Sequentially Filled And Emptied (e.g., Holding Type) Patents (Class 137/256)
  • Patent number: 5951050
    Abstract: The present invention is a system for storing and supplying a maximum amount of fuel from a fuel tank while maintaining a simple structure which is easy to gain access to and repair. The fuel tank structure includes a main fuel tank with an integral internal reservoir tank, a fuel pump, and primary and secondary fuel filters. The reservoir is permanently secured within the fuel tank and provides access, through a removable cover, to the fuel pump allowing efficient and cost effective maintenance to be performed whenever necessary. The system can be manufactured from a wide range of materials and is in compliance with the standards of the industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventor: Jim Siekmann
  • Patent number: 5873383
    Abstract: Three storage vessels 11-13 are stacked at positioned lower than a rainwater gutter 14. The rainwater gutter and the first storage vessel 11 are connected by a first supply passage 21, the second supply passage 22 connected to a lower face of the first storage vessel at one end thereof is provided with a supply valve 33 at the other end thereof. The third supply passage 23 provided with a nonreturn valve 43 is connected with a lower face of second and third storage vessels 12, 13 at one end thereof, and connected to a second supply passage at the other end thereof respectively. When the rainwaters stored in the first and second storage vessels go up in the water level up to over a predetermined water level, an overflow passage 41 leads the rainwater exceeding over the predetermined water level to the second and third storage vessels respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignees: Totetu Mfg. Co., Ltd., Sanyokogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takai, Mitsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 5832948
    Abstract: The liquid transfer system includes a liquid supply tank and at least two pressurizable liquid holding vessels. The liquid holding vessels are placed beneath the supply tank, and a liquid supply line connects the supply tank to each vessel. The liquid supply line is operated as a siphon from the tank to each vessel, in order to move liquid from the tank to each vessel. Each vessel is alternately filled and pressurized to dispense liquid from the vessel, such that one vessel is being filled while the other is dispensing liquid, and a constant controllable liquid output flow is achieved. A preferred embodiment includes a liquid recycling line to recycle or constantly move the liquid within the system to achieve thorough mixing, and an in-line filter to improve liquid purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Chemand Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel Schell
  • Patent number: 5722447
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system (10, 210) is disclosed that includes a pipeline network (20, 220) having a chemical supply line (12, 14, 212), a filtering system (134, 235), a feeding portion (24, 224), and a return portion (26, 226). A first tank (28, 228), a second tank (30, 230), and a third tank (32, 232) are coupled to the feeding portion (24, 224) and the return portion (26, 226) of the pipe network (20, 220). A control module (100) is coupled to a multiplicity of valves (46, 52, 48, 54, 50, 56, 70, 86, 72, 88, 74, 90) for controlling the flow of the fluid through the system in a manner that provides a continuous and bumpless flow of the fluid. Additionally, the system (10, 210) may include a plurality of sensors (94, 96, 98) that allow control module 100 to sense the volume of fluid in the system (10, 210) and each tank (28, 30, 32, 228, 230, 232).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Vernon E. Morgan, Carl D. Reedy
  • Patent number: 5673735
    Abstract: A process for storing and delivering gas. In the first step of this process, a multiplicity of at least four gas banks is filled with compressed gas to a specified pressure, the gas pressure in each of the gas banks is sequentially measured, a control system sequentially selects one of the gas banks and withdraws gas from it to the device to be filled until the rate of gas flow is less than optimum, the control system then withdraws gas from the next sequential of the gas banks while replenishing the gas in the first depleted of said gas banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Aurora Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Crvelin, Douglas B. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5653255
    Abstract: A sewage treatment system includes a pair of substantially identical unitary fluid treatment modules, each module having a central sedimentation tank surrounded by a peripheral wetland. The sedimentation tanks are coupled through a dosing device to an input source of sewage and, as an outlet, to a leaching field. The dosing device includes a switching mechanism isolated from the fluids, which mechanism provides in one cycle for one treatment module to be filled with the incoming sewage while maintaining its outlet closed. When the liquid level in the sedimentation tank in the first treatment module reaches a predetermined level the dosing device switches the sewage input to the other treatment module, while opening the outlet from the first treatment module to the leaching field. The dosing device switching mechanism employs pinch valves arranged so that when the inlet on one treatment module is closed, the inlet on the other treatment module is substantially simultaneously opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Stormtreat Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Winfried Platz
  • Patent number: 5636665
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collectively filling and emptying fluid in a plurality of tanks, particularly in a railway train. The apparatus enables filling and emptying via a hook-up at the filling terminal or discharge terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Svien O. Lie
