Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE: SPILL PREVENTION SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spill prevention system and more
particularly pertains
to providing a visual warning that the liquid being pumped into a tank is
reaching its limit.
Description of the Prior Art
The use of spill prevention systems of known designs and configurations is
known in the
prior art. More specifically, spill prevention systems of known designs and
configurations
previously devised and utilized for the purpose of preventing spills through
known methods and
apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious
structural
configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the
crowded prior art
which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and
requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Patent Number 4,003,097 issued January 18, 1977 to
Book
relates to a Two Level Flush Tank Valve Mechanism. U.S. Patent Number
5,769,109 issued
June 23, 1998 to Stanton relates to a Storage Vault with Overflow Containment
Collar. Lastly,
U.S. Patent Number 5,927,350 issued July 27, 1999 to Kissinger relates to a
System for
Preventing Spillage From Containers During Filling Thereof.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and
requirements, the
aforementioned patents do not describe a spill prevention system that provides
a visual warning
that the liquid being pumped into a tank is reaching its limit.
In this respect, the spill prevention system according to the present
invention
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior
art, and in doing
so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a
visual warning that
the liquid being pumped into a tank is reaching its limit.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new
and
improved spill prevention system which can be used for providing a visual
warning that the
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liquid being pumped into a tank is reaching its limit. In this regard, the
present invention
substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of spill
prevention
systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the
present invention
provides an improved spill prevention system. As such, the general purpose of
the present
invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to
provide a new and
improved spill prevention system and method which has all the advantages of
the prior art and
none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a spill prevention
system. First
provided is a tank. The tank has an interior chamber. A quantity of liquid is
provided. The
interior chamber is adapted to receive the quantity of liquid. The tank has an
upper surface. A
threaded aperture is provided through the upper surface.
A fill pipe is provided. The fill pipe is in an inverted generally L-shaped
configuration.
The fill pipe has a vertical section. The vertical section terminates in a
lower output end. The
lower output end is located in the chamber. The fill pipe has a horizontal
section. The
horizontal section terminates in an upper input end. The upper input end is
located above the
chamber. A ninety degree bend is provided between the vertical and horizontal
sections. The
vertical section has a threaded region. The threaded region is received within
and supported by
the threaded aperture. A nozzle is provided. The input end is adapted to
receive liquid from
the nozzle. The input end is further adapted to pour the received liquid into
the chamber.
Provided next is a ball shaped float. The float is adapted to float on the
upper surface
of the liquid in the chamber. The float has a rigid rod. The rigid rod has a
lower end. The
lower end is attached to the ball. The float has an upper end. The upper end
has a liquid level
indicator.
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A vertically extending guide tube is provided. The guide tube has a central
extent. The
central extend is provided within the vertical section of the fill pipe. The
guide tube has a
bottom end. The bottom end is beneath the lower end of the vertical section.
The guide tube
has a top end. The top end extends through the bend and terminates there
above. The rigid
rod is axially reciprocal within the guide tube. The guide tube has an
interior diameter greater
than the exterior diameter of the rigid rod. The guide tube has an exterior
diameter less than the
interior diameter of the vertical section of the fill tube. The float is
located below the guide tube.
The indicator is loaded located above the guide tube.
Further provided are four angularly oriented rectangular guards. The guards
have
intermediate extents. The intermediate extents are attached to the lower end
of the fill pipe.
The guards also have upper extents. The upper extents are attached to the
guide tube. In this
manner the guide tube is coupled to the fill pipe. The guards also have lower
extents. The
lower extents extend downwardly at angles of about forty-five degrees toward
the fluid in the
chamber. In this manner splashing by the fluid during pouring is abated. The
fill pipe, the guide
tube and the rigid rod are fabricated of aluminum. In this manner the
possibility of ignition when
the fluid being poured is oil is abated.
Provided last is a vertically extending measuring plate. The measuring plate
extends
upwardly from the threaded aperture. The measuring plate has indicia. The
indicia are located
adjacent to the indicator. In this manner when fluid is poured into the
chamber, the float will
rise and the indicator will move upwardly with respect to the indicia so the
operator will be
aware that the tank is becoming full and the pouring may be terminated prior
to splashing of
fluid from the input end.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of
the
invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be
better understood
and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are, of
course, additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and which will form
the subject matter of the claims attached.
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In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in
detail, it is
to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the
details of construction
and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced and
carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology
employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded
as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
which this
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other structures,
methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is
important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent
constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved spill
prevention system which has all of the advantages of the prior art spill
prevention systems of
known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
spill
prevention system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and
marketed.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
spill
prevention system which is of durable and reliable constructions.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved spill
prevention system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with
regard to both
materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices
of sale, thereby
making such spill prevention system economically available.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a spill
prevention system
for providing a visual warning that the liquid being pumped into a tank is
reaching its limit.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
spill
prevention system. A tank is provided. A fill pipe terminates in a lower
output end. The lower
output end is located in the tank. An upper input end is located above the
tank. A float has a
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rigid rod. The float has an upper end. The upper end is formed as a liquid
level indicator. A
guide tube has a bottom end and a top. The guide tube has an interior diameter
greater than the
exterior diameter of the rigid rod. The float is located below the guide tube.
