DROP TUBE SEGMENT
An overfill valve associated with a drop tube segment fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir and a structure for securing drop tube segments are described. The overfill valve includes a valve body positioned within the drop tube segment and, in certain embodiments, a non-contact valve actuator positioned exterior to the drop tube segment and operable to actuate the valve body from an open position to a closed position without requiring any physical penetration through the wall of the drop tube segment. A variety of internal actuators are used to actuate the valve body within the drop tube segment. The structure for securing drop tube segments provides a first drop tube segment with a groove into which the wall of a second drop tube segment can to deformed to seal and fasten the two drop tube segments to each other.
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This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/701,347 filed on Sep. 14, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/801,681 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, both entitled Overfill Prevention Valve, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates to drop tube segments and, more particularly, to drop tube segments providing access to a liquid reservoir while controlling the flow of liquid into the reservoir to prevent overfilling of the same.
Underground storage tanks are routinely utilized to store fuels such as gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol, etc. for later dispensing to vehicles through fuel dispensers. The underground storage tank contains an inlet through which fuel is provided to the underground storage tank, typically by a tanker truck. A plurality of fuel dispensers are also fluidly connected to the underground storage tank and are utilized to provide the fuel contained therein to, e.g., passenger vehicles.
Typically, a riser pipe extends upwardly from the underground storage tank to a fill connection point contained within a sump at the fueling station. Within the riser pipe, a drop tube extends downwardly into the volume of the underground storage tank.
The drop tube extends toward the bottom of the underground storage tank so that the outlet end of the drop tube is covered by the motor fuel contained in the underground storage tank. Therefore, the drop tube is not in fluid communication with the fuel vapor contained in the ullage area of the underground storage tank. However, the overfill prevention valve is typically positioned much closer to the top of the underground storage tank and is therefore typically in fluid communication with the vapor contained in the ullage area of the underground storage tank.
When filling an underground storage tank, the operator of a tanker truck must be careful not to overfill the underground storage tank. To this end, an overfill prevention valve may be utilized to prevent overfilling of the underground storage tank. For example, an overfill prevention valve may utilize a float which is buoyant on a surface of a quantity of motor fuel and which is connected by a linkage to a valve positioned within a segment of a drop tube connecting a fill point to the underground storage tank. The linkage extends through the wall of the drop tube so that it can mechanically connect the float, which is outside of the drop tube, and the valve body, which is inside the drop tube.
Because the overfill prevention valves of prior art devices include a mechanical linkage connecting a float positioned on the exterior of the drop tube with a valve body positioned on the interior of the drop tube, the wall of the drop tube segment containing the overfill prevention valve must be physically penetrated by the linkage to allow for such a connection. This physical penetration of the wall of the drop tube segment containing the overfill prevention valve creates a leak point where vapor contained in the ullage space of the underground storage tank can enter into the drop tube. It is desirable to prevent vapor contained in the ullage space of the underground storage tank from entering into the interior of the drop tube where it could potentially be vented to the atmosphere.
SUMMARYIn exemplary embodiments thereof, the present disclosure provides an overfill valve associated with a drop tube segment including a valve body positioned within the drop tube segment and a non-contact valve actuator positioned exterior to the drop tube segment and operable to actuate the valve body from an open position to a closed position without requiring any physical penetration through the wall of the drop tube segment. The non-contact valve actuator has a first position in which the non-contact valve actuator does not actuate the valve body from the open position to the closed position and a second position, achieved when the liquid reservoir reaches a predetermined level approaching the capacity of the liquid reservoir, the non-contact valve actuator actuating the valve body from the open position to a closed position when the non-contact valve actuator attains the second position. Internal aspects of the valve mechanism of the present disclosure may further be utilized with valve actuators that penetrate through the wall of the drop tube segment. Also disclosed is a structure for securing drop tube segments one to the other while preventing vapor from the ullage space in the fuel reservoir into which the drop tube segments are positioned from entering the drop tube.
In one form thereof, the present disclosure provides an overfill prevention valve including a conduit having a first end and a second end, a conduit wall spanning the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit, the conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, the conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through the conduit from the first end of the conduit to the second end of the conduit; a valve body moveably positioned in the fluid passage of the conduit, the valve body moveable from an open position to a closed position; and a non-contact valve actuator moveable relative to the valve body and positioned outside of the conduit, the conduit wall interposed between the non-contact valve actuator and the fluid path, the non-contact valve actuator operable to actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position without physically penetrating the conduit wall, the non-contact valve actuator having a first position in which the non-contact valve actuator does not actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position and a second position in which the non-contact valve actuator actuates the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. In the open position, the valve body allows fluid to pass through the fluid path defined by the conduit at an expected fill rate. In certain embodiments, in the closed position, the valve body precludes flow through the fluid path defined by the conduit at the expected fill rate but may allow fluids to pass through the fluid path defined by the conduit at a decreased flow rate to allow drainage from a quantity of fluid positioned upstream of the valve body in the drop tube. In certain alternative embodiments, the valve body may comprise a butterfly valve, a flapper valve, and/or a poppet valve.
In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the overfill prevention valve may include a closure stop movably positioned in the fluid path of the conduit, the closure stop having a leak position and a non-leak position, with the valve body in the closed position and the closure stop in a leak position, a quantity of fluid is able to leak past the valve body. In one form of the present disclosure, the closure stop may take the form of a stop that prevents the valve body from fully seating against the associated valve seat. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the closure stop may take the form of a secondary valve, such as poppet valve, flapper valve or plunger that opens to allow leakage past the valve body in its closed position. In forms of the present disclosure utilizing a secondary valve, the secondary valve may selectively seat with a valve seat formed in the primary valve body of the overfill prevention valve. Alternatively, the secondary valve may selectively seat with a valve seat spaced from the primary valve.
