USRE23487E - Fill and discharge valve for lique - Google Patents

Description

W. E. FILL AND DISCHARGE VALVE FOR LIQUEFIED MCCABE, JR

HYDRO RBON CONTAINERS Original filed March 50, 1949 pri 29, E952 Vl ffl. FA lai.

Reissued Apr. 29, 1952 `FILL AND DISCHARGE VALVE FOR LIQUE- v 'FIED 'HYDROCARBON CONTAINERS 'originalNa v'2,-,5413,e2o, dated Marehfe,1`951,:seria1 No. 84,428, MarchfSU, 1949. Applicationforrevissue August 31, 1951, SeriallNo.2.445.37

(CLZ--D Matter enclosed'in'heavy brackets fappears in the original'patentbut forms .no part... of .thig

9 Claims.

This invention relates to 4storage systems 'for liquid hydrocarbons, and more particularly :to improvements in filler valves for same which serve also as withdrawal valves.

`In certain rural and other communities which are `not supplied with natural or manufactured gas theuse of certain liquid hydrocarbons, fsuch as-propane and butane, is becoming increasingly popular for domestic and other uses. Also, it has 'beenfound that these fuels have certain advan- Itages over gasoline or similar distillates f0.1' ,use in` tractors -and the like.

When itis desired to employ the hydrocarbons for the latter purpose, the tractor is provided with a tank for the hydrocarbon which is filled periodically from asuitable storage tank. This storage tank may eitherbe separate from that which stores the 'hydrocarbonfor domestic use,

-such as in a Vgas range, or the domestic use tank maybe employed `as the storage source for the tractorif suitable'provision'bepmade to withdraw liquid therefrom. .The latter, of course, `requires special outlet fittings which add to the complexity of the tank.

The present invention has Afor its principal object the provision of a valve system for hydrocarbon storage tanks which permits two Wayfiow therethrough, that is, the-tank may be filled, -.0.1

l:liquid withdrawn therefrom, `the val-ve Ysystem having all :safety requirementsregardless of directionof ilovv.

Another object is to provide a valve system which incorporates van excess fioW check valve :and check Valve in series, in which the cheek. valve-may be rendered inoperative, as such, and

CXI

the bottom of tank It.

reissue-specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions madeby reissue.

i2 nller valve system which constitutesithersubject of the invention; and

Figure isa similar* view through 'anfaIternative form of valvesystem.

VReferring iin detail tothe drawing, :and mar `ticularly Figure il, .1a v.conventienal .hydrocarbon .storage tank I is illustrated, .this tank: beingprofilling operation, .all of theseparta-'their` purpose,

andmanner .of operation also being fwell understood in thezart.

'I he valve, shown somewhat '.di-agrammatical-ly in Figure 13,'is provided With :a 'valve vioodytl' having a check 'valve l5 Whichisxurged toward valve Vseat H'by a spring I8.. Thiswvalvemay-ibe opened by a threaded valvestem `I9, -controlled by hand Wheel 20, any suitable-'packing 2| 'being provided which may be compressed by .a npack vnut 22.

.An excessnow check'yalve 2,3 issecured :to .va1ve body I5 inranysuitable .manner,..such;asiby threaded :nti-ing A*2.4. This --valve ;is disposed on the downstream .side of `thevalve t5, -a .dip :tube 25 being connected thereto which extends :tofnear This .valve :comprises a valve stem '26 '.having Aa valvehea-d 2i Vsecured thereto at one end thereof, `the vaive head being adapted to iseat on valve vseat :28, vunder certain conditions as'will hereinafter appear. Theivalve is normally held'openby a spring :29. "The valve head is alsofprovided yWithaazsrnall bleedLl'ro-le .3,0 which lpermits equalization :of pressure fon the upstream and downstream sides thereof under certain conditions.

Valves of the foregoing type are Well knownin the art and operate lin such manners-that theysare normally open to'permit flow in one-'direction-but close upon'a-reverserow Whensuchilow tends to Vexceed a certain predetermined =va1ue. Thus, they are similar to ordinary check valves but "dif fer. in that they vclose upon reverse flow only` after the rate of such flow has'reachedi'the lziarticular -valuefor which they are Iset, whereas the-ordinary check valve tends to close upon any reverse flow. After a valve of this type has closed inresponse to an excess reverse ow there is a small amount of leakage through the bleed hole 35). After any valve upstream, such as valve I6, has -been closed leakage will continue to occur until the pressure between such upstream valve and the excess flow valve is the same as tank pressure after which the excess valve will open in response to the urge of its spring.

