US3618643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container-filling apparatus
Assignee: Burmah Oil Trading Ltd
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Filing: 1969-12-29
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Granted: 1971-11-09
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Expires: 1989-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A loading bay for filling the compartments of a vehicle with liquid fuel has a loading arm for each tank compartment. Each loading arm includes a nozzle and a solenoid operated shutoff valve for controlling the flow of liquid fuel through the nozzle, and is associated with a corresponding overfill protection device which is arranged to operate the shutoff device to prevent flow of liquid fuel through the nozzle when the level of liquid in the corresponding tank compartment reaches a predetermined maximum level. The overfill protection device has a normally open electric switch in series with a normally closed pressure operated electric switch and another normally open electric switch mounted on the loading arm. The normally closed pressure operated switch is positioned at one end of a tube which depends into the tank compartment with the other end open and lowermost when the overfill protection device is mounted on the tank vehicle during filling of the tank compartment and the two normally open switches are closed when the loading arm and the associated overfill protection device are positioned for a filling operation. The arrangement is such that liquid fuel is supplied to the tank compartment through the nozzle only when all three switches are closed and the action of liquid fuel in the tank compartment rising to the predetermined maximum level increases the pressure in the tube until the normally closed pressure operated switch is opened. The electric circuits including the switches of each overfill protection device and controlling the operation of the corresponding solenoid-operated shutoff valves are connected electrically in parallel so that operation of one overfill protection device to prevent the supply of further liquid fuel to the corresponding tank compartment has no influence on the supply of liquid fuel to the other tank compartments.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Thomson
- 👤 James Carter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:43
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/36; B67D7/362; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2514; Y10T137/2534
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
Container-filling apparatus including a nozzle adapted to be inserted through a manhole in a container to be filled, means for supplying liquid through said nozzle, and means for controlling the supply of liquid through said nozzle, wherein there is provided in association with the nozzle a liquid supply control device which is separate from and movable relative to the nozzle, the liquid supply control device comprising a tube adapted to depend into a container into which the nozzle is inserted for filling the container, first switching means adapted to be switched from one condition to another condition by insertion of the tube into the container, second switching means adapted to be switched to one condition from another condition by liquid rising to a predetermined level in said tube, said means for controlling the supply of liquid being associated with said first switching means and said second switching means so that said means for controlling the supply of liquid acts to prevent the supply of liquid through said nozzle when either said first switching means or said second switching means is in said one condition and to permit the supply of liquid through said nozzle only when both said first switching means and said second switching means are in said other condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
Container-filling apparatus including a nozzle adapted to be inserted through a manhole in a container to be filled, means for supplying liquid through said nozzle, and means for controlling the supply of liquid through said nozzle, wherein there is provided in association with the nozzle a liquid supply control device which is separate from and movable relative to the nozzle, the liquid supply control device comprising a tube adapted to depend into a container into which the nozzle is inserted for filling the container, first switching means adapted to be switched from one condition to another condition by insertion of the tube into the container, second switching means adapted to be switched to one condition from another condition by liquid rising to a predetermined level in said tube, said means for controlling the supply of liquid being associated with said first switching means and said second switching means so that said means for controlling the supply of liquid acts to prevent the supply of liquid through said nozzle when either said first switching means or said second switching means is in said one condition and to permit the supply of liquid through said nozzle only when both said first switching means and said second switching means are in said other condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first switching means and said second switching means are connected in series with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second switching means is a pressure operated switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including a diaphragm which closes the upper end of the tube, said second switching means being switched between said one condition and said other condition by movement of the diaphragm with variation of pressure acting within the tube on the diaphragm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first switching means is carried by the tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein insertion of the tube into the container brings a movable actuating element of said first switching means into abutment with a fixed part of, or a part fixed to the container to move the movable actuating element against the action of a biasing load, movement of the movable actuating element switching said first switching means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fixed part comprises a spigot secured in an opening in the container through which the tube is inserted, said spigot being arranged to engage in a socket in a switch housing carried by the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the biasing load acting to bias the movable actuating element into the position it adopts when said first switching means is in said one condition is a gravitational load.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said liquid supply control device comprises a switch housing carrying said first switching means, said second switching means and said tube, a movable part of said first switching means projecting from the same surface of said switch housing as said tube, and said movable actuating element comprising a substantially annular member which surrounds the tube and is hinged to the switch housing, the arrangement being such that by insertion of the tube into the container the substantially annular hinged actuating member is moved about its hinge axis into engagement with said surface of the switch housing and the movable part of said first switching means to switch said first switching means from said one condition to said other condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 9, including a bar which extends laterally from said substantially annular hinged actuating member so as to engage with that part of the container defining an opening which is larger than the substantially annular hinged actuating member and through which the tube is inserted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tube is provided with a counter weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid supply control device is attached to the nozzle by flexible means so that it can be moved relative to the nozzle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the flexible means are arranged so that the liquid supply control device is moved to withdraw the tube from the container when the nozzle is withdrawn from the container so that said first switching means is switched from said other condition to said one condition and the supply of liquid through said nozzle is prevented.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second switching means are electric switches and said means for controlling the supply of liquid is associated with said first and second electric switches by being connected in an electrical control circuit including said first and second electric switches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the supply of liquid is associated with the said first switching means and said second switching means by a pneumAtic circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
119 words
Container-filling apparatus, wherein there is provided in association with the nozzle, a liquid supply control device comprising a tube adapted to depend into a container in which the nozzle is inserted for filling the container, a normally closed electric switch adapted to be operated by liquid rising to a predetermined level in said tube, and a normally open electric switch adapted to be closed by the insertion of the tube into the container, said switches being arranged in an electrical circuit associated with the electrically operated means, which circuit is so arranged that the supply of liquid is shut off by the opening of either one of the said switches, and is permitted only when both switches are closed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
Container-filling apparatus, wherein there is provided in association with the nozzle, a liquid supply control device comprising a tube adapted to depend into a container in which the nozzle is inserted for filling the container, a normally closed electric switch adapted to be operated by liquid rising to a predetermined level in said tube, and a normally open electric switch adapted to be closed by the insertion of the tube into the container, said switches being arranged in an electrical circuit associated with the electrically operated means, which circuit is so arranged that the supply of liquid is shut off by the opening of either one of the said switches, and is permitted only when both switches are closed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus for filling a plurality of containers simultaneously including a container-filling apparatus in accordance with claim 16 for each of the plurality of containers, the electrical, circuits by which the means for controlling the supply of liquid of each container-filling apparatus are associated with their corresponding first and second switching means being connected in parallel so that when one of said first and second switching means of one of the liquid supply control devices is switched to said one condition, liquid may be supplied to the other containers by each of the other nozzles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
Container-filling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the supply of liquid is associated with the said first switching means and said second switching means by a fluidic circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3503411A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-08 | 1975-05-10 | 1975-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-08 | 1979-05-10 | 1979-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-08 | 1983-05-10 | 1983-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |