US 8,505,568 B2Granted

Nuclear grade air accumulation, indication and venting device

AssigneeNuccorp, Inc.

InventorWillie Turner Wood, Jr.

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A device for accumulating, isolating, indicating and venting accumulated gas in a fluid system pipe includes a main pipe fitting affixed to a system pipe in which a hole has been drilled. A stand pipe attached to the pipe fitting houses a magnetic float. A magnetic-float level indicator exterior to the pipe and responsive to the magnetic float indicates the magnetic float's level. A valve attached to the stand pipe above the magnetic float allows controlled ventilation of the gas in the standpipe and thus in the piping system. Gas from the system pipe accumulates in the standpipe, removed from the primary fluid flow path of the system pipe. In the standpipe, as the liquid/gas interface drops, the float drops to a pre-determined level, at which point the user vents the gas from the piping system, causing the magnetic float to rise to a level indicating that gas is again at acceptable levels in the piping system.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A device for use with a system pipe, said system pipe having a hole formed therein, said device comprising:

(a) a standpipe attached to and in fluid communication with a system pipe, said system pipe having a hole formed therein so that fluid or gas flow from said system pipe through said hole into said standpipe;
(b) a magnetic float carried within said standpipe, said magnetic float floatable in fluid and freely movable vertically in said standpipe with the level of fluid in said standpipe when said fluid flows from said system pipe into said standpipe;
(c) an upper float stop carried within said standpipe above said magnetic float, said upper float stop limiting upward flotation of said magnetic float, said upper float stop having flow holes formed therein though which fluid flows when said float is against said upper float stop;
(d) a vent valve attached to said standpipe and in fluid communication with said standpipe for venting gas from said standpipe, said fluid passing around said magnetic float without being blocked;
and
(e) an indicator exterior to said standpipe and responsive to movement of said magnetic float within said standpipe to thereby indicate the level of said fluid in said standpipe.

3 more elements

A device for use with a system pipe, said system pipe having a hole formed therein, said device comprising:

(a) a pipe fitting attached to a system pipe with a hole formed therein, said pipe fitting positioned over said hole of said system pipe and in fluid communication with said system pipe;
(b) a standpipe attached to and in fluid communication with said pipe fitting and said system pipe;
(c) a magnetic float carried within said standpipe, said magnetic float being freely movable in said standpipe so that, when fluid or gas flow from said system pipe through said hole into said pipe fitting and into said standpipe, said magnetic float floats vertically with the level of said fluid;
(d) a vent valve attached to said standpipe and in fluid communication with said standpipe for venting gas entering said standpipe with said fluid;
(e) an upper float stop and an opposing float retaining orifice in said standpipe, said upper float stop positioned between said magnetic float and said vent valve and said float retaining orifice positioned between said magnetic float and said pipe fitting, said upper float stop and said float retaining orifice each having at least one hole through which fluid flows when said float is against said upper float stop, between “having at least one hole” and “permitting fluid to pass”;
permitting fluid to pass from said pipe fitting to said vent valve around said magnetic float while limiting upward and downward travel of said float;
and
(f) an indicator exterior to said standpipe and responsive to movement of said magnetic float vertically within said standpipe to thereby indicate the level of said fluid in said standpipe.

5 more elements

A device for use with a system pipe, said system pipe having a hole formed therein, said device comprising:

(a) a pipe fitting attached to and in fluid communication with a system pipe, said system pipe having a hole formed therein, said pipe fitting being attached to said system pipe over said hole, said pipe fitting having a flange;
(b) a stand pipe having a flange;
(c) a magnetic float carried within said standpipe above said flange of said standpipe, said magnetic float floatable in fluid and moving vertically in said standpipe with the level of said fluid when said fluids or gas flow from said system pipe through said hole and said pipe fitting and into said standpipe;
(d) a float retaining orifice positioned between said flange of said pipe fitting and said flange of said stand pipe, said float retaining orifice having plural flow holes formed therein through which fluid passes when fluid flows from said system pipe, through said hole, through said pipe fitting and into said standpipe;
(e) gaskets positioned above and below said float retaining orifice;
(f) releasable means for securing said flange of said pipe fitting to said flange of said standpipe with said gaskets and said float retaining orifice there between;
(g) an upper float stop carried within said standpipe above said magnetic float, said upper float stop limiting upward flotation of said magnetic float, said float retaining orifice limiting downward flotation of said magnetic float, said upper float stop having flow holes formed therein through which fluid flows when said float is against said upper float stop;
(h) a vent valve attached to said standpipe above said upper float stop and in fluid communication with said standpipe for venting gas from said standpipe when said gas flows from said system pipe, through said hole, into said pipe fitting and into said standpipe;
(i) an indicator located exterior to said standpipe and responsive to movement of said magnetic float within said standpipe to thereby indicate the level of said fluid in said standpipe;
and
(j) a numerical scale carried by said standpipe and carrying said indicator for indicating numerically said fluid in said standpipe.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/917,081Filed 1 Nov 2010 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Nov 2009
Published: US 2011/0120577 A126 May 2011
Granted: 13 Aug 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

F16K 37/0033
Electrical or magnetic means: using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays
F16K 24/046
The float being rigidly connected to the valve element, the assembly of float and valve element following a substantially translational movement…:…
F16K 37/005
Electrical or magnetic means: for measuring fluid parameters
G21C 17/022
Devices or arrangements for monitoring coolant or moderator: for monitoring liquid coolants or moderators