Plural Top-to-bottom Connected Tanks Patents (Class 137/575)
  • Patent number: 10975975
    Abstract: A valve device includes a valve housing, a valve member, a limiter, a contact portion and a shaft. The valve housing has an inside space and a plurality of housing-side openings. The housing-side openings communicate between the inside space and an outside of the valve housing. The valve member is rotatably received in the valve housing and has: a plurality of valve-member-side openings, each of which is configured to communicate with a corresponding one of the housing-side openings; and a communication passage, through which the valve-member-side openings is communicated with each other. The limiter is configured to limit rotation of the valve member. The contact portion is provided in a space of the valve member and is configured to contact the limiter. The shaft rotatably supports the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Sato
  • Patent number: 10189054
    Abstract: A deviation handling apparatus for a continuous production system of granulated products includes a storage section for temporarily storing the products, an inspection section for inspecting selected physical properties of the products, a moving route switching section for switching the moving route of the products according to the results of the inspection and a discharge path for discharging the products judged as not meeting the specifications. The storage section has two shutoff valves and a storage chamber formed therebetween. The switching section has a switching valve having a normal position and a deviation position for causing a conveyance route to communicate with the discharge path. The deviation handling apparatus closes the shutoff valves to store products in the storage chamber and inspect properties of the products. When off-specification products are detected, the switching valve is switched to the deviation position and the products are discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Freund Corporation
    Inventors: Shouji Fuchigami, Shigemi Isobe, Norikazu Saitou, Takashi Terada
  • Patent number: 10173181
    Abstract: A decanter includes a first body and a second body mounted on the first body. The first body is provided with a bottle insert, a curved wine channel and a wine outlet. The curved wine channel has an opening and is provided with a plurality of stepped portions. The second body covers and closes the first body, and a mixing cavity is defined between the second body and the curved wine channel. The second body is provided with a plurality of stop plates. The stop plates and the stepped portions form a tortuous passage in the mixing cavity. In practice, when the wine in the wine bottle enters the mixing cavity, the wine hits and is stirred by the stepped portions and the stop plates to enhance the mixing effect of the wine and the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: World Link Article Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsing-Hui Chen
  • Patent number: 9770976
    Abstract: A filler pipe bracket of an aluminum pickup truck includes a two-tiered body, a first side member, and a second side member. The two-tiered body includes a first layer defining a first pipe aperture and a second layer defining a second pipe aperture. The first side member extends from the first layer and includes a first mount flange oriented for securing to a portion of an inner pickup box frame. The second side member extends from the second layer and includes a second mount flange for fastening to another portion of the inner pickup box frame. The first pipe aperture may be sized to receive a diesel fuel pipe and the second pipe aperture may be sized to receive a diesel exhaust fluid pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, John Comiez, Dennis G. Slevin
  • Patent number: 9763759
    Abstract: A saliva collector comprises a reservoir, a bubble barrier, and a membrane, where the bubble barrier and membrane are arranged in tandem on a flow path from an inlet to an outlet on the reservoir. Air aspirated from a patient's oral cavity enters the reservoir through the inlet, passes through the bubble barrier to remove foam and bubbles, passes through the membrane to remove entrained liquid saliva, and passes out through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Apnicure, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Vitale, Kenneth Mejia, Michael C. Holzbaur, John Edwards Crowe, Jonathan L. Podmore
  • Patent number: 9309652
    Abstract: A water collection container includes a tank; a lid having with an inlet opening in its top surface, and an overflow opening and a water inflow assembly on its underside. The water inflow assembly includes a valve interconnected between the inlet opening, the overflow opening and the tank and operated via a handle. The valve, in a first configuration, diverts water from the inlet opening to the tank and overflow from the tank to the overflow opening, and in a second configuration diverts water from the inlet opening to the overflow opening while substantially preventing water from entering the tank. An in-line filter may be located between the valve and inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Kevin Gordon Mercer
