 as shown in Fig. 6. As the valves 63 and 65 are
closed, the only draining which remains is that of the port 73
which is very small and could not, by itself, cause overflow of
the cistern 15, but only after a rather long time.
In Fig. 7 there has been represented a second embodiment
of the apparatus whose constitution is similar to the first one,
but the main block of the apparatus for the decanting is separate
from the self-acting unit 51a, 21a for the control of the liquid
level in such a way as to prevent, in some cases, a loss of pres~
sure and thereby a noticeable decrease of the rate of the filling
flow delivery. In this second embodiment, this risk is removed
and, besides, the liquid level safety devices being out of the main
liquid Elow, have not any chance of being disturbed by this sub-
s-tantial flow.
The reference numbers used in Fig. 7 are similar to those
of Fig. 1 to 6 since the elements are similar, and only two ducts
Cl and C2 are required to provide a junction between the main block
and the unit 51a, 21a.
The third embodiment shown in Fig. 8 has for its purpose
to further improve the filling limiting apparatus as previously
described, by further technical improvements while reducing the
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cost and also to provide it with an additional device which
enables the correct operation of the apparatus to be checked even
when the vat is practically empty.
This improvement is obtained due to the fact that a com-
pression chamber in the upper portion of the cover of the decanting
head, communicating with the chamber above the membrane of this
head through a valve and a no~zle, is connected by means of a
flexible hose to the chamber, above the membrane of the control
head; which membrane, through a needle and by means of a valve
controls opening or closing of one of the two auxiliary liquid
discharge tubes supported by the control head. According to an-
other feature of the invention, it is possible to check the correct
operation of the limiting device thanks to a third tubular duct
supported by the control head and which extends parallel to the
two liquid discharge tubes. The lower end of this third duct is
bent in such a way as to be directed against the lower basin of
the float sliding on one of the two tubes. The outlet pressure
of a liquid injected into this third duct causes the float to go
up, thereby simulating the presence of a liquid into the vat.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 8 is constituted by two dis-
tinct elements 201, 202 which are connected to each other by means
of two flexible pipes 203, 204 of a small diameter. The body 2Q5
of the element 201, supporting the intake sleeve 206, contains
the main valve 207 which is connected by a rod 208 having threaded
ends, or by a similar component, to a membrane 209. This membrane
is clamped with its peripheral edge between the body 205 and a cover
210.
At its upper portion, the said cover 210 has a chamber 211
whose top is obturated by a small cover 212, placed by means of
30 screws 213, 214, and comprising in its center a connector 215 for
the flexible pipe 204 connecting it to element 202. The chamber
211 communicates with the chamber 216 delimited by the cover 210
and membrane 209, on one hand, through a small valve 217 and, on
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the other hand, through a nozzle 218. The body 205 of the element
201, screwed or f.ixed by another way through the connection sleeve
219, preferably, in the plate 220 of the tank manhole, comprises,
in one of its lateral walls a duct 221 which extends in the cover
210 and comes into the chamber 216. The element 202 which con-
stitutes the control element is also fixed on the plate 220 of the
manhole and comprises on its lower side three tubular ducts 223,
224 and 225 dipping inside the tank. The inner space of the element
202 is also divided into two chambers 226, 227 by a membrane 228,
clamped between the cover 229 and the body 222, and connected by
its center to a needle 230. The upper chamber 226 communicates
by the flexible pipe 204 with the chamber 211 provided in the cover
210 of the element 201. The lower chamber 227 of the element 202
is connected, on one hand, to the duct 221 of the element 201 by
means of the flexible pipe 203 and on the other hand, with the in-
side of the tank by means of the tubes 223 and 224, tube 224
having a length which is less than that of tube 223. Each of the
lower ends of the tubes 223 and 224 is provided with a valve 231,
232. These valves are operated by a float 233 sliding on the tube
223. Another valve 234 is provided on the upper end of the tube
224 and is operated by the needle 230 fixedly connected to the
membrane 228. The tubular duct 225 comes or emerges beneath the
float 233 and its lower end is directed on the lower part of the
float.