In certain alternative embodiments, the non-contact valve actuator may be operable to actuate the closure stop from the leak position to the non-leak position without physically penetrating the conduit wall, the non-contact valve actuator of this form of the disclosure having a third position in which the non-contact valve actuator actuates the closure stop from the leak position to the non-leak position, the non-contact valve actuator of this form of the present disclosure not actuating the closure stop from the leak position to the non-leak position in the first position and the second position.
In certain forms of the present disclosure, the closure stop may be formed by a second valve body, with the overfill prevention valve further including a force applicator applying a force to the second valve body to urge the second valve body into a second valve body open position corresponding to the leak position. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the force applicator may be formed by a pair of magnets, one of the pair of magnets fixed relative to the second valve body, with the second valve body movable relative to the other pair of magnets, the pair of magnets operable to urge the second valve body to maintain the valve body open position. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, an actuator may be movably connected to the overfill prevention valve, the actuator movable in response to a movement of the non-contact valve actuator from the first position to the second position, the actuator movable to move the pair of magnets relative to each other so that they are no longer operable to urge the second valve to maintain the valve body open position. In certain forms of the present disclosure, the second valve body may comprise a flapper valve and the primary valve body may comprise a valve port and a valve seat, the second valve body operable to selectively seat on the valve seat.
In embodiments of the present disclosure in which the closure stop is formed by a second valve body, the overfill prevention valve may include an actuator operable to actuate the second valve body between an open position corresponding to the leak position in a closed position corresponding to the non-leak position.
In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the non-contact valve actuator may comprise a float having a specific gravity less than about 0.7 so that the float is buoyant on a surface of a quantity of motor fuel, which typically has a specific gravity in the range of 0.72 to 0.89. In alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, a splash shield may be connected to the conduit to shield the non-contact valve actuator from splashes of liquid experienced external to the conduit. In certain forms of the present disclosure, with the primary valve body in the closed position and the closure stop (which may be in the form of a secondary valve body) in the closed position, fluid may pass through the overfill prevention valve at a drain flow rate of about 2% or less of the maximum flow rate allowed to pass the primary valve in its open position. In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the conduit will be sized so that the fluid path through the conduit allows a flow rate of 400 gallons per minute when the primary valve body maintains the open position.
In certain forms of the present disclosure, the non-contact valve actuator may include an actuator magnet producing a magnetic field acting to urge the valve body from the open position toward the closed position when the non-contact valve actuator is positioned in the second position. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, a valve body magnet may be associated with the valve body so that the magnetic field produced by the actuator magnet acts on the valve body magnet to urge the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. Alternative forms of the present disclosure contemplate a magnetic repulsion between the non-contact valve actuator and the valve body to urge the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. Further alternative forms of the present disclosure contemplate a magnetic attraction between the non-contact valve actuator and the valve body to urge the valve body from the open position toward the closed position.
Certain exemplifications of the present disclosure may utilize an actuator associated with the valve body. These embodiments of the present disclosure may be constructed such that the non-contact valve actuator actuates the actuator, which, in turn, actuates the primary valve body. The actuator associated with the valve body may be exemplified as a contact valve actuator positioned interior of the conduit wall, with the conduit wall interposed between the contact valve actuator and the non-contact valve actuator, the contact valve actuator movable relative to the conduit wall interior surface and positioned so that actuation of the contact valve actuator causes movement of the valve body from the open position toward the closed position, the contact valve actuator magnetically linked to the non-contact valve actuator, so that movement of the non-contact valve actuator from the first position to the second position actuates the contact valve actuator so that the contact valve actuator actuates the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. In certain forms of the present disclosure, the contact valve actuator is rotatably supported relative to the conduit wall interior surface so that movement of the non-contact valve actuator from the first position to the second position rotates the contact valve actuator so that the contact valve actuator actuates the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, a second actuator may additionally be utilized. The second actuator is movable in response to a movement of the non-contact valve actuator from the first position to the second position, so that movement of the non-contact valve actuator causes movement of the second actuator. In certain forms of the present disclosure, the second actuator comprises a ramp and a pivotable bracket, the pivotable bracket interposed between the ramp and the valve body and movable by the ramp in response to movement of the non-contact valve actuator so that the second actuator moves the valve body. In certain embodiments, the second actuator may also include a roller that contacts the valve body during actuation.
Forms of the present disclosure utilizing an actuator associated with the valve body may use an actuator including a ramp contacting the valve body during movement of the non-contact valve actuator, whereby the ramp actuates the valve body in a direction from the open position toward the closed position during the movement of the non-contact valve actuator. In addition to a ramp, the actuator may further include a movable latch having a latching position in which the movable latch latches the valve body in the open position when the non-contact valve actuator maintains the first position, the movable latch moved from the latching position when the non-contact valve actuator moves from the first position to the second position. In certain forms of the present disclosure, the movable latch may be interposed between the ramp and the valve body and moved by the ramp during the movement of the non-contact valve actuator away from the latching position so that the latch no longer latches the valve body in the closed position. The movable latch may further include a foot moved by the ramp during the movement of the non-contact valve actuator to move the valve body from the open position toward the closed position.