The indicator is
located above the guide tube. A vertically extending measuring plate extends
upwardly from
the tank. Indicia are located adjacent to the indicator.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of
novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity
in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its
operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference
should be had to
the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated
preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth
above will
become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed
description thereof.
Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a spill prevention system constructed in
accordance
with the principles of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the system taken along line 2-2 of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the system taken along line 3-3 of
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the system taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the
invention.
Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the system taken along line 6-6 of
Figure 5.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various
Figures.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1 thereof, the
preferred
embodiment of the new and improved spill prevention system embodying the
principles and
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference
numeral 10 will be
described.
The present invention, the spill prevention system 10 is comprised of a
plurality of
components. Such components in their broadest context include a tank, a fill
pipe, a float, a
guide tube, and a measuring plate. Such components are individually configured
and correlated
with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.
First provided is a tank 14. The tank has an interior chamber 16. A quantity
of liquid
18 is provided. The interior chamber is adapted to receive the quantity of
liquid. The tank has
an upper surface 18. A threaded aperture 20 is provided through the upper
surface.
A fill pipe 24 is provided. The fill pipe is in an inverted generally L-shaped
configuration. The fill pipe has a vertical section 26. The vertical section
terminates in a lower
output end 28. The lower output end is located in the chamber. The fill pipe
has a horizontal
section 30. The horizontal section terminates in an upper input end 32. The
upper input end is
located above the chamber. A ninety degree bend 34 is provided between the
vertical and
horizontal sections. The vertical section has a threaded region 36. The
threaded region is
received within and supported by the threaded aperture. A nozzle 38 is
provided. The input
end is adapted to receive liquid from the nozzle. The input end is further
adapted to pour the
received liquid into the chamber.
Provided next is a ball shaped float 42. The float is adapted to float on the
upper
surface of the liquid in the chamber. The float has a rigid rod 44. The rigid
rod has a lower
end. The lower end is attached to the ball. The float has an upper end. The
upper end has a
liquid level indicator 46.
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A vertically extending guide tube 50 is provided. The guide tube has a central
extent.
The central extend is provided within the vertical section of the fill pipe.
The guide tube has a
bottom end 52. The bottom end is beneath the lower end of the vertical
section. The guide
tube has a top end 54. The top end extends through the bend and terminates
there above. The
rigid rod is axially reciprocal within the guide tube. The guide tube has an
interior diameter
greater than the exterior diameter of the rigid rod. The guide tube has an
exterior diameter less
than the interior diameter of the vertical section of the fill tube. The float
is located below the
guide tube. The indicator is loaded located above the guide tube.
Further provided are four angularly oriented rectangular guards 56. The guards
have
intermediate extents 58. The intermediate extents are attached to the lower
end of the fill pipe.
The guards also have upper extents 60. The upper extents are attached to the
guide tube. In
this manner the guide tube is coupled to the fill pipe. The guards also have
lower extents 62.
The lower extents extend downwardly at angles of about forty-five degrees
toward the fluid in
the chamber. In this manner splashing by the fluid during pouring is abated.
The fill pipe, the
guide tube and the rigid rod are fabricated of aluminum. In this manner the
possibility of ignition
when the fluid being poured is oil is abated.
Provided last is a vertically extending measuring plate 66. The measuring
plate extends
upwardly from the threaded aperture. The measuring plate has indicia 68. The
indicia are
located adjacent to the indicator. In this manner when fluid is poured into
the chamber, the
float will rise and the indicator will move upwardly with respect to the
indicia so the operator
will be aware that the tank is becoming full and the pouring may be terminated
prior to splashing
of fluid from the input end.
An alternate embodiment of the present invention may be seen in Figures 5 and
6. In
this embodiment the guide tube 76 is located exterior of the fill pipe 68
along the vertical section
of the fill pipe. Extending upwardly, the guide tube extends through the elbow
of the fill pipe.
The fill pipe extends downwardly beneath the guide tube. Further included is
an apertured
cover 80. The apertured cover is provided over the lower end of the fill pipe.
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The present invention may be considered an environmentally friendly spout
which
provides a warning to an operator that the tank which he or she is filling is
full or near to
becoming full. When using the present invention, the nozzle is placed in the
tank opening.
Pumping is initiated. The float begins to rise in proportion to the amount of
fluid poured into the
tank. As the float rises, so does the indicator with respect to the indicia on
the measuring plate.
This continues until the indicator approaches a full mark adjacent to the top
of the indicator
plate. The operator will then stop the pump and reverse the direction of the
pump to empty out
the load hose.
The present invention is adapted to be constructed in a wide variety of sizes,
as for
example with a fil pipe having a diameter from 0.50 inches to 10 inches with
the length of the
vertical section, the down spout, extending from 8 inches to 60 inches.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same
should be
apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner
of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
optimum
dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include
variations in size, materials,
shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent
and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to
those illustrated in the
drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present
invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled
in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation shown
and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
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