The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8 is as
follows:
When the level of the liquid in the tank is lower than
level Nl, the float 233 is in a low position thus the valves 231
and 232 are open, the valves 234 and 217 are, on the other hand,
closed and the main valve 207 bears on its seat while tightly
obturating the inlet duct of the tank. Now if the flexible pipe
of the tank-wagon or cistern-truck is connected to the sleeve 206
and if the valve of the wagon or truck is open, the liquid arrives
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in the chamber 235 and exerts a pressure on the membrane 209 which
causes the main valve 207 to be lifted and the liquid can flow in-
to the tank through the tube 236. A certain amount of liquid passes
also through the tube 223 by passlng through a small hole 237 in the
body 205 between the chamber 235 and the duct 221. As soon as the
liquid in the tank reaches the level Nl, raising of the float 233
causes closing of the valve 231, and the liquid having no longer
the possibility to flow through the tube 223 goes up through the -~.
duct 221 and becomes accumulated in the chamber 216, where a pres-
sure becomes established, which is higher than that prevailing in
the chamber 235. This pressure, by acting on the membrane 209, - .
closes up the main valve 207 and the decanting operation is stopped.
Due to the fact that valve 217 is open under the effect of this
pressure, the pressure is the same in the chambers 235, 216, 211,
226 and 227, and will block the whole system as long as it is
retained, that is as long as the valve of the wagon or truck
remains open and the flexible hose remains connected. This pres- `
sure Pl is a function of the height ~1 of the liquid column com-
prised between the level of the liquid in the wagon or truck and
the level of the body of the apparatus: Pl = Hl x density of the
liquid.
Then when the valve of the wagon or truck is closed, for
the purpose of draining the flexible hose, the pressure of the
liquid in the chambers 235, 216 and 227 drops from Pl to P2 which
causes closing up of the valve 217 and thus the pressure Pl is
maintained in the chambers 211 and 226. The pressure P2 in the
chambers 235, 216 and 227 is relieved by an exit hole 238 in the
tube 223. Under action of the pressure Pl acting on the membrane
228, the needle 230 moves down and opens the valve 234. Then if
the flexible connection tube is disconnected between the wagon
or truck and the tank, the liquid in the tube flows through tube
224 and valve 232 and through the exit hole 238 of the tube 223.
Due to that fact the pressure in the chamber 216 drops from P2 to
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P3, lifting of the main valve 207 is then permitted under action
of the pressure P2 exerted on the lower side of membrane 209 by the
liquid flowing during draining of the flexible hose. It should be
noted that the pressure P2 is function of the height H2 of the
liquid column comprised between the level of the connector of the
disconnected flexible hose and the level of the apparatus: H2< Hl,
thus P2~ Pl (P3C P2). Due to the fact that the nozzle 218 enables
a pressure lowering in the chambers 211 and 226, the valve 234
closes and obturates the tubular duct 224. Since the tubular ducts
223 and 224 are closed, the liquid could go up through the tube 223
and could cause closing of the main valve 207, as described above,
but because of the exit hole 238 in the tube 223, and the draining
speed in the flexible hose, the liquid has not time to accumulate
on the membrane 209 in the chamber 216 and the main valve 207
remains open during the draining operation.
Once the decanting operation is over, the main valve 207
is closed under action of its own weight, and also the valve 217.
The liquid contained in the tube 223 flows through the exit hole
238 up to the level of the exit hole.
As the liquid in the receiving bank is decanted by pumps,
the float 233 goes down and causes opening of the valve 231. The
apparatus takes again its stand-by condition.
The range between the level Nl and N2 is calculated in
such a way as to enable draining of great length flexible hoses,
such as are commonly used for decanting of liquids. Consequently
the hoses will be drained before the liquid has reached the level
N2.