In Figure 2 is shown an alternative form of the invention, the essential difference between the construction previously described, being that valve body lia has a side opening 3|, as shown in Figure 3. The shape of the valve and seat differs slightly, also, but is of no material importance and any suitable type of check valve may be employed in either of the constructions.

The manner of operation of both of the embodi ments shown in Figures 2 and 3 is identical and will now be described. Assuming that it is desired to fill tank I with 'a hydrocarbon such as propane or butane, a suitable conduit 32 is connected to valve I5 (or 15a) with valve stem I9 in a position such that check valve IE (or IBa) is on its seat, the conduit being connected to a source of supply which will usually be a large tank mounted on a truck. A valve at the truck is then opened to deliver the hydrocarbonto tank i0, the pressure in thesupply line being greater than in the tank l0. In event the lling conduit, which is usually a hose, should rupture while the tank is being filled check valve I6 will automatically close preventing loss of the hydrocarbon from tank I0, which is normally under considerable pressure.

Assuming now that it is desired to remove some of the hydrocarbon from tank I0 to fill a tank 33 which may be on a tractor, or the like, the tractor is driven to a. point near tank I0 and the two tanks are connected by a suitable conduit 32 and vent 34 opened reducing the pressure in tank 33 to a value below the pressure in tank Ill. Check valve I6 (or I 6a) is now moved away from its seat by hand wheel 20. The hydrocarbon then flows from tank I0 to tank 33. If the conduit should rupture during this operation, the excess flow check valve will automatically close thus preventing loss of the hydrocarbon. The operator will then permit the check valve I6 to return to its seat by manipulation of the handwheel 20. The pressure will then equalize on the two sides of the excess flow valve through vent 3U, as explained previously, after which such valve returns to its normally open position. The valves then remain in this position until filling is resumed.

It is to be observed that theexcess flow valve is disposed within the tank. This is essential to meet certain safety codes Vso that if the valve l5 should be broken from the tank the excess flow valve will close to preventV loss of the hydrocarbon. In some installations, the fill valve, which is usually an ordinary globe, valve or the like, is provided with a weakened portion so that it may be broken off without rupturing any portion of the fill system downstream thereof. It is apparent that this type of construction may be employed in the present invention, if so desired.

This invention is to be distinguished from any prior art wherein separate filling and removing means are supplied on the tank. So far as is known, no prior art filling device may be employed ,both to fill and remove the hydrocarbon and still have the required safety features during filling andr removal of the hydrocarbon.. With the construction of the present invention a ing means.

single valve system is provided which fits intothe same tank fitting formerly occupied by the filling valve. This construction is simpler than one in which separate supply and discharge means are provided and also eliminates any changes in the tank construction since the device may be installed in the same place occupied by the present fill- While the invention has been disclosed for use with liquified hydrocarbons it will become apparent that the valve system may be employed with other liquifled gas containers such as anhydrous ammonia, or other refrigerants.

I claim:

1. A safety fill and drain device for storage tanks for liquiiied gases, comprising; a conduit having one end adapted to extend below the surface of liquid in the tank, a, normally open excess flow valve in series with the other end of the conduit, a valve body having a normally closed check valve therein in series with the excess flow valve, a ll and drain conduit, such as a hose, in series with the check valve adapted to be detachably connected thereto, and means carried by said body and movable between inoperative and operative positions for selectively operating thc check valve to hold it open, said means being operable independently of the attachment of the conduit to the check valve, the construction and arrangement being such that when said means is in inoperative position the check valve is automatically opened during filling of the tank from a source of liquid supply and automatically closes when the pressure in the tank exceeds the pres,- sure in the second named conduit, and the excess flow valve closes when reverse flow therethrough exceeds a predetermined rate when said means is in operative position and the check valve is held open thereby, whereby the first named conduit may be employed to ll the tank or drain it, and flow therethrough will be discontinued ii the second named conduit should rupture during filling of the tank o-r draining it.