Either one of or both of the first and second actuators referenced above may be magnetically linked to the non-contact valve actuator. For example, the non-contact valve actuator may include a first component of a magnetic shaft coupling and the contact valve actuator may include a second component of a magnetic shaft coupling, with the first component of the magnetic shaft coupling magnetically linked to the second component of the magnetic shaft coupling so that rotation of the first component of the magnetic shaft coupling about an axis causes rotation of the second component of the magnetic shaft coupling. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the actuator may include a lever arm, with the overfill prevention valve further including a link linking the non-contact valve actuator to the lever arm so that the lever arm provides a mechanical advantage for movement of the actuator by the non-contact valve actuator.
Valve bodies of the present disclosure may take the form of valve bodies that are rotatably connected to the conduit and rotatable between the open position and the closed position, e.g., butterfly valves or flapper valves.
In alternative forms of the present disclosure, a deflector may be provided upstream of the valve body, with the deflector sized and positioned to prevent a quantity of fluid flowing through the conduit from contacting the valve body when the valve body maintains the closed position.
In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the non-contact valve actuator may comprise a first float moveable from the first position to the second position, the first float operable to actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position when the first float achieves the second position, the non-contact valve actuator further comprising a second float moveable relative to the first float from a rest position to the third position, the second float operable to actuate the closure stop from the leak position to the non-leak position when the second float achieves the third position. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the float (or floats) carries an actuator magnet that produces a magnetic field acting to urge the valve body from the open position toward the closed position when the float is positioned in the second position.
In certain forms of the present disclosure, the non-contact valve actuator may include a closure stop actuator magnet producing a magnetic field acting to urge the closure stop from the leak position to the non-leak position when the non-contact valve actuator is positioned in the third position. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, a closure stop magnet may be associated with the closure stop so that the magnetic field produced by the closure stop actuator magnet acts on the closure stop magnet to urge the closure stop from the leak position to the non-leak position. Alternative forms of the present disclosure contemplate a magnetic repulsion between the non-contact valve actuator and the closure stop to urge the closure stop from the leak position to the non-leak position. Further alternative forms of the present disclosure contemplate a magnetic attraction between the non-contact valve actuator and the closure stop to urge the closure stop from the leak position to the non-leak position.
In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the closure stop may comprise a stop cam rotatably connected to the conduit wall, the stop cam supporting the valve body above its valve seat in the leak position, the stop cam allowing the valve body to fully engage its associated valve seat when the closure stop maintains the non-leak position.
In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the valve body may include a poppet valve, a poppet valve port, a poppet valve seat and a spring biasing the poppet valve into engagement with the poppet valve seat to close the poppet valve port, so that with the valve body in the closed position and the closure stop in the leak position, the closure stop actuates the poppet valve against a biasing force of the spring to space the poppet valve from the poppet valve seat and place the poppet valve port in fluid communication with the fluid path.
Any exemplification the overfill prevention valve of the present disclosure may be utilized in combination with a fuel storage tank and a drop tube extending into the fuel storage tank, the overfill prevention valve forming a part of the drop tube, the drop tube in fluid communication with the fuel storage tank so that fluid passing through the drop tube fills the fuel storage tank. Similarly, any drop tube adapter of the present disclosure may be utilized in combination with a fuel storage tank and a drop tube extending into the fuel storage tank, the drop tube adapter forming a part of the drop tube, the drop tube in fluid communication with the fuel storage tank so that fluid passing through the drop tube fills the fuel storage tank.
Any exemplification of the present disclosure may include a pressure spike relief valve including a pressure spike relief valve body movable between a closed position and an open position and biased by a biasing force into the closed position, the pressure spike relief valve body movable from the closed position to the open position when a sufficient pressure in the conduit counteracts the biasing force to actuate the pressure spike relief valve body from the closed position to the open position so that a flow of liquid can flow past the pressure spike relief valve body as long as the pressure in the conduit is sufficient to overcome the biasing force. In certain forms of the present disclosure, a spring may provide the biasing force to bias the pressure spike relief valve body into the closed position. In certain forms of the present disclosure, the pressure spike relief valve may include a valve seat surrounding an opening through the primary valve body in the conduit.
In another form thereof, the present disclosure provides an overfill prevention valve including a conduit having a first end and a second end, a conduit wall spanning the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit, the conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, the conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through the conduit from the first end of the conduit to the second end of the conduit; a valve body moveably positioned in the fluid path of the conduit, the valve body moveable from an open position to a closed position; and a valve actuator means for actuating the valve body from the open position toward the closed position while the valve actuator means is positioned outside of the fluid path of the conduit and without physically penetrating the wall. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the valve actuator means may comprise a means for generating a magnet field for actuating the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. Further, the valve actuator means may comprise a float having a specific gravity of less than 0.7 so that the float is buoyant on a surface of a quantity of motor fuel, which typically has a specific gravity in the range of 0.72 to 0.89. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, the overfill prevention valve may further include leak means for selectively allowing a quantity of fluid to leak past the valve body when the valve body is in the closed position and a leak actuator means for actuating the leak means from a leak position in which the leak means allows the quantity of fluid to leak past the valve body to a non-leak position in which the leak means does not allow the quantity of fluid to leak past the valve body. Any of the drop tube segments of the present disclosure may include a conduit that may be sized so that the fluid path through the conduit allows a flow rate of 400 gallons per minute when the valve body maintains the open position. The overfill prevention valve may form a part of a drop tube extending into a fuel storage tank to allow fluid passing through the drop tube to fill the fuel storage tank.