If, due to an error, a new decanting step were tried when
the level of the liquid is already between Nl and N2, and with the
condition of waiting at least five minutes to enable the decanting
circuit to be free from any pressure, the operation would be as
follows:
The liquid which flows at a pressure Pl into the chamber
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96
235 would open, in acting on the membrane 209, the main valve 207and would fill the tube 223 which is closed by the valve 231.
Then the liquid would go up through the duct 221 and would accumu- -
late in the chamber 216. The increase of the pressure in said
chamber would act on the membrane 209 and would close the main
valve 207. Since the above operations are instantaneous no over-
flow can happen and the level will not exceed N2.
When the liquid, upon the decanting step, reaches the level
N2, the going up of the float 233 causes closing of the valve 232,
and the tube 224 is definitely closed. Due to the fact that the
valves 207, 231 and 232 are closed and that the chamber 216 cannot
be any longer lowered in pressure, the system is definitely blocked.
The valves 232 and 231 will open only when the float goes down
following the level of the liquid in the tank going down due to
draining by the pumps. As soon as the liquid has reached the level
Nl, the limiting device is at a stand-by position.
To enable to periodically check the correct operation of
the apparatus of the present invention, it is advantageous to
provide the controlling head, constituted by the element 202, with
a device which simulates the filling of the tank. This device is
constituted by a tube 225 of a small diameter which extends, after
passing through the body 222 of the element 202, parallel to the
ducts 223, 224 and has a lower end which is bent in such a way as
to be directed on the bottom of float 233. The other end of the
-tube 225 supports on its exit from the body 222 of element 201, a
sleeve 239 for connection to a duct 240.
When it is desired to check the operation of the apparatus
a liquid similar to that contained in the tank is injected under
pressure into the pipe 240, 225 to come out under the lower part
of the float 233. Depending on the adjustment of the pressure,
the float 233 reaches the various levels required for the tests.
Due to the fact that the apparatus of the invention can be
mounted on the manhole cover of a tank or vat, positioning the
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apparatus re~ulres only minor work and is not costly. In view Of
facilitating positioning of the apparatus of the invention on
already existing installations, which is often the case, the body
205 of the element 201 is threaded on the whole height of the
connection-sleeve 219, and fixing and sealing tightness are pro-
vided by an adjus~ing-nut 242 and a toric joint 241.
Fig. 9 relates to a fourth embodiment of the apparatus
similar to that of Fig. 8 but having a different device for testing
the correct operation of the apparatus.
This test device is constituted by a vertical tube placed
on the body of the secondary valve supplying the differential pres-
sure and in which is guided a pulling cable having one end con-
nected to a milled cap obturating the tube inlet, -the other end of
the cable being fixed to a counterweight which can slide on the
tube of the secondary valve to make the float to go up while
simulating the various filling level of the tank by simply pulling
on the cable.
The test device of Fig. 9 is constituted by a vertical
tube 343 which is fixed on the body 322 of the secondary valve 302
of the apparatus. This tube 343 is used as a guide for a pulling
cable 344 having one end connected to a milled cap 345 which is
screwed on the tube inlet, the other end of the cable being fixed
to a counterweight 346 which can slide on the plunger tube 323.
The operation of the test device is as follows:
When upon the delivery of a limited amount of liquids such
as fuel, it is desired to check the operation of the apparatus, it
suffices to unscrew the milled cap 345 of the test device and to
pull the cable 344 about 2 to 3 cm. The float 333 is then lifted
up to level Nl thus causing the closing of the valve 331. The
3~ decanting of the tank of the truck or wagonl then stops due to the
fact that the liquid which cannot flow through the tube 323 goes
up through the duct 321 and accumulates in the chamber 316 where
is established a pressure which is higher than that in the chamber
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335 and causes, in acting on the membrane 309, closing of the main
valve 307.
-It is then possible to check the draining of the flexible
hose connecting the vat to the tank of the truck or wagon by
closing the decanting-valve on said tank and disconnecting the hose
after waiting about 30 seconds. The liquid to be drained then
flows through the tube 324 and through the hole 338 of the tube -
323 and the lowering of pressure which results therefrom in the
chamber 316 allows the lifting of the main valve 307 under the
higher pressure in the chamber 335 acting on the membrane 309 due
to the liquid entering chamber 335 during the draining of the
flexible hose.