  • Patent number: 5502685
    Abstract: The invention provides a chemical mixture device that avoids the mixing of large batches of chemicals and provides a continuous and precisely mixed mixture. For mixing water and a chemical, a large water tank and a chemical tank supply water and chemicals to first and second mixing tanks. As small batches are mixed in one mixing tank, the mixture is drawn from the other mixing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Franklin P. Orlando
  • Patent number: 5105845
    Abstract: A control apparatus for regulating liquid levels in liquid storage tanks to supplement a liquid supply serving a liquid operational system which includes a normally full primary liquid storage tank operable to selectively supplement the liquid supply serving the operational system, an input/output flowpipe connecting the liquid supply and operational system to the primary storage tank, and at least one normally full secondary liquid storage tank connected to the first tank, the input/output flowpipe and the liquid supply serving the operational system. The input/output flowpipe connecting the primary and secondary tanks has means to selectively open the secondary storage tank to the liquid supply serving the operational system when the system requirements cause liquid to flow from the primary storage tank so that liquid flows from the secondary storage tank to further supplement the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventor: Robert W. Rorex, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4997003
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for evacuating and transferring liquid waste comprising a pump assembly that is connected to a holding tank and to a liquid container; the pump assembly being mounted on a wall and elevated above the holding tank; the pump assembly including a flexible hose detachably mounted on one end to said pump assembly and which is adapted to be connected at a second end to an aperture in the container, the aperture in the container being connected to a suction mechanism extending to the bottom of the container to permit the pump assembly to drain substantially all of the liquid waste from the liquid container and into the holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Inventor: Daniel F. Brennan
  • Patent number: 4932609
    Abstract: Parallel transfer pumps (92, 94) operate to transfer fuel from auxiliary tanks (52, 60, 66) to the main tank (10). A pressure sensor (106) in the pump discharge line in combination with tank level rate mechanisms (86, 88, 90) sequences pumps (92, 92) and transfer valves (100, 102) if required, and confirms successful transfer or alarms when unsuccessful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence N. Secchiaroli, Raymond C. Cresiski, Jr., Thomas P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4923152
    Abstract: The two-liquid propulsive system for an artificial satellite is characterized in that the components of the propellant are unequally distributed in at least two pairs of tanks (12, 16) and (14, 18) which are associated in such a way as to provide additional fuel in a first pair of tanks and additional oxidizer in a second pair of tanks, and in that the different pairs of tanks are suitable for being used in succession during predetermined time periods so that the exhaustion of a first propellant component in one tank (14 or 16) indicate that the residual normal lifetime of the satellite is at best approximately equal to said predetermined time period, and that after exhaustion of the second propellant component in the tank (16 or 14), the two tanks (12 and 18) each containing an excess quantity of one of the propellant components are associated in order to extract the satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Inventor: Gerard Barkats
  • Patent number: 4921639
    Abstract: An ultrasonic humidifier having a pair of water tanks which release their water into a reservoir in a staggered sequence. The staggered emptying of the water tanks enables the tanks to be refilled in a more efficient manner. Several different embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Inventor: Bernard Chiu
  • Patent number: 4858640
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is represented by a process and a layout for feeding gas stored in a cavern storage facility into a consumer network, in which a high feed-out rate for removal of gas over a protracted period of time can be achieved by means of a multistage procedure by prescribing specific supply line paths between the individual storage caverns and the consumer network to be supplied and by coordinating removal of gas from the individual storage caverns at an originally high storage pressure to a minimum residual pressure which is still below the operating pressure in the consumer network, by means of suitably controlled shut-off valves in the connecting supply line system between storage caverns and consumer network, the only ancillar equipment provided being a compressor station also required for feeding gas into the storage caverns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventor: Klaus-Dieter Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 4847208
    Abstract: A device and method for automating immunohistochemical staining of biological material on glass slides is presented. The slides are placed on a base with the tissue section facing upwards. A "chamber" consisting of a rectangular plastic box with a hinged overhead door is clamped directly over the tissue section. A rubber gasket seals the chamber--slide interface. Reagents are dropped on to the tissue section by opening the hinged overhead plastic door. When the door is closed, the chamber is sufficiently sealed so as to prevent evaporation. Washing of the tissue section is accomplished by the addition and aspiration of buffer through ports in the chamber. The ports are connected via flexible tubing to a manifold. Because the wash steps are peformed in tandem and do not require manual manipulation of slides, a significant time savings is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Inventor: Steven A. Bogen
