Fully-integrated flow-control valve assembly for top-filled fuel tanks

Abstract

A fully-integrated flow-control valve assembly for top-filled fuel tanks incorporates both a float valve assembly and a shut-off valve assembly in a single unit that screws into a threaded aperture in the top of the fuel tank. Whereas all other systems having similar function rely on an inlet valve and a level control/vent positioned apart from one another and intercoupled with a bleed line that runs either inside or outside the fuel tank, the device of the present invention directly mounts the two devices together and allows a simple installation. There is no need for a line that couples two remotely positioned units of the prior art flow-control assemblies.

Claims

1. A fully-integrated flow-control valve assembly for top-fill tanks, said assembly comprising: an inlet/vent head; an inlet/vent body secured to the inlet/vent head; an inlet drop tube having an upper end secured to the inlet/vent body; a bleed body providing a fluid bleed path into the tank, said bleed body having an upper end secured to a lower end of the inlet drop tube, and said bleed body incorporating a bleed stem which, when lifted, seals the fluid bleed path; an inlet body secured to a lower end of the bleed body; an inlet piston housed within the inlet body; a sealing sleeve fitted between the inlet piston and the inlet body; an inlet cap; a float which surrounds the inlet drop tube, said float coupled to said bleed stem so that it lifts the bleed stem when the tank is full; and a control spring positioned between the inlet cap and the inlet piston; wherein the force of the control spring is sufficient to move the inlet piston to shut off fluid flow when the bleed stem is lifted by the float, thereby sealing the bleed path so that pressure above and below the inlet piston is equalized.

2. A flow-control valve assembly for a top-fill tank comprising: an inlet/vent head through which fluid can be fed into the tank and through which air in the tank escapes as the tank is filled; an inlet body coupled to the inlet/vent head, said inlet body housing an inlet piston movable between an open first position that allows fluid to enter the tank, and a closed second position that cuts off entry of fluid into the tank, said inlet piston having a bleed aperture therein that leads to a controllable bleed path into the tank, and said inlet piston being biased, by a coil spring positioned on the bleed path side of the inlet piston, toward a closed position, and having a bleed aperture therein; a bleed body coupled to the inlet body, said bleed body providing the controllable bleed path into the tank that is controlled by a bleed stem movable between open and closed positions, said bleed path, when open during tank filling operations, creating a condition of unequal fluid pressure on opposite sides of the inlet piston, with fluid pressure on a top surface of the inlet piston being greater than fluid pressure on the underside thereof, so that a biasing force of the coil spring is insufficient to move the inlet piston to the closed second position; and a float that is raised by fluid in the tank as the fluid approaches a full level, said float being mechanically coupled to said bleed stem so that when the tank is full, the float causes the bleed stem to move to a closed position, thereby closing the bleed path and causing fluid pressure on the bleed path side of the inlet piston to increase such that the coil spring then has sufficient force to move the inlet piston to the closed second position; wherein the inlet/vent head, the inlet body, the bleed body, and the float are fully integrated into a single unit that can be screwed into a female threaded opening in a top of the fuel tank.

3. The flow-control valve assembly of claim 2, which further comprises: an inlet/vent body secured to the inlet/vent head; an inlet drop tube having an upper end secured to the inlet/vent body and a lower end secured to the bleed body; a sealing sleeve fitted between the inlet piston and the inlet body; and an inlet cap; and wherein said inlet body is secured to a lower end of the bleed body, and the float surrounds the inlet drop tube.

4. A flow-control valve assembly for a top-fill tank comprising: an inlet/vent head through which fluid can be fed into the tank and through which air in the tank escapes as the tank is filled; a float that is raised by fluid in the tank as the tank reaches its maximum capacity; an inlet body having an inlet piston movable between an open first position that allows fluid to enter the tank, and a closed second position that cuts off entry of fluid into the tank, said inlet piston being having a bleed aperture therein that leads to a controllable bleed path into the tank, and said inlet piston being biased toward the closed position by a coil spring under compression, said coil spring having insufficient force to move said inlet piston to the closed second position, as long as incoming fuel is allowed to pass through a bleed aperture in the piston and to enter the tank through the bleed path; and a bleed body which controls the entrance, into the tank, of fluid which has passed through the bleed aperture, in response to float position, said bleed body preventing fluid from the bleed aperture from entering the tank when the tank has reached its maximum fuel capacity which, in turn, causes fluid pressure on both sides of the inlet piston to equalize so that the coil spring then provides sufficient biasing force to move the inlet piston to the closed second position; an inlet/vent body secured to the inlet/vent head; an inlet drop tube having an upper end secured to the inlet/vent body and a lower end secured to the bleed body; a sealing sleeve fitted between the inlet piston and the inlet body; and an inlet cap; wherein the inlet body is secured to a lower end of the bleed body, the float surrounds the inlet drop tube, and the inlet/vent head, the inlet body, the bleed body, and the fuel level float are fully integrated into a single unit that can be screwed into a female threaded opening in a top of the fuel tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a partial-cut-away isometric view of the fully-integrated flow-control valve assembly;

(2) FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the fully-integrated flow-control valve assembly;

(3) FIG. 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the fully-integrated flow-control valve assembly, minus the spring, taken through section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 is an cross-sectional isometric view of the fully-integrated flow-control valve assembly, showing the other half of the assembly that was cut off in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3; and

(5) FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the top portion of FIG. 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(6) The new fully-integrated flow control assembly 100 will now be described in detail, with reference to the attached drawing figures.