2. A storage system for liquied gases, comprising; a tank for containing the gas, a dip tube having one end disposed below the surface of liquid in the tank, a normally open excess iiow valve in series with the other end of the dip tube, a valve body having a normally closed check valve therein in series with the excess flow valve, a fill and drain conduit in series with the check valve adapted to be detachably connected thereto, and means carried by said body and movable between inoperative and operative positions for selectively operating the check valve to hold it open, said means being operable independently of the attachment of the conduit to the check valve, the construction and arrangement being such that when said means is in inoperative position the check valve is automatically opened during filling of the tank from a source of liquid supply and automatically closes when the pressure in the tank exceeds the pressure in the conduit, and the excess flow valve closes when reverse flow therethrough exceeds a predetermined rate when said means is in operative position and the check valve is held open thereby, whereby the dip tube may be employed to ll the tank or drain it, and flow therethrough will be discontinued if said conduit should rupture during filling of the tank or draining it.

3. In a tank for storing liquied gases of the type provided with a single opening therein for receiving means for filling the tank, the improvement which comprises a replacement device for said filling means comprising means secured t0 Said Opening, said means including a dip tube having one end disposed below the surface of liquid in the tank, a normally open excess flo-w valve in series with the other end of the dip tube, a valve body having a normally closed check valve therein in series with the excess ilow valve, a ll and drain conduit in series with the check valve adapted to be detachably connected thereto, and means carried by said body and movable between inoperative and operative positions for operating the check valve to hold it open, said means being operable independently of the attachment of the conduit to the check valve, the construction and arrangement being such that when said means is in inoperative position the check valve is automatlcally opened during lling of the tank from a source of liquid supply and automatically closes when the pressure in the tank exceeds the pressure in the conduit, and the excess flow valve closes when reverse ow therethrough exceeds a predetermined rate when said means is in operative position and the check valve is held open thereby, whereby the dip tube may be employed to fill the tank or drain it, and flow therethrough willA be discontinued ii' said conduit should rupture during filling of the tank or draining it.

4. Safety fill and drain apparatus for tanks containing liquiiied gases, comprising; a single iill and drain tube having one end adapted to extend below thesurface of liquid in the tank, a fill and drain valve system having a normally closed check valve in communication with the other end of said tube adapted to automatically open during filling of the tank and automatically close when the pressure in the tank exceeds the pressure in a conduit connected to a filling source, and a normally open excess iiow valve in communication with said other end of the tube adapted to close during draining of the tank when reverse iiow through the tube exceeds a predetermined rate, a drain conduit, such as a hose, adapted to be detachably connected to the valve system, the excess flow valve being interposed between said conduit and said tube, and means carried by the valve system, independent of the hose, and operable independent of the attachment of the drain conduit to the valve system for establishing communication from said tube, through the excess flow valve. and to the drain conduit, whereby the single tube may serve to nil and drain the tank and flow therethrough will be discontinued if a conduit connected to the valve system should rupture during iilling or draining.

5. In a tank for storing liquiled gases of the type provided with a single opening therein for receiving means for filling the tank, the improvement which comprises; a device for said lling means comprising means secured to said opening adapted to fill and drain the tank, said means including a dip tube secured to the opening and having one end 'extending below the liquid level in the tank, a ll and drain valve system having a normally closed check valve in communication with the other end of said tube adapted to automatically open during lling of the tank and automatically close when the pressure in the tank exceeds the pressure in a conduit connected to a filling source, and a normally open excess ow valve in communication with said other end of the tube adapted to close during draining of the tank when reverse ow through the tube exceeds a predetermined rate, a drain conduit, such as a hose, adapted to be detachably connected to the valve system, the excess ow Valve being interposed between said conduit and said tube, and means carried by the valve system. independent ci said conduit. and operableindependent of the attachment of said conduit to the valve system for establishing communication from said tube, through the excess fiow valve, and to said conduit, whereby the single tube may serve to iill and drain the tank and ilow therethrough will be discontinued if a conduit connected to the valve system should rupture during iling or draining.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said last named meansv is provided with internally threaded openings at its ends.

7. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said last named means is constructed to form a normally permanent part of the system at all times during both filling and draining of the tank and includes a manually operable valve actuating member movably carried thereby disposed between its ends.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the manually operable valve actuating member includes a rotatable portion.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8 where-y in said rotatable portion is disposed on a threaded stem adapted to bodily move axially asA the stem rotates.

WILLIAM E. McCABE, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ci' record in the file of this patent or the original patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 788,985 Youtz May 2, 1905 2,179,144 Buttner Nov. 7, 1939 2,194,501 Hooper et al. -.--r Mar. 26, 1940 2,326,187 White Aug. 10, 1943

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