  • Patent number: 9027596
    Abstract: A fluids management apparatus is disclosed herein that enables management of multiple volumes of different fluids when drilling and/or producing oil and/or gas with an oil and gas well drilling platform. The apparatus includes a structural, transportable frame that has upper and lower reservoir sections, each with a plurality of tanks for holding fluid. The upper reservoir section is easily lifted and transported, such as by crane. A docking station on the lower reservoir section is receptive of the upper reservoir section. A piping system enables a selected fluid volume contained in a tank of the upper reservoir section to be selectively transmitted to a selected tank of the lower reservoir section. The lower reservoir section has its own piping system that enables a user to withdraw fluid from any selected one of its tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel W. Ness, Robert Bartlett
  • Patent number: 9027595
    Abstract: A method for channeling hot/warm working fluid includes coupling a first fluid supply path in flow communication with an inlet of a first transparent fluid reservoir to a fluid inlet valve, coupling an outlet of the first transparent fluid reservoir in flow communication to a fluid outlet supply path, coupling a second fluid reservoir in flow communication with the first transparent fluid reservoir, and coupling a second fluid supply path in flow communication with an outlet of the second fluid reservoir to a fluid outlet valve. The method also includes directing working fluid of a temperature that is above a minimum threshold temperature from the fluid inlet valve to the fluid outlet supply path through the first transparent fluid reservoir, and directing working fluid of a temperature that is below the minimum threshold temperature from the first transparent fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet valve through the second fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventors: Avinash Girish Bhardwaj, Glrish Krishnan
  • Patent number: 8887760
    Abstract: A system for delivering frac water at high pressure is provided, including a first pump positionable within a tank, the first pump configured to receive water from within the tank and output the water at pressure to a first pressure tank; a second pump positionable above the first pressure tank, the second pump configured to receive water from the first pressure tank and output the water at pressure to a second pressure tank; and a third pump positionable above the second pressure tank, the third pump configured to receive water from the second pressure tank and output pressurized water to a discharge piping, the discharge piping leading said pressurized water over a wall of said tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Flo-Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Elliott
  • Patent number: 8671978
    Abstract: A refueling device (1) for refueling a fuel tank (2) of an internal combustion engine (3) in a motor vehicle (4) has a filler connector (5) for feeding fuel to the fuel tank (2). An integrated fuel feed device (10) feeds the fuel from the filler connector (5) to the fuel tank (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Fritz, Josef Oesterle, Horst Petri
  • Patent number: 8511341
    Abstract: A marine fuel backflow preventer and overfill alarm for use with marine vessels includes a housing provided for in-line installation in the fuel fill inlet line and directs fuel entering the a fuel filling inlet generally directly to a fuel filling outlet such that the fuel passes freely through the back flow preventer while being directed to the vessel fuel tank. The housing further functions as a reservoir for containing fuel which has accumulated therein due to over-filling and/or that has been carried into the housing via the fuel tank vent line. By providing a fuel containing reservoir disposed in-line the present invention thus functions to prevent unintended fuel spillage into the environment. The back flow preventer further includes an electro-mechanical float switch that automatically activates an alarm upon sensing the presence of fuel within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Gary E. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8316884
    Abstract: A safety drain system includes a plurality of drain sections, each of which defines distinct fluid flow paths. At least a portion of the fluid flow paths commence at a side of the drain section that is in fluid communication with a reservoir's fluid. Each fluid flow path at the side communicating with the reservoir's fluid defines an opening having a smallest dimension not to exceed approximately one centimeter. The drain sections are distributed over at least one surface of the reservoir. A manifold is coupled to the drain sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John Dwight England, Anthony R. Kelley, Raymond J. Cronise