(7) The device is comprised of an inlet/vent head 101, an inlet/vent body 102 attachable to inlet/vent head 101 by a series of six screws 103, an inlet drop tube 104 attachable to inlet/vent body 102, a bleed body 105 attachable to inlet drop tube 104, an inlet body 106 attachable to bleed body 105, an inlet piston 107 housed within inlet body 106, a sealing sleeve 109 fitted between inlet piston 107 and inlet body 106, a control spring 108, an inlet cap 110 attachable to inlet body 106, a bleed housing 111 fitted between inlet body 106 and bleed body 105, a bleed stem 113 fitted through bleed body 105, a seal 114 on bleed stem 113, a float 113 attachable to bleed stem 113, at least one float guide 115 fitted through float 113, an upper housing segment 116 attachable to inlet/vent body 102, at least one lower housing segment 117 attachable to upper housing segment 116, and a lower housing segment cap 118 attachable to lower housing segment 117.

(8) The device is attachable to the top of a fuel tank, mounted vertically. The inlet/vent body 102 has a central internal thread 102B that enables the inlet drop tube 104 to be threadably connected thereto. In addition, the inlet/vent body 102 has an outer internal thread 102C that enables the upper housing segment 116 to be threadably connected thereto. Furthermore, the inlet/vent body 102 has an external thread 102D that enables the fully-integrated flow control assembly 100 to be screwed into a female threaded opening in the top of a fuel tank (not shown). Fluid enters either through a hose directly connected to inlet 101A and remotely connected to a receiver or through a receiver directly connected to inlet 101A, flows through central aperture 102F in the inlet/vent body 102, through a central conduit 104A in inlet drop tube 104, through a central duct 105A in bleed control body 105, and exerts a force on the face of inlet piston 107, thereby overcoming the upward force exerted by control spring 108, which pushes the inlet piston 107 toward a closed position, thereby allowing the fluid to flow around the inlet piston 107, through passage 106A, into the lower housing segment 117, through the lower housing segment cap 118, and into the tank.

(9) A small amount of the fluid exerting force on the face of inlet piston 107 flows into a bleed circuit through the central aperture 107A in the inlet piston 107. This bleed fluid flows into the spring chamber 106B of the inlet housing 106 created between the inlet piston 107 and the inlet cap 110. The bleed fluid then flows from the spring chamber 106B through slots 110A in the inlet cap 110, into a first annular bleed channel 106C, and into a first vertical bleed passage 106D in the side wall of the inlet body 106. The fluid then flows from the first vertical bleed passage 106D into a second annular bleed channel 106E and into a second vertical bleed passage 111A in the side wall of the bleed housing 111. The fluid then flows from the second vertical bleed passage 111A to a third annular bleed channel 105B of U-shaped cross section that is created between the bleed body 105 and the bleed housing 111. The fluid enters a third vertical bleed passage 111B between the bleed body 105 and the bleed housing 111, and exits through the passage 105C created between the bleed body 105 and the bleed stem 113 spilling into a fourth annular bleed channel 105D. From the fourth annular bleed channel 105D, the fluid finds its way into the tank through at least one of the vent slots 116A in the side wall of the upper housing segment 116.

(10) As fluid fills the tank, exiting the lower housing segment 117 through the lower housing segment cap 118, air is allowed to vent through at least one vent passage 102A, through vent channel 102E, and, finally, through the vent port 101B which is either directly or remotely connectable to a filtration device. As fuel is drained from the tank air is allowed to enter through the same port and passages. Once a the fluid in a filling tank reaches a predetermined level, the float 112, which surrounds the inlet drop tube 104, is raised, guided by at least one float guide 115 and the bleed stem 113. The float lifts the bleed stem bringing seal 114 in contact with a bleed valve seat 105E in the bleed body 105, thereby closing the bleed fluid path to the tank. This causes an equalization of pressure on both sides of the inlet valve 107, which enables the control spring 108 to push the inlet piston 107 closed so that a sealing shoulder 107B on the inlet piston 107 contacts an inlet valve seat 105F at the bottom end of the bleed control body 105, thereby stopping flow into the tank.

(11) What makes this fully-integrated flow control assembly 100 unique is that all other similar systems rely on an inlet valve and a level control/vent remotely positioned with respect to one another, and being connectable to each other with a fluid bleed line. This device directly mounts the two devices together and allows a simple installation.

(12) Although only a single embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.