In order to check the operation of the apparatus for the
level N2, it is only necessary to pull the milled cap 345 gently
as far as possible so that the counterweight 346, in taking up
the float 335, controls the closing of valve 332. Due to the fact
that the valves 307, 331 and 332 are closed and that chamber 316
cannot any longer be lowered in pressure the liquid cannot flow
any longer and the decanting step is stopped as if the level N2 of
the tank had been reached.
Once these checks are performed and to resume the decanting
step, it is only necessary to screw again the milled cap 345, in a
tight way, on the end of the tube 343 which causes the float 333 to
go down again and the valve 331 to open again.
The remaining parts of the apparatus of Fig. 9 are similar
to those of Fig. 8 and accordingly have been given similar reference
numerals except for the first digit of each numeral which is "2"
in Fig. 8 and "3" in Fig. 9.
In the fifth embodiment of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10,
the apparatus is placed on the vat as shown for the embodiment of
Fig. 1. It essentially comprises a body 417 topped with a cover 419.
As previously described, the tube 435 is fixed by any suit-
able means on the vat to be filled. The main body 417 comprises a
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,:
99~;
liquid inlet 437 equipped With the components Which are necessar~
to the connection of said body to a pipe 420 for the in~ake of the
liquid.
~ membrane 401 which is held between the body 417 and the
cover ~19, supports in the center thereof, a hollow tube 402 bored
with a hole 403 in its side wall. The main valve having the
reference 405 is secured to the tube 402 and bears normally on the
seat 406 provided at the lower portion of the body 417. The hollow
tube 402 is extended beyond the valve 405 by a second hollow tube
407 centered relative to a tube 435. Said tube 407 also passes
through baffle means 408 extending the tube 435 and finally sup-
ports, at the lower portion thereof, a float 410 sliding along the
tube 407 which is normally closed by a valve 411.
The baffle means 408 is bored at its upper portion, near
the tube 435, with holes 412 open to the vat.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
When the liquid, as for example a petroleum liquid fuel,
comes through the pipe 420 into the chamber formed by the body 417,
the pressure of the liquid lifts the membrane 401 so that it attains
the condition shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 10. This motion
of the membrane lifts the valve 405 and the liquid can flow through
the tube 435, the baffle means 408 and the holes 412 in the vat.
When the level of the liquid reaches the position shown in the
drawing, the float 410 which had held the valve 411 open by means
o a lever 411a and thus let the liquid passing through the hole
~03 Elow through the tubes 402 and 407 causes the valve to close
and stop the flowing of this liquid. At that very moment the
liquid entering through the hole 403 and passing through the tube
402, comes above the membrane 401 by a further hole 403a and a
pressure is established in a chamber above the membrane 401
balancing the pressure in the chamber delimited by the lower por-
tion of this membrane 401. The balance of the pressures in the
two chambers causes the valv~ 405 to be closed under the effect
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- . . . : -:
ô'~6
of its weight and also under the eEfect of its attached components.
The apparatus thus stops the liquid flow to the vat.
The cock through which the liquid product flows to the
apparatus is then closed (gun, valve of the tank of the truck or
wagon delivering the product, etc. ~ )O A hole 430 bored in the
wall of the tube 407 enables liquid from the hoses 420 to slowly
drain into the vat by passage through the hole 403. Also, the
hole 430 enables liquid to slowly drain ~rom the upper chamber so
that the pressure exerted on the membrane 401 by the upper chamber
gradually reduces and the valve 405 slightly opens again. Thus
the liquid stored in the main body 417 and in the connection
hoses 420 flows since the valve 405 has been able to he opened
again slightly due to the fact that the pressure exerted by the
liquid in the upper chamber B above the membrane 401 is cancelled.
When the liquid in the delivery pipes has entirely flowed into the
vat, the valve 405 is closed again under action of its own weight.
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