US 4,498,203 A · Flood preventer for fluid filling systems

Abstract

A flood preventer has a pneumatically operable lockout mechanism to disable a valve actuator and prevent its repeated operation when fluid in a receptacle has reached an excess level. In the preferred embodiments the flood preventer has a latch that is responsive to a partial vacuum to engage a catch in the linkage between the valve actuator and a fill control valve. The partial vacuum is created by the flow of fluid into the receptacle through a venturi. The venturi is connected by a vacuum line to a fluid level sensing orifice that opens into the receptacle and relieves the partial vacuum when not blocked by fluid that has reached an excess level. In two other embodiments the partial vacuum is subject to the same conditions at the venturi and the orifice, but the lockout mechanisms are different. In the second embodiment a pin is dropped out to uncouple a valve actuator linkage, while in a third embodiment a jamming mechanism is used to block movement of the valve actuator.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A pneumatically responsive flood preventer mechanism for insertion between a valve in a supply line to a receptacle and a reciprocating actuator for the valve, to prevent repeated actuation of the valve which would cause overfilling and flooding of the receptacle, the mechanism comprising:

vacuum generating means in the supply line with a low pressure port for drawing a partial vacuum as fluid flows through said means into the receptacle;
a level sensor having an orifice communicating with the receptacle above a normal fluid level, the orifice allowing relief of any partial vacuum communicated to the level sensor when fluid in the receptacle is below the orifice, and the orifice becoming partially sealed when covered by fluid from the receptacle;
lockout means adapted to be positioned between the valve and the actuator to prevent operation of the valve when fluid in the receptacle rises to the level of the orifice, the lockout means being responsive to a partial vacuum to disable operation of the valve by the actuator;
and
means for pneumatically interconnecting the lockout means, the low pressure port and the level sensor, so that a partial vacuum will be drawn to operate the lockout means only when fluid is flowing through the vacuum generating means and only when fluid has reached the level of the orifice.

2 more elements

A pneumatically responsive flood preventer mechanism for operation with a valve in a supply line to a receptacle and a reciprocating actuator for the valve, to prevent repeated actuation of the valve which would cause overfilling and flooding of the receptacle, the mechanism comprising:

vacuum generating means in the supply line with a low pressure port for drawing a partial vacuum as fluid flows through said means into the receptacle;
a level sensor having an orifice communicating with the receptacle above a normal fluid level, the orifice allowing relief of any partial vacuum communicated to the level sensor when fluid in the receptacle is below the orifice, and the orifice becoming partially sealed when covered by fluid from the receptacle;
lockout means coupling the operation of the valve to the operation of the actuator, and preventing operation of the valve in response to operation of the actuator when fluid in the receptacle rises to the level of the orifice, the lockout means being responsive to a partial vacuum to disable operation of the valve by the actuator;
and
means for pneumatically interconnecting the lockout means, the low pressure port and the level sensor, so that a partial vacuum will be drawn to operate the lockout means only when fluid is flowing through the vacuum generating means and only when fluid has reached the level of the orifice.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flood preventer for fluid filling systems

Life of this patent

Flood preventer for fluid filling systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18