In yet another form thereof, the present disclosure provides an overfill prevention valve including a conduit having a first end and a second end, a conduit wall spanning the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit, the conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, the conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through the conduit from the first end of the conduit to the second end of the conduit; a valve body moveably positioned in the fluid path of the conduit, the valve body moveable from an open position to a closed position; and a magnetic valve actuator moveable relative to the valve body and positioned outside of the conduit, the conduit wall interposed between the magnetic valve actuator and the fluid path, the magnetic valve actuator operable to actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position without physically penetrating the wall, the magnetic valve actuator having a first position in which the magnetic valve actuator does not actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position and a second position in which the magnetic valve actuator actuates the valve body from the open position toward the closed position.
In a further form thereof, the present disclosure provides an overfill prevention valve including a conduit having a first end and a second end, a conduit wall spanning the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit, the conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, the conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through the conduit from the first end of the conduit to the second end of the conduit; a valve body movably positioned in the fluid path of the conduit, the valve body movable from an open position to a closed position, the valve body rotatably movable between the open position and the closed position; and a contact valve actuator movably supported by the conduit wall, the contact valve actuator movable relative to the conduit wall interior surface and positioned so that movement of the contact valve actuator causes the contact valve actuator to actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position and into a position in which a flow of fluid through the conduit can act on the valve body and further cause movement of the valve body from the open position toward the closed position, the contact valve actuator movable independent from the valve body. In certain alternative embodiments, the contact valve actuator may be spaced a first distance from the valve body when the valve body maintains the open position, and the contact valve actuator may be spaced a second distance from the valve body when the valve body maintains the closed position, the second distance greater than the first distance. In certain embodiments thereof, the contact valve actuator may be rotatably supported relative to the conduit wall interior surface so that rotation of the contact valve actuator causes movement of the valve body from the open position toward the closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through the conduit can act on the valve body and further cause movement of the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. In alternative embodiments thereof, a non-contact valve actuator may be positioned outside of the conduit, the conduit wall interposed between the non-contact valve actuator and the fluid path, the non-contact valve actuator operable to actuate the contact valve actuator without physically penetrating the conduit wall. In certain embodiments thereof, the non-contact valve actuator may be magnetically linked to the contact valve actuator through the conduit wall, the non-contact valve actuator may include a first component of a magnetic shaft coupling while the contact valve actuator includes a second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, the first component of the magnetic shaft coupling magnetically linked to the second component of the magnetic shaft coupling so that rotation of the first component of the magnetic shaft coupling about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fluid path through the conduit causes rotation of the second component of the magnetic shaft coupling.
In alternative forms of the present disclosure, a second contact actuator may be used in conjunction with the contact valve actuator described above. In such embodiments, the second contact actuator may be movably supported relative to the conduit wall, the second contact valve actuator movable relative to the conduit wall interior surface and positioned so that movement of the second contact valve actuator causes the second contact valve actuator to actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position and into the position of which the flow of fluid through the conduit can act on the valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, such that the second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating the valve body further toward said closed position than the first contact valve actuator. In certain forms of the present disclosure, the second contact valve actuator may be movable independent from the valve body. The second contact may, in certain embodiments of the present disclosure, also be spaced a first distance from the valve body when the valve body maintains the open position and spaced a second distance from the valve body when the valve body maintains the closed position, with the second distance being greater than the first distance.
In certain forms of the present disclosure, a cam may be movably supported relative to the conduit wall and include a ramp operably associated with the contact valve actuator so that movement of the cam causes the ramp to move the contact valve actuator to actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through the conduit can act on the valve body and further cause movement of the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. If the cam is utilized in an embodiment incorporating a second contact actuator, the cam further includes a second ramp operably associated with the second contact valve actuator so that a movement of the cam causes the second ramp to move the second contact valve actuator to actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through the conduit can act on the valve body and further cause movement of the valve body from the open position toward the closed position. In alternative forms of the present disclosure, a second valve body may be positioned in the fluid path of the conduit, the second valve body movable from a second valve body open position to a second valve body closed position. In forms of the present disclosure utilizing a second valve body, the cam may further include a nubbin positioned so that a movement of the cam causes the nubbin to move the second valve body from the second valve body open position toward the second valve body closed position. The second valve body may seat on a valve seat spaced from the primary valve body.
In certain forms of the present disclosure, the contact valve actuator may comprise a movable latch having a latching position in which the movable latch latches the valve body in the closed position, the movable latch movable from the latching position as the contact valve actuator moves to cause the contact valve actuator to actuate the valve body from the open position toward the closed position.