  • Patent number: 4830888
    Abstract: Treatment baths for surface treatment of semiconductor wafers by dipping thereof into a treatment liquid are arranged in a treatment bath train.One or more selected treatment baths among these treatment baths are constructed to have a plurality of unit treatment vessels. The treatment liquid in these treatment vessels is replaced successively one by one of the unit treatment vessels. The semiconductor wafers are dipped in the treatment liquid contained in that unit treatment vessel that is not being subjected at that moment to the replacement of the treatment liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Kobayashi, Takuma Yamada, Kiyoshi Akao
  • Patent number: 4682620
    Abstract: Clean-gas continuous-flow intermediate storage plant having at least one high-pressure accumulator, at least one low-pressure accumulator and at least one pressure-increasing compressor connected therein, and having a connection with a gas distribution line, comprising an input line to the low-pressure accumulator, and an output line from the high-pressure accumulator both connected to the gas distribution line, a connecting line connecting the low-pressure accumulator and the high-pressure accumulator to one another and having at least one pressure-increasing compressor inserted therein, and valves built into the input line to the low-pressure accumulator and the output line from the high-pressure accumulator as well as into an output line from the low-pressure accumulator and an input line to the high-pressure accumulator and respective pressure sensors connected to the valves for controlling the valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Konrad Goebel, Ulrich Schiffers
  • Patent number: 4613060
    Abstract: A gas pressure operated dispensing method and apparatus for dispensing fluids including a first container as a primary fluid source, a second container as a reserve fluid source, a first gas line connected to the first container and a second gas line connected to the second container, a gas pressure source connected to the first and second gas lines for supplying a pressurized gas thereto, a first change over valve and a second change over valve disposed in the first gas line and the second line, respectively, a supply line for introducing a fluid into the second container, a discharge line for discharging a fluid from the first container, a fluid line communicating with the supply line and the second container at one end and the discharge line and the first container at the other end, the fluid line containing a third valve, and vent line selectively connectible to the second gas line through the second change over valve when the gas pressure source is separated from the second gas line by the second change
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Wilh. Quester Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Ulbrich, Horst Quester
  • Patent number: 4580699
    Abstract: A proportioning system for creating admixture from diluent and concentrate comprises accumulators which are alternatively repetitively recharged so that one is always on-line. Recharging is controlled by a fluid system including a piston assembly for injecting a measured charge of concentrate into an accumulator being recharged. Diluent is introduced by opening and closing a valve from the diluent supply with the recharging being activated and terminated by level sensing switches associated with the accumulators. Electrical control circuitry and a stroke adjustment mechanism for the piston assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Chem-Trend Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas L. Black, Steven S. Kendall
  • Patent number: 4446804
    Abstract: The transportation of oil and gas under high pressure in tanks on board a ship is carried out by loading and unloading the oil/gas utilizing a suitable pressurized liquid, for example water, in the individual tanks, whereby during loading, a tank or a group of tanks containing pressurized liquid are filled with oil and gas while the pressurized liquid simultaneously is displaced into the next tank or group of tanks which are to be filled, after which the said next tank/group of tanks are filled and the pressurized liquid displaced into a third tank/group of tanks, etc., and that during unloading, the cargo in one tank or one group of tanks is removed by introducing a pressurized liquid into the tank/group of tanks, and unloading of the cargo in the next tank/group of tanks occurs by transferring the pressurized liquid from the said first tank/group of tanks to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignees: Moss Rosenberg Verft A/S, Saga Petroleum a.s. & Co.
    Inventors: Olaf Kristiansen, Bo Brannstrom
  • Patent number: 4320775
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for the accurate measurement and control of liquid flow at low flow rates. The invention is particularly applicable to the measurement and control of continuous liquid blending operations, e.g. gasoline blending, in which a liquid additive, e.g. tetraethyl lead, is fed into a continuously flowing liquid stream, the additive being added in precisely controlled amounts requiring precise control of liquid flow at very low flow rates. According to the invention the additive is fed from a stock tank 1 alternately into one or the other of two reservoirs 6, 7 connected in parallel between the inlet line 3 from the stock tank and an outlet line 20. As the one reservoir is being charged, the other is being discharged through the four-way valve 5 to the outlet. Flow through the outlet line 20 is controlled by a valve 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignees: The Associated Octel Company Limited, Octel S.A.
    Inventors: William Stirling, Robert L. Peres