  • Patent number: 8173014
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for hydrolyzing protein-containing raw material into water soluble protein and other products. The apparatuses and methods include an optional collection or processing stage in which protein-containing raw material, such as fish or animal carcasses from food production plants, are collected and optionally processed. The raw material is then reacted with one or more enzymes to hydrolyze the protein present, after which the one or more enzymes are inactivated and the components separated. The processes and apparatuses, which can be run as a batch processes or, advantageously as a continuous processes, can yield water soluble protein, oils, bone meal and other products that have utility as food or food additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Marine Bioproducts AS
    Inventors: Stig Soerensen, Kjartan Sandnes, Harald Hagen, Karstein Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20110290355
    Abstract: A rainwater regulating system is described. An object of this invention to provide an attachment for rain gutters that allows for easy collections of rainwater into a rain barrel. It is another object of the invention to provide a gutter attachment that does not need to be removed in cold weather. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a gutter attachment that screens out debris from water prior to allowing water to enter the water barrel; said debris can be easily cleaned without removing the attachment or disturbing the barrel. It is another objective of the invention to provide a gutter attachment that allows overflow to easily flow through the gutter without causing structural damage to either the barrel or the gutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Soo Teoh
  • Patent number: 7727465
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting active elemental iodine from the contact of water with stored crystal iodine and for introducing the extracted elemental iodine into a water supply line and/or otherwise making the extracted elemental iodine available for an intended use. The system operates by allowing a portion of the water entering from a water supply line to be redirected to a first housing where it makes contact with stored crystal iodine causing to extract active elemental iodine. The iodinized water leaves the first housing and enters a second housing where it makes contact additional stored crystal iodine to help stabilize the elemental iodine concentration. The system can be designed to provide the elemental iodine in more than one potency concentration through the use of a metering valve and different travel routes for the elemental iodine out of the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Spyros J. Papageorge
  • Publication number: 20090101220
    Abstract: An auxiliary fuel tank mounts on top of a primary fuel tank to provide additional fuel capacity. The auxiliary fuel tank and primary fuel tank establish a single fuel volume. The auxiliary fuel tank contains interconnecting means to replace the primary tank gas cap, support auxiliary fuel tank, and can detachably attach the auxiliary tank to the primary tank at the fill point of the primary tank. The bottom of the auxiliary fuel tank is equipped with a cap replacement for the primary tank and interconnects to form a seal. The interconnection includes an inlet tube that protrudes in and through the primary tank fill point to provide for the flow of gasoline and including ear members to prevent liquid from passing back into the auxiliary fuel tank. The auxiliary fuel tank includes a separate fill point to allow for fueling of the system once attached. The auxiliary fuel tank can be shaped complementary to the primary tank outer surface and may be fastened to the primary tank or motorcycle frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Delbert William Mundy
  • Patent number: 7445759
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting active elemental iodine from the contact of water with stored crystal iodine and for introducing the extracted elemental iodine into a water supply line and/or otherwise making the extracted elemental iodine available for an intended use. The system operates by allowing a portion of the water entering from a water supply line to be redirected to a first housing where it makes contact with stored crystal iodine causing to extract active elemental iodine. The iodinized water leaves the first housing and enters a second housing where it makes contact additional stored crystal iodine to help stabilize the elemental iodine concentration. The system can be designed to provide the elemental iodine in more than one potency concentration through the use of a metering valve and different travel routes for the elemental iodine out of the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: Spyros J. Papageorge
  • Patent number: 6948522