In yet a further form thereof, the present disclosure provides a method of joining drop tube segments to provide fluid communication with a fuel storage tank. The method of this form of the present disclosure includes the steps of: positioning a drop tube adapter in generally coaxial, overlapping relationship with a first drop tube segment, the first drop tube segment including a first conduit having a first conduit first end and a first conduit second end, a first conduit wall spanning the first conduit first end and the first conduit second end, the first conduit wall defining a first conduit wall interior surface defining a first conduit fluid path through the first conduit from the first conduit first end to the first conduit second end, the drop tube adapter defining an annular groove, the annular groove overlapped by the first conduit wall of the first conduit by the positioning step, the drop tube adapter having a drop tube adapter first end, a drop tube adapter second end, a drop tube adapter wall spanning the drop tube adapter first end and the drop tube adapter second end, the drop tube adapter wall defining a drop tube adapter wall interior surface defining a drop tube adapter fluid path through the drop tube adapter from the drop tube adapter first end to the drop tube adapter second end, the drop tube adapter wall defining a drop tube adapter wall exterior surface; deforming the first conduit wall of the drop tube segment about the annular groove of the drop tube adapter to position the first conduit wall in the annular groove of the drop tube adapter to fasten the drop tube adapter to the first drop tube segment, with the first conduit fluid path in fluid communication with the drop tube adapter fluid path; and positioning the drop tube adapter and first drop tube segment in fluid communication with the fuel storage tank. In alternative embodiments thereof, the method may further include the steps of: fastening a second drop tube segment comprising a second conduit having a second conduit first end and a second conduit second end, a second conduit wall spanning the second conduit first end and the second conduit second end, the second conduit wall defining a second conduit wall interior surface defining a second conduit fluid path through the second conduit from the second conduit first end to the second conduit second end to an end of the drop tube adapter opposite the first drop tube segment so that the drop tube adapter fluid path is in fluid communication with the second conduit fluid path. In alternative embodiments, the annular groove of the drop tube adapter may be formed in the drop tube adapter wall exterior surface and/or in the drop tube adapter interior surface. Further, two or more grooves may be utilized in each fastening step. Additionally, fastening at an opposite end of the drop tube adapter may be done utilizing threads.
A drop tube adapter in accordance with the present disclosure may further include a through bore through the drop tube adapter wall. In such forms of the present disclosure, the method of joining drop tube segments may further include the step of positioning a fastener through the first conduit wall and the through bore of the drop tube adapter to further fasten drop tube adapter to the first drop tube insert. Prior to the deforming step described above, an O-ring may be positioned in the annular groove in the drop tube adapter so that the deforming step forms an annular seal with the O-ring. The drop tube adapter described herein may be formed as any of the overfill prevention valves described herein.
In an additional form thereof, the present disclosure provides a fluid conduit for providing fluid communication with a fuel storage tank. The fluid conduit of this form in the present disclosure includes a first drop tube segment including a first conduit having a first conduit first end and a first conduit second end, a first conduit wall spanning the first conduit first end and the first conduit second end, the first conduit wall defining a first conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid conduit fluid path through the first conduit from the first conduit first end and the first conduit second end and a drop tube adapter having a drop tube adapter first end, a drop tube adapter second end, a drop tube adapter wall spanning the drop tube adapter first end and the drop tube adapter second end, the drop tube adapter wall defining a drop tube adapter wall interior surface defining a drop tube adapter fluid path through the drop tube adapter from the drop tube adapter first end to the drop tube adapter second end, the drop tube adapter wall defining a drop tube adapter wall exterior surface, the drop tube adapter having an annular groove defined in the drop tube adapter wall, the drop tube adapter positioned in generally coaxial, overlapping relationship with the first drop tube segment, with the first conduit wall overlapping the annular groove and the first conduit wall of the drop tube segment deformed about the annular groove of the drop tube adapter to position the first conduit wall in the annular groove of the drop tube adapter to fasten the drop tube adapter to the first drop tube segment, with the first conduit fluid path in fluid communication with the drop tube adapter fluid path and with the first conduit fluid path and the drop tube adapter fluid path in fluid communication with the fuel storage tank. In alternative embodiments thereof, the fluid conduit may further include a second drop tube segment including a second conduit having a second conduit first end and a second conduit second end, a second conduit wall spanning the second conduit first end and the second conduit second end, the second conduit wall defining a second conduit interior surface defining a second conduit fluid path through the second conduit from the second conduit first end and the second conduit second end, the drop tube adapter further including a fastener proximate to the drop tube adapter first end the second drop tube segment having a cooperative fastener secured to the fastener of the drop tube adapter so that the drop tube adapter fluid path is in fluid communication with the second conduit fluid path and the first conduit fluid path is in fluid communication with the second conduit fluid path through the drop tube adapter fluid path so that a fluid can pass through the first conduit fluid path, the drop tube adapter fluid path and the second conduit fluid path to reach the storage tank. In certain embodiments, the fastener of the drop tube adapter and the cooperative fastener of the second drop tube segment may comprise compatible threads. In alternative embodiments, the annular groove of the drop tube adapter may be formed in the drop tube adapter wall exterior surface and/or in the drop tube adapter interior surface. Further, two or more grooves may be utilized to secure the drop tube adapter to a single drop tube segment.
A drop tube adapter in accordance with the present disclosure may further include a through bore through the drop tube adapter wall, the fluid conduit further comprising a fastener positioned through the first conduit wall and the through bore of the drop tube adapter to further fasten the drop tube adapter to the first drop tube segment. In alternative embodiments, an O-ring may be positioned in the annular groove in the drop tube adapter, with the first conduit wall deformed about the annular grooves such that the first conduit wall forms an annular seal with the O-ring.
The fluid path of any of the conduits, including the drop tube adapter described above may be sized to allow a flow rate of 400 gallons per minute through the conduit.
The drop tube adapter described above may comprise any of the overfill prevention valves disclosed herein.
Any of the various embodiments of the features of the present disclosure, including the primary valve body, closure stop (in the form of a secondary valve body or a stop that prohibits the primary valve body from achieving its closed position), non-contact valve actuator, drop tube adapter and valve actuators may be combined to form a drop tube segment useable with a fuel storage tank in accordance with the present disclosure.
The above-mentioned and other features of the disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe remainder of this detailed description will describe use of the overfill prevention valve of the present disclosure with respect to a fueling station; however, use of the drop tube segments of the present disclosure are not limited to fueling station installations. The overfill prevention valve of the present disclosure is generally useable in connection with any fluid reservoir into which a drop tube extends.
