# US 10,480,667 B2 · Storage tank valve

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- Number: US 10,480,667 B2
- Document ID: US10480667B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/158,334
- Filed: 2016-05-18
- Published: 2017-11-23
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-18
- Assignees: Ron J. Gaubert
- Applicants: Lafayette Mitchell
- Inventors: Lafayette Mitchell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480667B2

## CPC

- F16K 24/04: for venting only (F16K24/02 takes precedence)
- F16K 1/12: with streamlined valve member around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened
- F16K 1/2007: {specially adapted operating means therefor (operating means per se F16K31/00)}
- F16K 3/085: {the axis of supply passage and the axis of discharge passage being coaxial and parallel to the axis of rotation of the plates}
- F16K 5/0442: {Spindles and actuating means}
- F16K 31/06: using a magnet {, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid}
- F16K 31/46: for remote operation
- F16K 31/465: {by flexible transmission means, e.g. cable, chain, bowden wire}
- F16K 31/52408: {comprising a lift valve}
- F16K 31/52441: {with a pivoted disc or flap}
- F16K 31/602: {Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence)}
- F17C 1/12: with provision for thermal insulation ({F17C1/14, F17C1/16 take precedence}; thermal insulation in general F16L59/00)
- F17C 13/04: Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00})
- F17C 2205/0332: Safety valves or pressure relief valves
- F17C 2205/0341: Filters
- F17C 2270/0102: on or in the water
- F17C 2270/0165: on the road
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)

## Abstract

A valve for use in a tank vessel that includes a valve housing configured to fit into a threaded vent opening of the tank vessel and a sleeve weldment coupled to the valve housing. The sleeve weldment includes a first end configured to protrude into an interior volume of the tank vessel, and the first end is thermally balanced with the interior volume of the tank vessel. The valve also includes a valve plunger configured to be installed within the sleeve weldment. The valve plunger includes a valve bottom configured to seal an opening between the valve bottom and an interior opening of the sleeve weldment. The valve also may include a cam configured to force the valve plunger into the interior of the tank vessel to break the seal between the valve bottom and the interior opening of the sleeve weldment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A valve for use in a tank vessel, comprising:
a valve housing configured to fit into the tank vessel;
a sleeve weldment coupled to the valve housing, wherein the sleeve weldment comprises a first end configured to protrude into an interior volume of the tank vessel;
a valve plunger configured to be installed within the sleeve weldment, wherein the valve plunger comprises a valve bottom at the first end of the sleeve weldment and configured to seal, at a first position of the valve bottom, an opening at the first end between the valve bottom and an interior opening of the sleeve weldment;
a cam configured to force the valve plunger into the interior of the tank vessel to break the seal between the valve bottom and the interior opening of the sleeve weldment at a second position of the valve bottom; and
a pipe plug attachable to the valve housing at a position adjacent the cam,
wherein a majority of the valve bottom is located within the sleeve weldment at the first position of valve bottom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, further comprising a spring configured to bias the valve plunger away from the interior of the tank vessel to maintain the seal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve weldment comprises a top valve guide and a bottom valve guide configured to centralize the valve plunger within the sleeve weldment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, further comprising a hose attachment coupled to the valve housing, wherein the hose attachment is configured to connect to a pressurizing hose, a venting hose, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The valve of claim 4, wherein the pressurizing hose is configured to pressurize a cavity within the valve housing to a valve pressure that is greater than a tank pressure within the interior volume of the tank vessel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, comprising a handle coupled to an exterior of the valve housing and configured to rotate the cam in response to a force from an operator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The valve of claim 6, comprising a cable connected to the handle and a remote trigger, wherein the operator may manipulate the remote trigger to pull the cable and rotate the handle on the valve housing while standing on a ground location near the tank vessel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve housing is configured to fit within a vent opening comprising a 3.75 inch (8.89 cm) portal fitted with national pipe thread (NPT).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1, wherein the first end of the sleeve weldment is at a distal end of the valve housing, and the valve further comprises a hose attachment detachably connected to a proximal end of the valve housing, the proximal end being opposite to the distal end of the valve housing.