    Abstract: A reconstitution device is disclosed and includes a first container receiver having a first component cannula disposed therein, the first component cannula having a withdrawal port and a first transfer port formed thereon, a second container receiver having a second component cannula disposed thereon, the second component cannula having a vent port and a second transfer port formed thereon, a device body coupling the first container receiver to the second container receiver and having a transfer lumen formed therein, the transfer lumen in fluid communication with the first and second transfer ports, a selectively sealing interface secured to the device body and in fluid communication with the withdrawal port, and a venting member in communication with the vent port through a vent lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry W. Newbrough, James S. Slepicka, Arnold C. Bilstad, John Mark DeFoggi, Marianne M. Boschelli, Alice M. Jandrisits, Bihong Wu
  • Patent number: 6848472
    Abstract: A liquid stabilizing deflector baffle system, including a method and an apparatus, including a plurality of deflectors interconnected together to provide a baffling effect on liquid in which it is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: John A. Bambacigno
  • Patent number: 6505641
    Abstract: A device for an arrangement inside a fuel tank, provided with pumps and filters for supplying and filtering fuel that is fed to an internal combustion engine, whereby the fuel is conveyed from the bottom area of the tank through a first filter into a collector chamber and fuel is conveyed from said collector chamber by means of a second pump through a second filter to the internal combustion chamber. Both pumps are arranged in a pump unit. The collector chamber is arranged vertically above the pump unit and the filter with respect to the fitting position of the device and is embodied as an open overflow container, whereby the inventive device can be produced in a rational manner and offers good functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignees: Mahle Filtersysteme GmbH, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans Gebert, Horst Schneider, Jim Siekmann, Hans Waibel, Rüdiger Walter
  • Patent number: 6167899
    Abstract: A water transporting device has a sealed water tank, a water channel device, and a pressure reduction tank. The water channel device has a lowest water box, a plurality of water boxes, a highest water box, a plurality of chambers between two of the water boxes, and a plurality of connection pipes. Each connection pipe is connected to two of the water boxes. Each connection pipe has a water outlet hole in one of the water boxes. A water inlet tube is connected to the sealed water tank. A water outlet tube is connected to the sealed water tank and the lowest water box. A connection tube is connected to the pressure reduction tank and the highest water box. A water outlet pipe is connected to the pressure reduction tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Inventor: Chung-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 5996604
    Abstract: An apparatus providing process water used for making or processing a fiber suspension includes a multi-compartment tank with a top, a bottom wall, and a plurality of exterior sidewalls. Each compartment has an inlet positioned near the top, an outlet positioned near the bottom wall, and at least one intervening wall common with an adjacent compartment. Each intervening wall has a height defining an overflow weir whereby the compartments are arranged with sequentially decreasing maximum fluid levels. Each intervening wall also has a backflow device positioned near the bottom wall. The backflow device is selectively openable to allow flow from one compartment to an adjacent compartment in a direction opposite to a flow direction over the corresponding overflow weir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Doelle, Kurt William Lorenz, Oliver U. Heise, Werner Witek, Robert J. Matz
  • Patent number: 5551488
    Abstract: Cryogenic fluid piston pump functions as stationary dispensing pump, mobile vehicle fuel pump etc., and can pump vapour and liquid efficiently even at negative feed pressures, thus permitting pump location outside a liquid container. Piston inducts fluid by removing vapour from liquid in an inlet conduit faster than the liquid therein can vaporize by absorbing heat, and moves at essentially constant velocity throughout an induction stroke to generate an essentially steady state induction flow with negligible restriction of flow through an inlet port. Stroke displacement volume is at least two orders of magnitude greater than residual or dead volume remaining in cylinder during stroke changeover, and is greater than volume of inlet conduit. Cryogenic tank has a liquid compartment, a vapour compartment, and inlet and overflow conduits. Inlet conduit receives liquid from dispensing pump and widely disperses liquid into liquid tank to contact and condense vapour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Process System International, Inc.