Referring to
With valve body 34 closed as illustrated in
Referring to
Drop tube segment 20 includes non-contact valve actuator 36 positioned about conduit wall exterior surface 30, with conduit wall 28 interposed between and physically separating non-contact valve actuator 36 from valve body 34. As will be described hereinbelow, non-contact valve actuator 36 is capable of actuating valve body 34 from the open position illustrated in
Non-contact valve actuator 36 comprises a float having buoyancy characteristics such that it is buoyant on a surface of motor fuel. In one exemplary embodiment, float 36 has a specific gravity less than 0.7 so that it is buoyant on a surface of a quantity of motor fuel. As the liquid level in underground storage tank 94 rises, the top surface of fuel contained in underground storage tank 94 will encounter float 36. In one exemplary embodiment, when underground storage tank 94 achieves a liquid level corresponding to underground storage tank 94 being about 90% full, float 36 will travel upwardly until valve actuator magnet 42 is aligned with valve body magnet 44. Alternative configurations of the present disclosure will include valve actuators that actuate the primary valve at about 90%. This position of float 36 is illustrated in
As float 36 rises and brings valve actuator magnet 42 into alignment with valve body magnet 44, valve body magnet 44 causes valve half 108 to rotate from the open position illustrated in
Closure stop 50, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
As fuel is drawn out of underground storage tank 94 by fuel dispenser 106, float 36 will return to a position in which it is no longer operable to actuate closure stop 50 and fluid will leak past valve body 34 until the column of fluid upstream of valve body 34 is depleted and valve body 34 returns to the normally biased position illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
While the embodiment illustrated in
With valve body 74 closed as illustrated in
Referring to
Similar to the embodiments illustrated in
Similar to non-contact valve actuator 36, non-contact valve actuator 76 comprises a float having buoyancy characteristics such that it is buoyant on a surface of motor fuel. In one exemplary embodiment, float 36 has a specific gravity less than 0.7 so that it is buoyant on a surface of a quantity of motor fuel. As the liquid level in underground storage tank 94 rises, the top surface of fuel contained in underground storage tank 94 will encounter float 76. In one exemplary embodiment, when underground storage tank 94 achieves a liquid level corresponding to underground storage tank 94 being about 90% full, float 76 will travel upwardly until valve actuator magnet 42b is aligned with valve body magnet 44b. This position of float 36 is illustrated in
In the open position illustrated in
As float 76 rises and brings valve actuator magnet 42b into alignment with valve body magnet 44b, valve body magnet 44b causes valve body 74 to rotate from the open position illustrated in
As described above, when valve body 74 maintains the closed position illustrated in
Closure stop 50b, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
As with the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
Unlike the previously described embodiments, first float 132 does not incorporate a closure stop actuator. In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Before this transition, when valve body 74d is in the open position, deflector 48d shields valve body 74d from being actuated by the flow of liquid through conduit 62d. When the liquid level in storage tank 94 has buoyed float 76d upward to actuate valve body 74d to an intermediate position (out of the upright but not yet in the closed position) as illustrated in
Poppet valve 52d, in the exemplary embodiment in
Referring back to
Referring now to
As the fluid level in underground storage tank 94 lowers, closure stop actuator magnet 38d is returned to the position illustrated in
Referring to
In the embodiment in
Referring back to
As second flapper valve 208e is forced by the interaction of second roller 224e and lower ramp 230e from the position illustrated in
As the liquid level and flow decrease, float 76e will descend and upward bias of torsion spring 128e will begin to return both first and second flapper valves 206e and 208e to the open position. When this happens, referring from
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
From the position illustrated in
With both first and second flapper valves 304f and 306f closed, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Generally, drop tube adapter 400 includes a drop tube wall spanning opposing first and second ends, the drop tube wall having an interior surface defining a drop tube adapter fluid path between the opposing ends of the drop tube adapter. Opposite the interior surface of drop tube adapter 400 is an exterior surface. Similarly, drop tube 402 defines a fluid conduit spanning opposing first and second ends of drop tube 402. The wall of drop tube 402 that defines the fluid conduit through drop tube 402 has an interior surface that defines the fluid path through the drop tube.
Drop tube adapter 400 may be secured to drop tube 402 via annular groove 410. Specifically, as illustrated in
Deformation of drop tube 402 to create annular groove 410 may be done by roll crimping to create roll groove 410, as illustrated in
Drop tube adapter 400 further includes through bores 408, into which drop tube 402 can be deformed to form deformations 412 as illustrated in
Other than the opposite positioning of their annular grooves, drop tube adapter 400 and drop tube adapter 400a generally share the same construction, including a drop tube wall spanning opposing first and second ends of the respective drop tube adapter, the drop tube wall having an interior surface defining a drop tube adapter fluid path between the opposing ends of the drop tube adapter. Opposite the interior surface of drop tube adapter 400a is an exterior surface.