    Inventor: Anker Gram
  • Patent number: 5518017
    Abstract: A marine fuel tank includes a "sump" tank compartment. The sump tank compartment projects from and below a main fuel tank compartment. A bottom cover plate, covering the sump, has a large hole in its center in communication with one end of a connection tube. The bottom cover plate for the sump also includes two small holes directly in front of and behind the connection tube, aligned with each other in a direction of travel. These holes allow fuel to move from the main fuel tank compartment of the fuel tank into the sump tank compartment. As the main fuel tank compartment is filled with fuel, the fuel flows to the sump tank compartment by gravity feed through the holes in the cover plate of the sump tank compartment. A fuel pickup tube extends through the connection tube and into the sump tank compartment and its free end is free to move inside the sump tank compartment as moved by the dynamic acceleration forces acting on the fuel pickup tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Correct Craft, Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Snook, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5223156
    Abstract: In a process and a system for removing waste including production residues from fluid media used with machinery, the medium from which waste is to be removed is transported from the respective place of accumulation via piping to a collecting tank. The medium from which waste is to be removed is pumped from the respective place of accumulation up to an elevated tank, from where it is passed on to the collecting tank located at a lower level continuously or intermittently via a closed piping system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Scheibel Versorgungsanlagen GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Maier
  • Patent number: 5111844
    Abstract: An automotive fuel system including a reservoir having upper and lower chambers on opposite sides of a partition in the reservoir, a high pressure fuel pump having an inlet connected to the lower chamber, a low pressure fuel overage return pipe returning overage fuel directly to the lower chamber, and a low pressure pump transferring fuel from the tank directly to the upper chamber. A drain in the partition conducts gravity induced fuel flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber at a rate equal to the difference between the rate at which the high pressure pump withdraws fuel from the lower chamber and the rate at which overage is returned to the lower chamber through the overage return pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dan H. Emmert, John E. Creager, Timothy F. Coha
  • Patent number: 5103863
    Abstract: A fluid handling system includes a vessel having an inlet and an outlet. A first fluid transfer device is associated with the inlet, and a second is associated with the outlet. The fluid transfer devices substantially reduce short-circuiting of fluid flow through the vessel between the inlet and outlet independently of a fluid flow rate through the vessel while continuously transferring fluid through the inlet and the outlet. Each of the fluid transfer devices includes a plurality of hydraulically parallel flow passages defined therein. The flow passages communicate the interior of the vessel with either the inlet or the outlet. The flow passages have substantially identical flow characteristics such that for any differential pressure across all of the passages of one device the passages have substantially equal fluid flow rates therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Maston L. Powers
  • Patent number: 5061378
    Abstract: Known water or wastewater treatment methods, wherein a layer of fluid sludge is formed during operation of the method in a first chamber beneath a body of liquid partially filling the first chamber to an upper liquid level, fluid sludge from the first chamber is processed in a second chamber and a stream of fluid sludge is conveyed by a conduit from the first chamber as influent to the second chamber, are improved by creating upward flow of fluid sludge through a vertical stackpipe by introducing large bubbles within the stackpipe with its inlet end immersed in the layer of fluid sludge, discharging fluid sludge through an elongated, longitudinal side opening in the top portion of the stackpipe into a collector zone at least a portion of which is at a vertical height above the upper liquid level, controlling the rate of the discharge of fluid sludge by vertical adjustment of the position of the side opening relative to the upper liquid level in the first chamber and flowing fluid sludge from the collector zon
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Infilco Degremont Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Zuback
  • Patent number: 4993455
    Abstract: An improved receiver dryer header portion for a refrigeration circuit is disclosed. The receiver dryer comprises a cylindrical body having an upper opening and a header portion disposed on the upper opening. The header portion includes a cover plate which is formed as step-like structure having a lower flat surface and an upper flat surface. A fluid inlet port is rotatably disposed on the lower flat surface and a fluid outlet port is rotatably disposed on the upper flat surface. This enables the fluid outlet port to rotate 360.degree. and the fluid input port to rotate more than 180.degree. thereby permitting the piping arrangement of the refrigeration circuit to be easily connected and properly sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 4981153
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing hydrocarbon vapor emission from a hydrocarbonaceous liquid in a storage tank during filling of same wherein at least two storage tanks are present and an essentially inert gas is provided in a first storage tank containing said hydrocarbonaceous liquid, the inert gas being at a temperature at least about equal to or above the temperature of the hydrocarbonaceous liquid, and as said first storage tank fills with hydrocarbonaceous liquid removing at least a portion of said inert gas from said first storage tank and passing same into a least one second storage tank that is later to be filled thereby (a) displacing from said second storage tank atmospheric gas originally present which is below the temperature of said hydrocarbonaceous liquid, (b) prewarming said second storage tank, (c) substituting said inert gas for said atmospheric gas, and (d) reducing hydrocarbon vapor emission from the fill liquid in the second storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: Thomas K. Perkins
  • Patent number: 4921677
    Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid-collecting compartment that is vented to allow air to escape. The compartment is improved in that a closure member is provided constructed so as to be slidable onto and off of the vent aperture with a force that is between about 0.15 newtons and about 20 newtons. To achieve this, an elastomeric member is provided in the closure member or the wall at the aperture, with selected properties of durometer, cold flow and static coefficient of friction against polystyrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles C. Hinckley, Lewis T. Del Plato, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4586547
    Abstract: A novel ball valve type purging device for a tank train ball valve purging device wherein a one-way valve is connected in an upper portion of a long vertical interconnecting pipe between adjacent cars of a string of tank cars so as to let gas pass from the long vent pipe into the top of the tank car and eliminates or minimizes the necessity to blow gas or air through the car commodity during purging of the interconnects and greatly reduces the pressure and quantities of purge gas required. The structure of the invention effectively eliminates the limitation on the length of a string of cars due to the purging requirements and the reduction of the quantity of purge gas substantially reduces the cost of purging particularly wherein inert or bottled gas such as nitrogen is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: General American Transportation Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen F. Fields, C. K. Krishnakumar
  • Patent number: 4575404
    Abstract: A pure water tank for distillation equipment comprises a casing on a water tank proper and a communicating pipe via which interiors of the casing and tank proper communicate each other. Water in the casing prevents air from entering into the pure water tank through a condenser when generation of steam is halted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Yamato Scientific Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Goto, Naoki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4515189
    Abstract: One or a series of wheeled tank cars for carrying a commodity which must be heated for effective handling and which produces noxious gases when heated is provided with a closed vapor recovery system, including valved lines respectively associated with each tank car, for safely venting said gases to a remote recovery sink away from operating personnel as the commodity is heated in the one or more tank cars prior to unloading or during the filling operation. An upper heating coil system is also disclosed for melting away solidified commodity from upper tank fittings prior to operation of said fittings in the unloading or loading operation for reliable flow handling therethrough and operation of their valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: General American Transportation Corporation
    Inventor: Erling Mowatt-Larssen
  • Patent number: 4513795
    Abstract: The tank of a railway tank car has two top-mounted lading conduits coupled thereto in fluid communication therewith. One of the lading conduits has the inner end thereof disposed at the minimum fill level of the tank. A vapor vent fitting is also formed in the tank, to which any one of a plurality of different-length vent pipes can selectively removably be mounted with the inner ends thereof disposed at different levels between the maximum and minimum fill levels of the tank. The vent pipe communicates with the one lading conduit above the maximum fill level of the tank. An access opening is provided so that the vent pipe can be reached and changed from outside the tank.In one embodiment the vent pipe communicates with the one lading conduit inside the tank and access thereto is had through the one lading conduit. In another embodiment the vent pipe communicates with the one lading conduit inside the tank, but access thereto is had through a separate access opening in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: General American Transportation Corporation
    Inventors: Edward L. Davis, Erling Mowatt-Larssen
  • Patent number: 4495966
    Abstract: A valve structure permitting two vacuum chambers (16, 20) to be separted or joined without breaking the vacuum in either. The structure includes first and second valves (10, 12) positioned at openings in the vacuum chambers, a valve housing 30 surrounding the valves and able to be sealed to form a valve lock chamber (32), and a pair of valve actuators (34, 36). Each valve includes a pair of plates movable together to an intermediate position over the opening, and then movable away from each other in response to further actuator movement, to seal one of the plates over the opening. In one disclosed embodiment the plates are moved apart by a pair of parallel pivot links, and in another embodiment a pair of balls is used to effect the required sealing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Electron Beam Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Longamore