As illustrated, drop tube adapter 400a is designed to be joined to drop tube 402a, with drop tube 402a positioned interior to drop tube adapter 400a. Drop tube 402a is inserted in a generally coaxial, overlapping relationship into drop tube adapter 400a. In the illustrated embodiment, drop tube adapter 400a includes stop 428 (see
Deformation of drop tube 402a to create annular groove 410a may be done by roll crimping to create roll bead 410a, as illustrated in
Drop tube adapter 400a further includes through bores 408a which can be aligned with corresponding apertures in drop tube 402a to receive a fastener such as a rivet or bolt to further secure drop tube adapter 400a to drop tube 402a. In addition to the joining of drop tube adapter 400a to drop tube 402a as described above, threads 406a may be utilized to join drop tube adapter 400a to another drop tube segment, e.g., a drop tube segment having similar structure to drop tube segment 402 described above, and further including threads compatible with threads 406a of drop tube adapter 400a. Alternatively, the securing structure of either drop tube adapter 400 or drop tube adapter 400a can be repeated at an opposed end of the drop tube adapter so that such securing structure (groove, or groove and through bore) can be utilized to secure a pair of drop tube segments, one to either end of the drop tube adapter.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Cammed surface 320g (shown, e.g., in
Latch 308g is disengaged to unlatch flapper valve 304g and flapper valve 304g is subsequently pushed by foot 309g and thereafter roller 352g. The disengagement and pushing of flapper valve 304g helps pivot flapper valve 304g into the fluid stream, as described above for a variety of alternative embodiments, and as shown in the progression from
Referring to
As flapper valve 304g has transitioned closed, nubbin 356g, which projects perimetrically outwardly from inner magnetic coupler 316g to define a cam, has rotated from a position above the horizontal dotted line H (
In one exemplary embodiment, float 76g will actuate closure of closure stop 306g when underground storage tank 94 is 95% full. As fluid is drawn out of tank 94 (
As fluid flows through conduit 62g at either the “drain” or “leak” rate described above, torsion spring 128g will return flapper valve 304g to the open position. Specifically, as the column of fluid positioned above flapper valve 304g is depleted, it will no longer provide a sufficient force to overcome the biasing force of spring 128g. If the column of fluid is no longer sufficient to overcome the biasing force of torsion spring 128g, flapper valve 304g will rotate toward its open position. If the level of fuel in underground storage tank 94 maintains a level at or above the level necessary to position the valve actuation structure as illustrated in
Rapid closure of flapper valve 304g can cause a pressure spike in conduit 62g through a phenomenon known as “water hammer.” In the event of such a phenomenon pressure spike relief valve 370g (
As described above, the overfill prevention valve in accordance with the present disclosure can include a valve actuator means for actuating a valve body from an open position to a closed position while the valve actuator means is positioned outside of the fluid path and without requiring a physical penetration of the wall defining the fluid path. Exemplary embodiments of the valve actuator means include the various float/magnet/actuator combinations described above and any combination of the features of the various float/magnet/actuator combinations described above.
Further, an overfill prevention valve in accordance with the present disclosure can include a leak means for selectively allowing a quantity of fluid to leak past a valve body when the valve body is in the closed position. Leak actuator means for actuating the leak means from a non-leak position in which the leak means does not allow the quantity of fluid to leak past the valve body to a leaked position in which the leak means allows the quantity of fluid to leak past the valve body include the various float/magnet/actuator combinations described above. The leak means may take the form of a closure stop which prevents full seating of the valve body in a closed position, as described above. The leak means may further take the form of a closure stop in the form of a secondary valve such as a poppet valve, flapper valve or plunger which can be unseated when the primary valve maintains a closed position.
Any of the drop tube segments including an overfill prevention valve described above can be connected at their first and second ends to the remainder of drop tube 98 by a variety of connections including, e.g., threaded connections. Threaded adapters may be utilized to effect such connections and o-rings may be provided to seal the drop tube segments of the present disclosure to the remainder of the drop tube.
While this disclosure has been described as having exemplary designs, the present disclosure can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A overfill prevention valve, comprising:
- a conduit having a first end and a second end, a conduit wall spanning said first end of said conduit and said second end of said conduit, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said first end of said conduit to said second end of said conduit;
- a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body moveable from an open position to a closed position; and
- a non-contact valve actuator moveable relative to said valve body and positioned outside of said conduit, said conduit wall interposed between said non-contact valve actuator and said fluid path, said non-contact valve actuator operable to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position without physically penetrating said conduit wall, said non-contact valve actuator having a first position in which said non-contact valve actuator does not actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and a second position in which said non-contact valve actuator actuates said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.
2. The overfill prevention valve of claim 1, wherein said non-contact valve actuator comprises a float having a specific gravity, whereby said float is buoyant on a surface of a quantity of motor fuel.
3. The overfill prevention valve of claim 1, further comprising:
- a contact valve actuator positioned interior of said conduit wall, whereby said conduit wall is interposed between said contact valve actuator and said non-contact valve actuator, said contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby actuation of said contact valve actuator causes said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into a position in which a flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, said contact valve actuator moveable independent from said valve body;
- said contact valve actuator magnetically linked to said non-contact valve actuator, so that movement of said non-contact valve actuator from said first position to said second position actuates said contact valve actuator so that said contact valve actuator actuates said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.
4. The overfill prevention valve of claim 3, wherein said non-contact valve actuator comprises a first component of a magnetic shaft coupling, said contact valve actuator comprising a second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, the first component of the magnetic shaft coupling magnetically linked to said second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, whereby rotation of said first component of the magnetic shaft coupling about an axis causes rotation of the second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, the axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of said fluid path through said conduit.
5. The overfill prevention valve of claim 3, further comprising:
- a second contact actuator, said second contact actuator movably supported relative to said conduit wall, said second contact valve actuator movable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said second contact valve actuator causes said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through the conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, whereby said second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating said valve body further toward said closed position than said contact valve actuator, said second contact valve actuator moveable independent from said valve body.