  • Patent number: 4469190
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly for a motorcycle includes a main tank and an auxiliary tank joined by a fuel hose or pipe. A breather pipe having an inlet in an upper portion of the auxiliary tank extends to a position proximate the fuel inlet of the main tank to exhaust air from the auxiliary tank to increase its effective capacity. The breather may extend either separately from or within the fuel pipe and may be provided either internally or partially externally of the main tank; the auxiliary tank may be provided with a pump operable when a low fuel level is reached in the main tank, which increases the freedom of placement of the auxiliary tank relative to the carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 4461317
    Abstract: An overflow control valve for use in a liquid sodium coolant pump tank which valve can be extended to create a seal with the pump tank wall or retracted to break the seal thereby accommodating valve removal. An actuating shaft which controls valve disc position also has cams which bear on roller surfaces to force retraction of a sliding cylinder against spring tension to retract the cylinder from sealing contact with the pump tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Rolv Hundal, Boyd A. Kessinger, Edward A. Parlak
  • Patent number: 4445537
    Abstract: An improved boiler feed water deaerator is provided which includes a plurality of spray valve assemblies therein which are shielded to effectively eliminate undesirable valve chattering and vibrations resulting from the horizontal component of incoming feed water and turbulent water flow through the valves. The valves hereof include an elongated, tubular, open ended water flow-directing shield with a shiftable valve plug adjacent the outlet end thereof. The plug is secured to an elongated stem disposed axially within the shield, and support structure is provided for the stem adjacent the upper inlet of the shield for permitting reciprocation and limited pivoting movement of the stem and plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: Marley Company
    Inventors: Roderick E. Athey, Alan G. Furnish
  • Patent number: 4428145
    Abstract: A shrimp bait container is disclosed which includes a plurality of stacked trays, with each tray storing live shrimp bait in a water medium. Each tray is substantially a frusto-pyramidal shaped housing having four sides and a bottom, composed of a relatively thick, thermally insulating material. The sides extend upwardly and outwardly from the bottom and are inclined so that the outer surfaces thereof for an upper one of the trays will mate with the inner surfaces thereof for an adjacent, lower one of the trays, forming an enclosed volume for storing the water medium containing the shrimp bait. The bottom of each tray has a perforation therethrough. An adjustable water depth controlling pipe is slideably mounted in substantial vertical orientation in the perforation in the bottom of each housing, having a height above the bottom which can be vertically adjusted and through which water within the enclosed volume may overflow, thus defining the depth of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Inventor: Robert Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4369764
    Abstract: In a solar heating system, using liquid for heat-transfer or heat-storage or both, the liquid may be lost slowly due to a leaky pipe connection, or a cracked or split absorber plate or collector pipes attached to the absorber of a closed type of collector, by evaporation through broken solar collector glazing of a trickle-flow collector, or such.A number of schemes have been proposed to provide makeup liquid. One is to allow makeup liquid, such as water, to flow backward from a large heat-storage vessel used during the winter to a smaller one which is the only one in use during the summer. That scheme was disclosed in a patent application filed by Dr. Harry E. Thomason way back in 1961. However, the backflow-connecting pipe had no check valve in it and therefore was of limited value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Inventors: Harry E. Thomason, Harry J. L. Thomason, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4324272
    Abstract: An anti-slosh fuel compartment assembly is provided for a vehicle wherein e vehicle has a forward gas pressurized fuel compartment and an aft fuel feeding compartment. The anti-slosh fuel compartment assembly includes an intermediate compartment which is mounted between the forward and aft fuel compartments. A device is provided for sealing the intermediate compartment to the vehicle so that the forward and aft fuel compartments are sealably separated from one another. An upwardly extending tube is mounted in a fore-part of the intermediate compartment with a bottom end of the tube opening into a bottom portion of the forward compartment and a top end opening into a top portion of the intermediate compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Edward G. Parks, August J. Troncale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4304271
    Abstract: A railway train including a plurality of interconnected tank cars, each car comprising a tank with a lading conduit extending the length thereof and having first and second pipes communicating with the interior of the tank with one of the pipes extending to the bottom of the tank and the other terminating adjacent to the top of the tank, the lading conduits of adjacent cars being interconnected by flexible connecting conduits; valve mechanism in the lading conduits and the first and second pipes for closing the lading conduit between the first and second pipes and opening the first and second pipes during loading of fluid lading into the tank and during unloading of fluid lading from the tank and for closing the first and second pipes during transporting of the tank; also disclosed is a loading system and an unloading system for a train of such tank cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: General American Transportation Corporation