6. The overfill prevention valve of claim 3, further comprising:
- a cam moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said cam including a ramp operably associated with said contact valve actuator so that a movement of said cam causes said ramp to move said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.
7. The overfill prevention valve of claim 6, further comprising:
- a second contact actuator, said second contact actuator moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said second contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said second contact valve actuator causes said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, whereby said second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating said valve body further toward said closed position than said contact valve actuator, and wherein
- said cam further includes a second ramp operably associated with said second contact valve actuator so that a movement of said cam causes said second ramp to move said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.
8. The overfill prevention valve of claim 6, further comprising:
- a second valve body positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said second valve body moveable from a second valve body open position to a second valve body closed position, and wherein;
- said cam further includes a nubbin positioned so that a movement of said cam causes said nubbin to move said second valve body from said second valve body open position toward said second valve body closed position.
9. The overfill prevention valve of claim 3, wherein said contact valve actuator comprises a ramp and a moveable latch, said moveable latch having a latching position in which said moveable latch latches said valve body in the open position when said non-contact valve actuator maintains said first position, said moveable latch moved from said latching position when said non-contact valve actuator moves from the first position to the second position.
10-57. (canceled)
58. An overfill prevention valve, comprising:
- a conduit having a first end and a second end, a conduit wall spanning said first end of said conduit and said second end of said conduit, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said first end of said conduit to said second end of said conduit;
- a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body moveable from an open position to a closed position, said valve body rotatably moveable between said open position and said closed position; and
- a contact valve actuator moveably supported by said conduit wall, said contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said contact valve actuator causes said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into a position in which a flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, said contact valve actuator moveable independent from said valve body.
59. The overfill prevention valve of claim 58, wherein said contact valve actuator is rotatably supported relative to said conduit wall interior surface whereby rotation of said contact valve actuator causes movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.
60. The overfill prevention valve of claim 58, further comprising:
- a non-contact valve actuator positioned outside of said conduit, said conduit wall interposed between said non-contact valve actuator and said fluid path, said non-contact valve actuator operable to actuate said contact valve actuator without physically penetrating said conduit wall.
61. The overfill prevention valve of claim 60, wherein said non-contact valve actuator is magnetically linked to said contact valve actuator through said conduit wall, said non-contact valve actuator comprising a first component of a magnetic shaft coupling, said contact valve actuator comprising a second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, said first component of the magnetic shaft coupling magnetically linked to said second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, whereby rotation of said first component of the magnetic shaft coupling about an axis causes rotation of the second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, the axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of said fluid path through said conduit.
62. The overfill prevention valve of claim 58, further comprising:
- a second contact actuator, said second contact actuator moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said second contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said second contact valve actuator causes said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, whereby said second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating said valve body further toward said closed position than said contact valve actuator.
63. The overfill prevention valve of claim 62, wherein said second contact valve actuator is moveable independent from said valve body, said second contact valve actuator spaced a first distance from said valve body when said valve body maintains the open position, said second contact valve actuator spaced a second distance from said valve body when said valve body maintains the closed position, said second distance greater than said first distance.
64. The overfill prevention valve of claim 58, further comprising:
- a cam moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said cam including a ramp operably associated with said contact valve actuator so that a movement of said cam causes said ramp to move said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.
65. The overfill prevention valve of claim 64, further comprising:
- a second contact actuator, said second contact actuator moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said second contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said second contact valve actuator causes said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, whereby said second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating said valve body further toward said closed position than said contact valve actuator, and
- wherein said cam further includes a second ramp operably associated with said second contact valve actuator so that a movement of said cam causes said second ramp to move said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.
66. The overfill prevention valve of claim 64, further comprising:
- a second valve body positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said second valve body moveable from a second valve body open position to a second valve body closed position, and wherein;
- said cam further includes a nubbin positioned so that a movement of said cam causes said nubbin to move said second valve body from said second valve body open position toward said second valve body closed position.
67. The overfill prevention valve of claim 66, wherein said second valve body seats on a valve seat spaced from said valve body.
68. The overfill prevention valve of claim 58, wherein said contact valve actuator comprises a moveable latch, said moveable latch having a latching position in which said moveable latch latches said valve body in the closed position, said moveable latch moveable from said latching position as said contact valve actuator moves to cause said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.
69. The overfill prevention valve of claim 58, further comprising a pressure spike relief valve comprising a pressure spike relief valve body moveable between a closed position and an open position and biased by a biasing force into said closed position, said pressure spike relief valve body moveable from said closed position to said open position when a sufficient pressure in said conduit counteracts said biasing force to actuate said pressure spike relief valve body from said closed position to said open position such that a flow of liquid can flow past said pressure spike relief valve body as long as said pressure in said conduit is sufficient to overcome said biasing force.
70-71. (canceled)
72. The overfill prevention valve of claim 58, in combination with:
- a fuel storage tank; and
- a drop tube extending into said fuel storage tank, the overfill prevention valve forming a part of the drop tube, said drop tube in fluid communication with said fuel storage tank so that fluid passing through said drop tube fills said fuel storage tank.
73-92. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 3, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 27, 2015
Applicant: Franklin Fueling Systems, Inc. (Madison, WI)
Inventors: Justin Kuehn (Sun Prairie, WI), David Laundrie (Cottage Grove, WI), Michael O'Flahrity (Milton, WI), Erik Backhaus (Wisconsin Dells, WI)
Application Number: 14/428,316