    Inventor: Erling Mowatt-Larssen
  • Patent number: 4292909
    Abstract: An improved spill overflow prevention system for tanker vessels comprising a longitudinally disposed trunk line, branch lines coupled at one end to the trunk line and at the other end to the cargo compartments of the vessel, valves coupled to the branch lines intermediate the ends thereof for permitting the free flow of fluid chemical and petroleum products from the cargo compartments to the trunk line through the branch lines, and a retention tank disposed in the vessel and coupled to the trunk line for receiving fluid chemical and petroleum products from the trunk line. Fluid chemical and petroleum products overflowing from the cargo compartments of the vessel are directed from the compartments through the branch lines and trunk line to the retention tank thereby preventing overflow of the products externally of the compartments. The branch and trunk lines are dimensioned so as to prevent any overpressurization of the compartments during an overflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Inventor: Charles S. Conway
  • Patent number: 4266580
    Abstract: A system and apparatus are disclosed for automatically sequentially loading and unloading railway tank cars from a single station. A novel valve arrangement in combination with a liquid sensor permits tank cars to be loaded or unloaded in sequence with each car after it is filled being isolated from the loading system to provide a straight flow path for the liquid directly from the station to the tank car to be loaded or unloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Inventor: Frank O. Dixon
  • Patent number: 4241578
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid storage tank for an industrial vehicle. A small surge tank (44) is mounted on top of a main tank (10) and communicates with the main tank via a drain back hole (49) formed in the top of the main tank. A first breather tube (46), having one end opening within the surge tank, extends directly into the main tank. A second breather tube (48), having one end opening within the surge tank, enters the main tank through the drain back hole, extends along the top of the tank, and opens into the tank at a point substantially rearward of the first vent tube. If, due to movement of the vehicle, one of the breather tubes becomes filled with oil, the other will still function. Oil which momentarily floods one of the breather tubes enters the surge tank and drains back to the main tank via the drain back hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Derek K. Keene, deceased
  • Patent number: 4212889
    Abstract: A method of processing fish in which whole fish are reduced to fish solubles in aqueous solution and to fish solids comprising bones and scales. Fish are continuously processed in a series of interconnected vessels so that a continuous steady-state discharge of product is obtained and so that additional fish can be introduced into the system during discharge of product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Assignee: The De Laval Separator Company
    Inventor: Manuel E. Fuentevilla
  • Patent number: 4142545
    Abstract: A closed liquid pesticide metering and mixing system is provided which meets or exceeds any presently known governmental safety criteria for removing liquid pesticide concentrate from the original shipping container and transferring the concentrate to a mix or application vehicle tank. The present system not only eliminates open pouring but also provides measurement and transfer of the concentrate as well as rinsing of the emptied containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Inventor: James M. Billigmeier
  • Patent number: 4142470
    Abstract: A vent and pressure relief system for locomotive fuel tanks includes a short standpipe supporting a baffled overflow vessel connected with a drain conduit. The standpipe is made high enough to prevent the overflow of the fuel therefrom during all operating and braking conditions of the locomotive, except for the moment of high deceleration which occurs only at the instant of a full stop. The overflow vessel is made large enough to contain any overflow of fuel from the standpipe occurring during a full stop, and includes baffling to prevent the loss of fuel out the drain conduit and fuel return means to return spilled fuel to the tank. The standpipe, overflow vessel and drain conduit are made large enough to provide an overflow path that prevents tank overpressure when filling, should the automatic equipment of the filling station fail to cut off when the fuel tank is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Louis V. Zauss
  • Patent number: 4088145
    Abstract: A tandem rack dishwashing machine in which the single unit model is designed to handle two half-racks at a time and arranged in tandem, the half-racks supporting solid dishes, or one full rack at a time; and in which the double unit model is designed to handle two full racks of soiled dishes at a time and arranged in tandem, the double unit model having a control switch in series with a starting switch and positioned at the exit end of the machine so as to be closed by the racks only when the two full racks are received within the washing and rinsing area. The dish-rinsing water need not be at 180.degree. F., because the rinse water is chemically sanitized and need be only at 140.degree. F., which is the same temperature as the wash water. Novel structure is used for quickly draining the wash water from the machine into a holding reservoir which then feeds it into the sewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Inventor: Tore H. Noren